Here is how some of the fine folks at Checkered Flag are spending the holiday.

Ramel Felton, parts associate, Checkered Flag Honda: I also work at Waterside in downtown Norfolk, so I will be working there on the 4th from 7pm to 3am. There is a lot going on there. And then on Saturday, I come in for work here. It is not too much of a holiday for me (laughs).

Freddie Edmond, rental agent, Checkered Flag Toyota/Scion Rent-A-Car: I am going to have a cookout/barbeque with everyone (smiles)! And then for the rest of the weekend I will be working here.

Kourtney Pulliam, receptionist, Checkered Flag MINI: We go over to see my grandma and we have a cookout there with all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. And after that I think we will go to Mt. Trashmore for the fireworks.

RT Ives Jr., assistant service manager, Checkered Flag Hyundai: I have the whole day planned out and I can tell you my entire schedule! Starting at 10:50, I am gonna take my daughter to see the Hulk. Then we are going shopping at Lynnhaven Mall for some shoes. After that we are picking up her boyfriend...a party here, and a party there. And then finally, I am going on a date with my wife to watch Sex and The City.

FYI: Operation hours are little different for today. Sales departments are open from 9am-6pm. Service departments are closed for the day, but it goes back to normal tomorrow. Have a great holiday. Be safe and see you on Monday!

Surfing the net today, I read about a man who is looking to beat high gas prices by finding alternatives ways to commute to work. Sounds like a story you have heard before. Everyone is trying to find ways to save gas, but how many of you would kayak to work? A man living in Seattle does it, and even more impressive (although some would describe it as crazy) his entire commute to and from work takes 8 hours by kayak! Talk about dedication. At least he will not find himself stuck in traffic. But for those of you who are not ready to brave the open waters or have 8 hours to spare for commuting, I have another Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency to tell you about, the Porsche Boxster. Now, I know what you are probably thinking...a Porsche? Porsche is known for high performance, and usually high performance means more fuel. Well, you will be surprised to know that the Boxster delivers the signature Porsche performance, but not at the cost of fuel efficiency (more on that later).

The Boxster is offered in two models: Boxster (base, starts at $45,800) and Boxster S. The Limited Edition Boxster and the Boxster RS60 Spyder are also available, but are fewer in number. Eric Davis (pictured with the RS60), a client advisor there, says there are only 1,960 RS60 Spyder Boxsters in the entire world! I had the opportunity to check out one of the very special and rare RS60s. Eric showed me #498 of the 1,960 produced. A plaque sits on top of the glove box lid to show the limited numbers. Number 498 makes a bold impression with its Carrera Red leather interior. Very stylish. 

The Boxster is a two-seater convertible with a mid mounted engine layout. It is powered by a 2.7-liter, 6-cylinder boxer engine with 4-valve cylinder heads. With the engine placed in the space between the back of driver/passenger seats and the rear of the vehicle, the Boxster gets ideal weight distribution giving it awesome handling and performance. The engine technology on the Boxster is impressive, and I wish I could have taken a photo to post here, but seeing the engine is actually a bit of complex process and requires a Porsche mechanic. But never fret, if you are really interested in the seeing the engine visit the Porsche website. They have detailed diagrams of the Boxster engine. It is pretty cool stuff.

On the Boxster there is also an engine management system called the Motronic ME 7.8. This serves as the control center for all the engine-related systems, including fuel supply. Ah, fuel the magic word. ForbesAutos.com named the Boxster on its Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Luxury Cars list. It gets 29 highway miles, and 20 in the city. With its 17 gallon tank, you can get around 500 miles on the highway.

Other than the engine, I was wowed by the amount of cargo space the Boxster offers. With the engine fitted snuggly in the middle of the car, it leaves room for two generously sized storage compartments at the front and back. Eric even joked that I could fit comfortably inside the front compartment! 

Safety wise the Boxster has you covered with standard features including: Anti-lock braking system (ABS); 4-piston monobloc fixed alloy calipers and ventilated brake discs; seatbelt pretensioner; immobilizer system with transponder system for safety protection; two full-size Advanced Airbags; and the Porsche Side Impact Protection system with dual side airbags. Boxsters are also equipped with Porsche Stability Management (PSM). When the car is in motion, the PSM monitors direction, speed, yaw velocity (speed of the rotation around the vertical axis), and lateral acceleration. Using that information, the Boxster can correct over or under steering. It comes in handy especially during bad weather.

