If you follow the car news - even if you don’t - you can’t have ever missed the name the world’s most famous car show presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. His influence measures in the millions of cars sold just because he deemed them beautiful, or unsold since he said they looked like a frog. (Sorry, Ford Ka.) Let’s see who the man is and what makes him so important. Jeremy Clarkson was born on April 11th, 1960 to entrepreneur parents. To raise money to pay for their children’s education, his parents made 2 Paddington Bear toys (one for each child) and sold it through their business. Mr. … [Read more...]
Niki Lauda: The Computer Brain of Formula 1
On May 20th, 2019, Niki Lauda, a three-time Formula 1 world champion, had passed away peacefully in his sleep in a hospital in Zurich, surrounded by family members. At that moment, the world was left without a man who gave so much to the racing sport, who revolutionized it and brought so much joy to the fans. We will always remember his bravery, his level-headedness and perseverance. Here is why. Andreas Nikolaus Lauda was born on February 22nd, 1949 in Vienna, Austria to a wealthy paper manufacturing family, that objected to his becoming a racecar driver. He started out with a Mini, … [Read more...]
Loving the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix
If you’ve ever watched Formula 1, you know it’s not just about the races - it’s about a city coming alive with excitement. The Canadian Grand Prix (or Grand Prix du Canada in French) is an annual auto race held during the 2nd weekend in June since 1961 - but only since 1967 as part of Formula 1. The host is the City of Montreal, but only since 1978 (having moved from Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario to Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Quebec before finally settling in Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on Notre Dame Island in Montreal). It’s the 7th race of the season and one that has seen Michael … [Read more...]
How Will Police Stop Self-Driving Cars?
As you know if you are a car buff, the automotive technology is constantly developing - and the car is evolving - bringing us significantly further from when it first appeared more than 100 years ago. Now we have not only cars running on electricity, but also smart ones - those that keep us connected with other people and in the know about the driving conditions in real time. And soon enough, people might not even be driving cars - with autonomous cars being developed by Tesla, Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and even Google as you read this. It’s an exciting time we live in, for sure, but it also raises … [Read more...]
Denise McCluggage: Racecar Journalist on 4 Wheels
If you google the name Denise McCluggage, there are 2 things you will see in every picture of her - her polka dot helmet and her wide smile. With them come incredible memories you can practically feel becoming a part of the longer you look at the pictures of this incredible woman. It’s obvious that the loved what she did and the people she did it with - the titans of the Golden Age of 1960s motorsport. She competed against men as their equal and instilled in them a trust of her so that she would be sure to have the best story at the end of the weekend. In an era when women were often pushed … [Read more...]
Elon Musk: From Electric Cars to a City on Mars
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of years, you must have heard of Mr. Elon Musk. Actually, his name is most often associated with the electric car industry and the private 21st-century space exploration. The launch of Musk’s Tesla Roadster into the Earth’s orbit was hands-down one of the most exciting moments of 2018 and Mr. Musk was elbows deep involved in the preparations for it and the event itself. More recently, he has been making headlines about moving to Mars and making the staple of his most prominent company - the Tesla Model 3 - more affordable and … [Read more...]
A Short History of Cars (Infographic)
The car is a relatively new invention for the human race, but once conceived, it has developed pretty quickly and continues to evolve as the time goes on. By the same token, the automotive industry itself has had major milestones - all worth mentioning and being aware of - from those in the manufacturing process, through the points of impact on the society to the individuals who influenced the industry. Stick with us to see a short history of cars! CRS Automotive is here through it all for you and your car. Come to our repair shops in Hamilton and Stoney Creek … [Read more...]
Mary Barra: The Woman at the Helm of an Automotive Giant
The automotive industry is predominantly male - there is no beating around the bush about that - even though there are some women that have not only shaped it, but have gone so far as to even make it possible in the form we know today. Case in point - Bertha Benz, the first ever driver in the world and the woman who convinced people they needed cars in their everyday lives. But there are also women who have not settled with being the brain behind the operation and remaining unseen and uncredited for their success-crowned work within the automotive industry. Ms. Mary Barra is one of those … [Read more...]
Bertha Benz: The First Driver in the World
Do you know who invented the first car with an internal combustion engine? We assume that’s an easy question for all your car and history buffs out there. And the correct answer sure is – Karl Benz! Congratulations! But did you know that none of that would have even been possible if it wasn’t for one woman? That woman’s name is Bertha – Bertha Benz – Karl’s wife. This is her story. Bertha Benz was born on May 3rd 1849 in Pforzheim, Germany. While being an unmarried woman, she was free to invest her money freely, but several of those companies quickly failed. However, after … [Read more...]
How Will the Automotive Industry Change in 2018 and Beyond?
If you are a car enthusiast, you must be aware of the shift that is coming in 2018 - big changes have come from the major automotive manufacturers who are all jumping into the electric market and autonomous vehicles. Pretty much everyone this year announced some major offering in these fields and even some countries have said they will only sell electric by 2030. The Economist states that 2018 will be the year of electric cars as they will start competing with vehicles that run on fuel and diesel HEAD-TO-HEAD. According to Tom Standage, Deputy Editor at The Economist, 2018 will be … [Read more...]
