Virginia Beach Dealers

Checkered Flag Porsche Excited About News of the New 911 Turbo

Each year outdoing itself in style and sheer power, the Porsche 911 Turbo is setting trails on fire.  As if all of us didn't want one of these amazing machines before, hearing about this amazing drive the vehicle had at Nurburgring is enough to make one salivate.  This vehicle has always been on my radar as a favorite, but this sounds amazing.  I think that a test drive must be in order once this vehicle comes into the area.  I also might have to drive the 2012, just for good measure.

The Yet-to-be-Launched Porsche 911 Turbo Destroys the Nurburgring
by Phillip Harbor

The new Porsche 991 911 Turbo looks and sounds fantastic on the famed German racetrack.

The Nurburgring has proven time and again a solid proving ground for automakers to test out their latest models. The famed German track recently played host to the new Porsche 911 991-era Turbo Coupe and Convertible as they were put through their paces. The new Porsche 911 Turbo will produce an output slightly above the 530hp and 516lb-ft of torque of the current Turbo S. The twin-turbo flat-six engine will be mated to an upgraded PDK-S dual clutch transmission or a seven-speed manual gearbox.
 
The 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe will make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show while the Convertible version should make its debut shortly thereafter.
Source: [carbuzz.com]

I wish that Paris in the fall was on my travel schedule so that I could see this amazing vehicle first hand.  Anyone want to take a trip? I hear the weather is beautiful in France at the end of September. 

This Porsche is going to be an amazing site.  Make your test drive plans today and call Checkered Flag Porsche, your Virginia Beach Porsche dealer at (757) 490-1111 to get more information on this and other vehicles in stock and coming for the 2013 model year.

Patriotic Festival This Weekend in Virginia Beach

What are you going to do this weekend?

Why not check out the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival for great music and the Blue Angels. 

JUNE 1
Patriotic Festival (Show Center at 5th Street & Oceanfront, Virginia Beach. Gates open at 5pm, show begins at 7pm) Concert featuring Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies. Free admission- VIP tickets available for purchase at Ticketmaster for Air Show & Concerts.

JUNE 2
Patriotic Festival (Show Center at 5th Street & Oceanfront, Virginia Beach. Gates open at 5pm, show begins at 7pm) Concert Performance by Steel Pulse. Free admission - VIP tickets available for purchase at Ticketmaster for Air Show & Concerts.

JUNE 3
Patriotic Festival (Show Center at 5th Street & Oceanfront, Virginia Beach. Gates open at 4pm, show begins at 5pm) Concert Performance by Scotty McCreery. Free admission with VIP tickets for purchase at Ticketmaster for Air Show & Concerts.

For upcoming Hampton Roads events, stay tuned to the home of your premier Virginia Beach new and used car dealers, Checkered Flag.com. 

I-264 In line for a facelift this summer

Been wondering if you'll ever be able to drive down I-264 without your coffee bouncing out of your cup?

Many of our Checkered Flag fans were outraged last week to see expensive new road signs appear along our Hampton Roads interstates to help non-resident tourists “reach the beach.”  It’s not that the signs are bothersome, or even a bad idea.  We are simply frustrated that the money wasn’t put toward a long-overdue project of patching up I-264.
 
The pothole-stricken stretch of I-264 has become a joke to locals.  One radio DJ laughed, “only in Hampton Roads would you find an interstate with speed bumps.” 

Well, it looks like relief may be on the way. 

VDOT spending $26 million for Interstate 264 repairs

By Sarah Hutchins
The Virginian-Pilot  May 31, 2012

VIRGINIA BEACH

Multimillion-dollar improvement projects should bring relief starting this year to drivers - and cars - traveling a 10-mile stretch of pothole-pocked Interstate 264.

The bumpy path ushering tourists and locals to and from the Oceanfront has frustrated many commuters.

"My dad asks me why I bought a nice car in this city," said Virginia Beach resident Ashley Knepper, who pulled her Mercedes into a 7-Eleven near the interstate Wednesday.

While Knepper has never had a problem driving on the highway, she said she uses it frequently enough that its condition concerns her.

That could start changing as early as August. The Virginia Department of Transportation announced Wednesday it could begin work then on an estimated $26 million project to improve the interstate from Witchduck Road near the west end of the city to the entrance of the resort area.

