Racing: Women Participation in a "Man's" Sport

Most people are aware of the male racecar drivers, but what many don't know is there are many female drivers making their way up the ranks as well. Most have heard of Danica Patrick, but she is definitely not the only female competing on the racing circuit.

There are a couple developmental racing curcuits in the United States that serve as stepping stones for those trying to race with the 'big boys'.

Champ Car Atlantic Championships (A.K.A. Atlantic)

Cooper Tires sponsor the Atlantic racing series, which holds events across North America during their season. This is the top developmental open-wheel racing series. Most competitors make the jump up to the highest level from this circuit.

Simona de Silvestro

Date of Birth: September 1st, 1988

Hometown: Thun, Switzerland

Simona won her season-opener in 2008 at Long Beach. She races Formula BMWs. She was the first woman in history to earn spots on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway podium with 2 3rd place finishes at the U.S. Grand Prix races.

Firestone Indy Lights

Firestone Indy Lights is another developmental league for those trying to make their way up the ladder to the Indy Racing League (IRL).

Cyndie Allemann

Date of Birth: April 4th, 1986

Hometown: Moutier, Switzerland

Cyndie has had three top-10 finishes in 2008, with her highest being 4th. Besides racing, she is also a pilot and a student back home in Switzerland.

Ana Beatriz

Date of Birth: March 18th, 1985

Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil

Ana has made her way onto 4 podiums so far in her 2008 season; St. Petersburg (3rd), Iowa Speedway (3rd), Watkins Glen (3rd), and Nashville (1st). Her win in Nashville came at the Sunbelt Rentals 100. She has had 5 top 5 finishes and 6 top 10s.

Indy Racing League (IRL)

The Indy Racing League is predominantly an oval-based open-wheel racing series in the United States. It is named after it's most famous event, the Indianapolis 500. This is the league all the mini-league race car drivers are trying to reach.

Milka Duno

Date of Birth: April 22nd, 1972

Hometown: Caracus, Venezuela

Milka was actually the first Latina to qualify and race in the Indy 500. In 2004, she had 2 wins, 5 top-5 finishes and 10 top-10 finishes placing her 5th in driver point standings. She was the first woman to win a major international sports car race in North America twice. She was also the first woman to drive the Daytona Prototype cars, the fastest cars in the Rolex Series. She was the first woman to have 2 class wins at Petit Le Mans as well.

Milka is not just a race car driver setting new standards for upcoming female drivers. She also has 4...yes, 4... Master's Degrees, and was featured as a fashion/glamour icon in Vogue, Esquire, and Selectra magazines.

Sarah Fisher

Date of Birth: October 4, 1980

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Residence: Indianapolis, Indiana

Sarah had her career-best finish in 2001 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where she came in 2nd. She has had many television and magazine appearances, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live With Regis & Kelly, Good Morning America, People, Glamour, and Sports Illustrated.

Danica Patrick

Date of Birth: March 25, 1982

Hometown: Beloit, Wisconsin

Residence: Phoenix, Arizona

Danica is by far the most famous of all the female race car drivers (mostly because of her physical appearance, not her ability to win on the circuit). In her career, she has had 8 top 5 finishes, 26 top 10s, and has led 80 laps. She has yet to pick up a win, but has been close multiple times.

Milka, Sarah, and Danica all three qualified for the Indy 500 in 2007, but all failed to run a solid race.

There are many other females making their way into the racing spotlight, but these are a few just to get you started! These women are all starting a new trend in the racing world, and have set a new standard for the younger girls who may be wanting to drive with the 'big boys'. It is no longer a man's sport, but a sport in general.

Take an Inside Look at the 2008 Chevy Malibu!!

Looking for a fuel-efficient midsize car? Check out the new Chevrolet Malibu!! Chevy offers 3 engines: a 2.4 Liter averaging 30 Miles Per Gallon on the highway, a 2.4 Liter hybrid at 32 MPG, and a 3.6 Liter V6 that still has the ability to get 26 MPG. The Malibu has 3 trim levels (LS, LT, & LTZ) and the Hybrid available to create the perfect vehicle with all the options the customer could want!

