The Driver's Seat

Only in America!

2007-08-10T13:04:00.000-04:00

Hi All,

We've been pretty booked around here during a time when it supposed be quiet! Demand for our test drive videos and new vehicle profiles has been tremendous. People are discovering that using WheelsTV videos is the only way to shop for a new car!

My wife, Karen, and I did have a chance to break away during the July 4th holiday and had a great time in Maine! Here are some photos of what can only happen in America!

This parade in the little town of Round Pond drew thousands of area folks and hundreds of particpants. Even Uncle Sam showed up!

But, to top off this spectacular vehicular salute to America's independence, an actual wedding took place as the groom rode to the bride's home, which was on the parade route, on a beautifully decorated float...

When the float arrived at the bride's house, she joined her man on the float and, with a minister presiding, a bridal party and hundreds of onlookers, they were wed!

So, if you are ever near the rocky shores of Maine on the fourth of July, be sure to head for Round Pond to enjoy a parade like you've never seen before!

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim

WheelsTV Selects Chrome to Represent Top 200

2007-05-19T11:18:00.000-04:00

Some of you may have seen the press announcement a few days ago. It states that WheelsTV has picked Chrome Systems to represent our programs in the marketplace. What makes this so exciting for WheelsTV and for Chrome is that our best in class video test drives and other new products, which I'll cover in a minute, will now be available to millions more consumers who are shopping for a new car. If you have not viewed one of the over 200 Top 200 Video Test Drives yet you can find them at a number of top web portals such as AOL, MSN, Vehix and Comcast.net. Or, if you have Video on Demand on your cable service you can find our test drives at Comcast, Charter and Cablevision. Better yet, just go to the Top 200 Test Drives Channel here at WheelsTV.

The reason why Top 200 is so popular is that Top 200 helps you to find the car you want in and entertaining and informative way. It puts you behind the wheel and lets you get a sense for whether or not a car or light truck is right for you. It also gives you the most important information without having to read a lot of charts and specs...Price, horsepower, fuel economy plus standard features and options are all demonstrated.

So, now that Chrome is doing the distribution for WheelsTV, Top 200 and our newest product, 1:00 on One, will be available to you and millions of other consumers on many more platforms, even in dealer showrooms!

One quick word about 1:00 on One...This is the FIRST EVER video profile product to cover every popular brand and model of cars and light trucks. Each 1:00 on One is one minute long and covers one vehicle. You get a quick, detailed look at the vehicle along with some important vehicle information.

So, the next time you are shopping for a new car, I'd like to suggest that you do it the fun and easy way with Top 200 Video Test Drives and 1:00 on One Vehicle Profiles. You'll have a more enjoyable shopping experience and probably end up with a car or light truck that is a better fit for your automotive lifestyle.

Thanks and please drive safely,
Jim

Hot Import Nights Comes to Boston

2007-05-02T17:12:00.000-04:00

It really was a HOT import night at the Bayside Expo Center in Boston as over 25,000 custom car owners and enthusiasts gathered for one night of hot music, hot cars and hot young ladies. WheelsTV's Vanessa Bee was on hand and reporting from the event. She met and interviewed Michael Munar, the originator of Hot Import Nights, spoke with a number of owners of very hot cars and motorcycles and got the inside story on the Juiced HIN Model Search from Ursula Mayes.

And did I mention that in addition to the hundreds of automotive models including Porsches, Nissans, Audis, Scions (a big presence) and Honda, there were hundreds of live models posing, autographing, dancing and of course...modeling...

The entire three rooms of the Expo Center were taken over by Hot Import Nights and the music was blasting from every corner! And it was LOUD!

Unlike most indoor events, there was very little light except for the displays. The intent here was to give the show the feel of being outside on a hot import night and although it was pouring April showers outside, inside it was dry and very, very HOT!

There were beautiful custom cars everywhere and with virtually every car there was a beautiful model! Additionally, fashion shows and go-go competitions were ongoing. Needless to say, most of the enormous crowd was young men.

If you are reading this blog you should also be able to view the reports from the show! They should be up by Friday, May 4th. So, enjoy! And the next time Hot Import Nights comes to town, don't miss it!...and be sure to bring a camera!

Thanks and please drive safely,
Jim

New York Auto Show

2007-04-13T17:40:00.000-04:00

The 2007 New York International Auto Show, runs April 6-15 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in mid-town Manhattan. The WheelsTV crews were on hand for one of the press days, April 5th. We had three crews shooting programming for WheelsTV and our clients in including Vehix, Comcast, AOL and MSN. The big news for WheelsTV is that we shot the very first features hosted by Vanessa Bee. Vanessa Bee loves hot cars and in the story that you can find here at WheelsTV and on other sites, including YouTube, she gives us a first-hand look at some very cool cars including the new V8 Hummer H3, the Nissan 350Z NISMO and the new V12 Ferrari Scaglietti where she interviewed Ferrari of North America's Marketing Director Attilio Ruffo. Check it out!

I also had a chance to chat with an old friend, Reeves Callaway. My son, Jay, and I interviewed Reeves way back in the early 90's when we were producing stories for my first big network series, Wild About Wheels. Back then, the twin turbo Corvette Sledgehammer was Reeves' hot ride. At the New York show he unveiled the new C16. The C16 is available with two supercharged engines: The 6.0L produces 560 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 529 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The optional 616 HP Performance Package pumps out an astonishing 616 bhp and 582 lb-ft of torque, shooting the Cabrio from 0-to-60 in 3.5 seconds. Maximum speed of the C16 Cabrio is right around 200 mph with an amazingly good fuel efficiency rating of 18 city/28 highway.

The New York show was another exciting event for the Big Apple with some great new iron that promises more fun behind the wheel!

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim

What's New At WheelsTV

2007-03-20T12:13:00.000-04:00

OK. I admit it. I don't update my blog as often as I should or as I'd like. I've been very busy here at WheelsTV. If you are reading this, you've noticed that we've upgraded the home page and made it much easier to find your favorite automotive videos. All of the 28 channels are lined-up right below the new and improved video screen. You'll also see tabs above the thumbnails and descriptions on the What's Hot player, making it even easier to find great videos. Another way to go is to use the video search capability. We're working hard to make it super easy to find the videos you want to see. Thanks to our webmaster, Collin Davis, for his excellent work! By the way, you can submit your own videos, too at "My Wheels." So, if you have something hot to show off, do it here at WheelsTV!

We are also getting ready to launch "The Buzz with Vanessa Bee." Vanessa will be reporting on what is going on in the automotive world...from car shows to meets, cruise nights, hot new designs. Watch for Vanessa Bee's reports starting in April with the New York Auto Show!

Also coming up...our own community where you can share videos, meet persons who are into the same wheels as you, buy and sell automotive stuff and just have fun. Watch for this in May.

I want to give a plug to Homes for Our Troops: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer HFOT builds custom-made homes for soldiers who have become handicapped due to injuries suffered in the war. They have a big auction coming up the end of March and wanted to know if I could ask my old friend, Jay Leno, to autograph a Harley Davidson that they plan to auction off. I got in touch with Jay and he was kind enough to invite us to his show at Foxwoods in Connecticut. After signing the bike and a few laughs we laughed some more at Jay's very funny standup routine to a sold-out house.

Jay is a great guy. He even donated some VIP passes to The Tonight Show as additional auction items. I've got to give his site a plug, too. Go to www.jaylenosgarage.com for some excellent videos produced by Jay's production company, Big Dog productions...even one on how to cook Italian chicken wings, which Jay learned from his uncle!

That's all for now. Thanks for watching and please drive safely.

Jim

When Will American Automakers Wake Up!!!

2007-03-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy recently released its list of the environmentally "greenest" and "meanest" cars, using a scale of Zero to 100 based upon emission levels and mileage. Of course, being "The American Council", we are talking about what is going on here in the good old USA. What car companies are looking out for Americans by providing low emission vehicles that pollute less and by providing high gas mileage vehicles so that we spend less on non-renewable fossil fuels for which we have to kiss up to sheiks and tyrants around the globe.

Well, the results are in and NOT A SINGLE AMERICAN CAR IS IN THE TOP FIVE!! How can this be that our own captains of industry don't care about polluting their neighbors or having to send our boys and girls oversees to defend the oil fields for Exxon!