Construction also means drivers should expect traffic delays and overnight lane closures, said Brooke Grow, a VDOT spokeswoman.

The work should result in a smoother drive for commuters, Grow said. While the interstate meets state and federal standards, she said the department is aware the pavement is in bad shape.

"We know it's in poor condition," Grow said. "We just haven't had the funding."

The majority of the improvements will be state-funded, Grow said, with $9 million coming from federal funds.

Crews will replace the knobby surface with a smooth one. In some spots, they'll add an overlay to improve the quality of the ride. Curbs, barriers and guardrails will be replaced or upgraded. Drainage also will be improved to try to eliminate standing water, she said.

The work will be accomplished as three separate projects, Grow said.

One will affect the eastbound lanes from Witchduck Road to Lynnhaven Parkway. Another will improve the east and westbound lanes from Lynnhaven Parkway to where the interstate ends at Parks Avenue. The final project completes the work with enhancements to the eastbound lanes from Lynnhaven Parkway to London Bridge Road and westbound lanes from London Bridge to Witchduck.
The department is in the process of selecting contractors for the work, Grow said.

Until then, expect to see a smaller project under way. This week, crews are beginning to repair barrier walls at three spots between Witchduck Road and Mount Trashmore. The $1.1 million job will result in the closing of single lanes and shoulders, according to VDOT.

Back at the 7-Eleven, a handful of drivers welcomed the news about improvements to the interstate.

"That would be a definite good," said Paul Yeater of Virginia Beach.

Others filling their tanks couldn't specify a problem with the interstate but were quick to offer suggestions for other roads to repair.

Many began, "You know where the real problem is .. "

article end.

Keep tuned to the home of your favorite Hampton Roads new and used car stores, Checkered Flag, at CheckeredFlag.com for the latest Hampton Roads traffic reports.

Article and image source:[pilotonline.com]

Place your vote for Toyota's 100 Cars for Good Giveaway

Use your clicks for good today!

Please take a moment today to visit the Toyota 100 Cars for Good site and vote for the nonprofit organization that you feel best deserves a new Toyota car or truck. 

Today, Checkered Flag Toyota is voting for Venture Outdoors in Pittsburg, PA.  They are one of five finalists that you can vote for until 11:59pm today.  Venture Outdoors is hoping for a new Toyota Tundra truck.  Let's help them get one!

See today’s finalists and place your vote at the following link:  Toyota 100 Cars for Good

Good luck to all of the well-deserving groups!

Toyota is giving away 100 cars to nonprofits, and your votes will help us do it.
Each day for 100 days, online voters will choose which of five nonprofits will take home a new set of wheels. The organization who receives the most votes at the end of the day takes home a brand new Toyota.

Checkered Flag Gives Most Up To Date Information About Italian Earthquake

Source: [huffingtonpost.co.uk]

Here is the most recent information regarding the tragic earthquake in Italy. 

Italian quake toll rises to 17, last victim found
(AP) - 7 hours ago 

MIRANDOLA, Italy (AP) - Italian rescue workers removed the last earthquake victim from the rubble Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 17 as the government approved measures to rebuild the quake-hit area so crucial to Italy's economic health.

The magnitude 5.8 temblor north of Bologna on Tuesday felled old buildings and new factories and warehouses alike, many of them already weakened by a stronger quake May 20 that measured 6.0 and killed seven people.

In both quakes, the death toll was disproportionately workers toiling in factories, leading to some questions about Italy's building codes or possible corruption.

"I remember with sorrow the deaths in Emilia, who died while working, mostly workers but also entrepreneurs," Interior Minister Anna Maria Cancellieri said in Rome.

Premier Mario Monti has promised the government would do whatever is necessary to rebuild the region. On Wednesday, the government approved measures, including raising the price of gas by .02 cents a liter, to begin the reconstruction of homes, businesses and historic structures, including many churches, in the stricken area.

Crews on Wednesday pulled the last body from the rubble of a factory in the town of Medolla. Three others also died in the structure. Civil Protection authorities in Rome say no one else is known to be missing.

