The 10-lap race for charity on a 1.97-mile street circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach, California, is just one of six events featured during the big race weekend. 

This year’s drivers consist of 11 celebs, all who will be driving Scion tCs. Soon to be geared up and ready for race day are Adam Carolla, Adrien Brody, Anthony Anderson, Brian Austin Green, Christian Slater, Jesse McCartney, Keanu Reeves, Patrick Warburton, Tika Sumpter, Tony Hawk and Zachary Levi.

Reeves, who is returning from his championship win last year, is vying for a win in the Pro Driver category, racing against Jimmy Vasser, 1996 CART Champion for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing and current IRL Team Owner and Toyota dealer, Steve Millen, Toyota MTEG Champion (1986 and 1988), IMSA GT Champion (1992 and 1994) and founder of STILLEN, Tanner Foust, Formula Drift champion and X Games Rally Gold Medalist, and Marty Nothstein, Olympic gold medalist, American professional road bicycle racer and track cyclist.

Toyota will donate $5,000.00 to Racing for Kids in the name of each celebrity racer, and another $5,000.00 to the winning racer’s charity of choice.  Racing for Kids is a national non-profit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County. 

A $15,000.00 donation will also be made in conjunction with the 13th annual PEOPLE Pole Award, which is sponsored by PEOPLE magazine, and honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 16.

I’m so glad actress Tika Sumpter is up to the challenge!  She’s the only female racer in the event this year and I know she’s got what it takes to show those boys whose boss!

Do you Tweet?  Are you a huge fan of Jeep vehicles and think you know way too many facts about the Jeep brand?  Would you love to have a chance to win a brand new Jeep? 

If so, you’ll want to enter the Jeep Tweet-to-Win contest, which begins Monday, March 15th on the Jeep Twitter page.

The Jeep Tweet-to-Win contest is a way to create buzz for the Jeep Wrangler and the new special-edition Jeep Wrangler Islander, scheduled to hit Chrysler Group dealerships beginning this spring. 

The Jeep Tweet-to-Win contest is open to US residents only and will run for only 5 days – from Monday, March 15th to Friday, March 19th on the brand’s Twitter page, located at www.twitter.com/jeep.

Each day, a new Jeep-branded trivia question will be posted to the site.  The first person to answer the question correctly, and in the correct format, will win a trip for two to the 2010 New York International Auto Show, where they’ll have chance to dig for the “Golden Tiki.”

On Thursday, April 1, contestants will dig in a giant sandbox, built specifically for the New York International Auto Show, to find the “Golden Tiki.”  The first to find it will win an all-new Jeep Wrangler Islander.

Please visit http://www.jeep.com/en/2010/wrangler/islander/ for complete rules and information.

I’m going to play.  How about you?

On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reportedthat automaker Toyota was recalling the 2004 through 2009 models to prevent accelerator pedals from becoming trapped. This report follows an incident on Monday when the driver of a 2008 Prius called police when his car would not slow down on a San Diego County highway.

Toyota has released the following statement:

Media reports, citing a Wall Street Journal article, have incorrectly reported that Toyota plans to announce a new recall for the 2004-2009 Prius to address the potential risk for floor mat entrapment of accelerator pedals.

There is no new recall being planned for the Prius to address this issue.  To be clear, the 2004-2009 Prius was part of Toyota’s November 2, 2009 announcement of a voluntary safety recall campaign to address floor mat entrapment in certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles.  This announcement can be found on Toyota’s newsroom at: http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/lexus/toyota-begins-interim-notification-112086.aspx.

Other models involved in this previously-announced recall include 2007-2010 Camry, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2007-2010 ES 350, 2006-2010 IS 250, and 2006-2010 IS 350.  On January 27, 2010, Toyota expanded the campaign to include the 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Venza, 2009-2010 Matrix and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe.

The remedy process for these vehicles began at the end of 2009 and is occurring on a rolling schedule during 2010.  Owners of the involved vehicles that have not yet been remedied are asked to take out any removable driver’s side floor mat and not replace it with any other floor mat.

Owners who have further questions are asked to visit www.toyota.com or www.lexus.com or contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Assistance at 1-800-255-3987.

Under the guidance of top professional instructors, the AMG Driving Academy offers an opportunity to personally experience the excitement of motorsports and the track capabilities of Mercedes-AMG vehicles – including the all new 563 hp SLS AMG, capable of 0-60 mph in less than four seconds.

Originally founded by Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach, Germany in 2007, the AMG Driving Academy launched in the United States in 2009, where more than six-hundred driving enthusiasts participated in the advanced driver program.  This year, participants have the opportunity to attend an advanced three-day Pro Level program to be held at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, where they will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of several AMG models including the E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and SLS AMG. 

The program features custom-designed exercises to experience and teach dynamic driving capabilities across two of the top tracks in the States: 

Road Atlanta (Braselton, GA.) – May 15-16, June 11-14 & 28-30, 2010. This 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course is one of the most technically challenging in the U.S.

Laguna Seca Raceway (Monterey, CA.) – August 27-29, Sept. 25-27, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 12-14, 2010. Laguna Seca features tremendous elevation changes, the famous Corkscrew complex and 2.24 sinewy miles of twisty asphalt.

The AMG Driving Academy Basic, Advanced and new Pro Level for 2010: 

• Basic: $1,795.00 per participant

Intense one-day track program focuses on performance driving dynamics.  Participants learn the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and car control maneuvers using customized exercises. Once participants perfect car control and handling, they progress to a set of high-speed exercises that make use of the entire track.

