Jim N

I got my information through news articles. Shortly after the Obama administration took office, they set up the Auto Industry Task Force, which was to work with GM and Chrysler to get them through the reorganization / bankruptcy process. GM gave this task force its first proposal and it largely kept the company intact. The task force was not impressed and at the end of March 2009 sent the company back to the drawing board. At the next meeting, GM had to justify the existence of the divisions it intended to keep. Buick and GMC were specifically questioned by the task force. GM argued successfully that while Buick did not sell particularly well domestically, it was one of the company’s most popular brands internationally. Many foreigners in the emerging markets look at American brands as luxury items and Buick fills this role in GM’s car lineup. GMC was also questioned as the task force made the same comment as the poster I responded to. GMC trucks are essentially the same as Chevrolet, so why keep two divisions that make the same vehicles. GM as I pointed out provided the task force with sales data that, while the vehicles are essentially the same, people who buy GMC will for the most part not consider Chevrolet. GMC is looked at as more of a premium vehicle and Chevrolet does not necessarily have this reputation. Contractors were specifically mentioned in the article as individuals who as a group prefer GMC over Chevrolet. I do not know how aggressively the task force pursued the matter of closing GMC with GM, but it was a matter that they broached at least according to a couple of news articles I read. You are correct that GM was mismanaged for a long time. This was noted by members of the task force. They were surprised at how poor the talent was in GM’s accounting and finance divisions.

I thought it was alphabetically as in blue label before red, but apparently I was mistaken,

Really nice looking model! If I may offer one suggestion: Micro Sol and Micro Set are supposed to be used together. The solution in the blue labelled bottle is applied to the plastic (Micro Sol I believe) and then the solution in the red labelled bottle goes on the decal (Micro Set I believe). I am away from my workbench, so I am not certain of the names on the bottles, but the order they are applied is correct.

Very nicely done!! I just bought this one and have to work it into the rotation.

Great looking conversion!

Excellent build!

You can make one from an aluminum can. I have done that a time or two when I have lost the part or broke it.

Great job!

Very nice looking collection!

Looks great!

Excellent work!

Very nice!

You did a great job!

Great work Bruce. Good luck building the rest of the Vettes. Should be a fun project.

Very nicely done!

Very nice! I built this one for my daughter as she loves Corvettes. I enjoyed building it. My one big complaint was that they did not provide a chrome piece for the side mirrors.

The reason why they have two truck brands is because contractors will not buy Chevrolet. This was brought up by the government when they bailed GM out. The government wanted GMC closed down as well. GM provided the data to the Obama administration that while they are essentially the same truck, Chevrolet and GMC sell to very different audiences.

Looks real nice!

You did a great job!

Great job on all of them!

Great job!

That looks real nice. The paint is fabulous!

Excellent work. There is nothing wrong with the less detailed kits. As I have gotten older, I find that these tend to give me the greatest satisfaction. there is a lot less to fight with.

Unfortunately, as soon as the second category is created, people will put things in the wrong place.

The sport is going through a generational transition as it has from its start. With Johnson, Harvick, Kenseth, Bowyer and possibly Newman all over 40, the next few years will see the retirements continue. The shelf life of a driver seems to be about 45 these days as the experienced drivers no longer have a monopoly on good equipment. With the way Gordon and Stewart drove in their last few years, that age seems to hold up as the competitive limit for most of them. As far as Earnhardt, Jr. is concerned, I am glad to see him leave the sport when he chooses. He has had a few nasty concussions over the past few years, and as we have seen with football players, it does not have to take too many of these before real problems set in. As far as the future is concerned with his fans, he is a car owner. I imagine a lot of them will gravitate to his teams, particularly if he can move them up to the Cup level. I am sure Rick Hendrick will offer his support if Junior decides this is what he wants to do. So he will have immediate access to sponsorship money, drivers and equipment. I can also guarantee it that Chevrolet will pony up the necessary support as well. They will not want to see an Earnhardt associated with anything but their cars with everything that last name has done for their car brand. With regard to the comments on the segment racing, I don't see the problem. After the first dozen laps or so, the race settled into the drivers turning laps and positioning themselves for the last quarter of the race and then they went for everything they could get. Now with points on the line, they have to race in this part of the race. I have certainly seen the intensity level pick up when they approach the end of a segment. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I do not see how that is bad.