The quake, which also injured some 350 people, dealt another blow to one of the country's most productive regions at a time when Italy is struggling to restart its anemic economy amid Europe's debt crisis. Italy's economic growth has been stagnant for at least a decade and the economy is forecast to contract by 1.2 percent this year.

The area encompassing the northern cities of Modena, Mantua and Bologna is prized for its super car production, churning out Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis; its world-famous Parmesan cheese, and less well-known but critical to the economy - its machinery companies.

The ground continued to shake through the night, rattling the nerves of residents. Many spent the night in tent camps or their cars, too afraid to sleep at home.

In the tent camp, residents had basic needs met but carried profound scars.

"I had a psychological breakdown," said Annalisa Caiazzo, 34, from Mirandola near Modena as she began her day in a makeshift tent camp. "After so many aftershocks, I did not expect that everything would have restarted again. We are all collapsed."

Civil protection coordinator Carmine Lizza said counselors were on hand to help rattled residents who have lived through two terrifying quakes in two weeks in an area not considered particularly quake-prone.

"They will need weeks to recover, because the earthquake is a deep wound," Lizza said.
Source: [www.google.com]

For updates on most up to date news, stay tuned to the home of your favorite Hampton Roads new and used car stores, Checkeredflag.com.

Checkered Flag Gets Your Car Summer Ready

About 90% of the US is planning their summer vacation, are you?  The Slegar bunch is taking the good ol' Griswold family vacation, cross the country in the family wagon.  Of course we are driving more in style with our Honda Pilot with DVD player and XM radio, but it is a cross country trip none the less. 

I had to start thinking of our car baby and making sure it would be okay to make the trip.  What steps should I take to ensure that we get from point A to point B, then back again.  Outside the normal maintenance prescribed by my owner's manual, what should I do?

Well, here are a few things to start with-
Make sure you have the fluids to their appropriate levels.  If they are not, schedule to have one of our technicians at Checkered Flag take a look at it. 

Make sure your tires have enough tread life and the right pressure.  I don't want to get half the way across this great country and have a flat tire.  I am not going to be part of any spooky summer thriller movie!  Rotating your tires every other oil change will ensure that your tread lasts longer and that the tires wear evenly.  A pressure gauge is a great tool to have in your glove box and your owner's manual (usually the back couple of pages) has all your pressure information. 

Make sure that your windshield wipers are good to go.  Summer storms bring horribly hard rain.  You don't want to get stuck in one of those downpours with insufficient wipers.  Please don't be one of those drivers on the HRBT who can't see and has to drive 5 miles per hour.  Turn your wipers on, and if you see streaks, then you should probably have them replaced.  Your owner's manual will show you what wipers you need, as will your Checkered Flag parts technician.  They can advise on the best wipers for your vehicle.

So, once you have worried about all the inner workings of the car and the safety stuff, then the next step is making sure you are riding in style.  No one should go on vacation with a filthy dirty, French fry filled mobile!  Get your car cleaned.  A once a year detail will make sure that the interior and exterior of your car looks great, but also stays looking great for many years to come. 



Everyone is working on getting their bathing suit bodies back in condition, now work a bit on the car that will get you there.  Take care of your driveway baby, and she will take care of you. 

If you have any questions about getting your car/truck in the best summer condition, please call Checkered Flag service at (757) 490-1111. 

Have a fun and safe trip this summer.

New Hampton Roads Road Signs are Optimistic

Coming back on 168 from the Outer Banks this weekend, I noticed a pretty interesting new road sign.  Lit up numbers let me know that it would take 39 minutes to leave the Southside through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel or 38 minutes through the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. 

Nifty. 

Except for one thing.

Some signs are only able to display two digits at a time.  That means, the longest traffic time the sign would display is 99 minutes.  While optimistic on VDOT’s part, all of our Checkered Flag customers know, the wait in the HRBT traffic can easily climb to over two hours on a bad day, or, even a typical day.  So, not only did these signs cost some unsightly amount to us residents, they also cannot possibly be entirely accurate. 

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who finds the new signs laughable.  This morning, The Virginian Pilot writer, Mike Gruss came up with some signs he thought would be more appropriate. 







