"It's a true American story.  I love it."

That's among the many wonderful comments we've heard since We All Win: How the company launched on a whim succeeded was published several weeks ago.  The book tells the story of Checkered Flag and a reviewer on Amazon wrote this about it: "It's the kind of book you start on a whim but then can't put down until you've finished, and then find yourself wanting more." 

We All Win is now available at Prince Books in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, as well as online here on CheckeredFlag.com (click the book icon to the left), on Amazon, and at all Checkered Flag locations.  Funds raised through the book's sale benefit United Way of South Hampton Roads. Happy reading!

Not too often does a Porsche GT2 grace your presence.  It is one of those German rarities that makes any sighting a real treat.  It is easier to find Waldo than one of these.....dare I say.....monsters! 

It is a 6 cylinder Turbo with 530 horsepower & 505 lb.-ft of torque, all from 2,200 - 4,500 RPM.  Keep in mind that the regular 911 Turbo has 480 hp.  According to Porsche, the GT2 gets from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds and is capable of speeds up to 204 MPH, while only weighing 3,175 lbs.  In order to slow this beast, it needs Porsche's 6-piston ceramic brakes (an $8,000 option on other Porsche's).  When looking at a car like this, gas mileage is not usually mentioned, but the GT2 gets up to 16 MPG in the city and up to 23 MPG on the highway.....knowing Dickie we doubt he will be one to see that particular statistic. 

Click on any of the photos below to see a larger version.

Accented in alacantara and carbon fiber, the GT2 houses one race-luxurious interior!

The lucky new owner (staring directly into the sun for this photo).  Was it worth the wait Dickie?

The photographer said he'd be happy to exchange a proper photoshoot for a test drive.

Everyone at Checkered Flag Porsche wishes to express a big CONGRATULATIONS to Dickie.  He waited years for this car, and we're all excited to see him finally driving a GT2 in his color!

Just a few weeks ago, someone in my family was in a car accident. Thankfully, no one was injured in the collision, but the aftermath has been...well, stressful.

My relative's current predicament motivated me to learn more about the auto repair process, so I headed over to Checkered Flag's Body Shop. Bill Evans, Shop Manager (pictured here with members of the Body Shop team, Rich Sproul and Lisa Pfeiffer), offered great insight into the industry and gave me a personal tour around the shop. He says, "This is the last place people want to be, simply because cars are huge investments. So it's our responsibility to be empathetic to our customers and to make the process as painless as possible by providing great service."

The Body Shop opened in 1985 and has since then prided itself in delivering a high level of quality automotive repair. Bill says his staff is composed of experienced "automotive health experts" who are trained to help customers during each step of the repair process. They offer guidance in working with insurance companies (Checkered Flag deals with all vehicle insurance providers) and assist in arranging for rental cars.

Technicians are factory trained A.S.E. and I-Car certified. They take on all types of repair damage, minor or significant. Laser Unibody & Frame straightening equipment and two high-tech downdraft painting and baking booths are used to ensure that vehicles are returned to pre-accident conditions. They're able to accommodate a high volume of vehicles (the most was 63 cars in one week). 

Typically the number one question on customers' minds is how long the repairs will take. Different variables (insurance companies, repair severity, type of vehicle,  parts availability) affect the time needed to complete repairs. It's difficult to pinpoint, but according to Bill, on average for every $1,000 worth of damage, it takes about a week of repair work. Again, this varies for every case. The Body Shop team will work with you to keep you updated during the repair process.

Bill says, "We hold ourselves to high standards here and want to deliver top quality to our customers. It's important to make sure they're satisfied and everything is repaired properly."

We here at the Checkered Blog would like to send a big thanks to all Body Shop team members. Pictured here are Tony Bosques, Lisa Fisher, and paint manager Kenny Jackson. If you're interested in finding out more about auto repair, visit the Checkered Flag Body Shop page or call (757) 490-111. Have a great weekend everyone and drive safely!

Described as "simply astounding," the Porsche 911 is quite possibly one of the coolest cars on the planet. It's been considered an icon in the automotive world since its introduction in the 1960s. Most people recognize the 911 as a high performance vehicle that you'd find on the racetrack, and (yes, it is all of that) but it's also great with day-to-day usability. I know, you must've raised an eyebrow with that one... Porsche a daily driver? Well, along with its Porsche siblings, the Boxster and Cayman, the 911 is an unexpected, but very welcome addition to our Unsung Heroes of Fuel Efficiency list.

