By Sue Mead

Different, but the Same

El Capitan Canyon Campground, California: It was a brilliant move for GMC ! Do something distinctive to introduce the 2014 Sierra to U.S. autowriters—because, really, the truck really isn’t that much different. What we mean is this: The news was already out on GM’s light trucks, with the intro of the Chevy Silverado  (http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-pickup-trucks.html), with more than 130 auto evaluators driving the Silverado at the Knibbe Ranch in Texas recently. So, GMC decided to put a clever and different footprint in the sand, with a ride and drive of the more upscale Sierra along the Pacific Coast in southern Califonria, inviting a smaller group of 30 to try out the truck the way many of its buyers might use it: touring, towing, and ‘glamping.’ (In case you haven’t heard—or done it-this is a term for glamorous camping!)

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 in the United States to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on that day in 1777. The U.S. Army, founded by Congress in 1775, also celebrates it birthday on this date.

President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1916 to officially establish June 14 as Flag Day, and while it is not an official federal holiday, an Act of Congress officially established National Flag Day in August 1949. American citizens are encouraged to fly their Stars & Stripes every year on June 14.

If you don’t already have one, consider picking up a flag for your car for such special patriotic occasions. The Fourth of July is just around the corner and Amazon.com has a large collection of affordable choices that could be delivered in plenty of time for that holiday.

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Most of us car gals learned about cars at the hip of our fathers while they were working on their own cars. Some of us learned to appreciate cars because we had brothers or boyfriends or husbands who were into them. With Father’s Day around the corner, it’s a good time to show some appreciation to the men who shared their automotive knowledge with us. According to the Car Care Council, almost 70 percent of men do some kind of work on their rides, making an automotive-related item a great go-to gift choice. Whether he is your dad, husband, or other special man, here are some ideas for car-care-related gifts you can give him on Father’s Day.

Considering taking the family off in the car for fun and adventure on the road this summer? There are many great things about summer but few can match the fun of a family vacation road trip. Before you go, be sure to peruse this interactive infographic created by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (the federal agency tasked with improving our nation’s automotive safety).

A few months ago, I went to Salt Lake City, Utah, to participate in a Nitto Ride 'n Drive media event that being held at Miller Motorsports Park. I didn’t know what to expect, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised during my experience. Even though this was a winter driving event, because this week is tire safety awareness week, I feel it is a good time to share what I learned there.

As Oklahoma residents struggle to rebuild their lives after May’s devastating tornadoes, auto manufacturers are stepping up to provide assistance and donations for relief services. Storms that have swept through the Oklahoma City area have generated two rare EF5 tornadoes -- the strongest storms on Earth -- and significant flooding from heavy rains. Damage from the May 20th Moore tornado may top $2 billion, according to the Associated Press. The May 31st El Reno tornado was the widest ever recorded, according to the National Weather Service. Tragic images show large swaths of damaged or destroyed homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. Countless cars and trucks were tossed around like toys. More than 50 deaths and 500 injuries have been reported.

Kia previewed the 2014 Cadenza luxury sedan at L’Auberge Del Mar, an intimate resort outside of San Diego, California that sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. The property has 121 rooms with private balconies or patios and marble bathrooms, two lighted tennis courts, a spa and fitness center, an outdoor pool and hot tub and a verdant garden path that winds down to the ocean. The property once hosted the glitter of Hollywood in its glory days, including Lucy and Desi Arnaz, Bing Crosby and Esther Williams. The resort, like the Cadenza, is comfortable, stylish and carries the assurance of a long-standing institution. Kia Motors America (KMA) recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year.

By Sue Mead

Knibbe Ranch, Spring Branch, Texas: This celebrated cattle ranch in the Hill Country of Texas was the perfect place for ‘The General’ to get back in the saddle! Now launching its next-generation pickup trucks, General Motors is truly back in the truck wars and hosted the first drive of its all-new 2014 Chevy Silverado at this working ranch that has been used for a handful of years as the proving grounds to evaluate the country’s top trucks each fall, in an annual shoot-out sponsored by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA).