Dale Earnhardt fans will get one last chance to experience DALE on the big screen, produced by NASCAR Images and CMT Films and presented through National CineMedia's Fathom. The new and only Earnhardt family authorized documentary on "The Intimidator" has been showing in theatres along the NASCAR race circuit, and will cross the finish line in a special one-night nationwide event on Thursday, July 19th at 7:30 p.m. local time in select AMC, Regal Entertainment Group, and Georgia Theatre Company movie theatres across the nation.

Now NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt fans across the country will be able to see the new story of racing's largest personality through his own words and images, followed by never-before-seen footage, interviews, deleted scenes, and more that are exclusive to this special event and were not presented in prior screenings. Tickets for this one night event are available now for $10.00 at www.FathomEvents.com   and at participating movie theatre box offices. For a complete list of theatre locations, please visit the www.FathomEvents.com website (theatres are subject to change).

Sheilas' Wheels has developed the 'Sheila Driving Heel' which promises to give women the best of both worlds - a safe, flat driving shoe and a glamorous pair of heels in one - all interchangeable at a push of a button. The shoe concept aims to make women safer and more comfortable behind the wheel, without compromising on their style. We found their press release here at the www.ilovesheilas.com website.

Apparently, more than 11.5 million women drivers in the United Kingdom are putting themselves and other drivers at risk by wearing the wrong footwear when behind the wheel, according to new research from Sheilas' Wheels - the car insurer for British women. Sheilas' Wheels commissioned YouGov to speak to 754 female drivers during May 2007 to research their 'Safe Shoes' Report.

Their findings show:
One in ten (10%) female motorists admit that they have had a car accident or a 'near-miss' because of their shoes slipping off or getting stuck between, or under, the foot pedals while driving.

At the recent AskPatty.com Caffeine and Cars event on Motorati, we had a great showing of car enthusiasts. After chatting about favorite cars we discovered we all had a mutual adoration for the now-defunct Mazda RX-7! Who knew! Well, some of our pals pulled out some high prim cars and the impromptu car show started! Amanda Shinji of Parkade, Patty Streeter, Breanne Beck, Mug Wildung from Campfire, Sennaspirit Coronet of Voxant.com and many others were all there!

See what else Ask Patty is up to in Motorati!

Ask Patty's Caffeine and Cars started out with a great turnout of both guys and gals!

Amanda Shinji of Parkade brought out her xBeast and boy, she wasn't kidding!

Amanda Shinji wasn't through! She pulled out this little buggie made from a Pontiac Solstice!

Provided by AOL Autos
We all know that a new car loses a significant amount of its value when you drive it off the lot. That's where the down payment -- the amount of cash you bring to the purchase -- comes in.

The down payment can demonstrate to a lender that you're willing to make an investment in the deal, and perhaps gain a more favorable interest rate. It also helps take some of the shock out of the instant depreciation so you're not "upside down'' on your loan for years and years.

Upside down
What's it mean to be "upside down?'' You learned in an earlier chapter that it's the industry term for a car owner who owes more on a vehicle than it's worth. Almost every new car -- and most used-cars -- transactions involve a period of being upside down on the loan. After all, if you put 10 or even 20 percent down on a car and it depreciates 25 percent in the first three months, you're upside down, at least for awhile.

But where it gets worrisome is when the owner remains upside down three and even four years into a loan. You've also seen earlier how some folks make matters worse by rolling the old car's remaining debt into a new loan. They're forced to pay interest and make payments on a car they don't even own anymore. And tacking the extra debt on their new auto loan puts them upside down all over again.

I have to admit that I have always felt that the H3 was nothing more than a Trailblazer with a lot of added plastic. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong.  The H3 Alpha was able to do everything its bigger brother, the H2, could do and in some cases did it better.  This little package not only brings the extreme off-road capabilities that the H2 possesses but also has the same turning radius of a Toyota Camry!  This vehicle was very impressive and, considering the base price is just over $30,000, this is a vehicle worth taking for a test drive.

For most of us the H2 is financially out of reach, but the H3 was designed with women in mind. It was designed for women who are looking for a vehicle that can get them where they need to be safely.  In the past few years we have seen dramatic changes in the weather across the country and I have seen more natural disasters than I can recall. This vehicle can provide you an added level of security if you live in an area prone to weather issues.

Personally living in south Florida and experiencing several hurricanes I am always thinking about safety and the big “what if” when it comes to strong storms.   From my experience I can tell you that there is not much that can stop the H3 Alpha and if you are looking for SUV that is not only safe but extremely capable this is one vehicle that you should check out.  When you look at the features and creature comforts provided in this small package - with a remarkably low price tag - the H3 Alpha provides a ton of bang for the buck.

