GMI Going to Lutz's Race, Teaming With Autoline After Hours

[Ghrankenstein]

Next Thursday is undoubtedly going to be a busy day here at GMInsidenews. First up, GMI Staff Member Alex Villani (BigAl87Z28) will be attending the CTS-V Challenge race at the Monticello Motor Club where GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will be taking on challengers in the 2010 Cadillac CTS-V. Alex will also be taking the CTS-V around the track himself!

We couldn't possibly have a better staffer to cover this event than Big Al, who I think is our best "event coverage" guy. It's like this was supposed to happen!

Ghrankenstein

[doh]

$5.00 to "Who ever takes him out"

Lets take up a pot boy's!

[2b2]

WaaaaaaaayToGo GMI, congrats!!!

also
glad to hear this news (to me)

Originally Posted by nsap

...GMI is also proud to announce that we are teaming up with Autoline After Hours to bring GMI readers a live discussion and interview with GM Vice President of Global Engineering, Mark Reuss. Reuss was recently appointed to his current position after heading up GM Holden in Australia...

I was very impressed with what I read about Mr. Reuss the end of last year.
Having him as a global exec is a confidence booster
Looking forward to this show!

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by nsap

Thanks guys! The CTS-V Challenge is only the beginning. GM is officially working with GMI now and treating us like media, so expect excellent coverage of things like this from us from now on!!

It's about time! GM realized that GMI can be a positive asset to have in their corner. Sure, we may criticize them if they make a poor move, but for the most part we're trying to give them as much positive press as possible.

[Nightshark]

Originally Posted by nsap

Thanks guys! The CTS-V Challenge is only the beginning. GM is officially working with GMI now and treating us like media, so expect excellent coverage of things like this from us from now on!!

That is so great to hear.

Maybe more of us old timers could be invited to attend functions.... I would be more than happy to be your camera man (or fetch coffee and donuts)! Plus getting to test drive something as sweet as the CTS-V would be nice too.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

This is a GM PR stunt that only people desperate for the plane ticket to NY and a chance to drive a CTS-V are excited about. If anyone has read the guidelines, GM is making it so there really is no chance to win this. Everyone is going to get eaten alive.

Exactly how its it rigged? The cars cannot be moddified. Stock for stock, cars in its class. They wont be going head to head on the track, but they will get timed runs, and teh fastest wins.

Originally Posted by JeffInDFW

The amount of publicity this is getting is amazing. The most cost effective ADVERTISING for GM you can imagine. The cost of one magazine full page ad, or THIS event. Long after it is over, people will still refer to it....Just like people still refer to the Nurburgring lap times.

I just happened to stumble across this video on youtube of a CTS-V at that facility where this event is happening. The video is "in car" video. This is an instructional/intro lap, not run at full speed. Notice no helmets. Yet, you STILL can feel how capable this vehicle is. Amazing car. Great work, GM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Jo5...eature=related

Ill have to watch the video a few times....
Agreed, this is fantastic PR. I think GM should have done then when they started the whole "May The Best Car Win" and then tied it into other country wide test drives.

Originally Posted by Ghrankenstein

We couldn't possibly have a better staffer to cover this event than Big Al, who I think is our best "event coverage" guy. It's like this was supposed to happen!

Ghrankenstein

You sure know how to make me blush!! Thank you sir, I will try to have up to the millisecond information, pics, and vids uploaded right from my phone. I hope everyone enjoys it!
Oh, and I will try to get an in-the-car vid of me driving it. I appoligize now for any poor quality vids the Storm might take.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Exactly how its it rigged? The cars cannot be moddified. Stock for stock, cars in its class. They wont be going head to head on the track, but they will get timed runs, and teh fastest wins.