Check Out the Video of the 2008 Chevy Malibu!!

Runde Vehicles In the Hollywood Scene

You could drive the same vehicles as the stars!! Runde Auto Group carries a variety of different cars and SUVs; the same ones driven down Hollywood Boulevard. Check them out here!!

Justin Timberlake cruisin' in his Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon

Josh Duhamel, star of the hit show Las Vegas and Fergie's fiancee, running errands in his Chrysler 300C.


When Tiger is not on the golf course adding to his 65 tour wins, he is carting little Sam Alexis (his 1 year-old daughter) around one of his many estates in his Buick Enclave.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/?cat=506
CLICK HERE To Watch The Video

The 'two David's' receive their Ford Escape Hybrids on the finale of last season's American Idol. David Cook and David Archuleta started many new trends while on the show, but now they will be 'Going Green' like many other stars these days.

Chevrolet and Suzuki Make Top 10 List of Fuel Efficient Manufacturers

Contrary to popular belief, car manufacturers are, in fact, attempting to improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicles they offer. When the general public considers fuel efficiency, they only think of one half of the battle: the most fuel efficient car. They don't think about which manufacturer has the best overall 'average' of miles per gallon for their vehicles. Below is a chart for the Average Miles Per Gallon in the truck, SUV, and Cargo van categories. Chevrolet is the domestic leader at 23.26 MPG, just .45 behind Honda. Honda only has 1 model in the truck category, whereas Chevy has a full line of trucks, cargo vans, mini vans, SUVs, and cars. Comparisons based on data available in the Model Year 2008 Fuel Economy Guide, published by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Office of Energy Efficiency and REnewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection AGency -- www.fueleconomy.gov. Number of vehicles for each manufacturer includes variations in transmission, engine and trim, and fuel octane requirements.

Kind Words From One of Runde's 4-Legged Friends!!

"Thank you so much for trading our car for the Aztek. We are really happy with it! Our dog, Penny is very happy too - She goes everywhere with us. Thanks again. We really appreciate the personal service and all the great vehicles!!"

Mike & Meredith Philipps-Cottage Grove, WI

~Make the Most of Your Weekends~

It's Monday again, and back to the grind. I don't know about you guys, but the weekend was way too short! I'm sure those of you with kids had an even shorter weekend than I did. Are you wanting to make the most of every minute you have off from work? Here are a few ways to make your weekends feel longer, refreshing, and more fulfilling.

1. If errands are a must, try some silly games to keep them interesting. Have the kids race to find a certain product first, or have them point to a specific item on the shelf. Making an ice cream stop on the way home will also keep everyone in a good mood.
2. Try swaping baby duties every half hour to an hour. This gives both parents a break to do other chores, and also gives them enough time to get the projects done. It also gives the baby an opportunity to spend equal time with both parents, and the parents get little breaks to be alone as well.
3. Have set bedtimes for every day of the week. When the weekend comes, the kids go to bed at their normal time, avoiding grouchy children in the morning. It also allows time to be spent together as a couple. Take out and a movie on a Saturday night can go a long way when Monday hits again.
4. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than the rest of the family to spend some quality alone time doing the things that relax you and get you ready for the day. Whether it be coffee and a newspaper on the porch, or watching the news and baking breakfast (muffins, cinnamon rolls), time spent along is valuable and hard to come by.
5. Make meals as a family, even if the kids are too little to actually cook. They can set the table, stir ingredients, and just enjoy the time they get with their mom and dad.
6. Find some free things to do in your hometown. Taking the whole family to a movie or bowling gets expensive, but taking the kids to the park can be a really fun way to spend an afternoon without spending any money at all.
7. Find a church with a good children's program. This gives the parents time to themselves and their thoughts, and the kids stay entertained as well.
8. Take a night to have a babysitter take the kids out, and stay home. Enjoy the silence; it won't last long!! Also, try to remember what life was like before the babies arrived.
9. Instead of spending a whole day on housework, try to spend 5 minutes every weeknight to clean up. If you make a race out of it, the kids will be much easier to convince the kids.
10. Instead of doing all the laundry in one sitting, try to throw a load in before work and put them in the dryer after work. If that's too much time, put them in before dinner and swap them out after everything is cleaned up. If you do this every night, when the weekend comes, there won't be any left to do! Also, use a different bag/basket for each family member. When the load is done, fold it and put it in the appropriate basket. Then take it to that person's room for them to put away.
11. When it's bathtime, clean the bathroom while the kids bathe. It's a great way to 'Kill two birds with one stone.'
12. While the baby is on the floor playing, clean his/her room; when the baby is banging on pots and pans, clean out the cupboards; do yardwork when the baby is laying on a blanket in the yard.
13. If you're too tired after a long day of work, try eating out. I wouldn't recommend it more than once a week, but sometimes there is just not enough energy to cook after working all day and walking into a house of demanding kids.

