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Automotive News / January 16, 2017 The upcoming diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze will be General Motors' first non-hybrid vehicle since the 1990s with an EPA-certified fuel economy rating over 50 mpg on the highway. GM is awaiting EPA certification of the car's fuel economy ratings ahead of a spring launch. The Cruze's new lightweight 1.6-liter turbo-diesel engine will be optional on the Cruze hatchback and sedan. Asked at the Detroit auto show about the Cruze diesel's highway rating, GM product development chief Mark Reuss said: "I think it will start with a 5." The early 1990s Geo Metro XFi (rebadged Suzuki Cultus) is the last time GM had a non-hybrid car that had an EPA highway rating in the 50s. The Cruze's new turbodiesel engine has an aluminum block and is rated at 137 hp and 240 pounds-feet of torque. It will be offered with either a nine-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. The Cruze manual will have a higher EPA rating than the automatic. In 2015, the last time Chevrolet offered a Cruze diesel, the car had a 2.0-liter engine with a cast iron block paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. With the 2017 model, most of the power comes on low in the rpm range. In addition to high fuel economy, engineers also concentrated on refinement. "We've taken a totally different approach to address noise at the source," said Cruze diesel chief engineer Mike Siegrist. The cam timing details, for instance, are at the back of the engine, instead of the front. And to keep diesel chatter low, the fuel injectors shoot as many as 10 squirts of fuel per stroke. .

An MH Ultra-Liner powered by an E6-350 (4VH) ties with the Value-Liner as being my favorite Mack trucks of all time.

The U.S. Navy’s requirements for cross-country 6x6 pumpers led to the development of the American LaFrance Model YDXF-1 foam pumper. Built in 1954, it was powered by the same 320 horsepower ( at 2,800 rpm) dual-carbureted Continental Model S680-1 820 cubic inch six-cylinder engine used in several other military trucks. The pumper used American LaFrance’s 700 Series civilian cab, mounted high to provide clearance for the truck’s driven front axle. With 14.00x20 tires, it had 14 inches of ground clearance and excellent angles of approach and departure resulting in good off-road mobility. A synchronized Spicer five-speed transmission and Timken T13 two-speed transfer case were paired with Timken HM240-HX five-ton military axles (6.443 ratio). The truck’s chassis was based on the military five-ton 6x6. With a 190-inch wheelbase, the YDXF-1 was a versatile rig despite its 37,000 pound (16,783 kg) gross weight. The pumper carried 750 galons of foam concentrate which was supported by a 2,000 gallon-per-minute pump, and mounted a 750 gallon-per-minute main water pump with 1,200 feet of hose. The YDXF1 was tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in the summer of 1954. .

The 11 liter (11.01 liter/672 cu.in.) Mack E6 and 12-liter (11.9 liter/728 cu.in.) E7 were able to meet 95 percent of customer applications, offering impressive power, torque and class-leading fuel economy combined with light weight and lower operating costs. For those needing a larger powerplant, we offered the legendary E9 V-8, rather than a large six like Cummins. Fast forward to year 2017, owing to new technologies, we're able to "reliably" get more horsepower out of 11 liters than we were able to in 1985 when we launched the superb E6 4V. The four valve head E6-350 with an American Bosch pump remains one of my favorite engines. I love selling V-8s. And our customers love driving them. But for most operators, a 420hp 11-liter will make their accountants smile the most, the same way the accountants at Chemical Leamon, Matlack and Overnite used to smile.

The New York Times / January 16, 2016 The FBI said Monday it has arrested the wife of the man who carried out a deadly terrorist attack in Orlando, Fla., and charged her with obstructing the investigation of the mass shooting. Noor Salman, whose husband, Omar Mateen, killed 49 people and wounded dozens in an Orlando nightclub that was popular with gays, was also charged with aiding and abetting by providing material support. She was taken into custody by FBI agents at her home outside of San Francisco, where she had been living with her young son. Prosecutors had been weighing charges against her for months in the aftermath of the attack by her husband on June 12, 2016. Investigators interviewed Salman for hours after the attack and came to believe she was not telling the truth about her husband’s plans to carry out the rampage [so why wasn’t she taken into custody then?]. She is expected to make an initial appearance on Tuesday at a federal court in Northern California. The Justice Department’s decision to prosecute Salman, 30, ends part of the mystery that has surrounded her since the first days after the attack, when she became a central subject of the wide-ranging investigation into her husband. In an interview last year with The New York Times, Salman claimed that she “unaware of everything” in connection with the attack. Salman said she had accompanied her husband to Orlando with their child once when he scouted the club but did not know the purpose of the trip. On the day her husband drove to Orlando, she claimed he said he was going to visit a friend, named Nemo, who lived in Florida. But Nemo was not living in Florida at the time, a fact Salman said she did not know. She also said she had no reason to suspect that ammunition he bought in the days leading up to the attack was to be used in the shooting, given that her husband was a security guard who frequently purchased ammunition. On the day of the shooting, she bought her husband a Father’s Day card, expecting him to return that evening. Her lawyers believe that supports her story that she did not know about the attack [planned alibis]. During his attack, Mateen used Facebook to pledge his allegiance to ISIS. The FBI doesn’t believe that Mateen, age 29, received any specific training or support from ISIS. Salman married Mateen in a ceremony near her childhood home in Northern California, a second marriage for both. After the wedding, they moved to Fort Pierce, Florida. Their marriage in 2011 caused consternation among some of Salman’s relatives, mostly because of her Palestinian heritage and Mateen’s ancestral ties to Afghanistan. Salman claimed that her husband beat her repeatedly and verbally abused her.

