Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 44

A JUL -J Standard Speaker UTO SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1995 Page 42 Pickups take to racetrack rs if V'. ,1 ....7: ft I p0 tF iff. mmmmm I TZ Js S'. t- Chevrolet's entry-level Metro sedan is redesigned for 1995. It bags are standard; anti-loci brakes are optional.

The price ranges has a longer wheelbase and a large from $7,500 to $10,000. trunk. Driver and passenger air thinks small with GM retired from the Busch series but I might do a match race with Ron one of these days. That would be exciting." At Phoenix International Raceway, I got a chance to take an up-close and personal look at the SuperTrucks. They are similar in construction to a Winston Cup race car with a tube frame and 358-cubic-inch V-8 engine.

The trucks have a wheelbase of 112 inches that's two inches longer than a Winston Cup race car and they weigh 3,400 pounds. Engines are limited to one 830-cfm four-barrel carburetor, and roller camshafts may be used. I asked driver Mike Skinner what the difference was in driving one of the trucks as opposed to a Winston Cup car. "For one thing," he said, "you sit a little higher. At first it felt as if the rear end wanted to come around, but it didn't.

They stick pretty good. We've been in the wind tunnel and the trucks are pretty stable." The big question is, can the trucks run together closely at speed without aerodynamic problems? Sometimes, different shaped vehicles can disrupt the stability of other vehicles when they are drafting. "So far it hasn't been a problem for the Chevy trucks. We can run close with anybody," Skinner explained. "The other guys say our trucks mess them up a little when we stick our noses under their rear bumpers.

I hope it stays that way, but it won't They'll figure out some sort of fix as the race season goes along." "The pickup truck and sport utility truck segment is one of the most important areas for sales and marketing in the automobile industry and a key area for Chevrolet," said Jim Perkins, general manager of the Chevrolet Division. "We see the NASCAR Super-Truck series as an ideal way to demonstrate the performance of our full-sized trucks. Truck owners and racing are a natural team-up. We believe the sport will be wildly popular, especially when the races are televised," he added. The SuperTruck series is off to a strong start The schedule for 1995 includes 20 races and all will be televised either on ABC, CBS, ESPN or TNN.

The Super-Truck series is also attracting a number of quality race teams from other areas of motor sports. In addition to the NASCAR stars, off-road racing legends Walker Evans and Roger Mears have joined the circuit. This should be easy driving for both off-road veterans these are paved ovals and road courses with no boulders or fallen trees. By MIKE ANSON Los Angeles Times Syndicate Pickup trucks are the fastest-selling vehicles in America. The big question is, will they also become the fastest thing on the racetrack? NASCAR, the sanctioning body for stock-car racing in America, has created a new racing series just for pickup trucks.

The new SuperTruck series is open only to full-sized American pickup trucks with V-8 engines. Since 1967, pickup trucks have been the stars of off-road racing. Both four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive pickups have been bounding across the rough terrain of Baja California and even racing on mini-Baja courses set up in stadiums across the country. Why would anyone want to race a pickup truck on a banked oval or a paved road course? Because trucks are big business. For example, the best selling vehicle in America is a truck.

The Ford F-150 pickup truck has been the top seller in the nation for 10 years. Additionally, for every car Chevrolet sells, it sells one and one-half trucks. In 1994, more than 40 percent of the vehicles sold in America were trucks; analysts predict by the year 2000, that total will be more than 50 percent NASCAR and the auto makers took a look at the demographics of the typical pickup truck buyer and the typical NASCAR race fan. The age, income and education numbers were so close it made sense for NASCAR to start the SuperTruck series and for Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge to enter the races. "Basically, the racing pickup trucks are Winston Cup stock cars with pickup truck bodies on them," explained Mike Skinner, who won the first-ever Super-Truck race at Phoenix International Raceway in February.

Skinner drives the black No! 3 Chevrolet pickup owned by the Richard Childress team. Childress number 3 Winston Cup car is driven by seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt is also involved in the SuperTruck series not as a driver, but as a car owner. Earnhardt is himself a Chevrolet dealer. "I sell more trucks at Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet than cars," says the NASCAR champ.

"We want to sell even more trucks. A lot of people own trucks (35 million nationwide), so this is going to give a whole new twist for race fans." In the SuperTruck series, Earnhardt is campaigning a Chevy pickup, but Ron Hornaday Jr. is driving the No. 16 Earnhardt Chevy. Will Earnhardt climb behind the wheel of the pickup? "No," said Earnhardt.

"I'm going to leave it to them. I'm more than 10 cubic feet. The Metro transmits some road imperfections inside to passengers, but the handling overall is commendable. I'd prefer less play in the steering, however. Geo upgraded the Metro's upholstery, carpeting and ceiling materials for 1995, seeking to give the car a more refined look.

But no matter what color the exterior, the inside is gray, Geo says, explaining that gray gives a spacious feel. While not brimming with features, the Metro is built with a number of standard amenities. Among them: two cupholders, map pockets on the doors, two front airbags, and rear-door child security locks. The Metro is one of the first GM cars to get daytime running lights, too. A new safety feature, these headlamps illuminate automatical when the ignition is turned on.

There's good front headroom 39.3 inches in the sedan for just about anyone. That's more than the Aspire, the Tercel and even the Honda Civic. Back seat legroom is surpris the new engine: a 1.3-liter, single overhead cam, fuel-injected four cylinder, capable of 70 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute. That's a bit more than the 64 horsepower, 1.3-liter engine in the Ford Aspire five-door, but less than the 82-horsepower, 1.5-liter engine in the Toyota Tercel. The Metro certainly isn't a powermobile, but the test car, fitted with a five-speed manual transmission, performed with a lot of heart.

