John McElroy-Autoline Detroit

By Lloyd Frazier

I really get into car TV. I enjoy The Speed Channel and Spike. Discovery has some car stuff - so does The History Channel, on occasion. After watching all the car refurbishing, reconfiguring, rebuilding and customizing shows that one could handle on a fairly regular basis, it is refreshing to listen to John McElroy over on the Speed Channel. He hosts the Autoline Detroit show. In the Philadelphia area, it is only viewable early on Sunday morning. I try to watch every week. John has some really interesting guests. The last show I caught over the weekend had a really interesting guest. William L. Sharfman, Ph.D., Director of Judging, Automotive News PACE Awards, had some poignant words on behind the scenes technology that profoundly affect the global automotive industry. Even something as simple as a screw design change for assembling plastic parts that actually gets tighter over the life of the car. Instead of loosening and creating that irritating chorus of squeaks and creaks. The PACE awards has been around since 1994. An article from us.capgemini.com says this about what PACE is and does,

“The Automotive News PACE Awards program, jointly established in 1994 by Capgemini and Automotive News, honors automotive industry participants - suppliers and OEMs - who have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to keep abreast of the constantly rising performance bar of the OEM/customer. This prestigious program sets the standard for innovation and excellence and has become a significant industry credential.”

There are many other stories involving the global automotive industry with some very interesting people involved in it. Folks from GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and so on come on the show and give you a glimpse of the inside of the industry. It is obvious that Mr. McElroy has a passion for what he is doing.

Here is an excerpt from autochannel.com:

John McElroy brings an extensive background to covering the auto industry. Born into an automotive family, he took his first plant tour when he was only six years old. As he got older, he read any and every book about cars he could get his hands on, which led to an understanding of automotive engineering principles. As his enthusiasm for cars grew, he successfully, though briefly, ventured into amateur road racing. He also gained valuable insight to the industry working as an hourly UAW employee in various automotive manufacturing plants while working his way though college. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English at Wayne State University.

As a journalist, McElroy put his automotive background to good use. His past experience includes five years as Detroit Editor of Road & Track magazine, and as the American correspondent for World Cars, which was published by the Automobile Club of Italy. Most recently he was Editorial Director of Automotive Industries magazine.He has written the annual automotive entry for the Encyclopedia Britannica Yearbook and has five daily radio reports on WWJ 950 AM in Detroit, the all-news CBS affiliate. He also hosts the television programs “Autoline Detroit” and “American Driver” which air on Detroit Public Television.McElroy has appeared as an automotive expert on ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, CBS News with Dan Rather and NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. He is often interviewed by CNN, NPR, and CBC in Canada. He is frequently asked to speak to automakers, suppliers and industry organizations. He serves on the Steering Committee for the North American Car and Truck of the Year. He is on the board of the Clinton Valley Boy Scouts, and works with the Livonia Public Schools with the Partnership Empowerment Program.McElroy has won numerous awards for editorial excellence, particularly the Jesse H. Neal award in 1984 for his series titled, “Inside Japan,” and in 1995 and 1997 for his Editorial opinion pieces. In 1997 he was named “Communicator of the Year” by the Sales and Marketing Executives of Detroit. – Auto Channel

I hope I get the chance to meet Mr. McElroy some day. I probably need to be a well-known figure in the automotive world, though. Who knows? Maybe this blog will bring great things into my life! Oh, WOW, I was dreaming. Sorry folks ;-)

Lloyd signing out…