Editor's Page

Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door. -Saul Bellow

The existence of forgetting has never been proved: We only know that some things don't come to mind when we want them. -Friedrich Nietzsche

The mainstream of American life is finally becoming more accessible to wheelchair users. Over the weekend, an armed robber in a wheelchair held up a Freeport, N.Y., gas station for $487, then ordered a bystander at gunpoint to push him to his car. Meanwhile in Tokyo, a factory worker at Kawasaki Heavy Industries was stabbed to death by a robot.--Report from the Wall Street Journal, December 1981

My name is Barbara (Bobit) Logue. I'm 26 now, P.J. and I are still happily married, living and working in Scottsdale, and glad that I'm within "spiting" distance of Pop so we get to see him often. Now that there has been time to think why he has given me yet another editorial assignment, I believe that anyone could figure it out. It's not because he had to go to New Orleans for the Orthopaedic Surgeon's convention, or AALA at the Doral to imbibe with his old cronies or even the exciting press preview of the new Audi Quattro in Death Valley (170 h.p. and top speed of 145 mph - now that's a real fleet car), but was really something I said a few months ago. We are making him a grandfather and he's not quite sure how to handle this first time; hence the penance, and you're stuck with me.

My choice of quotations is a direct effort to make some of us forget about all the gloom and doom we are besieged with in our reading these days. There has been criticism of the press that publications do not provide the readers with enough good news. It probably may be impossible for me to locate those articles that did not make it into print last year but here are a few good-news stories you missed that may help.

Detroit, MI - Phillip Caldwell, Ford board chairman, and many other top brass, including a rare appearance of Henry Ford II, hosted a moving testimonial dinner evening at the Renaissance Center honoring their old and valued colleague, Lee Iacocca, now board chairman at Chrysler. This black-tie event brought congratulations on Iacocca's singular success, since leaving Ford, including a standing ovation for his contributions to inter-governmental relations and the total auto industry, and well-wishers remaining long after the dinner's final speech.

Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY-Federal judge, Hazel Foggbottom, overuled a jury's "guilty" verdict in an alledged rollback case. She decried that it was incredible to believe that the 1978 Dodge taxi could possibly have more than the 3300 miles registered. Over federal justice prosecution objections, she cited federal anti-trust settlements as precedent and discharged wholesaler; Irving Schmutz, who was released and stated that he plans to return to his flourishing fleet wholesaling and retailing business as true justice has been served.

Pittsburgh, PA - The Greater Pittsburgh chapter of NAFA attempted a novel experiment last month restricting the monthly meeting only to bona fide fleet administrator members so they could concentrate on the business aspect of their profession. The uncomfirmed reports indicate a very light turnout for the main speaker on "how to overhaul an engine by yourself." The restaurant management advised the chapter that they would no longer host their meetings under such circumstances, and no bartender would be provided with a total of only six drinks ordered. A spokeswoman at NAFA's national headquarters indicated that she did not feel that the test would spread to other chapters.

Shelbyville, IN-A chemical company salesman had his fleet car disabled outside this town on a Monday morning about 10:00 a.m. With just one phone call to the local dealer, his car was towed in and he was on his way to a business luncheon date in Indianapolis in the new dealer loner car provided. Returning that after­ noon, he found his car washed and polished the ignition problem re­ paired and was sent on his way with no charge. The dealer explained that the factory would cover it on warranty, even though it had an excess of 14,000 miles; the oil change and grease job were with the dealer's compliments since he just loved fleet service business.

Detroit, MI - In an unprecedented move, GM, Chrysler and Ford divisions have unofficially agreed that the sales courtship of such accounts as Xerox and Tupperware should be soft-pedaled so that car lines that have not enjoyed this business might have a better shot at the volume orders. This combined showing of corporate compassion is seen as a huge advantage to imports and others who have not been able to crack these key accounts.

Now, if you really believe all these tales, I do know a fellow who is selling swamp land in Florida real cheap.