It is a PR stunt, not a serious competition. Drivers only get five laps to become familiar with the track, Lutz no doubt will be having a lot of track time by next week. GM has been unclear about who will be deemed a "professional," so at any point someone starts laying down times that are too challenging for Lutz, they can bring in Heinricy and it will be a blood bath. Also, we already know the CTS-V can out perform these cars, let alone the fact they are being piloted by amateurs. It's a joke to everyone outside of the bloggers who are just giddy to get a press event invite.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

It is a PR stunt, not a serious competition. Drivers only get five laps to become familiar with the track, Lutz no doubt will be having a lot of track time by next week. GM has been unclear about who will be deemed a "professional," so at any point someone starts laying down times that are too challenging for Lutz, they can bring in Heinricy and it will be a blood bath. Also, we already know the CTS-V can out perform these cars, let alone the fact they are being piloted by amateurs. It's a joke to everyone outside of the bloggers who are just giddy to get a press event invite.

From what I've been told of the event, its about having a good time, not intended to be a serious competition. There is no question it is a PR stunt, but so what? From the response, I'd say its becoming a successful one. The bloggers get more press invites than traditional media anymore. That was clear in a recent conversation with some GM Communications people I had. It's just where the industry is going...and at a very rapid pace.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by nsap

The bloggers get more press invites than traditional media anymore.

Oh yeah, I suppose they get more press cars too

[nsap]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

Oh yeah, I suppose they get more press cars too

Most of them have at least one at any given time. Considering they don't have full staff's of people, I'd say that is quite sufficient.

GM, for example, is expanding the press fleet budget in every region next year to meet demand by social media.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by nsap

Most of them have at least one at any given time. Considering they don't have full staff's of people, I'd say that is quite sufficient.

We have about 30 at any given time, we were given two Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sports a few months ago. I don't think GM will even allow a ZR1 to spend the night with anyone outside the "traditional" publications. Which is probably a good thing. On Autoblog's first invite to a Ferrari first drive they wrecked a pre-production California.

I think you mistake the real publications not wanting to waste their time on uneventful events with not being invited. We were sent an invite to this press sham, and cordially declined.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

We have about 30 at any given time, we were given two Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sports a few months ago. I don't think GM will even allow a ZR1 to spend the night with anyone outside the "traditional" publications. Which is probably a good thing. On Autoblog's first invite to a Ferrari first drive they wrecked a pre-production California.

I think you mistake the real publications not wanting to waste their time on uneventful events with not being invited. We were sent an invite to this press sham, and cordially declined.

How fancy. That is further proof that new media is reaching a different audience than the traditional pubs. I guess we all have our place in the big scheme of things.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by nsap

How fancy. That is further proof that new media is reaching a different audience than the traditional pubs. I guess we all have our place in the big scheme of things.

Same could be said for the level of testing that the traditional publications do that your Jalopniks and Autoblogs can't. Further proof that new media only provides press releases and photos with no educated commentary, and gives the manufacturers a nice HJ just to continue receiving invites. The are too fearful that if they deliver much deserved negativity they wont be allowed to come play anymore lol But silly me, you are an editor-in-chief, you know better than I

[ARCANGEL]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

We have about 30 at any given time, we were given two Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sports a few months ago. I don't think GM will even allow a ZR1 to spend the night with anyone outside the "traditional" publications. Which is probably a good thing. On Autoblog's first invite to a Ferrari first drive they wrecked a pre-production California.

I think you mistake the real publications not wanting to waste their time on uneventful events with not being invited. We were sent an invite to this press sham, and cordially declined.

Not gonna lie , that was idiotic buy you media elite's, do you know how many people will read the results on the blogs? How many will wonder why you guys dissed it? The younger generations get all their auto info on the net and mostly from blogs, more of an interactive community than old school mags! Failure by you all, a gain by the rest

[nsap]

Originally Posted by HoeyHimself

Same could be said for the level of testing that the traditional publications do that your Jalopniks and Autoblogs can't. Further proof that new media only provides press releases and photos with no educated commentary, and gives the manufacturers a nice HJ just to continue receiving invites. The are too fearful that if they deliver much deserved negativity they wont be allowed to come play anymore lol But silly me, you are an editor-in-chief, you know better than I

Unfortunately that extensive level of testing isn't appearing to combat declining circulation too well! When all is said and done with the current media shake up it will be interesting to see where the cards lay. Print media's elitist attitude and unwillingness to adapt to changing reader is ultimately a big problem for them.

Oh no, it has been clear lately that working for a buff book makes you the authority on everything in the industry. My apologies for intruding.