There's a long list (15 in total) of 911 model variations to choose from. Here's the basic breakdown: base Carrera (starting at $73,500), Carrera S, GT3, Turbo and GT2. You also have your choice of body style (either standard coupe or convertible Cabriolet), and rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Checkered Flag Porsche's Brian Bowers, a sales representative, showed me a Turbo version of the 911 (pictured here). All 911s have rear mounted horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engines. With the engine in the rear, Brian says the vehicle is more stable and delivers better traction. The Turbo Brian and I looked at produces an incredible 480 hp. The Carrera gets 325 hp. Hp numbers vary on the other models.

Brian says the 911 performs like a race car, but it also drives like a "normal" car. For a vehicle of its class and capability, the 911 gets great gas mileage.  It's rated at 26 miles on the highway, and 18 city (numbers reflect Carrera model). That's about 442 highway miles with its 17 gallon tank. Brian also points out that even with a huge difference in hp, the Turbo gets around the same mpg as the Carrera. The Turbo is capable of 25 highway miles on a gallon of gas. 

While performance and exceptional driving experience and feel are major highlights, the 911 is also equipped with an array of comfort features. It seats four passengers and comes standard with: air conditioning w/automatic climate control; tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel; and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. A front trunk compartment also offers ample cargo space. Visit here for the full list of features.

Standard on the 911 is a superior braking system consisting of Anti-lock braking (ABS) and 4-piston monobloc fixed alloy calipers and ventilated brake discs. Other safety features include: Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic range control; Porsche Stability Management; and dual front Advanced Airbags and head and thorax side airbags.

For the fashion conscious driver, the 911 is a dream. Brian tells me you can customize a 911 down to stitch color of the seat upholstery! Porsche offers several exterior color options for the 911, but if a customer came in requesting a specific color, a customized paint match is possible.   

The 911 is one of those vehicles that truly speaks for itself, so it's best to see it in person. If you're interested visit Brian and the Checkered Flag Porsche sales team at 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.

We All Win: How the company launched on a whim succeeded, the newly-published book about Checkered Flag, has drawn advance praise from national industry leaders, including from James D. Power, III, the founder of J.D. Power and Associates.  He says We All Win "tells a story that stands out among all dealerships across the country."  Funds raised through the sale of We All Win will benefit United Way of South Hampton Roads. You can purchase the book here on CheckeredFlag.com by clicking on the book icon on the left side of this home page or by visiting any of Checkered Flag's parts departments.

We All Win was written by award-winning former journalist Audrey Knoth, who is now a Norfolk business executive. Recently, the Checkered Blog caught up with Audrey for an interview.  We will be featuring portions of our conversation with her in coming weeks, starting today.

Checkered Blog: Whose idea was it to write a book about Checkered Flag?

Audrey: The idea was mine.  In early 2007, I helped Checkered Flag with several business projects, and as I learned more about the company, I became very intrigued by its history.  Checkered Flag was founded in 1964 by Ed Snyder, who continues to run the company today along with his son Steve Snyder.  That kind of longevity of local ownership and operations is in itself remarkable.  But as I dug into it, I found the story was even more interesting and important than just that.

Checkered Blog: In what way?

Audrey: I learned that prior to founding Checkered Flag, Ed Snyder had managed a department store called Snyder's that his grandfather had started in downtown Norfolk at the turn of the last century.  So when Ed Snyder got into the car business in the mid-1960s, he brought customer-service and marketing practices from the department store into auto retailing, and the things he did were very unusual at the time.  When you hear Ed Snyder and Steve Snyder talk about customer service being Checkered Flag's top priority, they are really talking about a philosophy that has been paramount to the Snyders for more than 100 years.

Checkered Blog: Why are funds raised from the sale of We All Win being used to benefit United Way?

Audrey:  United Way is very important to Checkered Flag and it was for Snyder's department store, too.  What has made it so important is that not only does United Way support such a variety of local organizations, it involves individual employees in the giving process.  Through the generations, the Snyders have believed that giving feels good, that the process is as beneficial to the person who is giving as it is to the recipient, and United Way encourages this.

Checkered Blog: Something that's very noticeable about We All Win is how visually appealing and colorful it is.

Audrey: Yes, the book is more than just a narrative.  We have included lots of great vintage photographs and a cartoonist even created five original cartoon strips and the book's cover.  So we hope that people really enjoy both reading the book and just leafing through it.

Checkered Blog: And all of us at the Checkered Blog hope that everyone will consider purchasing We All Win to help raise funds for United Way of South Hampton Roads.  Please click on the book icon on the left of this home page ro order in online or stop into any Checkered Flag parts department to pick it up in person.

When a 12-year old boy walked out of a Polish village in 1882 in search of a better life, it was literally the first step toward the founding of Checkered Flag.

