Checkered Blog by Checkered Flag is the automotive play place in Hampton Roads Virginia

Raising the Roof (Well, Starting To) at smart center VB

Win'sGal was visiting Checkered Flag yesterday and called me to say, "Guess what -- they've started putting the roof on smart center Virginia Beach."  She didn't have time to take a picture and I wanted to see it for myself, so I went this morning and was AMAZED at how much progress has been made since we last blogged about this two weeks ago. 

A few minutes ago, I caught up with architect Jerry Smith with Lyall Design, who's working on the project, and he said what you see in this picture is the roof deck -- the first step in creating the roof itself.  Right now, the work crew is pouring the slabs for both of the building's two stories. The crew is expected to start putting in studs in the next few days, which means we will soon see interior walls begin to go up.  Jerry says the construction continues to be "right on schedule" for smart center Virginia Beach to open the last week of February.

Checkered Flag is the Virginia Beach smart dealer candidate and is investing about $3 million in this facility, which is located at 5193 Virginia Beach Blvd., where Sofa's Etc. used to be.  The smart fortwo microcar is expected to be available in the United States early next year and if you are interested in possibly purchasing one, the thing to do is make a refundable $99 reservation on smart USA's web site.  And keep checking with the Checkered Blog for the newest scoop on what's going on with smart in Virginia.

The Perfect Gift for Pint Size BMW Aficionados

I recently found this bite size  BMW M6 at Checkered Flag BMW and couldn't help but wish that I fit comfortably in it (I didn't and you'll never see the pictures of me trying).  The mini machine measures about four feet and is recommended for ages 4-7.  This one is a pedal version (approx. $200), but they also come battery-powered (approx. $425).  Checkered Flag can order one for you and have it in a few days, but with the holiday season already upon us, we recommend ordering sooner than later.

Other colors and models are available (some for different ages) and prices on those vary.  Stop by Checkered Flag BMW's parts and accesories department and pick up a free BMW Lifestyle catalog.  It's 60 pages of toys and models, apparel, watches, sunglasses, luggage, bikes and other BMW merchandise.

Get Your Kit Together!

My super-sized Thanksgiving holiday covered many many miles of road, much of it in a large and congested metropolitan area. In typical holiday travel fashion, and partly due to some particularly soggy weather, I witnessed the aftermath of more than a few accidents. It got me asking whether or not I was prepared for the winter/holiday driving season and the unfortunate events that do sometimes occur. I looked around my car and realized, sadly, that I was not. Save for some mints, a tire pressure gauge and some wadded up napkins from my most recent fast food trip, I had virtually nothing that would have assisted me had I been one of the unfortunate folks delayed on the side of the road. In that spirit...

Here’s a great emergency roadside kit checklist from MSN Autos and Consumer Reports.

Take fifteen minutes to get this stuff together. You probably already have everything, just not in one place!

Is Honda's FCX Clarity the Wave of the Future?

I am completely obsessed with Honda’s FCX Clarity. I’m sure that if Einstein were alive, he would own this car. The FCX Clarity is a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Say that ten times fast. What that means is that it’s not a hybrid because it doesn’t use gasoline at all. It’s also not an electric car that you plug-in to recharge the battery. It does have an electric motor but the electricity is generated by the fuel cell in the vehicle. The fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and emits only water vapor and heat. The vehicle has a full cabin, all the standard features of a "normal" Honda (airbags, GPS capability, MP3 compatibility, rear view camera, etc.), comfy seats made with material derived from plants, even a great dash that features a power output meter that measures energy use. It comes in a deep metallic red color (Honda calls it Star Garnet). The range is about 270 miles.

The good news is that this is not science fiction or some super secret project set to be ready in 25 years. Honda will begin leasing the FCX Clarity NEXT SUMMER!

The bad news is that only a select number of vehicles will be available to lease, and only in certain Southern California locations. The reason is that, as you have probably noticed, there are not many hydrogen fuel stations elsewhere in the country.

No word yet on when the FCX Clarity will go mainstream. The Checkered Blog will keep you posted!

Here’s the New York Times take on the FCX...and some more from USA Today...

Meet CF's Amanda Crews

What is your name? Amanda Christine Crews.

What do you do at Checkered Flag?  I am the switchboard team-lead.

How long have you worked at Checkered Flag? Two years.

Which Hampton Roads city or county do you live in?  Virginia Beach.

How  long have you lived in Hampton Roads?  I have lived here my whole life.  (A whopping 19 yearsJ)

What are your hobbies? I love to read and spend time with my husband; we just got married in June. (Editor's note: This picture is of Amanda and her husband Shawn.)

What is your favorite restaurant?  Well, I love food, and I LOVE pasta, but I can pretty much eat anywhere.

What is in your MP3 player (or CD player) right now?  I am not sure, but I know it is something country.

What movie have you seen most recently?  Knocked Up and Ratatouille.

What pets do you have?  My baby's name is Toby and he is a chihuahua.

What is one thing about you that people would be surprised to know?  People are always very surprised to know that I am married.

What is one invention you couldn't live without? Drive-thru and curbside-to-go. Without them, I would never eat, because I don't ever have time to cook at home.

What is the best thing about working for Checkered Flag? I really love the people that I work with.

