“After the great race in Portland a few weeks ago we’re ready to start what will be a busy few months in the remainder of the Cup series,” said Clark Campbell, motorsports manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We’ve seen the drivers only improve as they get more time in the Jettas and on the track and the message about clean diesel racing has been well received at every venue we’ve visited so far.”

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series is an innovative approach to motorsports – 30 factory-prepared and managed 2009 clean-diesel Jetta TDIs will be piloted by talented, up-and-coming drivers, aged 16 to 26. Volkswagen’s goal is to find the driver with the most talent and help them break into the world of professional motorsports. The Jetta TDI Cup series, the first all clean-diesel race series, is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing Inc. Sponsors for the series include: Aggreko, Athlete’s Performance, Bondurant, Bosch, ful®, Holder, Hoopla, Ironclad, Kyosho, Oakley, RedBull, UTI and ViOn.

Points Scores, driver’s standings after three of eight races Complete ranking information listed below includes ranking, driver name (points), hometown and car sponsor.
1, David Jurca (83 pts), Federal Way, Wash.- Kyosho
2, Josh Hurley (66 pts), Cooper City, Fla.- Athletes Performance
3, Liam Kenney (59 pts), Sterling, Va.- ViOn
4, Chris Holman (56 pts), Burlington, ON, Canada- Kyosho
5, Andy Lee (48 pts), Colorado Springs, Colo.- Red Bull
6, Caleb Kenney (47 pts), Berkeley, Calif.- Aggreko
7, Chris Castagna (45 pts), S. Boston, Mass.- Bosch
8, Gary Williams Jr. (44 pts), Dana Point, Calif.- Oakley
9, Derek Jones (43 pts), Philadelphia, Penn.- Oakley
10, Jimmy Underhill (40 pts), Greenwood Village, Colo.- Bosch,
11, Wyatt Dallenbach (40 pts), San Antonio, Texas- DC United
12, Mark Pombo (36 pts), Duluth, Ga.- ful®
13, Nick Mancuso (36 pts), Mettawa, Ill.- Specialty
14, Timmy Megenbier (33 pts), Melrose Park, Ill.- SCCA
15, Michael DeNino (32 pts), Gaithersburg, Md.- Castrol
16, Chris Kuenning (23 pts), Grand Rapids, Mich.- Aggreko
17, Taylor Broekemeier (21 pts), Fort Collins, Colo.- Bondurant
18, Andrew Cordeiro (20 pts), Woodbridge, ON, Canada- VW Credit
19, Adam Love (15 pts), Normal, Ill.- VW PreLoved
20, Juan Pablo Sierra Lendle (14 pts), Puebla, Mexico- SCORE
21, Jake Dallenbach (10 pts), San Antonio, Texas- Auto Logistics
22, John Shim (10 pts), Starkville, Miss.- VW Credit
23, Adam Kretschmer (9 pts), Brampton, ON, Canada- VW Parts & Accessories
24, Adam Crepin (4 pts), St. Louis, Mo.- SCCA
25, David Richert (3 pts), Niverville, MB, Canada- Hoopla
26, Ryan Buetzer (1 pts), Long Beach, Calif.- ViOn
27, Chad Brassfield (0 pts), Scottsdale, Ariz.- UTI
28, Evan Pflock (0 pts), Redondo Beach, Calif.- SCORE
29, Noah Arundel (0 pts), Tonka Bay, Minn.- VW Parts & Accessories
30, David Heinz (0 pts), Pittsburgh, Penn.- VW Pre Loved

Foose will sign autographs on the Main Stage at the Eaton Performance Park on Woodward Ave. on Friday, Aug.15, from 6-8 pm and Saturday, Aug.16, from 9 am-12 pm, 2-5 pm and 6-9 pm.

In addition, to commemorate the 14th annual Woodward Dream Cruise, Foose will debut The RIDEMAKERZ Dream Collection, a first-of-its-kind collection of 14 different RIDEZ personally customized by Foose himself. The Collection includes such classic Detroit muscle as the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger, a retro Hot-Rod and pick-up, a stock race car, a Dodge Viper, Ford and Dodge pick-ups, two Cab-over trucks, even a MINI-Cooper and a Scion xB, among others; each RIDE measures approximately 10 to 12 inches long or about 1:14th to 1:20th scale. The RIDEZ will be on display at the RIDEMAKERZ booth located next to the Main Stage at the Eaton Performance Park. Following the Dream Cruise, the RIDEZ will tour the country stopping at each of the 12 RIDEMAKERZ Shops, as well as major car events such as SEMA in Las Vegas and Houston’s Autorama. The RIDEMAKERZ Dream Collection will then be put on the auction block in Scottsdale, Ariz., in January – Scottsdale’s classic car auction month – to benefit the Progeria Research Foundation.

