Every year, one outstanding sales representative from each dealership competes in the Checkered Flag Walk Around Contest. Each representative was given just 15 minutes to show a vehicle of their choice  to "Bob and Betty," a fictitious couple looking to trade in their current vehicle. The challenge is to cover a ton of information (including items such as window sticker, warranties, and Checkered Flag Winner's Edge) during the allotted time.

We here at the Checkered Blog would like to send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to all of the Walk Around Contest participants, especially to this year's grand prize winner, Phyllis Hunter of Checkered Flag Jaguar! Phyllis showed "Bob and Betty" Jaguar's newest sporting luxury sedan, the XF (it's an Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency, too.) Contest judges awarded her with an all inclusive trip for two to a 5-star hotel in Cancun, Mexico. She says competing was a lot of fun, and she's very excited to go on the trip with her husband. Bon voyage, Phyllis!   

"It's a true American story.  I love it."

That's among the many wonderful comments we've heard since We All Win: How the company launched on a whim succeeded was published several weeks ago.  The book tells the story of Checkered Flag and a reviewer on Amazon wrote this about it: "It's the kind of book you start on a whim but then can't put down until you've finished, and then find yourself wanting more." 

We All Win is now available at Prince Books in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, as well as online here on CheckeredFlag.com (click the book icon to the left), on Amazon, and at all Checkered Flag locations.  Funds raised through the book's sale benefit United Way of South Hampton Roads. Happy reading!

In my line of work, I get to spend a good amount of time around some pretty awesome cars. Among all the cars I've encountered thus far, today's Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency definitely sits towards the top of my list. The Audi A5 is an absolutely beautiful car, and YES, it is fuel-efficient. We'll discuss that more a bit later.

I stopped by Checkered Flag Audi on my way home, and talked with sales consultant Bill Thomas about the A5. Well, Bill did most of the talking, while I tried my best to contain my excitement. I really like this car, especially in the Monza Silver. The A5 is a midsize luxury sports coupe. Along with the A5 (starting at $40,300), it's also available as an S5 sports model (starting at $50,9000).

Under the hood, the A5 has a 3.2 liter FSI V6 that produces 265-hp. The S5 has a powerful 4.2 liter V8 engine and hp gets a boost to 354. Both engines have FSI Direct Injection, variable intake valve and intake manifold, and the Audi Valvelift system. FSI stands for fuel stratified injection. This technology allows the A5 to deliver great performance without sacrificing fuel efficiency. It gets 27 miles on the highway, and 18 in the city. With a 16.9 gallon tank, you're looking at about 460 miles with one fill up.

The A5 with its stylish exterior is what initially caught my attention, but the interior shouldn't be overlooked. It comfortably seats four passengers. Standard features include electrically adjustable front seats; full automatic three-zone climate control; panoramic tilt-up sunroof; and an Audi sound system. The sound system brings 180 watts of power with 10 speakers and subwoofer.

There are a ton of options available on the A5, but highlights include: LED daytime running lamps equipped with Bi-Xenon headlamps and the Bang and Olufsen Sound system, which consists digital signal processing (DSP) and ICEpower digital amplification, booming 505 watts, and 14 speakers. Several different package options are also available for you to choose from. Visit here for details.

Audi also outfitted the A5 with a ton of safety features. Advanced anti-theft vehicle alarm system; protective airbag system (two-stage driver airbag, adaptive passenger airbags; seat-mounted side airbags; sideguard side curtain airbags); central locking system; crash sensor; side impact protection all come standard.

Bill says the A5 is an "all-around great sports car." You'll hear no arguments from me. It's captured my fancy, but decide for yourself by visiting Checkered Flag Audi, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111.

Just a few weeks ago, someone in my family was in a car accident. Thankfully, no one was injured in the collision, but the aftermath has been...well, stressful.

My relative's current predicament motivated me to learn more about the auto repair process, so I headed over to Checkered Flag's Body Shop. Bill Evans, Shop Manager (pictured here with members of the Body Shop team, Rich Sproul and Lisa Pfeiffer), offered great insight into the industry and gave me a personal tour around the shop. He says, "This is the last place people want to be, simply because cars are huge investments. So it's our responsibility to be empathetic to our customers and to make the process as painless as possible by providing great service."

The Body Shop opened in 1985 and has since then prided itself in delivering a high level of quality automotive repair. Bill says his staff is composed of experienced "automotive health experts" who are trained to help customers during each step of the repair process. They offer guidance in working with insurance companies (Checkered Flag deals with all vehicle insurance providers) and assist in arranging for rental cars.

Technicians are factory trained A.S.E. and I-Car certified. They take on all types of repair damage, minor or significant. Laser Unibody & Frame straightening equipment and two high-tech downdraft painting and baking booths are used to ensure that vehicles are returned to pre-accident conditions. They're able to accommodate a high volume of vehicles (the most was 63 cars in one week). 

Typically the number one question on customers' minds is how long the repairs will take. Different variables (insurance companies, repair severity, type of vehicle,  parts availability) affect the time needed to complete repairs. It's difficult to pinpoint, but according to Bill, on average for every $1,000 worth of damage, it takes about a week of repair work. Again, this varies for every case. The Body Shop team will work with you to keep you updated during the repair process.