IVECO in top three Dakar finish Iveco Trucks Press Release / January 16, 2017 IVECO trucks have once again performed strongly in this year’s gruelling Dakar Rally, taking out third and fourth positions after 9,000 kilometres of racing across South America’s roughest terrain. Piloted by Dutchman Gerard de Rooy, the IVECO Powerstar finished on the podium only 41m 19s short of winner Eduard Nikolaev, after 12 days of close racing. This year’s third placing – which included two stage victories – adds to de Rooy’s wins in 2016 and 2012 and is seen as an excellent result given the multiple punctures his truck suffered over the course of the event. Also performing strongly this year was Argentinian Federico Villagra, in another IVECO Powerstar – he finished the event in fourth position, less than 20 minutes behind de Rooy. In total, six IVECO trucks competed in the 2017 instalment of Dakar, with all completing the event, a testament to the manufacturer’s strength and reliability. Iveco Australia Marketing Manager, Darren Swenson, says IVECO’s off-road range has tremendous pedigree and is second to none in the Australian market. “Local buyers have a lot of choice from IVECO when it comes to off-road vehicles, with many models available across the light, medium and heavy duty weight classes,” he said. “Beginning with the new car licence Daily 4x4 (optional light truck 5.5t GVM also available), the range then moves to the Eurocargo 4x4 as successfully used by Daryl Beattie Adventures and a growing number of emergency service organisations. “For heavier duty applications up to 33t GVM, there’s the Trakker 4x4 and 6x6 range which is increasingly being put to work in mining and exploration applications. And in the even heavier weight classes up to 48t GVM, we have the Astra 6x6 and 8x8 variants which are taking on roles in off-road tipper work, drilling, exploration and similar. Mr Swenson says the Dakar rally was helping to grow awareness of IVECO’s off-road credentials. “IVECO is gaining a very solid reputation in demanding off-road racing such as Dakar, and increasingly this is leading to improved sales across the range and a growing list of satisfied local customers.” Overall Standings – Dakar 2017 1. Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) 27h 58m 24s 2. Dmitry Sotnikov (Kamaz) +18m 58s 3. Gerard de Rooy (IVECO) +41m 19s 4. Federico Villagra (IVECO) +1h 00m 04s 5. Airat Mardeev (Kamaz) +2h 26m 50s ----------- 16. Ton van Genugten (IVECO) +6h 58m 03s 17. Wuf van Ginkel (IVECO) + 8h 19m 48s .

Owner/Driver / January 16, 2017 The trucks at the 2017 Dakar Rally brought thrills and spills as they battled across 9,000 kilometres of arduous South American terrain. Russian truck manufacturer KAMAZ took out first place in the 2017 Dakar Rally truck category, with Iveco achieving third and fourth place following a 2016 win. Piloted by Dutchman Gerard de Rooy, the IVECO Powerstar finished on the podium only 41m 19s short of winner Eduard Nikolaev, after 12 days of close racing. This year’s third placing to de Rooy’s wins in 2016 and 2012 and is seen as an excellent result given the multiple punctures his truck suffered over the course of the event. Also performing strongly this year was Argentinian Federico Villagra, in another IVECO Powerstar, as he finished the event in fourth position, less than 20 minutes behind de Rooy. In total, six IVECO trucks competed in the 2017 instalment of Dakar, with all completing the event, a testament to the manufacturer’s strength and reliability. Iveco Australia Marketing Manager, Darren Swenson, says IVECO’s off-road range has tremendous pedigree and is second to none in the Australian market. "Local buyers have a lot of choice from IVECO when it comes to off-road vehicles, with many models available across the light, medium and heavy duty weight classes," he said. "Beginning with the new car licence Daily 4x4 (optional light truck 5.5t GVM also available), the range then moves to the Eurocargo 4x4 as successfully used by Daryl Beattie Adventures and a growing number of emergency service organisations. "For heavier duty applications up to 33t GVM, there’s the Trakker 4x4 and 6x6 range which is increasingly being put to work in mining and exploration applications. And in the even heavier weight classes up to 48t GVM, we have the Astra 6x6 and 8x8 variants which are taking on roles in off-road tipper work, drilling, exploration and similar. Mr Swenson says the Dakar rally was helping to grow awareness of IVECO’s off-road credentials. "IVECO is gaining a very solid reputation in demanding off-road racing such as Dakar, and increasingly this is leading to improved sales across the range and a growing list of satisfied local customers." See below for results and a video of the top Dakar 2017 truck moments! Top Five Truck Category Standings – Dakar Rally 2017 1. Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) 27h 58m 24s 2. Dmitry Sotnikov (Kamaz) +18m 58s 3. Gerard de Rooy (IVECO) +41m 19s 4. Federico Villagra (IVECO) +1h 00m 04s 5. Airat Mardeev (Kamaz) +2h 26m 50s . .

