HAVE A CUP OF JOE WITH JOE – Start Your Engines! Let’s Celebrate 50 Years Of The Corvette Club Of Windsor

There is no better way to start this story off than with a reference to the 1983 song by Prince . . . “Little Red Corvette,

Baby, you’re much too fast (Yes you are), Little Red Corvette, You need a love that’s gonna last.”

In 1974, a few Windsor area Corvette car owners came together to start the Corvette Club of Windsor (CCOW).

This year, the Corvette Club of Windsor is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with 112 members. From the original 28 founding members, three currently remain in the club — Rick Farrow, Les Tetler and Richard Neal.

The club’s mission is to “further the awareness of and enjoy our collective association with North America’s only true sports car.”

Rick Farrow is a local business owner and is not only a founding member, but also a sponsor of the club.

He explains his reason for being a CCOW member in these words: “Why am I involved? I remember in ’74 noticing this bright yellow ’73 Corvette every day I went to work. Then I saw it go up for sale and decided to buy it. That was the start of a long love affair with Corvettes. Over the past 50 years, I have owned several. I have many fond memories enjoying them with family, friends, and have met many fellow owners who have become great friends to this very day.”

Farrow cites service to the community as another reason for his involvement.

“Our members are doing great community work, through the club, to support the Windsor Regional Hospital Paediatric Oncology Unit — and other charities in the past — that makes it all worthwhile,” he expresses.

Cristina Naccarato, Executive Director of the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation states: “Windsor Regional Hospital is tremendously grateful to the CCOW that has raised over $106,000 towards paediatric oncology over the years. This support has made a monumental difference in the program allowing us to buy critical equipment such as IV pumps for chemotherapy administration, and softer items to ease stress, such as toys and activities for the children before and after their treatment.”

In 2023, club members — along with their sponsors and private donors — donated a record $26,000 to them.

The club hosts many cruises throughout the summer and has travelled to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky (near the GM Assembly Plant where Corvettes are manufactured), a wine tour in the Niagara region, and fun times along Route 66, just to name a few.

Many day trips are always on tap throughout Ontario and Michigan. However, the club’s main event is the annual Corvette Waterfront Show held each year in June.

Lynda Reaume is the Show Coordinator and informs Biz X on the event details by indicating: “This year the show takes place on Sunday, June 9 with registration at 8 a.m. and concludes with awards and presentations at 3 p.m.”

She also gives the City of Windsor a huge shout out for allowing the show to take place at the beautiful Dieppe Gardens Park (78 Riverside Drive West).

This event is always welcomed by downtown businesses and residents in the city core, along with support from business owners and organizations located all over the region.

Just a few of the show’s major loyal sponsors include: Farrow, RestorFX, Corvette Depot, Evola Builders, Ground Effects, Gold Star Jewelers, DR Performance Products, Rob’s Pharmacy LaSalle, Bin There Dump That, and Wolfhead Distillery.

And of course the local tourism industry benefits each time an event or festival takes place in Windsor Essex!

Out of town participants have rooms booked at the Four Points by Sheraton (downtown Windsor) and on Dougall Avenue at the Comfort Inn, and Stonecroft Inn.

The show has grown significantly since its start in 2000.

“About 200 cars from all over Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and North Carolina, and as far away as Florida, and Moncton, New Brunswick, come to enjoy it,” Reaume points out. “To celebrate our 50th anniversary, out-of-towners will be treated to a History/Mystery Cruise on June 8, starting at 9 a.m. They will cruise throughout Essex County, eat lunch and have various stops along the way with special guest speakers. They reconvene at 7 p.m. at The Bistro At The River (78 Riverside Drive West) for a well-deserved dinner.” 

CUP OF JOE CONTNUES ON PAGE 36

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Ontario Cutting Gas and Fuel Tax Effective July 1

The Ontario government is cutting the gas tax by 5.7 cents per litre and the fuel tax by 5.3 cents per litre for six months, beginning July 1.

Effective July 1 until December 31, 2022, the gas tax rate will be cut from 14.7 cents per litre to 9 cents per litre, representing a cut of 5.7 cents per litre. The fuel tax rate, which applies to diesel, will be reduced from 14.3 cents per litre to 9 cents per litre, representing a cut of 5.3 cents per litre. When combined with the 4.3 cents per litre savings from the elimination of the previous government’s cap and trade carbon tax, the reduction in provincial taxes and charges on gas totals 10 cents per litre.

Vehicle owners in Ontario will see significant direct savings from the gas tax cut and the elimination and refunding of licence plate renewal fees, with households benefitting from an average combined savings of about $465 in 2022.