I asked Sue Hanger, one of the women in our business office, how she managed her four kids when they were younger. Two of them are of driving age now, so things are much simpler, but when they were little...basically it was chaos! First, she said "I just did"...but that wasn't a good enough answer for me, so I gave her a little time to think about it. Later in the day, I got a response from her, and her answer couldn't have been more perfect.

Sue said, "Some days I ask myself that same question. You have to have lots of time, patience, and money. And no matter how crazy of a day you have, you have to remember the day will eventually come to an end and that good night kiss, hug and "I love you Mom," makes it all worthwhile to get up tomorrow and do it all over again (no matter how crazy it seems). And don't forget the occasional drink to keep your sanity."

She also told me that having the right 'better half' makes everything seem so much easier. She gets a lot of help from her husband, Kevin, so she never has to worry about having to juggle everything herself. If you get a chance, try out these tips! It may be just the thing you need to keep your life more organized and make the most of any free moment you get with your family. Family is the most important thing in my life, and finding more time to spend with them is a major priority!

Chevrolet Introduces their New Version of a Practical Electric Car

Chevrolet introduced their 'Volt' concept car at this year's Auto Show in Detroit. It has the capacity to run on only electricity for up to forty miles. If the battery runs out of power, then and only then will the gas engine kick in. The gas engine works to recharge the electricity so the vehicle can run on only the battery again. On one tank of gas, the car should be able to travel around 640 miles, and get triple-digit gas mileage. The car can be charged with a normal 110-volt plug-in that you would find in your house.



Chevy is hoping to release this car in the next few years, but as of right now, they still have some issues to iron out concerning the power that the batteries are able to generate. One thing is for sure though ... when the Chevy Volt is ready for production, it will definitely be the hottest commodity on the market.

Meet Lisa Rigdon of Runde Chevrolet!!

Many of us don't make it up to 'the penthouse' (upstairs offices) at Runde Chevrolet often, but they do exist, and yes, there are people working up there! I caught up with Lisa Rigdon this morning and got a little information about what she does on a daily basis. Runde Auto Connection: What are the daily tasks that go along with your job? Lisa Rigdon: I handle all the dealer trade paperwork and make sure the taxes and title work get to the correct states. RAC: Briefly describe the process you go through when you have to transfer a title. LR: I check the title for liens, make sure the VIN #s and mileage match up, transfer the title from the previous owner to our name, and then on to the new name. I then have to send it on to the state. RAC: How do you keep all the state laws straight when you have to deal with three states: Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois? LR: It's very hard! I try to make sure I keep copies of everything and have something to go back to if I have any questions. RAC: Do you have a favorite part of your job? LR: I like the fact that it's different every day, so it doesn't really get boring. RAC: Do you have any other jobs? LR: I've been working for the Tri-State Auto Auction on Thursday nights for about 20 years. I work as a mediator trying to bring the two parties together on price. RAC: I heard you recently built a house. Did you enjoy that process? LR: No, not at all! I will NEVER do it again. RAC: What did you hate so much about it? Was there anything you did enjoy? LR: I hated the minor details; light switches, light fixtures, etc. I really enjoyed picking out the furniture we needed, and the finished product makes everything feel a little more worth it. It is starting to look like a house, our grass is growing, and when you get all of the furniture and decorations set up on the inside, it makes all the worrying and headaches more worthwhile. RAC: How many children do you have? LR: We have three, 2 boys and a girl. Troy is 16, Ryan is 14, and Ashley is 12. RAC: What are some hobbies you enjoy when you're away from the office? LR: I like to golf, I would like to get another horse so I can go horseback riding, and I enjoy taking overnight shopping trips with my friends. We usually go two or three times a year, and each time we go to a different city.

