Jeep News & Rumors - October 2006 Dispatch

It was born in 1910, produced about 11 million vehicles (including the Wrangler), and was the nation's longest-operating automotive manufacturing facility. How does our country traditionally honor the elderly? By replacing them with someone younger. In this case, it will be the Toledo Supplier Park, a brand-new $2.1-billion factory. Parkway was producing the Jeep military vehicles in the early 1940s, then jumped ship to civilian Jeeps in 1945 and was renamed Toledo Assembly Plant after Chrysler bought American Motors in 1987. Part of the Jeep Parkway was demolished in 2002.

* September 22-24, Jeepstock, Midwest Jeepthing, west-central, Illinois;www.midwestjeepthing.com or e-mailevents@midwestjeepthing.com* September 24, 4th Annual Jeepfest, Wullenweber Jeep Chrysler, Cincinnati, Ohio; call Steve at 513/574-5500 or send an e-mail to parts@wullenweber.com* September 30, Michigan Mud Bog State Championship, Albright Shoes, Michigan; www.albrightshores.com/2006_michigan_state_mud_bog_cham.htm* October 7-8, 7th Annual Off Road Expo, Pomona, California; www.offroadexpo.com* November 3-4, 26th Annual Hump N Bump, Vegas Valley 4 Wheelers, Logandale,Nevada; www.vv4w.org* January 13-14, Superstition Mountain Run 9, San Diego 4 Wheelers, west of El Centro, California; www.sd4wheel.com* January 20-21, CORVA 12th Annual Truckhaven Challenge, west of Salton City, California; call 800/42-CORVA x512 or e-mail geoff@corva.orgDoes your club have an event happening in 2006? Tell us, we can't read minds. Make it simple and follow this format:Name of event?Date of event?Location/city/state in which the event will be held?How can readers find out more info (Web site and/or phone)?Send those tidbits to Jp Magazine, Things to Do with Your Jeep, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, or e-mail jpeditor@primedia.com (make sure your subject line is "Things to Do with Your Jeep").

Want people to wheel with, but can't find a 4x4 club in your area? Try checking out www.4wheelparts.com/4wp/clubs/index.asp.

Hot: Wrangler Unlimited sales numbers in its last year of production.Not: Concerns over JK's very longwheelbase.Really Not Hot: Jeep considers the Commander to be a large SUV ... and an appealing design.

* Is a four-banger coming for the new Wrangler? We've heard worse things. Oh, no we haven't.* Two Jeeps recently made the cut with Business Week. The Commander took home Best American Luxury SUV accolades ("... we combined large and luxury SUVs to be able to throw into the mix vehicles like the Cadillac SRX, technically a crossover, and the Hummer H1 Alpha, technically a tank," the magazine said). Meanwhile, the Grand Cherokee was named the top-ranker in the midsize SUV category.* South Africa will get a taste of Jeep SRT -- the speedy, suped-up Grand will arrive in September.

Wondering where Erik Estrada has been? Probably not, or you'd know where he was. Anyway, we'll tell you. He's the spokesman for the state of Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol, and 21st Century Insurance on the subject of child safety. His big focus has been on ensuring that child seats are up to Florida law. E-squared has appeared at fairs and events to sign autographs and deliver lifesaving tips -- just as we recall he did as Ponch in that episode of CHiPs when he and Jon helped to organize a roller-skating fundraiser.

"It shows the main character, Will Ferrell, talking to children telling them to 'take your mom and dad's keys and go practice driving in your driveways. If you need to crash, use a tree because there is insurance.' The movie is listed as a comedy, but Kids in Cars sees nothing comical about the messages that are being sent."-- Said to be from a letter received by the editor of the Auto Channel from www.kidsincars.org about the NASCAR flick Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.They probably think Goodfellas is bad for kids and T-ball too.

Gossip ... rumor ... OK, fact has it that ARB will build an air locker for the 212-ton Rockwell. The side gears and carrier are pretty similar to the GM 14-bolt -- just a different spline count and a few other modifications should be all it takes. It will be available in the fall (PN RD145).

* Speaking of SRT vehicles, the Dodge Ram SRT10 will be driven out to a special, wonderful farm where it can roam in high-performance freedom come the end of 2006. If you never had a pet dog while you were growing up, that means this version of the Dodge will be killed.* We recently told you Goodyear needed some help naming its newest blimp. We can say that our write-in campaign for "Sir Blimps-a-Lot" was just an exercise in writer's cramp. Try "Spirit of Innovation." Sure, we could go for that -- if this had been the first-ever blimp.* Did you know Toyota is selling prefab housing?* Autotrader.com has developed myautotrader.com so that you can save vehicles and do other more personalized searching and buying.* Michelin will build passenger and light-truck tires in Mexico.* The first of a limited edition of the world's fastest car, a Bugatti Veyron 16.4, which has a 1,001hp engine, has sold for $1.4 million in the United Kingdom.