“People and businesses are feeling the pinch of high gas prices and grocery bills,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Our government is cutting the gas and fuel tax rates to put money back in people’s pockets and help keep costs down.”

“As we build up Ontario’s transportation network, our government is working hard to keep costs down for drivers and families,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “At a time when the price of living has skyrocketed, our government has taken strong action by cutting the gas and fuel tax rate, eliminating licence plate stickers and renewal fees, and removing tolls on Highways 412 and 418.”

Cutting gas and fuel taxes is part of the government’s broader plan to provide immediate cost-of-living relief, including:

• Cutting costs for millions of Ontario vehicle owners by refunding licence plate sticker renewal fees paid since March 2020, and eliminating licence plate renewal fees and plate stickers on a go-forward basis, saving vehicle owners $120 a year in southern Ontario and $60 a year in Northern Ontario for passenger and light commercial vehicles.
• Permanently removing tolls on Highways 412 and 418.
• Providing tax relief for workers, families and seniors through the Low-Income Workers Tax Credit, the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit, the Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit and the Ontario Child Care Tax Credit.
• Implementing the new Canada‐wide Early Learning and Child Care System, which will enable Ontario to achieve an average of $10‐a‐day child care by September 2025.

To further help families and businesses, the Ontario government continues to encourage the federal government to work with the province by reducing the cost of the carbon tax, which increased to 11.05 cents per litre on gasoline and 13.41 cents per litre on diesel on April 1, 2022.

Quick Facts

• In April 2022, Ontario’s legislation to cut gas and fuel taxes received Royal Assent.
• Vehicle owners in Ontario will see a significant direct savings from this gas tax cut and the elimination and refunding of licence plate renewal fees. For example, a family in Southern Ontario who owns two cars and drives regularly would save about $815 in 2022. Households that do not own vehicles are expected to benefit from the impact of the gas tax cut in the price of purchases such as taxis, food delivery and consumer products.
• The price paid at the pump is made up of the cost of crude oil, wholesale margins, retail margins, federal excise tax, the federal carbon tax, Ontario gasoline/fuel tax and HST.
• Ontario’s Gas Tax program supports public transit in municipalities across Ontario by providing two cents per litre of provincial gas tax to improve and expand transit. The government will ensure that municipalities that receive funding through the program are not impacted by the gas and fuel tax rate cut.
• Premier Ford will be meeting with his Premier colleagues for the Council of the Federation meeting July 11-12 and will be discussing affordability issues.

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Today, Ford Motor Company Announced Details of Two Safety Recalls in North America

Ford proceeds with previously announced safety recall for multiple vehicles with certain Takata driver-side front airbag inflators, in accordance with NHTSA’s denial of Ford’s petition

In affected vehicles, the driver-side front airbag inflators were installed as original equipment and contain a calcium sulfate desiccant. Takata determined that desiccated propellant in these inflators may degrade after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling, which could cause an inflator to rupture during airbag deployment. While this condition could result in serious injury or death, Ford is not aware of any reports of a rupture of an airbag with calcium sulfate desiccant.

Unlike previously recalled Takata airbag parts, these driver-side airbags contain a moisture-absorbing desiccant and perform differently. Ford believes its extensive data demonstrates that a safety recall is not warranted for the driver-side airbag and in August 2017 petitioned the National Highway Traffic Administration. However, the company respects NHTSA’s decision issued in January 2021 to deny Ford’s petition and is proceeding with this recall accordingly.

This action affects approximately 2.6 million vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, 274,737 in Canada and 46,078 in Mexico. It includes 2006-12 Ford Fusion, 2007-10 Ford Edge, 2007-11 Ford Ranger, 2006-11 Mercury Milan, 2006-12 Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, and 2007-10 Lincoln MKX vehicles.

Dealers will replace the driver-side front airbag inflator or airbag module. Owner notifications will begin the week of April 1.

The Ford reference number for this recall is 21S12.

Safety recall issued to recover 19 tires over-cured by the supplier

According to defect notification 21T-001 filed by Continental Tire of America, certain tires supplied to Ford and other auto manufacturers may have cured beyond specification. Affected tires may experience a framework break in the sidewall, with sudden air loss, or a belt edge separation that could lead to a partial or full tread/belt loss. While these conditions may increase the risk of a crash, Ford is not aware of any related reports of accident or injury.

This action affects 15,769 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, 3,082 in Canada and 138 in Mexico. Covered vehicles include select 2018-20 Ford F-250 and F-350, select 2018 F-150, and select 2019 Ford Escape vehicles.

Dealers will inspect tires and replace those that match the suspect tire list provided by Continental Tire of America. In those cases, dealers will also replace the corresponding tire on the opposite side of the axle. If a pair of tires is replaced, the new tires will be installed/moved to the rear axle.

Owner notifications will begin the week of March 29.

The Ford reference number for this recall is 21S10.

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FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUES TWO SAFETY RECALLS IN NORTH AMERICA

Safety recall for select 2021 Ford E-Series vehicles for 7.3-liter engine cover thermal management

Affected vehicles may contain mispositioned insulation on the underside of the engine cover that does not fully extend to the perimeter, as intended. As a result, heat from the engine compartment can cause elevated temperatures on the passenger compartment surface of the engine cover. Under certain conditions, engine cover surface temperatures can further increase in vehicles modified with Stationary Elevated Idle Control or Battery Charge Protect.

Direct and continuous contact with certain areas of the surface of the engine cover in the passenger compartment may cause burns to the skin of the driver or front passenger.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.

This action affects approximately 29,344 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories and 2,412 in Canada. Affected vehicles were built at Ohio Assembly Plant from May 11, 2019, to Nov. 13, 2020.

Dealers will check the engine cover for gaps between the rubber seal and the insulation. If needed, the dealer will install engine cover insulation patches in the right and left inner lower corners of the engine cover. The dealer will also update the powertrain calibration for heat management under certain elevated idle conditions. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S73.

Safety recall for select 2020-21 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles

In affected vehicles, the motor mount fasteners may become loose over time and disconnect from the engine, which could result in loss of power.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.

This action affects approximately 1,405 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories, 65 in Canada and two in Mexico.

Affected vehicles were built at Chicago Assembly Plant July 28-30, 2020.

Dealers will replace the right-hand motor mount fasteners. The Ford reference number for this recall is 20S72.

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Historic Ford Canada Investment Transforming Ontario into Global Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Hub

The Ontario government say it is matching a $295 million investment with the federal government to retool Ford of Canada’s Oakville Assembly Complex into a global hub for battery electric vehicle production. This $1.8 billion investment represents one of the most significant investments in the province’s auto sector in a generation.

The announcement was made today by Premier Doug Ford, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Navdeep Bains, Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Dean Stoneley, President and CEO, Ford of Canada and Jerry Dias, National President, Unifor.

“By making this investment in Ford Canada, we are ensuring our province continues to lead North America and the world in automotive manufacturing and innovation, while boosting our competitiveness in this key sector,” said Premier Ford. “We are also securing thousands of good-paying jobs, not just at the facility in Oakville, but across the province. This project will help support our auto parts sector and other suppliers and service providers.”

“Today’s announcement is a testament to Canada’s attractiveness as a destination for clean technology, talent, and infrastructure in the automotive industry. Companies like Ford are helping accelerate our transition to a low-carbon, clean-growth economy, which will help protect our environment, drive innovation, and create many good middle-class jobs.” – Prime Minister Trudeau

Ford’s Oakville plant directly employs over 3,000 people and will be modernized with a flexible manufacturing system able to accommodate multiple battery electric vehicle (BEV) models. It will also include the installation of a battery-pack assembly line. The Oakville Assembly Complex will become one of Ford’s highest volume BEV plants in North America, with the first electric vehicles expected to roll off the production line in 2025.

“Any region seeking a long-term future in auto manufacturing must be adding value at every stage of the supply chain, particularly in the two technologies shaping the next generation of vehicles: zero-emissions and connected and autonomous,” said Minister Fedeli. “Bolstered by strategic government partnerships, Ontario is now at the leading edge. This ongoing collaboration between industry, government and labour will be essential as we face the immense economic challenges of COVID-19 and build for the future.”

“This level of co-operation and support for the auto industry shows the very vision Ontarians are looking for from the provincial government and I commend Premier Ford for the leadership he has shown with this significant investment that will secure good jobs in Oakville for decades.”  — Jerry Dias, National President, Unifor

Building electric vehicles here in Ontario is a critical component in securing future investments across the electric vehicle value chain. This includes opportunities for the province’s mining industry, because electric vehicle batteries require various minerals found in Ontario’s North. In addition to securing the future of the Oakville Assembly Complex, this investment is a major win for the auto parts industry in Ontario and its 63,000 workers who help build parts and components for vehicles assembled in the province and abroad.

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is the only place in North America where five major automakers build vehicles — Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota — as well as truck manufacturer Hino.
• The province’s vehicle assembly facilities are supported by a supply chain comprising over 700 parts firms and over 500 tool, die and mold makers.
• Ontario is also home to more than 250 companies and organizations active in the development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. This expertise is woven together by Ontario’s Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN).

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