The story of how Checkered Flag came to be, the obstacles it faced, and the customer-service philosophies that propelled it to success are told in the new book We All Win: How the company launched on a whim succeeded, written by Audrey Knoth.  We All Win has received advance praise from leading auto industry executives, who call it "a remarkable book about a remarkable business enterprise."  We All Win is now available for sale here on CheckeredFlag.com (click here) and, starting on Friday, August 8th, in all Checkered Flag parts departments.  Funds raised through its sale will benefit United Way of South Hampton Roads.

The book recounts how the near-penniless Louis Snyder arrived in America in the late 19th century and how, from a small dry goods company, he built a major Norfolk, Virginia department store operated by successive generations of the Snyder family.  His grandson Ed Snyder took over management of Snyder's department store in the early 1960s.  In 1964, Ed invested in a small British sports car dealership and, at his wife Jean's suggestion, named it Checkered Flag.

We All Win explains how Checkered Flag prevailed over challenges, failures, and risks to grow from one humble showroom to the auto retailer it is today, with 11 new-car franchises and a used-vehicle superstore in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, and selling more than 12,000 vehicles annually.  Ed Snyder continues as president 44 years after its founding; son Steve Snyder is senior vice president.

The author, Audrey Knoth, is a former broadcast and newspaper journalist who's now a Norfolk business executive.  She says she had the idea to write the book after helping Checkered Flag with several projects in early 2007.

"I became intrigued by Checkered Flag's history, which had never been researched and told," she says.  "The more I learned about Checkered Flag, the more I realized its story is a compelling one that has meaning for people both inside and outside of the car business."

Audrey spent over a year researching and writing We All Win, conducting extensive interviews, consulting with auto industry and academic experts, and poring through historical and newspaper archives.  Vintage photos, illustrations, and original cartoons accompany the book's absorbing narrative.

"I found that the principles that originated more than a hundred years ago remain at the foundation of Checkered Flag today," Audrey says.  "Among them: if you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers; nothing is more important than customer service; failure should teach you rather than frighten you; and taking risks is absolutely essential to succeeding."

All of us with the Checkered Blog are excited about the book and we hope you will consider purchasing it.  It's a great read and with the funds raised benefiting United Way, you could say We All Win!

CB: How long have you worked at Checkered Flag?
Bill: Hmm...let's see. Well, I worked here three years prior, but I left to run a family business called Dream Dinners. My wife handles that now, so I returned to work here.

CB: Which Hampton Roads city or county do you live in?
Bill: Virginia Beach. I've lived there since I was ten.

CB: Besides Porsche and Audi what are your other hobbies?
Bill: Music. I play the guitar and drums. All kinds of music, anything from alternative or rock. Stuff from Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hmm...what else?  Volleyball, soccer, video games, golf, and working.

CB: What's your favorite restaurant?
Bill: Well, I don't know if I'd say it's my favorite place to eat, but definitely a great place to hang out and play music. The Green Oak. The owner always asks us if we want to play music. It's just a cool place to hang out.

CB: What's in your MP3 player or CD player right now?
Bill: About a 1,000 songs (laughs). Lordie, I listen to everything. Picking out a favorite song is hard. I listen to Stone Sour and Coldplay a lot. Travis is a great band too.

CB: What's the last movie you've seen?
Bill: After tonight, hopefully it'll be Dark Knight. I've been trying to see it. IMAX has been sold out for every showing!

CB: Do you have any pets?
Bill: A Yorkie named Chewie because he looks like Chewbacca (laughs).

CB: What's the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Bill: Ah, this one's hard. Well, I have a pilot's license. I got it when I was like 21 or 22, and I fly every once and awhile. Small planes like Cessnas.

CB: What's the one invention you couldn't live without?
Bill: Electricity! I need it for my guitar amps to play loud. Oh, and definitely air-conditioning.

CB: What's the best thing about working at Checkered Flag?
Bill: Dealing with the best customers and being able to drive the best cars in the world. You take pride in that. We have the best customers, people, and cars. It's just great. 

JOIN US  for the inaugural Zone 2 PCA Club Race & Advanced DE Weekend!

August 8-10, 2008 @ VIR (Full Course)

Registration opens May 5, 2008 at 9:00pm (CDT) at www.clubregistration.net

This will be a three race PCA Club Race weekend (two sprint races and one enduro race). 

Advanced DE open to advanced solo/instructors only as there will be a single DE run group.

This is a dedicated PCA Club Race & Advanced DE only weekend.

Test & Tune (Not a PCE Event) on August 7, 2008 will be run/managed by VIR. 
Please contact VIR for info on the T&T.

Spectators are welcome, but please RSVP in advance.  You can email Richard Hutsko to RSVP as a spectator:  rnhutsko@checkeredflag.com

Virginia International Raceway is located in Alton, VA (near Danville) which is about a 3-4 hour drive from Virginia Beach.  It may sound like a hike, but time at VIR is always well worth it.