Owner/Driver / January 16, 2017 Working in a transport yard from age 10 gave Troy McLean a much-needed truck education before eventually getting behind the wheel. Now he’s in his own 2008 T908. Troy McLean spent 13 years working as a driver but always had the desire to have a truck he could call his own. That finally happened 13 years ago and he’s now doing runs in a 2008 Kenworth T908. "I first looked at buying my own truck when I was around 21 or 22 years of age," Troy recalls. "Things didn’t come together back then and I got talked out of it. Anyway, the opportunity arose so I jumped at it. "We had looked at being owner-drivers a couple of times and hadn’t made the move. "My wife Jackie said that if I didn’t do it this time, not to talk about it again," he laughs. "I think Jackie had had enough." That first truck, a 1994 Ford LTL Kentucky, had a 425 Cat under the bonnet. Through word of mouth, Troy heard of a business that was seeking an operator to cart plasterboard. He did his first trip as an owner-driver and, pulling up in front of the company’s factory, approached after he’d heard they were looking for someone to do their cartage. He has been with them ever since. Troy, however, had his heart set on a Kenworth, so the LTL was traded in on a K104 Aerodyne. This was joined by a new Western Star truck and dog tipper unit. Under the name of TJ & JJ McClean, the couple employed a driver that Troy put to work on the Calder Freeway extension to Bendigo. Eventually a second Aerodyne joined the fleet but then Troy decided to consolidate and go after the truck he always wanted. He sold the two Aerodynes and Western Star and bought a T908. It has a Cummins ISX EGR set at 620hp up front, an 18 speed manual gearbox with the rear end riding on Kenworth’s 8 bag air suspension. Troy lives at Campbell’s Creek near Castlemaine and uses the 908 to pull a tautliner, doing either one or two trips a day between Bendigo and Melbourne. "I had always been working towards getting a ‘9-0’. I just wanted that long bonnet," he says. "It’s as good as I thought it would be. I just love it and it’s beautiful to operate, a real driver’s truck." The T908 is impeccably presented and looks brand new, Troy admitting it’s fairly well pampered. It gets washed and polished regularly, with either Troy cleaning it himself or son Bradley helping out. Troy says Bradley, an apprentice panel beater, is absolutely "truck mad". It’s a real family affair, with Jackie handling all the bookwork. "I’ve never really done any of that side of it," Troy admits. "Jackie has always looked after the office work. "I just come home and put the dockets on the bench and she does the rest. She is the biggest asset I have." With the T908 looking the goods, it was a no-brainer to take it to last year’s Rotary Castlemaine Truck Show. "Jackie said as long as we’ve got a truck, it’ll be at our local truck show." .

Stage 11 Results MAZ Trucks Press Release / January 13, 2017 Stage 11 of DAKAR-2017 is finished, there were two specials in 114 km and 173 km, the total length was 754 km. The dunes of San Juan were the last ones that the competitors confronted on the route of the Dakar 2017, dotted over fifty kilometres at the start of the special. S. Viazovich (511) took the 18th place ad is at the 13th position in the general ranking. A.Vasilevski (522) is the tenth at the stage and in the general ranking he enters the 6th place. A. Vishneuski (533) is at the 16th position at the stage, and in general ranking he takes the 19th place. Ahead is the final twelveth stage from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires. All the competitors threw themselves into the adventure and now they are going to become heroes. The 64-km long special does not include any pitfalls – all the competitors need to do is go the distance in order to enjoy a special stage's finishing line in the heart of the bivouac. At the end of a long link stage, the podium ceremony in Buenos Aires will take place in front of the Argentinean Automobile Club. The total length is 786 km, the special is 64 km. Starting time for the final stage: 511 (S.Viazovich / P.Haranin / A.Zhigulin) – 10:06:00 (16:06:00 Minsk time) 522 (A.Vasilevski / D.Vikhrenko / A.Zaparoschanka) – 09:59:00 (15:59:00 Minsk time) 533 ((A.Vishneuski / M.Novikau / A.Neviarovich) – 10:12:00 (16:12:00 Minsk time). .

Stage 10 Results MAZ Trucks Press Release / January 12, 2017 511 (S.Viazovich / P.Haranin / A.Zhigulin) – 4 th place at the stage (time gap 12:51); 12th position in the general ranking (time gap 03:37:40 ). 522 (A.Vasilevski / D.Vikhrenko / A.Zaparoschanka) – 6th place at the stage (time gap 22:51); 7th position in the general ranking (time gap 02:03:21). 533 (A.Vishneuski / M.Novikau / A.Neviarovich)– 32nd place at the stage (time gap 04:37:11); 21st position in the general ranking (time gap 10:18:10) . .