Here are the greenest machines: #1: The Honda Civic GX. This is a car that does not make its driver look like a goober (sorry Prius), runs on natural gas and gets up to 39 miles per gallon! #2: The goofy looking but very efficient Prius at almost 60 mpg on regular gas. #3: the Honda Civic Hybrid topping out at 51 mpg. #4: The Nissan Altima Hybrid at 42 mpg and finally the Toyota Taris at 40 mpg.

All of these vehicles are Japanese. In spite of the fact that for the past 30 years small American companies have been touting hybrid energy, regenerative braking and electric drive, none of the not so big three have gotten off their duffs and delivered a car that would help our environment, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce our need to buy foreign-made vehicles to save money and save our lungs, rather than support American workers and companies.

It just drives me nuts to see Rick Wagoner of GM up there bragging about the Volt CONCEPT car when they still have virtually no hybrids in their fleets. The flash bulbs are going off and the reporters are fawning all over him like he is some messiah when in fact he and his engineers are years behind their contemporaries at Toyota, Honda and Nissan. And you wonder why GM, Ford and Chrysler are losing billions!!! They all saw this coming and did next to nothing about it!

They are still trying to sell SUVs that get 13 to 18 miles per gallon, Hummers and pickups...and aside from the Ford Escape Hybrid that gets 31 miles highway, you won't find a hybrid in any of their fleets.

I guess that I just don't understand why the Japanese can figure out what Americans want and need and yet our "fellow Americans" either don't have a clue or just don't give a damn.

National Auto Dealers Association meets in Vegas!

2007-02-16T17:13:00.000-05:00

I was in Las Vegas recently for the National Auto Dealers Association show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. WheelsTV produces and licenses video test drives to companies like AOL, Vehix and Comcast for use by consumers when considering the purchase of a new vehicle. Auto dealers use our videos to help consumers choose the best car for their lifestyle. So, that is what brought me to Vegas.

I have been to Las Vegas many times for many reasons and every time I go I enjoy it more. The hotels and casinos seem to get bigger and more lavish every time I return. The monorail now whisks you around from place to place. The cabs are pretty cheap and if you walk, the strip is a fun place to see the sites.

Las Vegas, more than any other city, is a place dedicated to fun. But, I digress. NADA presents services for auto dealers that range from car wash machines to video test drives to accounting systems.

I was pretty busy with meetings every hour on the hour...that was until Superbowl time, around 3:00 PST, when the place emptied and everyone went looking for a TV screen. I ended up at the Venetian along with my good friend and fellow WheelsTV blogger, John Dinkel, and his lovely wife, also a good friend, Leslie Dinkel. We attended a terrific Superbowl party hosted by Chrysler that included four giant screens...20 by 16 feet!...and all the food and drink you could injest! They had every buffet item imaginable from sushi to roast beef, Mexican food, Dove bars, and four full bars. On my way there I made the mistake of betting on Chicago, hoping that good Rex Grossman would show up and the rain would slow Peyton Manning down. Well, we all know what happened, but it was a great time none the less!

Now, I am back at my desk working with our distribution partners to bring you the very best in automotive videos...from test drives to documentaries...to user submitted stuff, you can pretty much find whatever you are looking for here at WheelsTV. By the way, if you want to video test drive some great new vehicles just go to our Top 200 Showroom and have fun!

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim

More New Channels!

2007-01-30T11:50:00.000-05:00

WheelsTV is growing at a fast and furious pace these days! Its amazing how many people worldwide are tuning into WheelsTV.net and enjoying our top quality automotive programming! I'm convinced that the reason is that we program and organize for easy viewing, only the best automotive video from the wide world of automotive TV. You won't have to wade through thousands of lame videos to find something interesting and fun to watch. At WheelsTV.net, we do all of that work for you and bring you only the programming that this bunch of car nuts thinks is worth your time and energy. With that in mind, we've added some great new channels: HINs, Hot Import Nights is just that...very HOT! Check out the cars, the ladies and the music! And if you are anywhere near where one of these awesome events happens...go! You will enjoy!
Another new channel is built around a living legend, George Barris. Some of you may know who George is. Most of the younger crowd will need a little help. George Barris has been building custom cars for movies and TV shows since the 50's. He designed and built the original Bat Mobiles, the Monkees Mobile, the Munsters' Coach, the General Lee for the Dukes of Hazzard and many, many more. On the Barris Built Productions Channel, the "King of the Kustomizers" takes us to various collections, events and to meet various automotive personalities. One tidbit of automotive trivia: My production company hired George's Hollywood facility as a location to shoot the pilot for Wild About Wheels, the first general interest automotive TV series to air in prime-time. It became a big hit on the Discovery Network, helped to launch Speedvision and you can now find a lot of the stories from Wild About Wheels right here on many of the channels at WheelsTV.net. Thanks George for your help way back when!

Our third new channel is Short Track Network. This channel is all about the world of home-grown auto racing. Lots of action, lots of bumping and bashing and lots of FUN! There are great short tracks scattered across America. Racing at these tracks is open to anyone who meets the rules and pays the entry fee. For some fun viewing, check out Short Track Network! More networks coming soon but make it a habit to check out our What's Hot Today channel every day. It shows what the most people are watching each day.

Another new addition is our Top Ten Hot Spots chart. This lists cities and towns around the world that are tuning into WheelsTV.net for their automotive entertainment. We want to thank the guys and gals at the University of Nebraska in Kearney for watching WheelsTV and thank them for their support! You're number one! Go LOPERS!
That's all for now. Thanks for watching and please drive safely,
Jim

Detroit Auto Show Turns 100!

2007-01-10T14:51:00.000-05:00

Here we are at the start of 2007 and with the new year comes what I consider to be "the greatest car show on earth", the North American International Auto Show or, as most of us call it, The Detroit Car Show.

Now where the LA show can also claim to be 100 years old, in the early years of the automobile, Detroit quickly became the life center for auto manufacturing. Sure, there were car makers based all over the world. In fact, Stanley Steamers were built in my home town of Newton, Massachusetts! But, when it comes to cars, since those early years when Ford, GM and Chrysler set up shop here there has been no equal for The Motor City! Whether you are cruising down Woodward Avenue in your fancy custom or walking the floor of the Cobo Center, Detroit is all about having fun with wheels and motors. So it was that I spent a few days at the press preview of the Detroit show along with about 8,000 of my fellow media guys and gals. That included Kimatni Rawlins, president of Automotive Rhythms, shown here with yours truly at the show. Kimatni's magazine and website celebrate the urban automotive experience like nothing else on the planet and Kimatni was here conducting interviews and meeting and greeting. You can find some of their great videos on the Automotive Rhythms channel here at WheelsTV or by going to AutomotiveRhythms.com.

But, back to the show...lots of excitement around alternative fuels this year! Along with Toyota, Honda, Ford and a few others, GM is finally getting involved in the quest for using something other than oil to move our machines. Their exciting plans call for a new electric vehicle, still in its concept stage, called the Volt. The Volt will run on nothing but batteries and will recharge those batteries either by being plugged into your house current or with a small on-board gasoline engine. While range is still a challenge at only about 40-60 miles, Rick Wagoner of GM sites statistics that most persons commute less than 20 miles each way to work.

On a more familiar note, virtually every automaker had new products or prototypes to unveil and show-off. One of my show favorites is the Camaro Concept convertible, unveiled to much acclaim. GM says that it will see production by late 2009, probably with the same, 400 hp V8 under the hood that the Camaro Coupe will sport!
Now this is really what the new Pontiac GTO SHOULD HAVE been when it was introduced a few years ago!

It seems that many of the OEMs are moving to the hardtop convertible with the BMW 325i convertible joining the march along with Volvo's C70, Pontiac's G6, the Miata MX-5 and a host of others. It took just about 50 years for the hardtop convertible craze started by the Ford Skyliner back in the late 50's to come around again!

That's all I say for now but watch for our show coverage over the next few days on the What's Hot channel on our home page. Meanwhile, thanks for your interest and please, drive safely.
Jim

LOOKING AHEAD AND LOOKING BACK

2006-12-28T12:02:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

As we wheel our way into 2007, let's also take a look at this past year...and what a great year 2006 turned out to be for WheelsTV! Our thanks to all of you who are visiting WheelsTV on a regular basis, enjoying the ever-growing lineup of automotive TV shows and using our Top 200 Video Test Drives when shopping for a new car, truck or SUV. Without YOU, WheelsTV would not be growing at the phenomenal rate that it is!

Here are a few highlights of what YOUR network has accomplished in 2006:

Launched Top 200 Video Test Drives on AOL Autos. Now, anyone shopping for a new vehicle can take a video test drive and have fun doing their homework before venturing into the showroom.

Launched a major television ad campaign in cooperation with Vehix.com. Our ads are now seen on ALL of the major cable networks. The ads are really fun and tout how you can now take WheelsTV video test drives on Comcast VOD! So, if you have Comcast, here is one more way to check out the newest iron.

Re-launched WheelsTV.net. Since you are here, on the network, you know what I am talking about. WheelsTV.net is the first multi-channel broadband network specializing in the automotive lifestyle. Since our re-launch in late June we’ve grown by over 400% and now have viewers visiting us from all over the world…Moscow, Seoul, Tokyo, Rome, Paris, London and of course, all over the USA. We started with 16 channels; each focused upon a specific automotive interest, and are now up to 25 with more coming…

And speaking of MORE: This being the year of YouTube and MySpace videos, WheelsTV has jumped on the bandwagon with the launch of our own User-Submitted Channel, MY WHEELS. At MY WHEELS you can show-off your cool custom, hot tuner or rare classic. You can demonstrate a stunt or share an event, incident or unusual automotive story. If it’s on video and legal, we’ll air it for you!

Released 60 automotive titles on Amazon.com: You can now buy DVD’s of some of our most popular titles at Amazon.com. These full-length programs cover everything from major outdoor car shows to the history of the Corvette, Mustang, Viper and VW. Whether you’re looking for the World’s Wildest Races or Corvettes at Carlisle you’re bound to find great automotive entertainment on one of WheelsTV’s shows.

These are some of the highlights of what your support for WheelsTV has accomplished.

In 2007 we have a lot more great stuff going on…

WheelsTV’s First Auto News: We launched at the LA Auto Show with four reports and will have regular daily automotive news as 2007 unfolds. We’ll also be at the Detroit show on January 7th and 8th and will have a series of reports on the newest iron to be unveiled. So, check back daily and make us your start page to see what’s going on each day.

Pre-Owned Vehicle Reviews: If you are looking for a nice 2005 model, we’ll have video and data on a line-up of cars, trucks and SUVs from that model year. You’ll enjoy the videos and also learn which vehicles have the best repair records, safety records and what the current values are for each vehicle.

WheelsTV on your TV!!!: 2007 is shaping up to the year that you can start watching programming that originates on the computer right on your 37” LCD TV! Apple, Microsoft and a bunch of smaller players are all introducing products that will take video from the computer and show it on your TV screen and WheelsTV is right in the thick of the action! Now, with the right equipment, anyone on the planet can enjoy the first automotive television network!

More Channels: We anticipate doubling our channel lineup in 2007, so keep an eye on the thumbnails of the various channels. You’ll see more on tuners, muscle cars, events, racing, classics, trucks and motorcycles. If it is out there and it is top quality, you’ll ultimately see it here!

We have a bunch of other fun stuff coming but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. So, I’ll close by thanking you once again for your support and wishing you and yours a terrific New Year filled with automotive fun, good health and happiness!

Jim Barisano
Chairman and CEO

LA Auto Show Kicks-off the Shopping Season!

2006-12-08T16:56:00.000-05:00

Here, just in time for the holiday shopping season is the LA Auto Show. Now that the LA show moved from January to early December, we all have a chance to promise that special person in our lives something special in the driveway. Although LA has become somewhat of a US Auto design center (regardless of Lincoln/Mercury's retreat a few years ago), we expect that Detroit in January will still be the dominant auto show player with more debuts and more concepts. Afterall, LA may have Santa Monica Boulevard but only Detroit has Woodward Avenue!

I was just beginning to do my Christmas shopping and so the LA Show seemed like the ideal time to check off a few names on the list...For my wife, Karen, who is a big Acura enthusiast and loves her latest TL, I picked up an Acura Advanced Sedan Concept. Acura thinks that the Advanced Sedan Concept will be the ultimate luxury car in 2020. Since Karen's TL is only "near luxury" I think she'll like this addition to the garage.

Gee, its the same silver color as her current Acura but seems much happier with that big smile. That is something that the Japanese learned a few years ago and the Americans still have not figured out (Except Cadillac). Give the car a smile and it will make car buyer happy. I hope Karen likes the Advanced Sedan Concept.

For my brother, Jeff, who already has a small collection started (53 Buick Skylark, 56 T-bird, 63 Buick Riviera and 91 Buick Reatta) I picked out a nice BMW Hydrogen 7 sedan. This bi-fuel V-12 beast won't save the environment but once you get past the fear of exploding like a hydrogen bomb (there, I said what a lot of people are thinking) it could be a very nice addition to his barn.

Finally, for my daughter, Caryn, who is opening a pizza shop in Boston's Back Bay, I picked out a nice little Hyundai HCD-10 Hellion concept. This three door SUV is small enough to navigate Boston's crowded streets (and sidewalks if necessary) and get those pizzas to hungry college kids while they are still hot! (the pizzas, that is.)

That is all the shopping that I did and the good news is that I spent not a dime. The concept cars are just for show and BMW will only be shipping 100 Hydrogen 7's to the US and I'm down at the bottom of the waiting list!

Thanks for your interest and please drive safely!
Jim

Giving Thanks

2006-11-23T20:58:00.000-05:00

Folks,

Thanksgiving comes just once a year but I have to tell you that there is not a day that goes by that I don't feel grateful for the opportunity to do what I love for folks like you and to do it with people I love. At my family's Thanksgiving table we have a tradition in which we go around the table with each person indicating something for which they are thankful. We might go around two or three times, which barely scratches the surface of the many things for which each of us can feel grateful.

Here is a short list of some of the things relating to WheelsTV for which I am most thankful...

1. I am thankful for having the opportunity to work with a great bunch of guys and gals...Lehel, Albert, Michael B, Michael I, John, Theresa, Lukas, Collin, Ben, Bill and Steve. Without them, WheelsTV would not exist!

2. I am thankful for the enthusiastic support of our growing WheelsTV community with folks from all over the world visiting the network and enjoying our programming...Australia, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, India, Mexico...just about wherever there is an internet connection someone is enjoying automotive programming presented by WheelsTV.net!

3. I am thankful for the professional help of Dan L., Mike A., Bill S., Bob G., Greg G., Tony B., Kathy W. and Joan M.; all of whom have lent their skills to the growth of WheelsTV.

4. I am thankful for our many clients who license and air our Top 200 test drives: AOL, Vehix, Google, Comcast, Akimbo, ROO and many more.

5. But most of all I am thankful for my family who have believed in what we are doing and tolerated the long hours and sleepless nights as WheelsTV was born and grew: My wife, Karen; my brothers Jerry and Jeff; my children: Caryn, Eric, Vanessa, Jay and Nicole; and my dad, Jim, who always encouraged me to stick with it.

I know that this sounds a little sentimental but, as I said, we only get one Thanksgiving a year! Thanks to each of you for coming to WheelsTV.net and enjoying and supporting what we do! We have lots more to do so watch us grow and enjoy the ride!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jim

Two Great New Channels!

2006-11-16T20:25:00.000-05:00

Gather round folks. WheelsTV has two new motorsports channels for you. If you've ever thought about trying your hand at competitive motorsports and if you've ever bent the speed laws just a bit, you'll appreciate the US Touring Car Championship. This is racing like it used to be. Real street machines and real people racing for the fun of it. No big crowds...no big purses. Just pure adrenaline pumping action! Here is a description right out of the NASA, National Auto Sport Association website: http://www.nasaproracing.com/proracing/ustcc.html "USTCC is a series for sport compact sedans such as the Honda Civic, Acura integral, BMW 3-series, audio A4, Subaru Impreza WRX, Mazda 626, Dodge Neon and Volkswagen Jetta using nearly stock four- and six-cylinder engines...This series is extremely popular with racers, fans and sponsors alike. For more information visit www.ustcc.com."

You'll find just one race on the USTCC Channel right now but many of their thirteen race season will be up shortly.

The other new channel is F1 Pitstop covering the international Formula One phenomenon that has its roots in Grand Prix motor racing of the 20's and 30's and saw the inaugural race on May 13th, 1950 when The Formula One World Championship took to Silverstone in England. F1 Pitstop covers those early years of Alfa Romeo dominance, and profiles the greats of Formula One: Jim Clark, Jack Brabham, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda...all the way up to the present with Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa battling for world champion honors.

There are 100 short stories on the F1 Pitstop Channel and you won't want to miss one of them!

Lots more to come here at WheelsTV. If you like our programming, send a sample to a friend...And if you want to participate in the network, upload a video of your favorite ride or favorite car story to the My Wheels Channel and show it to the entire world.

That's it for now. Thanks for watching and please drive safely!

Jim Barisano

We Didn't Get Fooled Again!

2006-11-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Well, an earth-shattering election just took place, the republic is saved and we motorists may finally get to the bottom of what goes on behind the big oil curtain. While the first step in restoring government of the people, by the people and FOR the people has been accomplished, it remains to be seen if the Halliburtons, Exxons and Enrons of the world will be brought to justice. As I drove to the office today I could not help but notice that gasoline went up four cents per gallon since yesterday at two separate gas stations here in Acton, MA. Was big oil trying to lull us into complacency and "staying the course" prior to the election? I think so. Will the sheiks and barons now try to get back their investment in 1984 style brainwashing? Probably. Will the Democrats have the stomach to issue subpoenas, put the CEO's of the oil companies under oath, find the truth and throw a few of these thieves and war-profiteers in jail? We'll see. If nothing else, we threw out a bunch of yes men and righted the ship of state!...and...We did NOT get fooled again!

Gas Prices...Is Someone Yanking our Chains?

2006-10-23T15:45:00.000-04:00

Like any SUV driver, I watch gas prices rise and I cringe. My big Tahoe is pretty good, comparatively, getting 17.2 mpg overall. I use it to carry TV equipment, to shoot video of vehicles that we test, to carry wood for my dock, (I live on a lake) and to go to the dump every Saturday with our dog, Koto, who, for some reason, loves to go to the dump. Back to gas prices. Is it me or has anyone else noticed that the closer we get to the election on November 7th, the lower the price of gas goes. I am convinced that we are getting ripped off by the oil companies who make major contributions to politicians in Washington, write energy policy with the current administration and then get back their contributions by sticking it to all of us at the pumps. If you look at the price of gas over the past few years and few months, some startling realities appear:

In 2002, when Bush/Cheney took over, we were paying $1.31 a gallon. Oil was about $30 a barrel. Today, a barrel of oil is about $58. A few months ago it topped $70 a barrel and $3.15 a gallon. On the face of it, the consumer would assume that higher oil prices automatically yield proportionately higher gasoline prices. Not so. Here's proof: The price of oil accounts for just 59% of the cost of a gallon a gas. (Please see chart) The balance is taken up with taxes, 20%, (18.4 cents federal and about 24 cents on average for state) distribution, 11% and refining, 10%.

So, when the price of oil rises from $57 to $70, the cost of a gallon of gas should only rise by 23% or just under 30 cents per gallon.($70 minus $57 = $13 divided by $57 = 23%) multiplied by 59% X $2.20 (the cost of a gallon of gasoline when oil was $57 a barrel) So, all of us who have been paying between $3.00 and $3.50 per gallon should have been paying no more than $2.50 per gallon for regular! ($2.20 + $.30) What's worse, if we used the same ratios as existed in 2002, we'd pay even less: Just $2.09 a gallon! Our do-nothing congress had a few hearings and did nothing. No-one did the math, nor did they want to!

Now, along come the mid-term elections and the big oil companies who are supporting the current politicians in power are very worried. If their guys and gals get voted out, all of the money they spent helping them get elected will have been wasted and their gravy train might come to a halt. The answer: Lower the price of gasoline to make the public happy...in spite of record deficits, a needless war and a culture of corruption. So, with oil wells being capped in the Gulf of Mexico until prices rise again, the oil giants and politicians briefly stop picking our pockets to affect the election figuring that they can get it all back later...and then some!

Here's some more math: At $3.00 a gallon, we pay $1.80 for the crude oil priced at $70 a barrel. With oil at $57 a barrel, the cost of oil for a gallon of gas drops by 33 cents: $1.80 X $57 divided by $70 = $1.47 or $2.67 a gallon. Instead, regular gas has dropped to $2.15, a 250 percent difference!!!! Is someone yanking our chains in hopes that we'll be so happy to not get mugged by these jerks for a few weeks that we'll vote their puppets back into office and not hold the current administration accountable?

Now you may think that I am one of those conspiracy nuts but I am just a consumer who is "mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!" If you are smart enough to see through the latest hoax from Washington and their friends in big oil, throw the bums out on November 7th! Maybe we'll get our country back and stop getting ripped off and manipulated by people who will do and say anything to stay in power. Ironically, like George Bush tried to say, "Fool me once, shame on you...full twice...um.....wawa won't get fooled again!"

More New Programming

2006-10-09T11:44:00.000-04:00

We continue to add some great automotive television programming to our various channels. If you're interested in Formula 1, go to Motorsports Park. You'll find 100 terrific stories covering every aspect of Formula 1 racing: History, recent events, personality profiles, races. Ascari, Farina, Monaco. These exciting internationally acclaimed television shows offer hours of viewing pleasure for anyone interested in the world's premier racing body. It's all here at WheelsTV's Motorsports Park.

Automotive Rhythms Channel has added some very hot programs including "King of Bling" competitions, "Dub Lincoln" and "Ford Expedition". For a look at the urban automotive lifestyle you've got to check out Automotive Rhythms!

We are adding more videos almost daily and will soon be launching the user-submitted channels. If you've got a hot car, truck or SUV, want to show it off and perhaps take home a trophy, you'll be able to star in your own automotive video...right here on WheelsTV.

That's all for now. Thanks for watching WheelsTV and please drive safely.

Jim

AltWheels Festival

2006-09-25T11:06:00.000-04:00

The AltWheels festival returned to Boston this past weekend for its fourth annual event. WheelsTV is a sponsor of the four day event that ran from Thursday to Sunday. On Thursday Lehel Reeves, our president of programming, and I took part in the AltWheels Caravan from the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, through Boston, and over to Cambridge where we gathered at MIT's Stata Center. There were over 35 vehicles in the caravan including busses, trucks, cabs, motorcycles and vans powered by ethanol, biodiesel, vegetable oil, hydrogen fuel-cells, hybrid battery/gasoline (our 2004 Toyota Prius on loan from my friend and dentist Joel Ross) and even an antique Stanley Steamer powered by whatever will burn!

The caravan was pretty impressive, complete with a Mass State Police escort that blocked traffic along the five mile route that took us through some of the busiest parts of Boston during rush hour...even past Fenway Park prior to a Red Sox game! I'm not sure of how badly our tieing up traffic set the alternative vehicle cause back but it was certainly fun and pedestrians seemed to enjoy it!

By the way, the Prius that we drove was surprisingly peppy and fun to drive. It gets 50 miles to the gallon of regular and once I got used to the odd layout of the dash and gear shift lever, was no different than driving a traditional "gas guzzler."

We've all probably noticed that gas prices are dropping. It always seems to happen just before an election. Hmmmm. Well, when they go back up, you might want to consider one of the growing list of high-mileage hybrids now available. I am told that GM may have a hybrid Tahoe available in 2008, about the time when I'll be retiring mine.

Back to the AltWheels festival: It ended up raining on Saturday but Sunday was pretty nice and the festival was deemed another big success. We'll have a story on this year's event on WheelsTV soon. If you want to learn more about Altwheels go to www.AltWheels.org.

Thanks and please drive safely,
Jim

Previews of Coming Attractions

2006-09-17T00:29:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite parts of a night out at the movies is "The Coming Attractions." I swear I could sit through ten of them. With that in mind I'd like to share with you some previews of what you'll soon be seeing here at WheelsTV Network...

