This famed ’55 Chevy street racer, star of the 1971 movie Two-Lane Blacktop, goes on the auction block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sale in January. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ With a new contract from Mercedes, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is poised to become Great Britain’s highest-paid sports figure. More at the UK Telegraph.
+ Audi is planning to build an ultramodern assembly plant in Pér, Hungary powered by deep-well geothermal energy. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ According to an independent audit commissioned by Honda, the automaker failed to report to U.S. safety regulators some 1,729 auto accidents involving death or injury between 2003 and 2014. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Dale Armstrong, drag racing’s pioneering Top Fuel and Funny Car racer, tuner, and innovator, has passed away at 73. More at Bangshift.com.
+ Officials in Denmark have entered talks with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone regarding plans to host an event there. More at The Copenhagen Post.
+ A federal judge ordered General Motors to turn over portions of former CEO Rick Wagoner’s 2009 performance evaluation that relate to recalls and ignition-switch issues. More at Bloomberg.com.
+ Two second-generation racing stars, NHRA Funny Car driver Courtney Force and IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, have announced their engagement. More at NBC Sports.
+ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has formally directed Japanese airbag supplier Takata Corp. to issue a nationwide recall. More at The Detroit News.
+ Drag racing megateam owner Don Schumacher underwent surgery for stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma at the Mayo Clinic. More at the Los Angeles Times.
+ One of the three ’55 Chevy street racers constructed for the 1971 drive-in movie classic Two-Lane Blacktop will go under the hammer at the Barrett-Jackson 2015 Scottsdale auction. More at Hemmings Daily.
+ Two controversial new rules in Formula One, standing restarts and double points for the season finale, have been eliminated for 2015 More at Racer.
For the previous Executive Briefing from November 24, click here.
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