STAGE 8 IS FINISHED, STAGE 9 IS CANCELLED MAZ Trucks Press Release / January 11, 2017 Two Belarusian crews have finished the eighth stage of Dakar-2017 in the top-10, and A. Vasileuski's crew is on the seventh position in the general ranking . It was a double test for the competitiors – the mountains were followed by rivers' beds and dunes. The tracks were full of water due to the constant heavy rains. That's why the administration decided not to risk with competitors' lifes and almost twice shortened the special. S. Viazovich is at the 6th line. The best time has M. Van den Brink (NDL) at Renault who is ahead the Belarusian for 6 minutes approx. The second place is taken by the Argentinian F. Villagra, followed by E. Nikolaev and D. Sotnikov from KAMAZ team. In general ranking the situation is following: S. Viazovich is at the 16th place, while the first place is taken by D. Sotnikov. The time gap between these two positions is 3h. 26 min. The second place is taken by E. Nikolaev and the third place is take by G.de Rooy. A.Vasileuski despite the tyre puncture has finished the stage at the 10th line with 2h,4 min. and a time gap – 9 minutes. In general ranking this crew is at the seventh position with time gap 1 h.42 min. The stage was less successful for A. Vishneuski. Due to the problems with fuel sytem it took him 2h.55 min. to finish the special. In general ranking he is at the 20th place with 5h.42 min time gap from the Russian driver. "We are satisfied with the result: А. Vasileuski firmly enters top-10 and now our task is to save and improve his position. Unfortunately, the administration cancells the stages and shortens the specials. On the one hand these are safety reasons that are above everything, on the other- everyone has been preparing for hard conditions. If there is an opportuity, we will try to reduce the time gap by all means", – underlined MAZ-SPORTauto leader S. Viazovich. A massive landslide caused by thunderstorms happened this morning at 10.30am on the road used to join the bivouac, 40 kilometers north of Jujuy, 160kms away from Salta, hitting the village of Volcan. According to the Argentinian civil security, victims are deplored in the population and considerable damage has been observed. The organization offered its sanitary facilities to reinforce the local safety support on site. As the road is cut off, most of the vehicles, competitors, assistance and logistics from the Dakar caravan were diverted on an alternative route through San Antonio de los Cobres, extending the distance of the liaison by about 200 km. They will not be able to reach the Salta bivouac in time to start the race. A number of larger vehicles will not be able to use that road either. The day will be devoted to regroup the race caravan in Chilecito to continue the event by giving the start on the 12th of January of stage 10, between CHILECITO and SAN JUAN.

STAGE 7 IS BEHIND, AHEAD IS STAGE 8 MAZ Trucks Press Release / January 10, 2017 The best crew of MAZ-SPORTauto team became no. 511 under Sergey Viazovich piloting. He finished the stage at the 5th place. Alexey Visheuski finished the seventh stage at the 16th position, Alexander Vasileuski is at the 20th line. At the momet all the crews are in Uyuni bivouac where they are preparing the trucks for the next stage. The technical assistance trucks are at the bivouac in Tupiza, rthey will meet the team after stage 8 in Salta. In the general rankig the first place is taken by G.de Rooy (NDL) at Iveco, the second place is taken by D. Sotnikov from Kamaz team, as well as the third place is taken also by Kamaz crew under E.Nikolaev piloting. The best Belarusian crew is still crew no. 522 under A. Vasileuski piloting. It takes the 11th line i general ranking. S. Viazovich is on the 16th place, and A.Vishneuski is still at the 20th line in general ranking. What ca be told about the next stage is the fact that the consequences of the rain over the last few days have forced the race officials to change the route of stage 8. Rising water levels in a river bed due to be crossed by the competitors has led to the neutralisation of the day's special at CP1 after 174 km. The competitors will then head to the second part of the special at the border between Bolivia and Argentina via a 176-km link section. Following these changes, the length of the special has been reduced by 73 km. After an initial 49-km link section, the competitors will tackle 171 km on the first part of the special, before the 176-km neutralised section. The second part is unchanged, and when the competitors have finished it, they will have to travel 350 km to reach the bivouac in Salta. For the trucks, the day's special will finish at CP1. All the competitors will then head to Salta via a link section. The classification at CP1 will be used for the starting order for stage 9.The Dakar leaves the high plains for a special including off-track racing on its first part, in which crossing of fords will give way to sections of dunes. The rally has often set up the bivouac at Salta, but has never contested a special in the region where the stage will take place: there will be new canyons to admire and a sumptuous mixture of colours. Stage 8 Uyuni - Salta Starting time: 511 (S.Viazovich / P.Haranin / A.Zhigulin) - 10:38:00 (16:38:00 Minsk time) 522 (A.Vasileuski / D.Vikhrenka/ A.Zaparoschanka) - 10:58:00 (16:58:00 Minsk time) 533 (A.Vishneuski / M.Novikau / A.Neviarovich) - 10:54:00 (16:54:00 Minsk time). .

Ford Motor Company / January 9, 2017 .