Unfortunately, I cannot offer any relief from the Hampton Roads traffic of our oncoming busy season, but, Checkered Flag can find ways to make the waiting in traffic a lot more comfortable.   Visit any of our seven Virginia Beach Blvd car locations, or call (757)490-1111 for more information. 

Keep tuned in to CheckeredFlag.com, the home of your favorite Hampton Roads new and used car dealerships, for more breaking traffic news. 

Photo (I-64)source:[dailypress.com]
Image source: [pilotonline.com] 

New Member of the Family, Katie Slegar

Hello, my name is Katie Slegar and I LOVE cars!  I am the newest kid on the CheckeredFlag.com team.

To give you some info about me,  I am old enough to not want to tell you how old I am, a mom of 2 kiddos that make me crazy, a husband and a black lab mix pup.  We are a crazy household of creatures, but they keep me on my toes.  I am from Oklahoma “Where the wind goes sweeping down the plains.”  I have lived in Japan, England and here in VA twice; thanks to the US Navy and being a Navy Brat.  I feel privileged to be able to call myself one, but watch out if anyone else does.  “Them’s fightin’ words.”   I come from a family of car enthusiasts.  We love fast, old, new, cool, sporty, useful and all other acronyms that you can use to describe every vehicle in the world.  My dad and I used to play the “name that car game.”  I got pretty good, or at least good enough to beat my husband and every other person in the family.  I am the car geek in the family.  I hope that in my love of all things automotive I can help give you the most up-to-date car news and information you seek.

I joined the CheckeredFlag.com crew to help you journey your way through the world oh automobiles and share my many years of car wisdom-that’s a joke by the way.  But truly, I love cars.  I love talking about them; or talking in general.  I love looking at cars, researching them, and helping people find what they want and need.  It is because of this love that I worked with Checkered Flag Honda selling cars for 2 years.  At that time, I met my hubby, had a baby and began working with the Checkered Flag customer care center.  There I had the amazing opportunity to work with Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, VW, Mini, smart, Jaguar, Porsche, and Audi.  That is a mouthful, but oh goodness was it a great time.  I was able to come to work every day and talk to people with the same passion for fast metal as me. 

I am so happy that I get the opportunity to work with the wonderful people at Checkered Flag again, and to get the opportunity to share my love with you.  Thanks for letting me dribble on.  Hope that I entertain/enlighten you and please excuse my terrible sense of humor.

New Hampton Roads Road Signs are Optimistic

Coming back on 168 from the Outer Banks this weekend, I noticed a pretty interesting new road sign.  Lit up numbers let me know that it would take 39 minutes to leave the Southside through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel or 38 minutes through the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. 

Nifty. 

Except for one thing.

Some signs are only able to display two digits at a time.  That means, the longest traffic time the sign would display is 99 minutes.  While optimistic on VDOT’s part, all of our Checkered Flag customers know, the wait for the HRBT can easily climb to over two hours on a bad day, or, even a typical day.  So, not only did these signs cost some unsightly amount to us residents, they also cannot possibly be entirely accurate. 

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who finds the new signs laughable.  This morning, The Virginian Pilot writer, Mike Gruss came up with some signs he thought would be more appropriate. 







Unfortunately, I cannot offer any relief from the traffic of our oncoming busy season, but, Checkered Flag can find ways to make the waiting in traffic a lot more comfortable.   Visit any of our seven Virginia Beach Blvd car locations, or call (757)490-1111 for more information. 

Keep tuned in to CheckeredFlag.com, the home of your favorite Hampton Roads new and used car dealerships, for more breaking traffic news. 

Photo (I-64)source:[dailypress.com]
Image source: [pilotonline.com] 

Camry and Corolla Deals This Memorial Day Weekend at Checkered Flag

This Memorial Day weekend is a very important holiday for our Hampton Roads Toyota fans.  In our military-concentrated area, Memorial Day is an important time to celebrate. 




As a big thank you to our customers, Checkered Flag has several great Memorial Day Toyota sales going on through Monday.  At Checkered Flag Toyota, new 2012 Camry and Corollas are available for a steal! 




And, on top of the great pricing, your premier Virginia Beach Toyota store is throwing in a widescreen LG HDTV with any new 2012 Camry or Corolla purchase. 

Call Checkered Flag Toyota at (757)490-1111 for more information, or to set up your test drive.