Bill says, "We hold ourselves to high standards here and want to deliver top quality to our customers. It's important to make sure they're satisfied and everything is repaired properly."

We here at the Checkered Blog would like to send a big thanks to all Body Shop team members. Pictured here are Tony Bosques, Lisa Fisher, and paint manager Kenny Jackson. If you're interested in finding out more about auto repair, visit the Checkered Flag Body Shop page or call (757) 490-111. Have a great weekend everyone and drive safely!

We All Win: How the company launched on a whim succeeded, the newly-published book about Checkered Flag, has drawn advance praise from national industry leaders, including from James D. Power, III, the founder of J.D. Power and Associates.  He says We All Win "tells a story that stands out among all dealerships across the country."  Funds raised through the sale of We All Win will benefit United Way of South Hampton Roads. You can purchase the book here on CheckeredFlag.com by clicking on the book icon on the left side of this home page or by visiting any of Checkered Flag's parts departments.

We All Win was written by award-winning former journalist Audrey Knoth, who is now a Norfolk business executive. Recently, the Checkered Blog caught up with Audrey for an interview.  We will be featuring portions of our conversation with her in coming weeks, starting today.

Checkered Blog: Whose idea was it to write a book about Checkered Flag?

Audrey: The idea was mine.  In early 2007, I helped Checkered Flag with several business projects, and as I learned more about the company, I became very intrigued by its history.  Checkered Flag was founded in 1964 by Ed Snyder, who continues to run the company today along with his son Steve Snyder.  That kind of longevity of local ownership and operations is in itself remarkable.  But as I dug into it, I found the story was even more interesting and important than just that.

Checkered Blog: In what way?

Audrey: I learned that prior to founding Checkered Flag, Ed Snyder had managed a department store called Snyder's that his grandfather had started in downtown Norfolk at the turn of the last century.  So when Ed Snyder got into the car business in the mid-1960s, he brought customer-service and marketing practices from the department store into auto retailing, and the things he did were very unusual at the time.  When you hear Ed Snyder and Steve Snyder talk about customer service being Checkered Flag's top priority, they are really talking about a philosophy that has been paramount to the Snyders for more than 100 years.

Checkered Blog: Why are funds raised from the sale of We All Win being used to benefit United Way?

Audrey:  United Way is very important to Checkered Flag and it was for Snyder's department store, too.  What has made it so important is that not only does United Way support such a variety of local organizations, it involves individual employees in the giving process.  Through the generations, the Snyders have believed that giving feels good, that the process is as beneficial to the person who is giving as it is to the recipient, and United Way encourages this.

Checkered Blog: Something that's very noticeable about We All Win is how visually appealing and colorful it is.

Audrey: Yes, the book is more than just a narrative.  We have included lots of great vintage photographs and a cartoonist even created five original cartoon strips and the book's cover.  So we hope that people really enjoy both reading the book and just leafing through it.

Checkered Blog: And all of us at the Checkered Blog hope that everyone will consider purchasing We All Win to help raise funds for United Way of South Hampton Roads.  Please click on the book icon on the left of this home page ro order in online or stop into any Checkered Flag parts department to pick it up in person.

When a 12-year old boy walked out of a Polish village in 1882 in search of a better life, it was literally the first step toward the founding of Checkered Flag.

The story of how Checkered Flag came to be, the obstacles it faced, and the customer-service philosophies that propelled it to success are told in the new book We All Win: How the company launched on a whim succeeded, written by Audrey Knoth.  We All Win has received advance praise from leading auto industry executives, who call it "a remarkable book about a remarkable business enterprise."  We All Win is now available for sale here on CheckeredFlag.com (click here) and, starting on Friday, August 8th, in all Checkered Flag parts departments.  Funds raised through its sale will benefit United Way of South Hampton Roads.

The book recounts how the near-penniless Louis Snyder arrived in America in the late 19th century and how, from a small dry goods company, he built a major Norfolk, Virginia department store operated by successive generations of the Snyder family.  His grandson Ed Snyder took over management of Snyder's department store in the early 1960s.  In 1964, Ed invested in a small British sports car dealership and, at his wife Jean's suggestion, named it Checkered Flag.

We All Win explains how Checkered Flag prevailed over challenges, failures, and risks to grow from one humble showroom to the auto retailer it is today, with 11 new-car franchises and a used-vehicle superstore in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, and selling more than 12,000 vehicles annually.  Ed Snyder continues as president 44 years after its founding; son Steve Snyder is senior vice president.

The author, Audrey Knoth, is a former broadcast and newspaper journalist who's now a Norfolk business executive.  She says she had the idea to write the book after helping Checkered Flag with several projects in early 2007.

"I became intrigued by Checkered Flag's history, which had never been researched and told," she says.  "The more I learned about Checkered Flag, the more I realized its story is a compelling one that has meaning for people both inside and outside of the car business."

Audrey spent over a year researching and writing We All Win, conducting extensive interviews, consulting with auto industry and academic experts, and poring through historical and newspaper archives.  Vintage photos, illustrations, and original cartoons accompany the book's absorbing narrative.