Are You Being Over-Charged for Gas?

I know all of us have been shocked at the sight of gas prices as they continue to rise, but try pulling into a gas station to fill up, and the swipe of your card adds another nine cents per gallon to the price on the sign. Some gas stations are trying to make up for the extra cost of credit card fees and the increase in the gas cost by charging people who pay with a debit or credit card about nine cents more than if they were to pay with cash. Visa charges a 2% fee on any credit transaction. Suppose gas is $4.11 per gallon, which is accurate for most cities. The fees would add about 8 cents per gallon, making the total $4.19 per gallon. Some gas stations are adding as much as 50 cents to each gallon. As if that isn't bad enough, they aren't posting it on their signs, so consumers think they are getting a decent price for their gas, until they swipe their card and the extra fee is added at that time. It is becoming a ploy to force people to pay cash and physically set foot in their store so they will buy other things such as a drink or some food. Regulators are beginning to enforce fines for gas stations who do not post both amounts on their signs, so consumers can make an educated decision about where to purchase their fuel.

CLICK HERE to Watch the ABC News Video!

For Your Convenience, Runde Uses an Online Trade Evaluation Form!

We live in a day and age where there are so many technological advancements that were invented to make our lives easier and give us more spare time. Yet in spite of this, it almost seems like all this “progress” has in turn created more for us to do and has ironically rendered us with less free time. At Runde’s we know that a customer’s time is very valuable and that’s why we came up with our online trade evaluation form to help your car buying experience fit your needs as well as your schedule. The form was originally designed to accommodate buyers who were more than 50 miles away from us and couldn’t stop by the dealership on a whim for a trade appraisal. However because of the comprehensive nature of the form, we have had many people with tight schedules use it at their convenience even though they may be only 10 or 20 miles away from our dealership. The link to this form can be found up at the top left hand corner of our homepage at http://www.rundeautogroup.com/ Once you submit your trade information, Runde’s will use that to give you a firm quotation as to the value of your trade-in. If you choose to use this form, please keep in mind that you are acting as our agent, and any information that turns out to be less than accurate will essentially defeat the purpose of using the form to shop for a vehicle. It usually turns out that customers who take the time to complete the form are accurate, forthright, and entirely focused on purchasing a vehicle. If you are skilled in using a digital camera, you could also email pictures of your trade and that could prove helpful in getting you the most money possible for your vehicle.

Runde's Presence is Made Known at the Delaware County Fair!!

The Delaware County Fair is taking place this week, July 7th through July 13th, at the fairgrounds in Manchester, Iowa. Runde Ford - Chrysler - Dodge - Jeep is a major sponsor of the event, and have displayed eight vehicles on location. There are a variety of Ford trucks, a Ford Shelby Mustang, a Jeep Patriot, a Chrysler Town & Country, and a Dodge Journey. If you make the trip to the fair, please come by and check out our cars!! They look good, they drive great, and YOU'LL LIKE OUR ATTITUDE!!

