DC and Ken Block are proud to announce that they have begun development on the highly anticipated Gymkhana THREE project. Set to release in Summer 2010, the project will feature the DC Co-Founder and Rally car driver taking the art of gymkhana to a whole new level.

Falken Tire is proud to announce the launch of its new social media marketing efforts on the web. Utilizing freely available social media outlets such as FaceBook and Twitter, it is Falken Tire’s goal to reach the already dedicated Falken fans and educate and inspire them to spread the word about the Falken Brand virally. Over 350 million people are active on FaceBook.com, with about 50% of them active in some form every day. Social media sites have become an invaluable tool for companies, like Falken, to connect and communicate with consumers old and new.

On the heels of Ken Block’s insane Gymkhana videos and the groundbreaking snowboarding/rally part to close out DC’s MTN.LAB 1.5 video, the DC Co-Founder and Rally Team Driver has joined with Subaru to make the world’s fastest cat track operation automobile for backcountry access for snowboarding. Dubbed the TRAX STI, a new teaser video from the test session for the highly-modified, snow-ready (to say the least) car is up on YouTube, and check out “0-60 Magazine’s” Web site for an interview with Block and photo gallery featuring the best photos from the session.

The vast majority of U.S. drivers believes handheld texting while driving is very dangerous and should be banned nationwide, according to a new national survey released today. The survey showed that 86 percent of U.S. drivers believe handheld texting while driving is “very dangerous” and 93 percent support a nationwide ban on texting.  At the same time, only 42 percent of respondents believe drivers would stop texting behind the wheel if the practice was banned.  However, more than 75 percent believe there would be more compliance if hands-free or voice-activated technologies were widely available.

Legendary hot rod and custom car designer Chip Foose and former Mattel design director Carson Lev were recently inducted into the Diecast Hall of Fame, joining a star-studded inaugural 2009 Class in a ceremony in Las Vegas. Foose and Lev are long-time friends and business associates; Lev is currently Foose Design vice president and chief operating officer.

Fidanza believes you can win the 24-Hour Le Mans, and they’re backing your team!  So sit down, strap in and start your...video game console! From Codemasters (Warwickshire, U.K.) - makers of the critically acclaimed DiRT(tm) (2007) off-road and rally racing title - comes GRID(tm) featuring performance flywheel and clutch manufacturer Fidanza as an in-game sponsor.

Red Carter, known for his sophisticated, sexy swimwear, has been selected as the “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer for this season’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim.  Red Carter will debut his Spring 2009 collection on July 19th at 10pm, at Cabana Grande at The Raleigh Hotel. Each Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz sponsors a designer who reflects unparalleled talent to be on display during the five-day runway event.  Recent former “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designers include Monique Lhulier, Badgley Mischka, Alice Temperley, Kevan Hall, and Veronika Jeanvie.

Seven-time Grammy winning artist Alanis Morissette has partnered with Mercedes-Benz and its “Mixed Tape” online music magazine for “Underneath,” the first video/single from her highly anticipated new album Flavors of Entanglement (Maverick/Reprise Records).  Alanis, a strong supporter of environmental causes and organizations, chose the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC for the music clip.

RM Auctions announces a winning line-up of vintage sports, racing and classic cars consigned early for their highly anticipated Sports & Classics of Monterey auction event to be held August 15-16 at the Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey, CA. Now in its 23rd year, the two-day event will feature the year’s most diverse collection of automotive style and innovation. In addition to the sports and racing cars, the event will also offer a magnificent selection of luxurious classics, exotic customs and hot rods.

Eight of the nation’s top hot rod builders will select exclusive “Pro’s Pick” awards at select 2008 Goodguys National events. In addition to the long standing tradition of the Boyd Coddington Pro’s Picks, seven other elite rod shops around the country, including America’s premier hot rod designer Chip Foose will present Pro’s Picks this year. In addition to Boyd and Foose, Rad Rides by Troy, Pinkees Rod Shop, Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop, Art Morrison Performance, Roger Burman’s Lakeside Rods and Alloway’s Rod Shop have stepped forward to join the Pro’s Pick arena. All of these elite builders will create hand crafted Pro’s Pick awards to be given to those rodders lucky enough to have their ride selected.

Throughout Mexican-American communities from East Los Angeles to El Paso, Texas, cruisers have been dropping Chevys to a sidewalk-scraping stance since the late 1930s. By the 1970s, Los Angeles and other cities in the Southwest had combined the cars with lifestyle and fashion, and the lowrider scene was born.

“I’m excited that SPEED is taking a chance on a Latin-based lifestyle program,” said producer Bud Brutsman, creator of several successful automotive-themed reality shows, including Payback, Overhaulin’ and Rides. “We’ve wanted to do a lowrider show for years … there is an entire culture built around the craftsmanship and respect for automotive art. The entire community embraces the car culture.”

More than 600 students from Pittsburgh-area high schools will participate in free hands-on safe driving events June 26-28, at Consol Energy Park in suburban Washington.

Vehicle crashes remain the number one killer of teenagers in America, including 214 in Pennsylvania in 2005, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The “ride-and-drive” events, aimed at reducing teen auto-related deaths in the Pittsburgh area, is part of yearlong partnership Taking the Lead, based on the national Driving Skills for Life program conducted by Ford Motor Company Fund – the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company – and the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Fun is about to go into overdrive. RIDEMAKERZ™, the first-ever car-customizing experience for kids from six to 106, will open its first shop June 1 at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s Broadway at the Beach. The concept is inspired by Build-A-Bear Workshop®, the leader in experiential retailing, and taps into America’s love of cars and the massive car-customizing movement. The RIDEMAKERZ experience invites guests, or “Customizers,” into the ultimate car-customizing shop where they can CHOOZE, SONICIZE, MOTORIZE, MOBILIZE, CUSTOMIZE, PERSONALIZE and CRUIZE™ one-of-a-kind RIDEZ. Between the body styles and colors, tires and wheels, lights and sounds, accessories and decals, RIDEMAKERZ estimates there are more than 649,000,000 possible combinations, not including individual decal placement.