"I found that the principles that originated more than a hundred years ago remain at the foundation of Checkered Flag today," Audrey says.  "Among them: if you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers; nothing is more important than customer service; failure should teach you rather than frighten you; and taking risks is absolutely essential to succeeding."

All of us with the Checkered Blog are excited about the book and we hope you will consider purchasing it.  It's a great read and with the funds raised benefiting United Way, you could say We All Win!

CB: How long have you worked at Checkered Flag?
Bill: Hmm...let's see. Well, I worked here three years prior, but I left to run a family business called Dream Dinners. My wife handles that now, so I returned to work here.

CB: Which Hampton Roads city or county do you live in?
Bill: Virginia Beach. I've lived there since I was ten.

CB: Besides Porsche and Audi what are your other hobbies?
Bill: Music. I play the guitar and drums. All kinds of music, anything from alternative or rock. Stuff from Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hmm...what else?  Volleyball, soccer, video games, golf, and working.

CB: What's your favorite restaurant?
Bill: Well, I don't know if I'd say it's my favorite place to eat, but definitely a great place to hang out and play music. The Green Oak. The owner always asks us if we want to play music. It's just a cool place to hang out.

CB: What's in your MP3 player or CD player right now?
Bill: About a 1,000 songs (laughs). Lordie, I listen to everything. Picking out a favorite song is hard. I listen to Stone Sour and Coldplay a lot. Travis is a great band too.

CB: What's the last movie you've seen?
Bill: After tonight, hopefully it'll be Dark Knight. I've been trying to see it. IMAX has been sold out for every showing!

CB: Do you have any pets?
Bill: A Yorkie named Chewie because he looks like Chewbacca (laughs).

CB: What's the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Bill: Ah, this one's hard. Well, I have a pilot's license. I got it when I was like 21 or 22, and I fly every once and awhile. Small planes like Cessnas.

CB: What's the one invention you couldn't live without?
Bill: Electricity! I need it for my guitar amps to play loud. Oh, and definitely air-conditioning.

CB: What's the best thing about working at Checkered Flag?
Bill: Dealing with the best customers and being able to drive the best cars in the world. You take pride in that. We have the best customers, people, and cars. It's just great. 

In 2005 the Audi A6 was named the World Car of the Year at the Toronto Auto Show, and it is easy to see why. It  also received attention from Edmunds.com when they named the A6 as its Editors Award pick. The A6 is known well for its signature Audi look and interior styling, but what most people may not realize is how fuel efficient it can be. I was eager to check out this Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency, so I stopped by Checkered Flag Audi today to check it out. Fritz Falch, a sales consultant there gave me the scoop.    

The A6 is available as a sedan or a wagon (called the Avant). Two trims are offered: 3.2 FSI (base, starting at $42,950) or 4.2 FSI. The Avant comes only in the 3.2 trim. Performance wise, the V6 engine on the 3.2 gets 255 hp and 243-lb-ft of torque. The more powerful 4.2-liter V8 cranks out 350 hp with 325 lb-ft torque. Both engines have direct fuel-injection technology which optimizes performance, but still maintains great fuel efficiency. The sedan and the Avant get virtually the same miles per gallon, 18/19 miles in the city, and 27 on the highway. With its 21.1 gallon tank, the A6 gets a whopping 570 highway miles.

As expected, Audi does not disappoint with loading up the A6 with a generous amount of standard features. The 3.2 sedan includes 18" Five-arm cast alloy wheel from quattro; BOSE® Surround Sound; six-disc CD changer (it is located inside the glovebox); genuine wood inlays; heated front seats; leathering seating surfaces; and much more. The 3.2 Avant comes similarly equipped, but adds a sunroof. And finally with on the 4.2 sedan you will find all the previous features mentioned plus ultra chic Milano leather upholstery; Audi adaptive light; power tilt and telescoping steering column; and HomeLink® garage door opener. There is plenty more on the full list. See it here.

I touched upon it already, but the A6 interior deserves a little more attention. In true Audi fashion, the A6 interior is fantastic. I did my best to capture the impressive interior, but unfortunately the pictures do not do it justice. It would be best to check it out in person. Sitting in the A6, I was struck by the craftsmanship and the comfort of the back seats.  Fritz says ?If you are looking for rear seat roominess, the A6 is the car.? He also tells me that its been very popular with business executives who often host guests around town, but it is equally suitable as family vehicle, especially the Avant model. Oh, and I also have to mention the super cool MMI (Multi Media Interface) control found on all the A6 models . Using the MMI console knob, various switches and the dashboard screen, you can adjust audio, climate, and optional navigation functions.    

Safety is always a big consideration in any vehicle purchasing decision, so you might be glad to know that the A6 earned top ratings for both frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  In addition to passive safety features such as airbags, crumple zones, and doors inlaid with steel beams, the A6 also come with active safety features including: the Quattro all-wheel drive system and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP); and tire pressure monitoring system.

Fritz knows a ton about cars particularly Audi and he gave me great information. If you are interested getting to know the A6 better I suggest talking with Fritz or anyone on the Checkered Flag Audi sale team at 2864 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111.