First off, you've probably checked out Automotive Rhythms, our newest channel. AR is programmed by Kimatni Rowlins and his crew. AR currently has four very hot videos on its channel, the Aston Martin DB9, The Ferrari Challenge at Homestead Miami Speedway, The GM 10 Fashion Show from Hollywood and a profile of the new Jaguar XK in South America. These stories are just a taste of what's to come. Kimatni just ventured to Spain to test drive some new wheels out of Europe and promises us a long line-up of powerful programs.

Back at the Top 200 Showroom, we've been testing the new 2007 models. They will be rolling into the Top 200 Showroom this week and will keep on coming throughout the show season. Check back regularly to see the latest iron from automakers around the world.

If you've watched some of our classic car commercials from the '50's and '60's at the Drive-in Theatre, you may have noticed that we are showing lots of Ford and Chrysler ads but no GM ads. Well, next week you fans of the General will get your wish as we roll out a lineup of classic ads from Pontiac, Chevy, Cadillac, Olds and Buick.

We were recently at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit and Pontiac, Michigan and shot the heck out of it. Got some good interviews with our friends at AutoWeek, shot the cruise and profiled some great hot rods, customs, muscle cars and bikes. Those shows are in post-production and should be on the big screen at Main Street Cruise Night by the end of the month.

Well, that's all I'll tell you for now. Thanks for your comments and enthusiastic support. The Vehix ads that run on various cable networks and feature WheelsTV have been really boosting the network. But, you can do a good deed for your friends by letting them know about the fun they can have at the first broadband television network devoted to our love of cars, trucks and motorcycles: WheelsTV.net. Remember, that's dot NET for Network. We're working to be not only the first automotive broadband network but also the best with literally thousands of quality, entertaining and informative programs, when you want them and where you want them.

Thanks for being a part of the WheelsTV global community! Please drive safely.
Jim

WheelsTV Update

2006-08-31T23:57:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks,

This next entry, and quite a few more, will be focused upon what is going on at WheelsTV. As you may have noticed, the home page has been revamped with some nice photos and thumbnails to the driving destinations. Now, the page loads faster (still a bit slow at times) and you can decide what view through the windshield you want to enjoy.

The BIG news is that we are in the process of adding a new destination channel, Automotive Rhythms, focused on the urban automotive experience. "With enough bling and ice to light Los Angeles." This is going to be a very hot channel. We will want to hear from you. How do you like it? The player is under construction but we should be live with a few programs within a few days.

One other interesting bit of news: You'll soon be able to buy WheelsTV programs on DVD from Amazon.com. If you are interested in owning great automotive entertainment...forever, you'll be able to get over 50 of our programs with more to come.

That's all for now. Please let us know how we can improve your viewing experience at WheelsTV.

Thanks and please drive safely,
Jim

Sports ACTIVITY Vehicle...A Marketing Coup

2006-08-10T12:06:00.000-04:00

Moving metal is as much about image as it is about performance or safety. When gasoline started climbing and the blame began to fall on the "gas-guzzling" SUV's, SUV sales went through the floor and so did the bottom line for the companies that at one time made billions on these gussied-up trucks. GM and Ford, whose SUV's are primarily truck-based got caught with their mileage down and their lots quickly filled with Explorers, Suburbans, Expeditions and Tahoes.

Meanwhile, the Asian and European automakers had already started building SUV's on car chassis. Back in the late 90's, when we were producing Motor Trend Television (and winning a number of awards for it), we tested and reviewed the Lexus RX300. For comfort, ride, handling and ECONOMY, it beat the pants of the domestics. In many ways, its newer iterations, the RX350 and RX400h still do. But, I digress.

BMW, always the company to look for something unique to set it apart from the rabble, (iDrive, for better or WORSE is a good example) coined a new term for
its SUVs: Sports Activity Vehicles or SAV's. I have to give them credit for this one. Shedding the gas-eating image of the SUV established by their competitors, BMW has created a lively, stereotype-free vehicle class that fits perfectly within today's active lifestyle. At the same time, the acronym almost says "SAVe gas (or the planet)" you choose.

Even though the mid-sized X5 only gets 16 MPG city and 22 MPG highway, slightly better than my massive Tahoe, the image is green, healthy and original. In the highly competitive automotive marketplace with over 250 nameplates competing for our attention, BMW has come up with a pretty cool marketing twist. Sports Activity Vehicle: Kind of makes you want to engage in some form of sports activity...like plopping on the couch to watch a football game on a Sunday afternoon.

Now, if they can just get rid of the goofy iDrive on their E Series and concentrate on ergonomics and performance, their reputation for precise steering, autobahn braking and superior handling will remain in tact.

Never Drive in the Rain with Your Cruise Control On!

2006-08-02T13:44:00.000-04:00

Here's some important information that I got from, of all people...my lovely wife, Karen. She forwarded one of those e-mails that travels around the net with the question..."Jim, does this sound right to you?" Well, I did a little fact checking and while the story may be embellished, the information is accurate. Don't touch that cruise control in the wet.

The e-mail that Karen passed along tells the story of a woman who was driving in the rain with her cruise control on. The car suddenly starts to hydroplane and crashes. She is not seriously hurt but in talking with the state trooper she learns that one should never drive in the rain with your cruise control on. The patrolman tells the woman that this warning should be listed on the driver's seat sun visor: `Never use the cruise control when the pavement is wet or icy', along with the airbag warning.

Using cruise control on wet roads can be especially dangerous because the car will accelerate without warning, particularly if the cruise control is attempting to maintain a constant speed on an upgrade. The cruise control may cause the car to shift gears while at a highway cruising speed, thus loosening the tires' grip on the wet road.

I did some research on the web and found (almost) the same story within this article from Murray Hubbard of Slide Rule, a column on CarsGuide, an Australian-based website at http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,18728601-5001701,00.html "The problem with cruise control is that it may try to accelerate while the car has uneven traction. This can cause the vehicle to veer to the low traction side. "
"The same problem can occur if the driver uses either gas or brake under uneven traction. When braking, the car will veer to the high traction side."

Interestingly, both the story that my wife sent and the one at CarsGuide had a 36 year old woman crashing but not being seriously injured. Virtually identical except that the one my wife sent had the woman crashing somewhere between Kilgore and Gladewater Texas and the story from Australia had the same 36 year old woman traveling between Wollongong and Sydney. You'd think she would have learned from her experience in Australia before taking to the roads in Texas!! : ) Well, even if the story is an urban legend, the lesson is the same.

One more example from the Holden Car Company of Australia: "The man was driving to work in his Holden VR Commodore with cruise control set to exactly 110km/h. As the car started to go uphill, the cruise control kicked down a gear. Unfortunately, at this exact time, he went over a patch of water, which combined with the acceleration of the cruise control caused his car to aquaplane. The car fishtailed, he lost control and went head-on into some trees. "

Our thanks to CarsGuide for doing the research with help of Audi, Holden and Subaru and of course, Karen. So, pass the word to your friends and family...Never drive in the rain (or snow) with your cruise control on!

Thanks and please drive safely,
Jim

It's Electric and it's FAST!

2006-07-25T09:52:00.000-04:00

We WheelsTV bloggers are pretty much a bunch of gearheads with the skinned knuckles and grease under our fingernails to prove it. So, you'd think we were married to the gasoline-powered infernal combustion engine. I say infernal (of or related to hell) because, when you think about it, there have been countless wars over oil and too much misery.

Now back when domestic oil was plentiful and cheap we blissfully spent our weekends working on our cars, customizing our cars, driving our cars, racing our cars and occasionally smashing our cars, never really giving much thought to the future or to other ways of powering our metal friends.

With the shock of the '70's oil crises and now the middle east mess, everyone is looking around for other ways to get from zero to 60 in under five seconds. Well, as the guys here at WheelsTV have pointed out, electricity...and particularly electricity from wind and solar, is a real answer that is here now.

Sure, GM's EV1 was a victim of bad timing but sometimes it takes an entrepreneurial startup to make people realize that there are answers to problems right under our noses.

Tesla Motors is a good example of what can be done with some guts, brains and courage. With the sum of just $25M, this Silicon Valley startup has developed a two seater that will do everything we car buffs love...go from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds, travel a respectable 250 miles on a single charge, and give a ride that is fun and exciting.