“We are honored that Chip Foose has customized, signed and numbered 14 different RIDEZ to create the RIDEMAKERZ Dream Collection, paying tribute to the world’s largest one-day automotive event,” said Larry Andreini, ZEO (CEO) of RIDEMAKERZ. “Introducing these

RIDEMAKERZ Brings Dream Customizer – Add One

classic RIDEZ on Woodward – America’s first highway – actually feels like a dream! We’re excited that cruisers from around the world attending this nostalgic event will be the first to view these one-of-a-kind RIDEZ and that the Progeria Research Foundation will ultimately benefit from their sale.”

Foose, the most-celebrated customizer of our time, personally built, accessorized (chassis, wheels, side pipes, spoilers, engines, etc.) and hand painted each RIDE using BASF paints at his Foose Design Shop in Huntington Beach, Calif. He will sign and add the final touches to the RIDEZ on Friday morning before they go on public display at the RIDEMAKERZ booth starting at noon on Friday through 9 p.m. Saturday.

“I lost my sister, Amy, to Progeria, so the Progeria Research Foundation is a cause very near and dear to my heart,” said Foose. “I’m so grateful that RIDEMAKERZ is donating the money raised from the Dream Collection to such a worthwhile cause.”

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (“Progeria”) is a fatal, “rapid aging” disease that afflicts children, who die of heart disease at an average age of 13 years. The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) is the only non-profit organization in the world dedicated to discovering the cure and effective treatment for Progeria. The RIDEMAKERZ donation will help children with Progeria throughout the United States, including those involved with Michigan’s local chapters in Flat Rock and Stevensville.

“We are so fortunate to have the support of Chip Foose and RIDEMAKERZ,” said PRF Executive Director Audrey Gordon. “With their help, PRF can continue its mission at a faster pace, to win this race against time for all children with Progeria.”

RIDEMAKERZ BONUS: BUY A RIDE, HELP BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS Event-goers can learn more about RIDEMAKERZ and purchase the 2008 Woodward Edition RZ Rod, signed and numbered by Chip Foose, for $50, and other RIDEMAKERZ RIDEZ at the RIDEMAKERZ booth (while supplies last). One dollar for each RIDE purchased on Aug. 15 and 16 at both the booth and Detroit-area RIDEMAKERZ Shops located at Great Lakes Crossing Mall in Auburn Hills and Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit. So, ultimately, two great causes will be assisted by RIDEMAKERZ during the Woodward Dream Cruise.

You can check out RIDEMAKERZ online at:www.ridemakerz.com

Entering the Pacific Northwest at Evergreen Speedway rain was not a big surprise as showers in the morning and during the Top 16 competition created the first ever rain event in Formula DRIFT history. The track became wet and the drivers had to adjust to the new conditions. The competition was exciting as the drivers proved complete car control on the banked oval and tight technical turns.

“The rain made for one of the most exciting events in the history of Formula DRIFT,” said Jim Liaw, President and Co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The fans from Pacific Northwest are some of the most dedicated fans and despite the wet weather they stayed glued to their seats for the entire event. These conditions definitely showcased the skillfulness of Formula DRIFT’s pro drivers.”

All 3 previous Formula DRIFT champions remained in the Final Four. Third place finisher Robbie Nishida and the Hankook / Peak Performance Nissan 350Z found the podium for his first time since his debut in 2005 by defeating current champion Tanner Foust in a very close consolation round. The final battle pitted 2-time Formula DRIFT Champion Samuel Hubinette in his Nuformz / Mopar Dodge Viper against former Formula DRIFT Champion Rhys Millen in the Red Bull Pontiac Solstice. The two faced off and Millen took home the victory for his second win this season and moved him up to the fourth place overall in the Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup point standings. Hubinette with this second place finish takes the top spot over Tanner Foust by 12 points. The competition is as fierce as ever with less than 45 points separating the top 3 drivers. The action continues on at Round 6: Locked and Loaded on September 13 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup 2008 Point Standings

1. Hubinette - Nuformz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10 - 409 Points
2. Foust - Rockstar / AEM Nissan 350Z - 397 Points
3. Yoshihara - Bridgestone / RMR Pontiac GTO - 366 Points
4. Millen - Red Bull Pontiac Solstice - 355 Points
5. Forsberg - NOS Energy Drink Nissan 350Z - 338 Points
6. Takatori - Super Autobacs Nissan Skyline R34 - 326 Points
7. Tuerck - Gardella Racing / Mobil1 Pontiac Solstice - 317 Points
8. McNamara - Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky - 237 Points
9. Grunewald - Nitto / Tanaka Racing Chevrolet Corvette - 229.25 Points
10. Nishida - Hankook / Dynamic Autosport Nissan 350Z - 200.25 Points
11. Miki - APEXi / Nitto Mazda RX7 - 183.50 Points
12. Gittin, Jr. - Falken / Ford Racing Mustang - 182.50 Points
13. Verdier - Cooper / Crawford Performance Subaru STI - 169.50 Points
14. Gushi - RS*R Scion tC - 166.50 Points
15. Mohan - Kyle Mohan Racing / Cooper / Mazdatrix RX-7 - 125.50 Points
16. Hayashida - Signal / Maziora Nissan Skyline GT-R34 - 123 Points

Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com

"We aim to launch our new compact vehicles at 800 things gone wrong per 1,000 vehicles," said Bennie Fowler, Ford's group vice president, Global Quality. "That's more than 500 TGWs less than the predicted industry average -- and we believe these levels will ensure our upcoming small cars will achieve industry-best initial quality."

As part of its product-led transformation, Ford has announced plans to convert three light truck plants to small vehicle production, paving the way to sell several European-designed small vehicles in North America.

Ford said today its Ford Focus compact car built off a global C-car platform will debut in North America in 2010 with best-in-class quality. In addition, Ford expects other small vehicles derived from Ford's global C-car to achieve similar initial quality levels.

Speaking Monday at the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Fowler said the company will meet this aggressive quality target in the midst of its "One Ford" transformation that includes globalized product development and manufacturing operations.

"We're following a set of standardized processes around the world in product development, manufacturing and purchasing with a discipline this company has never seen," Fowler said. "We are leveraging these same disciplined, standardized processes to ensure world-class quality around the world."

In 2007, best-in-class initial quality in the small car segment was 1,058 things gone wrong, while the industry average was 1,512.

Ford's continuing quality push comes as the company shifts towards a more balanced portfolio of small cars and crossovers that will be sold alongside the company's lineup of trucks and SUVs.

Last year, passenger cars represented 49 percent of sales industry-wide. Trucks and large SUVs accounted for 32 percent. Crossovers were 19 percent. The product mix at Ford was nearly the opposite, with trucks and SUVs accounting for 52 percent while cars were at 30 percent. Crossovers were 18 percent.

Within the next five years, Ford's product mix will change dramatically. Trucks and SUVs is expected to account for 38 percent of the company's mix, cars will grow to about 38 percent. Crossovers will climb to 24 percent.

"By 2012, we'll be building 1 million cars around the world on our new B-car platform, and 2 million vehicles our global C-car platform," Fowler said. "Those vehicles will launch with the best quality ever."

Ford's commitment to the world-class quality extends beyond initial quality measured in the first 90 days of ownership. Customer-driven product features, such as fuel economy, craftsmanship, and quiet interiors are designed into the vehicle and checked for maximum quality and durability.

Using Ford's industry-leading virtual tools, up to 40,000 design standards are checked in the Virtual Engineer Lab. Virtual technology is also used to confirm that the product can be manufactured in the assembly plant for which it is slated - and without stress or injury to the operator.

"As a result of our virtual technology, we've cut time-to-market by eight to fourteen months, depending on the vehicle program," Fowler said. "We've reduced costly late engineering changes. We're building fewer - but better - physical prototypes. And we have the lowest work-related injury rate in our company's history."

Processes such as Early Claims Binning in manufacturing streamline communications about potential quality issues between plants and dealerships. Warranty claims are fed to the assembly plant every day where the issue is dissected and either traced back to the installation process or fed back to the design engineer.

Fowler also said the company has trained an "army of problem solvers among product designers, manufacturing engineers and hourly work force. Around the world, we have 60,000 Six Sigma green belts, over 7,000 black belts and 400 master black belts."

Additionally, Wayne State University of Detroit will offer a course this fall for UAW-represented Ford employees to become certified Six Sigma black belts.

Garrett Header 8/08The Garrett Ford Mustang GT Twin Turbo Kit utilizes a top-mount system for the twin Garrett GT2860RS Turbochargers. This allows for easy access as well as maintenance of the stock catalytic converter placement.

The kit includes:
· (2) Garrett GT2860RS "Disco Potato" ball-bearing turbochargers with internal wastegates
· (2) Cast exhaust manifolds with T25 flanges for top-mounting the turbos
· (1) Cast downpipe; passenger's side
· (1) Fabricated downpipe; driver's side
· Necessary oil and water lines
· Installation instructions

The Garrett Ford Mustang GT Twin Turbo Kit is a developmental kit and is NOT a complete solution. The kit allows for an infinite number of modifications from mild to wild! It does, however, require the user to complete the kit with compressor side plumbing, inter-cooling, tuning, fueling and air filtration.

The exhaust manifolds are available separately as well in both T25 and T3 flanges to allow for a total of 11 different Garrett GT Turbochargers to be used for a wide range of applications and power ranges.

The developmental kit has produced in excess of 483 bhp on Garrett's test car at only 9 psi!