Road Atlanta: May 15-16 & June 11-12
Laguna Seca Raceway: August 27-29, Sept. 25, Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 12

• Advanced: $3,295.00 per participant

Two-day program picks up where Basic leaves off, providing advanced training and technical on-track instruction. Onboard diagnostics and data capture enable detailed computer analysis and evaluation.  The Advanced program is offered to drivers who complete either the Basic Level, AMG Challenge, European Driving Academy program or an equivalent course.

Road Atlanta: June 13-14, 2010
Laguna Seca Raceway: September 26-27 & November 13-14

• Pro: $3,995.00 per participant

Pro program offers increased instruction while challenging and improving capabilities and skills to a much greater degree.  During the three day program, participants train on the legendary Road Atlanta circuit.  With an intense curriculum, AMG experienced instructors prepare participants to confidently negotiate the signature corners of Road Atlanta.

Road Atlanta: June 28-30, 2010

All fees include a dinner reception and introductory briefing the evening before the program, track hospitality, AMG Driving Academy certificate of program completion and an AMG gift bag.  Participants are responsible for travel and accommodations. 

Additional information and registration for the AMG Driving Academy is available at www.AMGacademy.com or by phone at 1-800-217-6916.

In this new show, bad drivers from eight major American cities – all previously nominated by friends and family – are competing in various driving challenges to identify the worst local driver.  Each challenge is meant to tests a driver’s ability to focus while dealing with distraction and stress behind the wheel, no doubt a task anyone who drives is all too familiar with. 

In each city, participants are monitored by off-duty police officers, so while the contestants are guaranteed their safety, they’re also penalized for traffic violations.  Poor driving behaviors result in negative points, which bring contestants closer to having their car destroyed and receiving the infamous bad driver crown, while good driving is rewarded with being eliminated from the show, prizes and sparing their car from complete and total destruction.

At the end of each show, the driver who earns the distinction of being the worst driver from that particular city will look on as their car is destroyed. 

At the end of the season, each of the worst drivers from around the country will meet in Los Angeles, where they’ll have a chance to win a brand new car. The most incompetent driver left standing is declared…you guessed it: America’s Worst Driver.

Basically, the longer a driver stays on the show, the closer they get to being named the worst driver in America – an honor I wouldn’t want to go home with!

In the debut show from San Francisco, we’re introduced to 4 driving teams: mother/daughter duo Deborah and Becca, twins Kevin and Kyle (Kevin is a truck driver), brother/sister team Kelly and Brian (brother Bri has some road rage issues), and best friends Matt and Eli. It needs to be pointed out that Matt is no stranger to perilous driving habits – he’s hit over 20 parked cars!  You simply couldn’t pay me enough to be a passenger in Matt’s car.  (Thanks, but uh…I’d really rather walk.)

The series is hosted by Alonzo Bodden, comedian and the grand-prizewinner on Season 3 of Last Comic Standing, and Jill Simonian, who was a contributor for Hollywood Dailies and has also appeared on CNN/Headline News’ Showbiz Tonight and Extra.

America’s Worst Driver premieres on the Travel Channel beginning Sunday March 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

photo courtesy: The Boston Herald

Luv Your Ride, new Southern California auto accessories company, has recently launched a line of unique 3-D emblems to personalize your car, truly make it your own, and give your car that custom look without the expensive cost.

There are 12 trendy designs to choose from; including a five pointed star, an animal paw, a little devil heart, fleur de lis, a skull – and even a cougar. The designs are all three-dimensional and several are encrusted with rhinestones. On the back, permanent self adhesive tape allows you to place the emblem wherever you like. 

The emblems are made for both the exterior and the interior of the car, and can be used on any other types of transportation, such as motorcycles and boats. These jewels not only identify your personality, but can also help to identify your car in a crowded parking lot, too!

Cars for Girls FYI: There didn’t seem to be any information on the website concerning whether the decals are easily removable or if they can be removed and easily reapplied, so this may be something you might want to ask before you make a purchase.

After buying a classic Corvette two years ago, Lara Riedel, the founder of Luv Your Ride and a life-long car enthusiast, searched for accessories to personalize her new car.  When her search came up empty, she decided to design a unique line of fun, inexpensive and easy to install car accessories for all car owners.

Says Lara:  “Thousands of people may own the same car, why not make yours just a little more you.”

Click here to visit Luv Your Ride.

During the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday, Porsche revealed three new advanced hybrid vehicles - a high high-performance super sports car concept, a revolutionary new race car, and Porsche’s first production hybrid, the new Cayenne S Hybrid.

Porsche’s President and CEO Michael Macht proudly showed off what will most likely be one of the show’s highlights – the 918 Spyder – a mid-engine super sports car concept that employs plug-in hybrid technology and will get about 78 mpg, while also providing the power needed to propel it from a standing start to 100km/h (62 miles per hour) in under 3.2 seconds.

Macht also revealed the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, developed especially for racing.  This 911 uses two electric motors on the front axle to supplement the 480 horsepower engine driving the rear wheels. Instead of the heavy batteries usually found in a hybrid road car, an electrical flywheel power generator is installed next to the driver delivering energy to the electric motors.

The Cayenne S Hybrid, which has just been shown in Geneva for the very first time, is Porsche’s first production hybrid and goes on sale in the United States this fall. The Cayenne S Hybrid features a highly sophisticated full parallel hybrid system that combines the power of a 333-horsepower V6 with an 47-horsepower electric motor, offering 380 horsepower and essentially the high performance of a V8 with the fuel efficiency of a V6.

With these three hybrid models, Porsche is offering new cars that are sportier and more dynamic, while at the same time the cars use less fuel and produce fewer emissions. 

Porsche provides high-quality video of all three new cars to registered users at http://thenewsmarket.com/porsche.   

photos courtesy: PRNewsFoto/Porsche Cars North America