There are a ton of optional features to choose from for the Boxster. A few that caught my attention are: the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) which includes goodies like advanced audio and navigation systems; ParkAssist (rear bumper sensors to aid with parking); and HomeLink (standard remote control garage opener in roof console). The full list of features is found here.

Like I mentioned earlier, there are only a few RS60 Spyders and the Limited Edition Boxsters in the world, and you do not want to miss your chance to see them. Visit Checkered Flag Porsche, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.

"We have not seen a situation like this since the OPEC oil embargo in the early 1970s."

That is what Checkered Flag founder and president Ed Snyder says about how surging gas prices have affected the auto business, and in particular, your experience as a car-buyer. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk with Ed Snyder, as well as company senior vice president Steve Snyder, about the current situation. When I call that conversation an "opportunity," I mean it. Ed Snyder, who is pictured here, founded Checkered Flag in 1964 and has been continuously at the helm ever since. Steve Snyder has long tenure with the company, too. So when you are looking for insights into the car business, you will not find any sources who are more seasoned and more candid.

Ed Snyder remembers the OPEC oil embargo very well, because it occurred soon after Checkered Flag introduced Honda cars in the Hampton Roads market in the early part of the 1970s. The Honda Civic, which you can see from the photo here was tinier then than it is now and was under import restrictions, became a highly-sought-after vehicle and very hard to get. And "Buicks, Cadillacs, all those big cars that had been so popular...well, you could not sell them at any price," Ed says.

Now, in 2008, the demand by Hampton Roads consumers for smaller cars has started to rival what Ed saw 35 years ago. Checkered Flag offers many such vehicles throughout its dealerships, but Ed and Steve say supplies are getting tight.

"We think that by the end of this month, if you want to buy one of these small vehicles, you will likely need to wait a month for it to come in," says Steve Snyder. "It is going to be a waiting list situation. Eventually, the wait could even be two months. For this reason, if you would like to have the car right now, you should visit or call us now."

Ed says: "We are seeing some very interesting things. For example, some customers are trading in vehicles that are worth more than the car they are buying; it is because they want to scale down for fuel efficiency. And the first question we are hearing now from luxury-car buyers is about gas mileage."   

Do not expect the situation to change soon. The Snyders believe it will take a year for small-car production to catch up with demand.

So, what to do? Well, while the smart fortwo, Honda Civic, and Toyota Prius are synonymous with fuel efficiency in the mind of the public, there are other fuel-friendly vehicles to be had that you may not immediately think of. Over the next few days, the Checkered Blog will be spotlighting what we call the "Unsung Heroes of Fuel Efficiency." These are vehicles in all classes that might not be on your shopping list right now, but we suggest you consider because of their fuel-friendly nature and quality. We will feature our first Unsung Hero tomorrow, so see ya then!

The weekend has arrived, and I bet you are looking forward to a few days of relaxation. Although, if you are like me, you will probably find yourself spending some of this weekend doing chores you neglected during the work week, like cleaning your car. Admittedly, I have been putting the task off for about 2 weeks now, so my car deserves some much needed attention.

I have a friend who works incredibly hard to keep his car immaculate and is very good at it. He bought his car 3 years ago, and it still looks and smells brand new! While cleaning a car seems pretty straight forward, it does require a bit of foresight if you want it done right. For those of you who are envious of my friend, myself included, here are a few of the best tips I have seen on keeping your vehicle looking like it was just driven off the dealership lot.

Outside Looks are Important: When it comes to vehicles, giving a little more attention to exterior appearances is not considered in the least bit vain. Regularly washing your car helps protect it from dirt, salt, and other harmful debris picked up from everyday driving. Remember to dry thoroughly to prevent water spots. Simple enough right? Well according to the Car Care Council, a good number of car owners harm their vehicles with improper washing. About a third of car owners use damaging non-automotive products, such as dish detergent which can strip away paint and finishes. Waxing your car at least twice a year is also recommended. It not only keeps your car shiny, but provides a layer of protection from sunlight and acid rain.

What is on the Inside Matters too: Washing the outside of your car is only half the job. Cleaning the interior is just as important. From commuting to work to running household errands, we spend a great deal of time inside our cars. Undoubtedly, our cars suffer from coffee spills or an accumulation of trash. Keep a good sized trash bag around to contain the mess. Also some say that white toothpaste can help with stains on car upholstery. Try it out. Having a small vacuum with a hose attachment on hand is also a good idea. Regularly vacuuming the floors and the upholstery will keep your interior looking new. And here is a useful tip from yours truly...before vacuuming sprinkle some carpet deodorizer or even baking soda. It will keep your car smelling fresh.