Martin Eberhard, the company's founder and chief executive, is a visionary and also a shrewd businessman. He named the company Tesla after the great Serbian pioneer in electricity, Nicola Tesla. Tesla's work forms the basis for modern alternating current and the AC motor. Although he is also credited by some as the inventor of the radio, (most credit Italian inventory Marconi) he never gained significantly from his inventions and died penniless in New York City in 1943 at the age of 86.

I don't see this happening to Eberhard or to Tesla Motors. The Tesla Roadster uses a carbon fiber body that was designed in the traditional fashion from quarter-sized clay model to full-sized prototype. Its battery pack of thousands of consumer grade lithium-ion cells feed an electric motor that weighs just seventy pounds! For those who are familiar with electric motors, the weight savings alone is amazing. As with all electric motors, torque is as strong at one rpm as it is in the high ranges, unlike gas or diesel engines that require rpms to build torque. And the Tesla Roadster's engine can wind up to 13,000 rpm. Try that with any gas-powered engine!

So, here is a car that will cost about a penny per mile for fuel, has head-snapping performance, turns on a dime and burns no gas! Rumor has it that Tesla may be adding solar cells to the roof for charging while you work (as I suggested in an earlier blog). At $85k-$100k, the Tesla Roadster is still a car for high-rollers. But, with volume will come economies of scale. And who knows, maybe the company that bought Hummer will be smart enough to align themselves with a true visionary and crank out Teslas at prices we can all afford.

Now, if we can all put a windmill on our roof or in our back yards, we won't even need those big oil fired power plants and maybe we'll finally wean ourselves off our dependence on foreign oil!

For more information, go to http://www.teslamotors.com/.

Plug-in Hybrids on the Way

2006-07-20T14:33:00.000-04:00

It looks like Toyota is once again going to eat GM's, Ford's and Chrysler's lunch. Jim Press, president of Toyota Motor North America Inc. spoke at the National Press Club on Tuesday, July 18th and let it be known that Toyota won't stop at straight gas-electric hybrids but plans to explore going further in the direction of battery power with development of a plug-in car. Now unless the electricity comes from hydro, wind or nuclear, we probably won't cut down on our use of oil. But, with a plug-in hybrid we might approach the magic 100 mile per gallon mark! I'd end up using 4 gallons a week vs. 22 gallons and saving over $50!

I guess what I don't understand is why the not so big three are not moving more quickly to provide more efficient vehicles. Instead, they are laying off workers, moving plants to Mexico and building a new generation of muscle cars. Honestly, I love the new Mustang, Camaro and Charger. But, the average family is getting squeezed by gas prices and that affects the American economy. $50 a week will buy a lot of groceries, pay for a dinner for two in a family restaurant or for those less fortunate, pay the heat bill in the dead of winter.

Electric power has been around since a teenaged Ferdinand Porsche was winning races on Austria's Semmering Highway with his front wheel drive electric back in 1900. Not only that, but Porsche actually created a gas/electric hybrid, the "Mixt", that ultimately saw service on fire-fighting trucks in Vienna and London.

So, here we are over 100 years later, with Toyota leading the way back to battery power while the domestic OEM's scratch their heads and wonder why sales are down. What's wrong with this picture?

Why not Solar???

2006-07-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

Back in the seventies when fuel shortages caused a general panic in the U.S., solar energy got very hot. Solar panels and electricity-generating solar cells suddenly appeared to be the answer to all of our energy problems. Of course, once the oil began to flow again, Americans quickly forgot about solar and just lined up at the pump or waited for the oil man to deliver more liquid gold. Solar heat and solar powered cars became curiosities relegated to Popular Science Magazine and World Solar Challenge races.

So, here we are 30 years later getting pinched at the pump thanks to trouble in the middle east and a lack of interest on the part of the public.

While biofuels and hybrid powered cars are taking hold and proving their worth, there does not seem to be much going on with solar energy even though, technically, every form on energy on the planet starts with the sun.

With the price of solar cells at about 10% of what they were 20 years ago I would think that someone could come up with an efficient way to power a car. We drive to work, park in a big open, sunny lot for eight to nine hours and then drive home. That big roof panel and trunk lid could be scooping up power to get us around. But, I guess we'll have to wait for some additional incentives to come from Washington or for gas to hit $5.00 a gallon before we take off our sun glasses.

CARS Worth the Trip

2006-07-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

I finally got around to seeing the Disney/Pixar movie, Cars. No, I don't have any kids under age 19 and yes, I went with just my wife...no children. There were about 50 adults in the theater and 10 kids. I have to tell you that I have not seen an animated feature since 1999's Iron Giant, which I saw with my nephews..and enjoyed!

Back to CARS...I wanted to check out what all of the talk was about and see if there actually was some fun to be had for adults with animation and cars. The answer is...it's up to you. If you can REALLY suspend disbelief, its worth the drive. If you need real people doing real things on the screen, you might want to wait until CARS is available via video on demand.

The animation is great. The story line is fun. The characters have personality. I have always felt that our cars are extensions of our personalities. But, I had a hard time with the lack of human presence in the film. With this said, about half-way through the movie, about when Lightning McQueen is befriended by Doc Hudson, (a '51 Hudson Hornet voiced by Paul Newman) who prefers to keep his former racing fame a secret, I found myself being drawn into the plot and actually caring about the characters. Doc's tips on racing ultimately help Lightning in a showdown with Chick Hicks and "The King."

Once the cars came to life for me, Cars also came to life. Lightning's blossoming relationship with Sally the Porsche touched me. His new pal, Mater, was a tow truck worth listening to. The storyline is a classic story of pride coming before a fall, adversity bringing out the best in someone...or some car, and in true Hollywood tradition, redemption and a big, happy ending.

I particularly enjoyed the attention to the little details. Watch for the tire track clouds and "natural" stone formations in the shapes of hoods, quarter panels, hood ornaments and Cadillac tails ala Cadillac Ranch of Amarillo, Texas. Lightning gets a makeover while stuck in Radiotor Springs and goes from looking like a C6 Corvette to looking more like a 55-56 Vette.

One detail that worried me going in: Guido and Luigi, who run the local tire store got my attention, primarily because I'm Italian-American and am pretty tired of charicatures based upon ethnic stereotypes. But, even here, although they treaded very closely to thin ice, for me at least, the Pixar gang pulled it off with humor and respect.

Having driven the Route 40 Interstate that parallels Route 66 and driven the Mother Road, I found the historic accuracy right on, as well as the many little details: from Doc Hudson's racing tips to Richard Petty's #43 1970 Superbird.

Cars took on a big job: Creating an animated feature that entertains "kids of all ages." To my way of thinking, they get an A for effort. Everyone in the theater seemed to enjoy it. Check it out and let me know what you think. Here's a tip: If you go, be sure to stay through the credits. There are some great "out-takes" that you should not miss.

That's all for now from The Driver's Seat!
Thanks for reading and please drive safely.
Jim

Let's Go for a Drive!

2006-06-13T17:55:00.000-04:00

"Let's go for a drive!" Those words still bring a smile to my face, even after all these years! When I first got my license back in 1962, anytime that I could get behind the wheel of my '54 Chevy and just drive, I would. So, if one of my friends made the suggestion, we were off in a cloud of dust and Blue Flame Six smoke. It didn't matter where we were going so long as we were going. It was always fun and always an adventure.

Not much has changed in these past 44 years. The cars are more reliable. The roads a bit busier and I'm a lot greyer. But, when someone says "Let's go for a drive!" I smile...and go! Maybe it's not always a road trip as in "Animal House" and maybe it's just to the local ice cream stand (Kimball's has the world's best home made ice cream), but it's still on four wheels and I'm still behind the wheel.

It's that joy of driving that caused me to get into the automotive TV business back in the 80's and has me writing this blog. In a few days the folks here at WheelsTV will be launching a TV network of the twenty-first century right here on the worldwide web. And it's all about the fun of going for a drive. If you've never driven a Maserati or a Hummer, you'll be able to virtually do it at WheelsTV.net. If you've dreamed of splashing along the shores of the Amazon or riding a chopper ala Easy Rider, you'll get your chance on WheelsTV.net.