Delaware County Fair Entertainment Schedule

Wednesday, July 9th superchick (Free concert with admission to the fair)
Thursday, July 10th Rodney Atkins (Tickets are $24 and $34)

Rodney's Top Hits Include:

If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)
These Are My People
Watching You
Cleaning This Gun (Come on in Boy)

Friday, July 11th The Charlie Daniels Band
(Tickets are $50, includes all you can eat and drink (pop, beer)

Other entertainment includes:
Farm Credit Services of America Farmer For A Day Exhibit
Sedona Worker For A Day
Pork Chop Revue
Wild About Monkeys
AgMagic Show
Hay Maze

Saturday, July 12th MMA Fights (Tickets are $20 and $10)

Carnival
Ride Wristbands $15
Wristband days Thursday 1-5 PM & Sunday 1-5 PM
Wednesday Kids Day 1-5 PM ALL RIDES $1.00
Friday 5-7 PM Buy 1st rider, 2nd rider rides FREE

Sisters, Partners, Opponents?!

London, England is known for a lot of things: the Queen, castles, musicals, soccer (futbol for you Europeans), The London Eye, Tower Bridge, and Big Ben, but I think many people would agree that the Wimbledon Tennis Championships are another reason why people like to visit.

My husband and I took a trip to England for a friend's wedding two summers ago, and we visited all the sites listed above and then some! Being inside the gates of the All England Lawn Tennis Club was my favorite part of the whole trip. Wimbledon had just finished the weekend before we got there, and the courts had already been reseeded for the next year. We got to go in the press room where the players do their interviews, saw all of the courts except for Centre Court because they were building a transparent retractable roof for the 2007 Championships. We got to go through the museum of Wimbledon history and see the former champions' rackets, shoes, clothes, and even trophies.

Wimbledon has a history of being the most exciting event in tennis, and this year is shaping up to be no exception. Venus and Serena Williams have reached the semi-finals in Women's Doubles yet again. They will play Nathalie Dechy of France and Casey Dellacqua of Australia for a chance at the finals in both Ladies' Doubles and Ladies' Singles.

Venus Williams, a four-time Wimbledon winner, has earned her way to yet another final. Her opponent? None other than her sister, Serena Williams, for the third time. The sisters have not met each other in the finals since 2003, when Serena beat Venus for the 2nd year in a row. Serena has won Wimbledon twice, defeating her sister on both occasions. If history repeats, it looks as though she may hoist a 3rd Wimbledon title before the weekend is over.

Which Car is Your Soulmate?!

Cartango.com has introducted the car soulmate test. It only takes a few minutes (about 12 questions), and it actually works!! My #1 vehicle was a Pontiac G6, which I am currently driving. It even knew which vehicles I have been looking to purchase! (Ex: Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, and Dodge Journey)

Check out the site CLICK HERE to access the survey!

YOU'LL BE SHOCKED!!

Meet Runde Buick's Mary Jane Baxter!!

We took a moment to sit down and talk with Mary Jane Baxter, a member of our Runde Buick staff. Here is what she had to say about working at Runde.

Runde Auto Connection: What does your job entail at Runde Auto Group and how long have you been with them?

Mary Jane Baxter: I handle financing, accounting, filing, answering phones, and any other day-to-day tasks that need to be done. I have been with Runde for approximately 27 years.

RAC: What do you like most about working at Runde?

MJB: I enjoy the environment and the people I work with every day. We have a lot of fun and work well together.

RAC: If you could drive any car for a month, what would it be?

MJB: Buick Enclave

RAC: What are your hobbies & interests?

MJB: I enjoy golf, craftmaking, quilting, and spending time with my grandchildren. I currently have 2 granddaughters and a third is on the way!

RAC: What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

MJB: I like to spend any extra time I have with my grandchildren.

RAC: Did you grow up in this area? Have any siblings?

MJB: I grew up in Dickeyville, and have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. I am the 2nd oldest.

RAC: Do you have a favorite restaurant in the area?

MJB: Red's Supper Club in Cuba City.

RAC: Is there one person who has had the biggest impact on your life?

