This 1969 Camaro factory cutaway show car will be offered at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Tesla delivered a record 308,600 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2021, marking six consecutive quarters of record deliveries and a 70 percent gain over the same period last year. More at Autoblog.
+ Several foreign automakers have indicated an interest to the government in India’s Tamil Nadu state in acquiring the Ford Motor Company plant there, officials say. More at Reuters.
+ The City of New York has placed a $11.5 million order for 134 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles to be used by the city’s police and environmental and other agencies. More at The Drive.
+ Carl Horton, the founder of the Horton Safety Team that revolutionized track safety and medical operations during the CART era in open-wheel racing, has passed away at 87. More at Racer.
+ A semi rig completed an 80-mile route in Arizona with no human on board and no human intervention using technology developed by TuSimple, the company announced. More at The Detroit News.
+ Mercedes will reveal its Vision EQXX electric concept vehicle, which boasts a range of up to 620 miles and 200 MPGe energy consumption, in a live streaming event today at noon. More at Car and Driver.
+ Dutch carmaker Spyker has been resurrected again and intends to return to production with backing from two Russian investors, Boris Rotenburg and Michail Pessis. More at Autoevolution.
+ The 1969 Camaro factory cutaway show car known as the Double Header for its two interchangeable nose sections will be offered at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. More at ClassicCars.com Journal.
+ Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will be making his ninth start in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 2022, driving the no. 48 Ally-backed Cadillac DPi-V.R. More at Jayski.
Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from December 31 here.
I’m sad to report that my long-time friend and motorsports colleague DEKE HOULGATE has died in his Carlsbad, California home. The Associate Press obit follows.
I credit Deke for saving my life way back in 1985. We shared a two-bedroom apartment in Indianapolis for some six weeks in May for the 500 mile race. Deke was an ardent runner, I mean big-time. He would clock 10 miles usually before I go up.
Well at the same time I was an addicted smoker who could go through three packs a day without blinking.
We were the ultimate odd couple. Deke would not permit smoking in the apartment and he would even complain if I smelled like cigarettes. Of course my daylight hours were spent at the Speedway either in our team garage (Arciero) or with Deke in the Pennzoil garage or our trailer/office fondly named Belle.
So to make a long story short; Deke was responsible for supporting and bolstering my efforts to quit smoking and most certainly saving my life. That was the most difficult thing I have ever done thanks to Deke.
I have continually thanked him over the years usually with a phone call in May.
Rest in the arms of the Lord tonight good friend ❤
Deke Houlgate, West Coast auto racing promoter, dies at 91
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DECEMBER 31, 2021 2:22 PM CARLSBAD, CALIF. — Deke Houlgate, a longtime West Coast sports publicist whose clients included such auto racing greats as Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Richard Petty, Jim Hall and Johnny Rutherford, has died. He was 91.
He died Sunday at his home in Carlsbad north of San Diego of COVID-19-related illness, son Greg said Thursday.
Houlgate began his career in sports after graduating from the University of Southern California in 1954. He started as a copy boy in the sports department at the Los Angeles Times, and later worked as a general assignment reporter and assistant director of special events at the newspaper. He also worked as a reporter at the Las Vegas Sun and Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.
In 1962, Houlgate opened his own public relations firm in Redondo Beach. He promoted Riverside International Raceway and the early years of the Virginia Slims women’s pro tennis tour in Los Angeles.
He worked for automotive designer and driver Carroll Shelby. Eventually, he promoted events across motorsports, including Indy car, stock cars, drag racing and motorcycle racing.
Besides his youngest son, Houlgate is survived by Olga, his wife of 66 years, and two other sons, John and David. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Deke III.
Thank you for sharing the sad news. He was a leader of our profession.
I didn’t meet Deke Houlgate but I spoke to him by phone and we faxed each other over several years regarding various Indycars that were sponsored by Pennzoil and I was commissioned to illustrate. He was pleasant, thoughtful, unflappable, and very professional, a pleasure to deal with.