WheelsTV.net is the first broadband television network devoted exclusively to the world's love of cars, trucks and motorcycles. We're launching the network with over 300 programs and many more to come. Some of these shows you may have seen on Discovery, Speedvision or PBS. Many are premiering on WheelsTV. Soon, you'll even be able to put your own videos on WheelsTV, too. So, get ready for some fun! If you're not out on the road with the wind blowing through your hair, then visit WheelsTV.net. It's a community where its always warm, there is always a car show going on and you can always cruise down Main Street with the radio playing your favorite songs.

Jim

WTV's TOP200 on VEHIX.COM

2005-12-01T18:27:00.000-05:00

December 2005 - If you've bought or leased a car in the last few years you've probably used the Internet to do your homework. There are a bunch of good sites for finding automotive data including all of the features, options, costs, miles per gallon... even expected repair costs and consumer feedback. The one thing that we, as consumers, have not been able to do is to get the feel of the car, light truck or SUV. By that I mean, get that sense that "Yes, I could see myself behind the wheel of that vehicle."

What we drive is, in many ways, an extension of the way we present ourselves to the world. Just as you would not go to a quality restaurant in an old shirt that you've worn when painting a room in your house, you would not want to pull up to that same eatery in a vehicle that does not fit your image. Are you sporty? Utilitarian? A family man? Have you arrived? Are you concerned about fuel economy? And of course, do you feel like the car you are driving reflects the image you want to convey?

Until the Internet finally figured out how to deliver pretty good quality video, most of these questions went unanswered until you ventured into the dealer showrooms and ran the gauntlet of car salesmen. What a way to ruin an otherwise relaxing Saturday afternoon!

Well, I think we've finally found a way to save everyone some time, energy and grief. We call it Top 200 and you've probably read a bit about it in this column in the past. Top 200 is a video test drive of the most popular, most interesting and most exciting new vehicles on the road, today. With Top 200 you can get a good feel for what it might be like to own a car, light truck or SUV and if that vehicle fits your image.

Now, you can go on-line at Vehix.com, our new distribution partner, view Top 200 video test drives of the vehicles you are interested, and then gather all the data you need, even information on where you can find that new set of wheels you're looking for!

It's pretty exciting and even fun. We don't have the full array of vehicles up yet, but we are shooting new cars, trucks and SUVs every day. So, with time, virtually any vehicle you think you might want to own or lease will be on the site, ready for an instant video test drive.

If you happen to have Comcast digital cable, you can also view Top 200 test drives in their VOD area. Just go to Sports and Leisure and scroll down to Top 200.

I think you'll enjoy this new service and hope that it will be valuable to you. Thanks for your ongoing interest in WheelsTV. We are growing very quickly with VOD and broadband leading the charge.

Best regards... and please drive safely,

Jim Barisano

Summertime on the Move

2005-07-01T18:26:00.000-04:00

July 2005 - Here we are in the middle of summer and not much should be going on in the auto business and the television business. Well, NOT. Heck, we are way too busy right now and as I look out the window of my office here in Acton, Massachusetts I see lots of cars going by with tops down and sunroofs open. Of course, lots of bikes, too, from hogs to numerous whiney rice burners. We happen to have a motorcycle café up the street and this time of the year the parking lot is packed with leather clad two wheeled road warriors out risking their necks up against 18 wheeled beasts of burden... all while I am sitting here writing.

But, I am not complaining mind you! Top 200, the first ever new vehicle test drive video series to appear on VOD (video on demand) is forcing us to get behind the wheels and into "the Driver's Seat" of some pretty cool iron...

We've tested the Corvette C6, the Mini Cabriolet, the new Bentley Arnage, the Ferrari F430 and oh, maybe FIFTY other cool machines. So, not being at the beach isn't all that bad.

We do have some interesting news to report, too. You've heard about the Top 200... I've been blabbing about it for months now. Well, two things: First, it is finally up and visible on Comcast on Demand. We have the first 15 or so new vehicle profiles sitting there ready to be viewed at any time. If you have Comcast digital, you have WheelsTV's Top 200, right in the Sports and Leisure section of your VOD channel... and eventually there really WILL be 200 new cars to check out!

The other very cool news is that WheelsTV has just joined forces with Vehix.com, the leading new vehicle locater on the web. In a few months, when you are looking for a new car you'll be able to go to Vehix.com and watch brief Top 200 profiles of the cars you are considering and then just click on the one you want and Vehix will tell you who has that millennium yellow Corvette you've always wanted.

I've been touting Top 200 as the next step in the car shopping experience. Well, now it really is! You'll be seeing Vehix's and WheelsTV's TV spots popping up soon so keep an eye out for them!

One last thing, since you've been kind enough to read this letter, I'd like to give you an official WheelsTV silver bullet key ring flashlight. These babies are great anytime you need a little light on the subject. Just write to us at WheelsTV.net, tell us what you'd like to see on the network, give us your address and we'll send you a WheelsTV silver bullet light!

That's all for now. Let's see, I think I'll take that new BMW M5 for a test drive... right to the beach!!

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim Barisano

Great Things Happening at WheelsTV

2005-06-01T18:22:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've written this column and I apologize for the delay. I've been doing way too much flying and not enough driving. A lot has been going on here at WheelsTV so I'd better give all of you wheelies out there a full update.

First off, we have formed a strategic alliance with SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC). SeaChange is THE major player in the video on demand space. If you have VOD, it's probably coming to from SeaChange servers. We're really pleased to partner with SeaChange. They are a great company with an innovative, exciting vision of our TV future: Picture watching whatever you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it. Picture watching a story on the Corvette for instance and customizing that story so that if you want to learn more about the '63 Stingray or the new C6, all you have to do is click your remote and you're off to a new story... its that simple. Without giving away any trade secrets, we are working on some very exciting technology that promises to take TV viewing from the old trolley-car days... (go down one road only) to tomorrow's future car days... go wherever you want, instantly.

We've also launched production of our newest innovation, Top 200. Top 200 is what we call, "The next step in the car shopping experience." When fully loaded, Top 200 will have over 200 new vehicle video test drives that you can view via VOD or on the web. These objective video profiles will give anyone thinking about a new car a chance to evaluate the styling and performance of just about any car or light truck on the road, today. We'll also provide key data such as fuel economy and pricing. With Top 200, most of us will be able to cut our dreaded dealer visits in half. Added bonus... even if you're just dreaming about that new Ferrari F430, you can take a video test drive with WheelsTV's Top 200 and decide if you really want to mortgage the family estate to have one. By the way, we get to drive all of these cars during the taping sessions! I love this job!

Other important activity here at WheelsTV includes: A recent distribution agreement with Akimbo, (www.Akimbo.com) a leading Internet TV company. With the Akimbo box, in addition to great networks like CNN, A & E and Home and Garden, you will soon be able to get WheelsTV... all delivered to your TV via the Internet! I'll tell you, technology is moving a break-neck speed! But, we love it! We've also signed distribution deals with DaveTV, (www.dave.tv) that will bring WheelsTV to virtually any screen you own... even your cell phone! And speaking of which, we just inked a deal with SmartVideo (www.smartvideo.com), the world's first company to deliver live full motion video on cell phones. In a few months, you'll be able to watch WheelsTV from anywhere on the planet, just by dialing us up on SmartVideo! What a world!

Of course it has not been all work and no play. The WheelsTV senior management team recently spent an evening at our newest affiliate, F1 of Boston. F1 is a state-of-the-art racing facility where hi-tech carts power you around a track that mixes some great S's with some nice straight-aways for some thrilling wheel-to-wheel action. If you've ever dreamed of racing but were too busy with your day job, this is the place to go to take care of that need for speed. After a brief training session and video, we donned our fire-suits and helmets and headed out on to the track. Lap times and standings were all recorded. I am proud to say that I was not the slowest, but I did get my a - - kicked by Brad Whitford of Aerosmith fame. He's a regular at F1.

RJ Valentine is the genius behind F1 of Boston and he is now part of the WheelsTV family. Welcome RJ!

Here you can see the macho men from WheelsTV: Left to right: Yours truly, Greg Willis, (the man behind all of these cool distribution deals), Alan Reeves, Mike Iandoli, Gig Barton and John Coscia.

One final note: If you have Comcast, you can view many of our best early shows plus, come August, some new programs, including a profile of F1 Boston, racing at Lime Rock Park, Top 200 and some cool new tuner shows.