MJB: My mother, Burnetta. My father passed away at a young age, and she raised all of us by herself.

Hybrids: Cost Efficient or More Expensive?

Chevy Aveo Named #1!!

When one thinks of hybrid vehicles, the first thing that comes to mind is fuel efficiency. Though the concept is great, are the savings in fuel going to outweigh the overall price of the hybrid? Edmunds.com ran this exact study in attempt to find the long-run cost of owning a hybrid car as opposed to a compact or subcompact car. They then created a list of 'top tens' to see where the hybrids ranked in the group.

Ownership costs should include depreciation, financing, taxes, fees, insurance premiums, maintenance, repairs, and fuel costs. Edmunds figured all of their numbers on a five-year ownership plan, and assumed fuel prices of $4.06, $5.00, and $6.00 per gallon. The least expensive vehicle with gas prices at the current price of $4.06 was the Chevy Aveo with an average of $0.42 per mile. The Toyota Prius ranked 33rd with an average cost of $0.50 per mile. The only hybrid that could possibly rank among the top 10 is the Honda Civic Hybrid. However, even if gas reaches the $5-$6 range, it still would not take-over the Aveo's spot at #1.

Obviously, fuel costs are a major part of the automobile purchasing process, and should be greatly considered. What consumers normally forget to consider are the other factors: depreciation, maintenance, etc. None of these factors should be over-looked in the buying process and neither should the Aveo.

Inbee Park Rewrites LPGA History

Inbee Park of South Korea became the youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Women's Open and I was lucky enough to be there to see it all. The soon-to-be twenty year-old, 2nd year professional carded a final-round 71 (-1) for a four day total of 283 (-9) at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota. Edina is a southwest suburb of Minneapolis. Inbee finished four strokes ahead of Sweden's Helen Alfredsson.

On our way to the golf course Saturday morning, we saw Michelle Wie taking a jog around the housing development by Interlachen. She had one hole to finish from Friday's round, and after missing the cut I'm sure she had some built up frustration to burn!! My husband and I ate at Chili's Saturday night. We were in for a shock when we sat down, and looked over to the corner table. Inbee Park, her caddie, and a friend were eating right across from us. There is obviously something to be said about eating Chili's fajitas the night before the final day of a major championship!

We spent most of the weekend following Suzann Pettersen of Norway. Through thirteen holes on Sunday, she was -5 on the day and -3 for the tournament. She began making her way onto and up the leaderboard when she made 3 consecutive bogeys and finished -2 for the day and EVEN for the tournament (Tie for 13th). We got the opportunity to talk with Suzann's mom and uncle for a while on Sunday. I felt sick for Suzann after the three bogeys, but I can only imagine how they were feeling!

This year's U.S. Open marked the beginning of another era...Women's golf without Annika Sorenstam, the former #1 player in the world. She is retiring after this season to attack other life dreams: marriage, family, and the Annika Academy (a golf school in Florida). Lorena Ochoa has taken over the world #1 with Suzann Pettersen and Annika coming in at a close second and third. Annika did not play the greatest Open of her career, but she was determined to go out in style! On the 18th hole on Sunday, she had to lay up in front of the water on her second shot. It looked as though it was going to be a routine up-and-down birdie, but Annika had other ideas. She pulled her 6-iron out of the bag, and prepared for another normal approach shot. The ball hit short of the green, took 2 hops and went in the hole. She took a couple jumps, hugged her caddie, and made her final walk up the 18th fairway. The noise was unlike anything else she had ever heard. The fans kept saying 'thank you Annika' all day for the contributions she has made to the game, and that finish was the perfect way for her to show her gratitude to golf, the fans, and all of the supporters she has had in her amazing career.

All in all, it was a great weekend in Minneapolis, even though my favorite players and idols did not win the tournament. History was made and great golf was played.

And 1 last thing...the Best Dressed award goes to......PAULA CREAMER, a.k.a. 'The Pink Panther' (for obvious reasons)!