Furgles Fun Find at CF Toyota-Scion

Today's the day many of us head out to start looking for holiday gifts ... and Win'sGal and I think a Furgle might the perfect present for someone on your list ... we'd never seen them before we visited the parts and accessories boutique at Checkered Flag Toyota-Scion earlier this week, but parts representative Mike Ehrmann says they are already flying off the shelves ... and these photos should show you why ... they are REALLY CUTE!

So what is a Furgle?  On the outside, it appears to be simply a stuffed toy ... but, in fact, it zips open to hold 24 CDs or DVDs. 

"The great thing is that you can fill it up with CDs and DVDs and throw it in the back seat, and anyone who looks in your car thinks it's just a toy," Mike says.  "They have no idea what's in there."

Furgles have been around for several years and Checkered Flag Toyota-Scion sold 42 of them last holiday season.  They are $14 and come in pink, blue, and green.  So, do stop in at Checkered Flag Toyota-Scion and check them out!

What Are You Doing on Thanksgiving?

Ray Aiden, sales consultant, Checkered Flag Toyota: "I am going to attempt to cook the turkey.  It's 10 pounds and I got the recipe from my mother-in-law.  My nine-year-old son wants to eat Thanksgiving dinner at home and I said I would make the turkey.  If it doesn't work out, our back-up plan is PB&J."

Consetta Hawk, cashier, Checkered Flag Jaguar-Porsche-Audi: "I am going to Roper, North Carolina to be with my family.  It's about a two-and-a-half-hour drive.  My stepmother is going to make the dinner, but I will probably help her. We have family coming from New York. There should be about 50 people there."

Don Robinson, parts consultant, Checkered Flag Jaguar-Porsche-Audi: "I'll be watching the Dallas Cowboys game. I'm going to my mom's house for dinner.  We'll have turkey, dressing, ham, sweet potatoes.  There will be about 15 people there."

Karin Hervet, receptionist, Checkered Flag Body Shop: "My mother and my sister are coming from Ohio, from a town called Ashley.  They're going to make dinner for me and they are probably going to shop for it before they come.  It will be the traditional turkey dinner."

FYI, Checkered Flag will be closed Thanksgiving Day and back open with regular hours on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Checkered Flag!

Make CF's Parts & Accessories Depts. One of Your Holiday Shopping Stops

Stuffed toys, golf bags, pedal cars ... these are a very few of the many cool things Win'sGal and I found at Checkered Flag's parts and accessories boutiques this week.  We'd been hearing that they offer a lot of interesting stuff and so yesterday, we decided to sneak out of the office (actually, we were pretty brazen about it) to see for ourselves.  We discovered that there are, of course, all sorts of items for customizing vehicles ... but what surprised us was how many other kinds of goodies there are.

We found this stylish espresso set at the Porsche boutique at Checkered Flag Jaguar-Porsche-Audi.  The four cups and matching saucers are decorated with vintage Porsche themes, but the coffee-lover on your gift list wouldn't need to be a Porsche owner to enjoy these distinctive pieces.  The set is dishwasher-safe and priced at $75.

Something else that caught our eye at the Porsche boutique was this T-shirt that shows Stirling Moss leaping into a Porsche 550 A Spyder.  It's another  gift that, like the espresso set, would be fun to have even if you don't have a Porsche.  The details on this: men's sizes small through XXL, 100% cotton, $48.

Besides what's on the boutique's brimming shelves, you can leaf through the 124-page Porsche Design Driver's Selection catalogue. I have to confess I did not get much farther than page 5, which is the beginning of the Swarovski collection of jewelry, watches, and women's tops decorated with the famous crystals.  BTW, anything you order from the catalogue will arrive within two to three business days.

Whew ... this was just ONE of Checkered Flag's parts and accessories boutiques.  In coming days, we will tell you about cool stuff we found at the others.  And we suggest you take a moment and stop in at them, too, because you very well may find that perfect gift!

I'm Dreaming of a Red Christmas!

This week, full of festivities, family, football and food, marks the beginning of the holiday season, at least for me (although, if you've been out shopping lately, then you know that stores have been in the swing of things since, seemingly, June).  I always indulge in a little fantasy holiday shopping prior to the abundance of thankfullness I have on Thursday.  My make believe wish list this year includes either of the two following vehicles from Checkered Flag...which also happen to fit in nicely with my idea of Thanksgiving because I am very thankful that they still make cars like this...small, fast, red, and worth dreaming about...

BMW Z4                                                            Jaguar XK

                                                                                    

smart center VB Update: Facility Taking Shape Quickly

smart center Virginia Beach continues on course for its scheduled opening the last week of February.  Architect Jerry Smith with Lyall Design is working on the project and this afternoon, he told me that "the masonry and the steelwork are almost complete.  We anticipate the slab will be finished by the end of November."  The dealership is rising on the site of the former Sofa's Etc. at 5193 Virginia Beach Boulevard and Jerry says the construction crew "is working in the rain and on weekends" to keep the pace of progress brisk.  We took these pictures today and you can see that the facility is really starting to take shape.

Checkered Flag is the region's smart dealer candidate and senior vice president Steve Snyder is just back from a national smart USA meeting -- he says excitement continues to run high across the country about the microcar's arrival in the United States in the first quarter of 2008.  If the smart fortwo is of interest to you, you may make a refundable $99 reservation on smart USA's web site.  And count on us at the Checkered Blog to keep you posted on what's going on!