That's about it from The Drive's Seat. As I always say... If you want to see WheelsTV on your cable or satellite TV, contact your service provider or go to our on-line petition. We've got a form that you can fill-out to let the operators know that you WANT YOUR WHEELSTV!

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim Barisano

Gaining Traction in LA

2004-10-01T18:21:00.000-04:00

It's been an exciting few months for WheelsTV. We've been busy meeting with various potential cable and satellite distribution partners, working on new programming, licensing some of our library for VOD and making the rounds in LA.

While in LA we had a chance to meet with an old friend, Jay Leno, whom I have worked with in the past. As most of you know, Jay is a true car enthusiast. He puts much of his pay check into his rare collector cars, many of which he drives around LA on a daily basis.

Because Jay works long hours, he likes to have his meetings after the show, right in the Tonight Show studio. So, he invited my associates, John Coscia, Greg Willis and I to come to the show and meet with him afterwards.

We ran late at the previous meeting. So, when we got to the studio, we were quickly ushered to our seats as the audience was being warmed up and coached on how to act when the show's taping began.

The show started at 4:30 local time. Jay ran on stage to tumultuous applause from folks who had waited long hours to see the show. (The woman next to me had waited since 1:00 a.m. the night before.)

Of course, when Jay comes on, those in the first few rows jump up and high five Jay. When the crowd all jumped up, Greg and I looked at each other and said, "Why not?" We were the only members of the audience in business suits. Jay got a chuckle out of that. The moment was a cameo for Greg and me. We were seen by numerous friends watching at home... even my brother who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea!

The show was great, as usual. Jay had Reese Witherspoon on. She talked about her hit movie, "Vanity Fair," and about her dad who collects old Cadillacs and parks them all over the front yard of the family home... much to her mother's chagrin!

Jay also had the Women's U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Team on and for music, Tim McGraw and his band.

After the show, we met with Jay right on the Tonight Show set and talked about his participation in WheelsTV. Jay, being the car nut that he is, is very interested in what we are doing. He is busy with the Tonight Show for a few more years, but with Conan O'Brien taking over in '09, we're hoping to see Jay on WheelsTV in the future.

By the way, Jay drove his new red Ford GT to the studio on this night. Jay was a real gentleman and had his cameraman take some shots of us. One of which you see, here. Of course we brought him some goodies... A WheelsTV hat and press kit and a DVD of a documentary of another old friend of Jay's, Rex Trailer, who was a TV cowboy here in Boston for many years when Jay and I were growing up. Jay is in the documentary and he appreciated getting the DVD. Rex was also my mentor when I was first getting into the TV business... but that's a story for another time.

Meanwhile, thanks for your interest in WheelsTV. We'll be making some big press announcements soon. So, keep an eye on this website.

Thanks and please drive safely,

Jim Barisano

Ferdinand Porsche and the Early Hybrids

2004-08-01T18:17:00.000-04:00

Well, thanks to the high cost of gasoline, Americans are finally talking about alternatives to being at the mercy of foreign oil. The most promising approach seems to be the hybrid gas/electric. With Toyota selling every Prius it can build, Ford coming out with the Escape hybrid SUV, and GM also planning gas/electric vehicles, it appears as if we are finally on our way to cutting down on our dependence upon the oil barons and sheiks. "Necessity is the mother of invention."

Lots of people are amazed at how these hybrid cars and new light trucks can get as much as 60 miles to a gallon of gasoline. Few know, however that the first gas/electric hybrids were built over 100 years ago by none other than the father of the VW Beetle and the Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche. Back then, the gas powered internal combustion engine was just one of many ways to power a motor wagon.

Nicolas Cugnot of France had invented the first self-propelled road vehicle back in 1769. It was powered by steam. Robert Anderson of Scotland built the first electric carriage in 1832.

So, by the turn of the century, competition for shares of the new market in horseless carriages was wide open with small companies popping up all over the western world. We even had a car company here in Massachusetts, the Stanley Steamer Company, based in my home town of Newton.

So it was that in 1898 Porsche, whose first love was electricity, was hired by Jakob Lohner, a coachbuilder to the aristocracy of Vienna who was fascinated with the potential for an electrically powered vehicle. Although still just a teenager, Porsche came up with a front wheel drive electric car that was a model of simplicity... no transmission, gears or drive-shaft, just an electric motor at each front wheel. His revolutionary design, the Lohner Electric Chaise, even won an award at the 1900 Paris exposition and went on to set a speed record over the famous Semmering Highway in Austria.

Because batteries were very heavy, Porsche gave the problem some thought and out of necessity, came up with his next invention... the gas/electric hybrid! He called it the "Mixt." The Mixt used a small gas powered engine to turn a generator which drove the motors in the wheels and re-charged smaller, reserve batteries. It was such as success that the technology incorporated into the fire fighting equipment of both Vienna and London!

So, someday, when you get behind the wheel of your first hybrid vehicle and cruise past the gas pumps without slowing down, give a thought to the father of that hot Porsche 911 that just whipped by. He got the hybrid wheels turning over 100 years ago!

Thanks for your interest in WheelsTV. We have some exciting news coming up so stay tuned.

Thanks, and please drive safely,

Jim Barisano

The Willow Pond Kitchen

2004-06-01T18:10:00.000-04:00

I used to eat at a great roadhouse restaurant just outside of Concord Center, here in Massachusetts, known as the Willow Pond Kitchen. The Willow Pond Kitchen was one of those throw-backs to the pre-superhighway, pre-franchise era when little mom and pop eateries could make a good living on the side of the road. Willow Pond's big wooden booths were always full of happy folks eating the restaurant's trademark Ipswich steamers, lobsters and fried scallops. Its dirt parking lot was always full and there were usually a few Harleys parked right by the squeaky front door. On a typical afternoon you could take a late lunch, sit in a booth by a sunny window and while away the day with a friend, a bucket of clams, some bread and a few beers.

The Willow Pond Kitchen is long gone, like many roadside stops, lost to a faster, busier world that can't find the time to sit back and relax. But, I got to thinking about the old place recently, not because of the food but because of what had graced its dark wood walls. Virtually every wall in the place, and a few shelves, too, displayed the stuffed heads and bodies of numerous wild animals. There were the usual deer and moose, but also badgers, beavers, hawks and even a weasel or two. Of course, someone had to have shot or caught all of those hapless beasts and then had them stuffed. It was quite a unique collection!

The funny thing about us humans is that we all like to collect something... stamps, coins, Elvis memorabilia, sports souvenirs, and yes... even cars. I guess that once you get to the point where you can spend money on stuff that you don't really need to survive... that's when you start spending it on stuff you really, really want... like that mint 1955 Ford Crown Victoria, just like the one you and your first love, what's her name, would cruise to the drive-in in. Or the '62 Corvette you always wanted but never got... until now.

Well, I am proud to say that I probably have one of the largest collections of car... videos in the world! And, I collected all of these cool cars on video over the past twenty years, while getting ready to launch WheelsTV! I've got one-off BAT cars from Bertoni, the GT40 in which Shelby and Gurney won LeMans, Shel's second small block Cobra, Marilyn Monroe's 1961 Dodge convertible, (complete with on-board record player,) the Marmon Wasp in which Ray Harroun won the very first Indy 500, the first Dino Ferrari... and on and on.

Now, aside from the fact that this vast collection did not cost a fortune to assemble, one of the wonderful things about it is that although many of the cars are now in private collections and not viewable by the public, I can enjoy my collection just about any time I want!

But here is the best part... when WheelsTV hits the air waves, you too, will be able to enjoy this collection. And, unlike the real thing, you'll be able to make exact copies of my rare collectibles with your VCR or DVR... for FREE! And, while our car video collections may never fetch big bucks at a Bonham's auction, we'll be able to enjoy them, grow them and pass them on to our kids. And best of all, we'll all be able to sleep well knowing that we didn't have to kill anything to build our collection! Now, I wish I had just one more bucket of clams and a sunny window in which to enjoy them at the Willow Pond... Hey, is that badger staring at me?

I hope that you enjoy this month's newsletter. Please be sure to let the writers know what you think of their stories. We all love what we do and love to hear from you, too!

Thanks for your interest and please drive safely.

Jim Barisano