By Peter Martin
CEO, AskPatty.com

Congratulations to Kim Harris Jones, Vice President - Product, Procurement Cost Management Finance, Chrysler Group,  who was honored with this year's Peter C. Thorp Corporate Leadership Award by The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management during their 41st Annual Orientation Program and Career Forum in Indianapolis. She is the first African-American, female Vice President at Chrysler to be recognized for her outstanding accomplishments.

The Peter C. Thorp Corporate Leadership Award is presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated evidence of support of MBA fellowships, leadership as a corporate champion of ethnic diversity, supporting innovative approaches to solving problems related to equal employment opportunities and being recognized by peers as a leader and champion of diversity.

"Chrysler is proud of Kim's achievements, contributions and outstanding leadership," said Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, Chrysler Group. "Kim is a true champion of diversity at Chrysler and it is a great honor to have her accomplishments recognized by an organization that is committed to continued education and diversity in the workplace."

Check out this video of a Hyundai commercial:

Hyundai has the gall to say this in their commercial: “Who in the world doesn’t want to be smart? The whole human race wants to be smart. Even guys who aren’t smart wish they were smart.” Excuse our french, but what the blazes is THAT supposed to mean?!

The Seattle Stranger's SLOG put it best:
"Einstein, Kennedy, the Wright Brothers, and the Professor on Gilligan’s Island is the best you can do? Cause white dudes are the only people in history who’ve ever proven to be smart? Would it kill you to flash a picture or two of her, her, her, or her?

Besides that, when you’re showing images of the “everyday smart man,” where is the female teacher? The female doctor? Or even the mom? Moms can be smart! Not too smart if you ask me. Not that you would… I’m just a girl."

We absolutely agree. Where do they get off? It would be one thing if they only showed smart men in history in their montage (sure, blame it on the video guy - maybe that's all he had on his computer), but to literally use the words guy, men, he, him, his without any thought to the fact that you are leaving out not only the majority of the humans living in the free world, but the actual MAJORITY of car buyers - women?

Tsk tsk Hyundai. And here we were supporters of your excellent cars, great warranties, and fabulous prices... makes it a bit hard to go out and buy one now, don't you think ladies?

So you're off on the big family road trip... or maybe you're still planning the big family road trip; or maybe you just returned from the big family road trip. Have you thought about how you're going to document, edit, and then share your fun vacation story with your friends and family?

Here's a cool article at Internet Video Magazine  that shows you how to shoot, edit, and share your videos, thanks to a free guide that makes it easy for families, video amateurs, and kids to create their own summer vacation movies and share it on the 'net.

"Most people shoot video of their vacation and it does not go anywhere, the tapes just sit on a shelf and no one ever gets to see them," said Mark Shapiro, Editor in Chief at Internet Video Magazine. "Nowadays, transferring and editing video is easy - putting it up on a free video sharing site like YouTube, MySpace, or Divx Stage6 is simple and safe. Families have no excuse to not share their vacations with the relatives."

by Lori Shapiro
I've never been a car girl.  When coworkers would start to describe and compare their cars or discuss which car they wanted when they made a million dollars, I would stop listening.  I could care less.   A car was a vehicle to get from one place to another but I never felt this car love that others had.

Growing up my father was a salesman.  He would get a new Buick every year or so and we  had trouble remembering what his most recent car looked like.  My mother always drove a big station wagon.  The one I recall the best was an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser complete with wood panel styling.  We used to call it the "S.S. Belle" because it was such a boat.  All three children learned to drive in it.  It survived many family road trips and sporting events.

When I was in college I didn't even want a car like all my friends did.  When I was home I would just use my parent's car or sometimes my brother's beat up old "Yellow Bean" Volvo.  I didn't drive it very well because it had a tricky clutch and I was distracted by the honks from Dead Heads noticing his bumper stickers.
 
So it should come as no surprise that, when I HAD to buy a car because my job moved to a place that I couldn't get to by public transportation, I wasn't sure what to get.  I went with the inexpensive, practical, good gas mileage, small, Toyota Corolla.  Having a car stressed me out.  I was worried about it and feared I would do something wrong.  After awhile I grew mildly attached to it, naming the car "Candy Apple" based on its maroon-ish color.  I took it on trips and on errands.  I felt cool owning a stick shift and liked that it never broke down.
  

Or risk becoming irrevelant if they don't involve women in their decisions. Them's some fightin' words, but we are ready to take arms up with you Anne!

According to Automotive News, that is one of the views car designer Anne Asensio shared when she addressed the Automotive News Europe Congress.

Asensio went on to state: "Since women play such a crucial role purchase decisions, the industry doesn't need cars designed for women but by women."

Asensio, ANE's 1997 Woman of the Year, said that females are not discouraged from entering the automotive industry, but more needs to be done to retain them.

The Automotive News goes on to report that Asensio created the Renault Scenic concept in the early 1990s. Her most recent project before she left General Motors two months ago was managing the design team that created the Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric hybrid.