The Teruhito Sugawara Crew Piloting Car 2 Crosses the Finish Line in Buenos Aires at 8th Place Overall. Car 1 Finishes at 29th Place Overall. Team Makes 1-2 Finish in the Under 10-litre Class. January 14, Stage 12 Rio Cuarto (Argentina) - Buenos Aires (Argentina) Liaison: 50km SS: 64km Liaison: 673km Total: 787km Contestants of Dakar Rally 2017 crossed the finish line in Buenos Aires today on Jan. 14, bringing the fierce competition over the past two weeks to a close. Of the two HINO 500 Series trucks that HINO TEAM SUGAWARA entered in the rally, Car 2 crewed by Teruhito Sugawara and Hiroyuki Sugiura finished at 8th overall in the trucks category with a stunning performance that posed a real threat to the leading group of larger trucks, and also won its 8th straight victory in the Under 10-litre Class. Car 1 crewed by Yoshimasa Sugawara and Mitsugu Takahashi finished at 29th overall. The team's two HINO 500 Series trucks made a 1-2 finish in their class. The two HINO 500 Series trucks that the Hino team entered in this rally had been given substantial upgrades to their engines and suspensions. From the beginning of the rally, Car 2 delivered performance that was on par with its larger rivals, and Car 1 also climbed in accumulated rankings with consistent runs. While a number of stages had to be shortened or canceled during and after the middle part of the rally in Bolivia, the Car 2 crew maintained their cool, advancing to 10th in accumulated overall standings in the trucks category on Jan. 10, and further advancing their standings to 8th place the following day. The last day of the rally, Jan. 14, took contestants from Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, Argentina where they raced the last SS of the event on 64 kilometers of agricultural roads near Rio Cuarto. The short distance of this SS meant that racers would not be able make up much time even if they pushed hard. So few contestants upped their pace as doing so would invite greater risks. The Hino team's trucks delivered solid runs with Car 2 finishing the SS at 21st overall, and Car 1 at 35th. The SS was followed by a 650km liaison route that took contestants to Buenos Aires where they took part in a goal ceremony at a podium set up in front of the Automobile Club of Argentina. It was past 11 pm by the time the Hino team showed up at the podium. As the trucks appeared beside the podium―Car 2 first, followed by Car 1―crew and mechanics exchanged solid handshakes with Hino Motors chairman Masakazu Ichikawa, who had flown in from Japan to applaud the team, and other team associates. Team members then lined up for a group photo as they waved to the cheering crowd, bringing their stint in this two-week rally to a close. Masakazu Ichikawa, Chairman of the Board of Hino Motors: We have been supporting the team all the while, and Mr. Teruhito's single-digit finish in the category was truly admirable. Mr. Yoshimasa did very well too. I am very happy of these results. Yoshimasa Sugawara: I'm very happy with Teruhito's finish in 8th place overall. We raced as we had planned and were able to win with a 1-2 finish. I am still full of energy. Thank you very much for your support. Mitsugu Takahashi: The rally seemed zip by in a blink of an eye, and I'm happy to have finished in good shape. The last SS didn't require any navigation, but in terms of the rally overall, there were many areas where navigation was quite difficult so it was tough. Teruhito Sugawara: I'm glad that we were able to finish in 8th position overall. Besides the fact that our trucks have been vastly upgraded, I think the fact that there were many canceled stages and navigation was difficult this year worked to our advantage. That said, this outcome was not a fluke but the result of our hard work. We are looking to upgrading our trucks even more for the next rally. Thank you very much. Hiroyuki Sugiura: The SS today was set on agricultural roads with right angle turns appearing one after the other. Some sections had turned into muddy swamps and were quite risky as we had trouble bringing the truck to a full stop. In any case, I'm glad that we were able to finish the rally without any problems. This was the first single-digit finish for me so I'm very happy with these results. Seiichi Suzuki: I'm glad that we were able to finish without any major problems. I am happy about Car 2's 8th place finish, but I'm certainly not satisfied. We can do much more. Masaki Nakamura: I'm relieved that the rally is over. It's great that we were able to achieve the single-digit finish that we were all aiming for. I'd like to give the mechanics a pat on the back for putting in such great work under harsh conditions such as high altitudes, the cold and heat. Hiroyuki Azuma: I'm glad that both trucks were able to finish without anybody getting injured or sick. That was a big thing for me. And I'm ecstatic about these great results. Koji Nakamura: Time just zipped by and it was over even before I knew it. The toughest thing for me was the little amount of sleep we got. That said, I'm glad that we didn't have any major problems. I am very happy with these amazing results. Junya Inoue: Two weeks just flew by. And I'm happy that the truck I was in charge of finished with great results. Kenji Kunimoto: While we didn't encounter as many problems as we did in our test run in the Silk Way Rally, but to be honest, things were much more hectic with two trucks. I think we did pretty well in terms of servicing work. It has been a great experience. Kohei Shimazaki: Driving the assistance car this year, it really hit me how you can't win against nature, what with the intense rain and cold. I hope I get to come again if the opportunity arises. Koji Tanaka: It was tough everywhere we went―the highlands, the heat, and this last bivouac. But finishing the competition with great results has a way of melting all that fatigue away. I'm relieved that it's over. Ryu Takashima: I played a support role and this was the first time I joined team. I had a great time, including the times that I would shout words of support when the going got tough. I hope to be able to speak the language better the next time I come. .

Car 2 Maintains 8th Position in the Last Dunes Stage of the Rally. Car 1 is En Route, Also Having a Good Run. January 13, Stage 11 San Juan (Argentina) - Rio Cuarto (Argentina) Liaison: 73km SS (A): 114km Neutral zone: 367km SS (B): 173km Liaison: 27km Total: 754km The itinerary for Jan. 13 took contestants from San Juan to Rio Cuarto, Argentina. They drove westward from San Juan in the Andes foothills, and raced a two-part SS with a long 367km neutral zone sandwiched in between on their way to the Cordoba region in central Argentina. The first 114km SS challenged racers with desert terrain and fesh-fesh. The second half, which was 173km long, took contestants through mountain roads that transitioned into high-speed piste. This is an area that organizers have included in the course a number of times in the past. Tomorrow, Jan. 14, will be the last day of racing and a 64km SS is scheduled in the vicinity of Rio Cuarto, but due to this short distance, there is little chance that position standings will change from here. So in effect, the SS today became the last day of racing for the teams. HINO TEAM SUGAWARA's two HINO500 Series trucks continued to deliver good performance on this SS. While Car 2 crewed by Teruhito Sugawara and Hiroyuki Sugiura became bogged in fesh-fesh in the earlier part of the day, they were assisted by another vehicle and were able to break free with about 10 minutes of lost time. Things went well after this incident, and the crew finished the SS at 14th spot, maintaining their 8th position in accumulated overall standings. And while Car 1 crewed by the Yoshimasa Sugawara and Mitsugu Takahashi duo took some time as they exercised extra caution in the sandy segments, they finished the latter half with a good run, arriving in good shape at the bivouac in Rio Cuarto after 1 am. (No standings information for the truck was available at the time of this writing) Tomorrow, Jan. 14 will finally be the last day of racing. After racing their last SS of the rally near Rio Cuarto, racers will take a long 700km liaison to the finish line in Buenos Aires. For the mechanics, tonight will be the last night of inspections and servicing in the competition. Fittingly, they were seen meticulously carrying out inspections at the bivouac. Yoshimasa Sugawara: Although we didn't get bogged in the dunes in the first half, we took more time than we would've liked to, and as a result, we came in just 10 minutes under the maximum time restriction. Although we did have a good run after the dunes, that's why it took us this long to get here. I'm feeling absolutely fine physically. Hiroyuki Sugiura: We were overtaken by a Kamaz and Tatra today, but there were others that fell behind us, so in the end, there was no change in our accumulated standings. Getting bogged in the dunes was unfortunate, but otherwise things went fine. .

Competition Resumes on a Long 448km SS. Car 2 Finishes the SS at 11th Overall to Keep Its 8th Position in Accumulated Overall Standings. Car 1 Makes a Good Run Finishing at 23rd Overall, and Improves its Accumulated Standings to 27th. On January 12, Stage10 Chilecito (Argentina) - San Juan (Argentina) Liaison: 163km SS(A): 263 km Neutral zone: 90km SS(B): 185km Liaison: 49km Total: 750km While the original plan called for a 406km SS in the Argentine Andes foothills that would have challenged racers with a high level of difficulty, organizers were forced to cancel the SS due to the assistance route being cut off by a mudslide on Jan. 10. Racing vehicles traveled on a 674km assistance route to Chilecito. Dakar Rally 2017 resumed competition on Jan. 12 with contestants racing a total of 448km in the longest SS of the year’s event between Chilecito and San Juan, Argentina. The SS was divided into two parts with a 90km neutral zone in between. The first half, which coursed a distance of 263km to the west of Chilecito, challenged contestants with off road terrain on dried river beds before transitioning to mountain roads at elevations of up to 3200m. The latter half, which was 185km long, was set on rough roads near San Juan. Motorbikes were the first to start this day, and cars and trucks made a mixed started in the order as determined by their clocked time in the last SS. The rally has only three days to go until the finish line in Buenos Aires. Both crews on HINO TEAM SUGAWARA’s HINO500 Series trucks continued their composed and yet aggressive driving as the rally entered the final stages. The Teruhito Sugawara and Hiroyuki Sugiura duo on Car 2, who finished 8th overall in the SS to Salta, continued to deliver good performance this day. The truck was 15th to start and completed all of the points that were particularly difficult for navigators with no problems, passing CP 1 (checkpoint 1) at 4th overall. While the truck suffered a flat after the checkpoint, the loss of air was only gradual so the crew raced on by replenishing air with their CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System), finishing the first SS at 7th spot. The crew changed tires in the neutral zone that followed, and continued to race neck and neck with their rivals on larger trucks. Car 2 finished the latter SS at 11th overall and top in the Under 10-litre Class. Based on these results, Car 2 maintained its 8th spot in accumulated overall rankings as of Jan. 12. Meanwhile, the Yoshimasa Sugawara and Mitsugu Takahashi crew on Car 1 continued to deliver consistent performance, inching their way up in standings. The truck was the 34th to start and improved its SS position for the first half to 19th place. Car 1 also underwent a flat, but the crew worked hard to reduce any time loss, such as by waiting for the neutral zone to change their tire, finishing the stage at 23rd overall and second in the Under 10-litre Class. These results boosted the truck’s accumulated overall standings to 27th place and second in the Under 10-litre Class. On Jan. 13, contestants are scheduled to race a 288km SS en route to the last bivouac of the rally in Rio Cuarto, Argentina. The first part of the SS will feature dunes and contestants will not have the luxury of putting down their guards for the entire stage. Yoshimasa Sugawara: We pushed hard to improve our accumulated standings now that we are on the home stretch. While we saw quite a few vehicles that had to turn back due to course errors, we were able to complete these segments error free. we’ll continue to keep on pushing tomorrow. Mitsugu Takahashi: We haven’t had a long stage in a little while and the heat was quite intense, but I’m happy that we were able to deliver good results. The truck is doing just fine. Teruhito Sugawara: While navigation in the early part of the SS was quite difficult, we were able to complete it error-free and I think this was one of the reasons we were able to pass CP1 in 4th place. Overall, I think we were able to deliver the kind of performance that we had in mind. I’m looking forward to the dunes in the early part of tomorrow’s stage. Hiroyuki Sugiura: This was the first long stage in a little while―one that gave you a real sense that you were racing the Dakar Rally―and I must admit that it was tiring. Everyone was being pulled towards the dust kicked up by vehicles ahead of them and that made navigation much more difficult. Seiichi Suzuki: Tonight, we’ll be changing all the belt-related components, such as tensioners and pulleys, on both trucks. After that, we’ll be replacing the flat tires and wheels. Masaki Nakamura: Everyone is feeling good physically, but it must be tough what with the cold, the thin oxygen, and this sudden rise in temperature. We’ve only got a couple of more days to go, so we’ll make sure to complete our servicing work without any errors. Hiroyuki Azuma: Time just seemed to zip by once the rally started. Two more days to go. This will be our last spurt to the finish so I intend to work with renewed focus. Koji Nakamura: I haven’t had any major physical problems, but I am feeling a bit fatigued from the extreme changes in temperature. We’ve only got a couple of more days to go, so I will keep going until we finish. Junya Inoue: This sudden heat has been quite tough to deal with, but I find it easier to work in than in the cold. We don’t have that many days to go, so I will continue to stay alert to the end so that we can finish with good results. Kenji Kunimoto: We’re in the home stretch before we even knew it. I will stay focused to make sure that we don’t make any servicing errors that could jeopardize our standings. .