Following a few of these simple tips will help keep your car looking newer longer. But if you are determined on doing the least amount of cleaning possible this weekend, luckily for you, Checkered Flag offers professional detailing to serve your needs. Give them a call at 757-490-0111. Whichever way you chose to do it, cars are substantial investments, so giving some extra time benefits you in the long run. Until next time, Happy Cleaning this weekend!

Cathy Ray Hodges has pretty much seen it all at Checkered Flag. She started with the company in 1973, when there were just two dealerships, Toyota and Honda! She has held positions in parts, payroll, as an office manager at the old Hilltop location, and as the assistant comptroller. Currently, she is Vice President of the Operations Center, the consolidated billing and financial center at Checkered Flag.

Some dealer groups have individual offices in each store for all the paperwork that comes with purchasing or servicing a vehicle, but Checkered Flag chose to do it differently. The idea was that customers develop a rapport with their salesperson and they do not want to be passed off to different people. Cathy explains, "A centralized operation allows for economies of scale. Everyone here does things the same which is more efficient and leads to increased customer satisfaction which is, of course, the main focus at Checkered Flag." Along with Checkered Flag human resources, the operations center houses 35+ employees all of whom may be "behind the scenes" but are an integral part of the business.

When asked if she anticipated her future with Checkered Flag back in 1973 and what has surprised her since, Cathy laughs, " It all surprises me! I never anticipated still being here after 35 years, but the car business gets in your blood, I guess. We have been successful in good and bad economies, through gas crunches, market crashes, and everything else."

The Checkered Blog would like to recognize Cathy and all the operations center personnel for all their hard work that keeps things running smoothly at the Flag.

On average, Americans are paying $3.79 for a gallon of regular gas according to a survey by AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. While rising gas costs are no surprise, American drivers are resorting to all sorts of ways to be more gas efficient. If you want an idea on the lengths people are willing to go to save a few bucks click here.

For those of us who are not willing to run to the nearest fast food joint to steal tubs of grease, here are a few "lawful" ways of lessening the pinch at the pump.

Check your tire pressure: Under-inflated tires not only pose a safety hazard, but can also reduce your gas efficiency. Get your hands on a reliable tire gauge.

Remove excess weight from your vehicle: The heavier a car is the more gas it needs to get around. Clean out unnecessary items from your trunk. The Department of Energy suggests that drivers can save between 3 to 6 cents a gallon by driving lighter.

Use cruise control: If your vehicle has cruise control take advantage of it, especially on long drives on the highway. A study on Edmunds.com found that using cruise control could mean substantial savings, up to 7 percent.

Avoid excessive idling: The theory here is simple. When the car is not running, gas is saved. If you expect to be idle for longer than a minute, its best to turn it off.

Slow down: Possibly the biggest fuel saver tip is to simply slow down. It may take you longer to arrive at a destination, but you?ll be making fewer trips to the gas station.

If you are looking for more tips on increasing your mpg, which I am sure you will be as gas prices inch closer to $4, visit this site maintained jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy?s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Happy birthday, Checkered Blog!  This week marks one year since FlagRaiser, Win'sGal, and I, your trusty CheckeredChick, began our online musings and observations on what FlagRaiser likes to call "the automotive play place in Hampton Roads, Virginia."  And the Checkered Blog has received one amazing birthday present:  Auto Dealer Monthly magazine has ranked Checkered Flag's website at the top of its annual listing of excellent auto retailer sites.  A panel of eight judges examined all aspects of Checkeredflag.com and singled out its "personality" and "unique" nature.  Judging by the other auto dealer web sites on the magazine's "Top 10" list, the competition was stiff, so we are all very excited about this. Thanks to all who have suggested topics for this blog, submitted comments, and sent e-mails ... and please keep your ideas and posts coming!

Forgive my self-congratulatory tone, please.  It is Monday. I needed a bit of a pick-me-up this morning and I got it when news came that The Checkered Blog had picked up another trophy, this time a prestigious Gold Award from the Hermes Creative Awards, an international competition that honors creativity in traditional and new media.  Thanks to everyone who gave us feedback and suggestions for making the blog even better.  Keep it coming!