On flat roads, it wound up quickly. On extremely steep grades, as expected, it struggled. But there's no struggle at the gas pump, where the 10.6-gallon fuel tank is filled for under $10. Thanks to its fuel-sipping nature, the Metro's cruising range on a tank of gas is impressive; with a manual transmission, the LSi can go 456 highway miles, Geo says. The Metro gets 39 mpg in the city- The ride is a bit noisy, as road and engine noise come through to the inside.

But improvements have been made, with a rigid cross-car beam fitted under the instrument panel to stiffen the body and reduce squeaks and rattles. Helping, too, is the change from five-door hatchback to four-door sedan. In fact, the spacious new trunk provides nearly as much storage space as the old hatchback design LOCAL Metro ing, too. With the Metro front seats up on their tracks a bit, my knees were nowhere near the front seatbacks. With the front seats back all the way, my knees were just barely brushing the seatbacks.

An added nice touch are the large rear windows, though they go down only about halfway. Geo designed the back seat just for two, and the cushion is rather bench-like. But it splits 50-50 on the LSi and folds down for maximum versatUity. The trunk lid is high, and the large taillights are reminiscent of the Dodge Neon. The Metro front end is short, but nicely redesigned for a sweeping, aerodynamic look.

On the LSi, bumpers match the body color, helping give the car a longer appearance. Metro sales fell last year from calendar 1993's 95,652 to 79,598. The company has said sales are likely to be about even this year with 1994, though through the first three months of 1995, Metro sales continue to lag. tion, so incoming calls are better left unanswered or forwarded to a voice mailbox for later retrieval. For emergencies, tell the operator whether you are reporting a medical or police emergency and whether there appears to be injuries.

If you are reporting a driver possible under the influence, give the vehicle description, license number, direction of travel and what alterted you. Secure portable phones in their cradles to avoid their become projectiles in a crash. Calling from the road? Follow these safety tips LOCAL BUYLOCAI By ANN MARIE JOB For The Associated Press The price is right on General Motors smallest car, the 1995 Geo Metro. So, too, are the fuel economy stats, the front headroom, rear legroom and the mix of standard amenities. Offered in both coupe and sedan models for 1995, the Metro starts at just $8,085.

That compares with $8,440 for a Ford Aspire and more than $9,900 for a Toyota Tercel. This model year, the Metro gets its first four-cylinder engine standard on all sedans plus new styling and 13-inch, instead of 12-inch, wheels. And this little subcompact, for six years the country's leader in fuel economy, remains a top fuel-thrifty car. Clearly targeted at young, budget-conscious buyers, the new Metro impresses with its surprisingly rigid body, fit and finish and its value package. The AP's test car was the most expensive Metro an LSi sedan starting at $9,485.

Even with a number of options added such as antilock brakes, power door locks, rear window defogger and air conditioning, it topped out at under $13,000 quite a feat at a time when the average new car price is more than $20,000. This four-passenger sedan had BUY 4-Wheel Independent Suspension Color Keyed Bumpers 7 Spoke Wheel Covers Scotchguard Fabric LOCAL BUY Full Trip List $11, 305 Fairway Discount $1,010 5 AJi gk fifflc BUY Cargo Cover Power Steering Power Brakes Air Conditioning Rear Defrost -I a o- SaSl 9nl2)I? Sft Properly used, cellular phones enhance driver safety and provide a mobile alert network for the community, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. Here are some tips for safely using cellular phones, offered by the Anthracite Motor Club of Hazleton, a Mid-Atlantic affiliate: Recognize that driving requires your full attention. Studies show inattention whether tuning the radio, dialing the phone or day dreaming is a factor in 40 percent of all collisions. Before you get behind the wheel, read the phone's instruction manual and familiarize yourself with the location and function of the phone's buttons.

Pull off the road before dialing. This is especially important for drivers over age 50 who, a 1991 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study shows, are twice as likely to be distracted. Have your vehicle fitted with a hands-free or speaker phone. This enables drivers to keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road during conversations. Pull off the road if the conversation is an emotional or complex one, or a business call requiring note-taking.

Chances of a highway traffic situation going unnoticed while talking on the phone is approximately 20 percent for a simple conversation and 29 percent for a complex call. Ask a passenger in the car to place the call for you. Monitor traffic conditions before answering or initiating calls. Hazardous road conditions, severe weather or stop-and-go traffic require a driver's complete atten 6 Behind the wheel 1995 Geo Metro LSi sedan Base price $9,485 As tested $12,596 Type Front-engine, front-drive, four-passenger, subcompact sedan Engine 1 single overhead cam, electronic fuel-injected four cylinder Mileage 39 mpg (city), 43 mpg (highway) Length 164 inches Wheelbase 93.1 inches Curb weight 1,940 pounds Built at Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada AMFMStereo Cassette Floor Mats Interior Wipers Daytime Running Lights All New Exterior Sc Interior Carpeting Odometer Body Side Mold LH-RH Remote Mirrors Remote Trunk Release mm .5 LOCAL (717)455-7701 or (800)540-7701 Route 309 North HAZLETON All Rebates including GMAC $500 1st Tune Buyer, included in price. Tax, Tags.

Title Extra. TRADES ACCEPTED AT WHOLESALE MINUS RECON. See dealer for warranty details BUY LOCAL jfeiifelxicicio Destination charge $310 AP BUY.