Day’s Stage is Canceled and Teams Drive to Chilecito. The Hino Team is Gearing Up for the Last Portion of the Rally Which is to Start on Jan. 12. On January 11, Stage9 Salta (Argentina) - Chilecito (Argentina) Liaison: 674km Total: 674km While the original plan called for a 406km SS in the Argentine Andes foothills that would have challenged racers with a high level of difficulty, organizers were forced to cancel the SS due to the assistance route being cut off by a mudslide on Jan. 10. Racing vehicles traveled on a 674km assistance route to Chilecito. On Jan. 10, HINO TEAM SUGAWARA’s two HINO500 Series trucks, which were en route to Salta on an assistance route after finishing the SS, headed for the bivouac in Salta on a 200km detour that branched off north of the road block and circled westward. Car 2 and Car 1 arrived at the bivouac just before 11:30 pm and at about 1:00 am, respectively. Few vehicles were seen in Salta even as late as then, as many vehicles decided to bivouac near the detour junction. While the crews had been informed of the cancelation of the next day’s stage, members of the Hino team remained coolheaded in carrying out inspections and servicing to keep their trucks in optimum condition, with lights ablaze on assistance vehicles and trucks that arrived one after the other. The mechanics worked through the night, and the HINO500 Series trucks left Salta at 7:30 am, arriving at the bivouac in Chilecito at around 6:00 pm. The assistance group arrived later and the trucks underwent final inspections. The itinerary for Jan. 12 is scheduled to take contestants on a long 448km SS set in the intermountain areas to the west of Chilecito. Yoshimasa Sugawara: I will be shifting gears mentally because we will be facing another long SS tomorrow. My goal for this rally is to make it into the top 20 in accumulated overall standings. I will give it my best to demonstrate the fruit of our year of work. Mitsugu Takahashi: It feels much hotter again back in Argentina. Personally, I prefer the cooler weather even if that means higher altitudes. At any rate, I wish we could have raced the entire marathon stage. Teruhito Sugawara: The course for tomorrow is one that the organizers have included many times in the past, so perhaps navigation will be difficult. I’m looking forward to how the organizers may have increased the level of difficulty. Hiroyuki Sugiura: I’m feeling really well physically now. While navigation may be challenging, I will continue to do my best.

Car 2 Climbs to 8th Spot in the Overall Trucks Category. The Liaison to Salta Was Fragmented Due to a Mudslide, Delaying All Vehicles. Organizers Cancel Competition for Tomorrow, Jan. 11. On January 10, Stage8 Uyuni (Bolivia) - Salta (Argentina) Liaison: 49km SS: 171km Liaison: 533km Total: 753km Jan. 10 was the second day of the marathon stage where contestants raced an SS and crossed the border into Argentina on their way from Uyuni, Bolivia to Salta, Argentina. A 492km SS was originally planned for this stage, but organizers have had to make major changes again this day due to the bad weather. While the first part of the rescheduled segment―from their departure from Uyuni on a 49km liaison to the SS start line―remained unchanged from the original, the SS itself was shortened with a finish line set at the 171km point, or CP1 (checkpoint 1). Contestants then took a liaison route to cross the border into Argentina where an SS for the trucks category had been canceled the previous day. As a result, trucks were rerouted to an assistance route which was to take them to the bivouac in Salta. In the 171km SS, contestants raced in highlands at elevations in the 4000m range, and also battled dunes in the first half. Later in the day, the course transitioned to wide-open parallel pistes (areas with numerous parallel unpaved roads) where racers were able to show off their speed, before taking them on mountain roads to the SS finish. Both of HINO TEAM SUGAWARA’s HINO500 Series trucks continued to put up a good fight in this short but challenging SS. Car 2 crewed by Teruhito Sugawara and Hiroyuki Sugiura finished at 14th place overall and top in the Under 10-litre Class. Car 1, which arrived at Uyuni past midnight yesterday, also delivered great performance finishing at 31st overall and second in the class. Based on these results, Car 2 has improved its accumulated overall standings as of Jan 10 to 8th place. The truck currently trails behind the Aleksandr Vasilevski crew (MAZ) in 7th spot by a minuscule 1 minute 01 seconds, and leads the Martin Kolomy crew (Tatra) behind them by 18 minutes and 56 seconds. While these standings were strictly preliminary as of this writing, they demonstrate how the Hino team is closing in on the performance of the leading group in the trucks category. Meanwhile, Car 1 stands at 32nd place overall, and the team continues to maintain its 1-2 standings in the Under 10-litre Class. This day, the assistance route on the way to Salta became fragmented when a village along the route was hit by a storm which triggered a mudslide. This made it impossible for competing vehicles who had finished the SS, including Hino team trucks, as well as assistance vehicles and the organizer’s vehicles to drive the route. Organizers instructed all vehicles to take a 200km detour across the Andes, but it is being reported that even this detour would be difficult to pass on larger vehicles and vehicles without all-wheel drive. As of 10:00pm, none of the racing motorbikes, cars, nor trucks have arrived at Salta. Hardly any of the assistance vehicles have arrived either and the bivouac looks quite deserted. Due to these circumstances, organizers have announced that they will be canceling the SS for tomorrow, Jan. 11, which was scheduled to be set en route from Salta to Chilecito. Competition will resume on Jan. 12 on the way from Chilecito to San Juan.

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The Wall Street Journal / January 15, 2017 President-elect Donald Trump told companies they will have to shift manufacturing to the U.S. in order to do business here, in a series of comments indicating a tough posture toward U.S. trade partners. "Car companies and others, if they want to do business in our country, have to start making things here again. WIN!," Trump wrote on Sunday. The comments came as Trump reiterated in an interview with German newspaper Bild that his administration would levy a 35% import tax on autos built in Mexico for export to the U.S. Trump singled out German premium car makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz, saying automotive trade between the U.S. and Germany was a "one-way street." "When you walk down Fifth Avenue, everybody has a Mercedes-Benz parked in front of his house," Trump said. Addressing the Germans, he said: "You were very unfair to the U.S.A. It isn't mutual. How many Chevrolets do you see in Germany? Not many, maybe none, you don't see anything at all over there. It's a one-way street." German auto makers have a long history of manufacturing in Mexico. Volkswagen operates one of the largest of its more than 100 plants worldwide in Puebla, Mexico, where it began producing Beetles in 1964. The plant now produces the Golf and Jetta. Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand, Volkswagen's Audi and Porsche, and BMW control about 80% of global sales of upmarket premium cars. A spokesman for BMW said: "The BMW Group is very much at home in the U.S.A. We have a deep level of localization and employ both directly and indirectly almost 70,000 people." German and other auto makers have flocked to Mexico to take advantage of cheap labor and of Mexico's many free-trade agreements. Audi, for example, is building Q5 SUVs in Mexico and exporting them back to Europe. Exports from a U.S. plant would carry trade tariffs because the U.S. and the European Union don't have a free-trade agreement.

[213 LH] VALVE LIFTER PUSH RODS INSPECTION Check the push rods. Replace any push rods that have loose ends, are bent, or show signs of excessive wear. IDENTIFICATION Refer to Figure 64 -- Valve Lifter/Push Rod Identification. The current E7 valve lifter has no hole in the center of the stem. In conjunction with this change, the E7 inlet and exhaust (nonbrake engine) push rods have a 0.060-inch (1.524 mm) maximum flat or dimple on the ball end. The push rod part number is etched or roll-stamped on the push rod. The non-current push rod should be used only with the non-current lifter. If the non-current push rod with the wide flat or dimple is used in the current valve lifter which has no center hole, it may create an undesirable wear pattern in the lifter socket. Mixing current and non-current valve lifters is permissible when using the correct lifter/push rod combination. Current push rod can be used with either valve lifter. Do not use non-current valve lifter to service current valve lifter. Only Dynatard exhaust push rods are not affected and can be used with current and non-current valve lifters. Dynatard intake push rods still need to be updated to current push rods when using current valve lifters. Figure 64 -- Valve Lifter/Push Rod Identification 1. Push Rods Smoothly Rounded 2. 0.200" Maximum Flat or Dimple 3. With Center Hole 4. Without Center Hole 5. 0.060" Maximum Flat or Dimple A. Current 369GC334 B. Non-Current 369GC329A C. Non-Current 72GC347A D. Inlet Lobe All E7 production engines starting with serial No. 2X0000 and above, feature valve lifters with no hole as well as inlet and nonbrake push rods with 0.060 inch (1.524 mm) maximum flat or dimple on the push rod ball end. INSTALLATION Used push rods have established wear patterns. Push rods being returned to service should be installed in the same position from which they were removed. 1. Apply lubricating oil to spherical end of the push rod and insert it into the lifter opening. Ensure that it has engaged the lifter by lifting it slightly. If the lifter has been properly contacted, some resistance will be felt in the rod as the lifter is raised. 2. Repeat step 1 until all 12 push rods are in position. [213 NV] VALVE YOKES DESCRIPTION There are two exhaust valves and two inlet valves for each cylinder. Each rocker arm, in conjunction with the valve yoke, operates both valves together, in a set (exhaust or inlet), per cylinder. INSTALLATION Used yokes have established wear patterns. Yokes being returned to service should be installed in the same position from which they were removed. Refer to Figure 65 -- Valve Yoke. 1. Lubricate the yoke guide pins (5) with clean engine oil. If the engine is equipped with a Jake Brake, the exhaust valve yokes will have a larger rocker arm contact surface. The yokes with the larger surface must be installed on pins corresponding with the Jake Brake actuators. 2. Place the valve yokes (2) on the yoke guide pins from which they were removed. Slightly rock the yokes from side to side to be sure they are seated on the valve stems (4). Engines equipped with Jake Brake: Effective January 1994 (engine serial No. 401269), the E7 Jake Brake yoke was manufactured with metric threads utilizing the Spiralock™ thread form. Refer to [213 NB] VALVE YOKE, VALVE LASH AND SLAVE PISTON ADJUSTMENTS (JACOBS BRAKE ENGINE) for details regarding correct method to loosen the yoke adjusting screw.