Thousands of bikers roared into Washington DC Thursday in honor of Sept. 11 victims, survivors and first responders. In honor of the victims, survivors and first responders of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, thousands of motorcycles from around the country rolled into the nation’s capital on Thursday as part of the second annual 2 Million Bikers to DC ride. Bikers gathered in several suburban spots early that morning, then rolled into the District from multiple directions, creating a roar heard for miles. Later that afternoon, participants held a free-to-all rally in remembrance of those lost and support of America’s first responders, rescuers and military. Among the participants who spoke with area media were Tom Secor, a Vietnam veteran who...

  While some states are still enjoying summer-like weather, others to the north already are feeling a chill in the air. Here in sunny Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida where E3 Spark Plugs is based, we’re basking in 87-degree temperatures at the time of this writing. Meanwhile, the lead story on Weather.com is the record-early snowfall that has already hit Rapid City, South Dakota; Boulder, Colorado; and North Platte, Nebraska. Sorry ’bout your luck, guys. Wherever you live, it’s important to know that your ride is ready for the chill. To that end, E3 Spark Plugs offers these tips for preparing your vehicle for the fall and winter seasons: Check your charge. Cold weather can be hard on your car batteries. Have your vehicle’s battery and charging system checked...

Arctic Cat has recalled about 5,600 ATVs over a fire hazard. Here at E3 Spark Plugs, we love a good thrill – the kind you get careening over hard-to-reach, off-road turf on a badass ATV, or throwing snow at 100 mph. But if you happen to be the proud owner of a few popular models of Arctic Cat ATVs or Yamaha Snowmobiles, you may be in for a bigger thrill than you want. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled the Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail and Wildcat Trail XT Side by Side ATVs as well as the Yamaha 2014 SR10R (SRViper), SR10RXS (SRViper RTX SE), SR10L (SRViper LTX), SR10LS (SRViper LTX SE) and SR10XS (SRViper XTX) snowmobiles and 2015 SR10LS (SRViper LTX SE) snowmobiles because of potential fire hazards. Arctic Cat officials warn that oil can leak from...

The 1968 Lancia Fulvia Coupé Rallye 1.6 HF is among the 241 cars featured in the upcoming Forza Horizon 2 for XBox 360 and XBox One. Gamers, car buffs and we here at E3 Spark Plugs are getting geared up for the Sept. 30 release of Forza Horizon 2 on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles. The new game again takes place during the fictional Horizon Festival. But this time, the festival takes gamers Southern Europe with stops in Provence, Tuscany and Côte d’Azur, among others. There’s three times more drivable area than in the original Forza Horizon, plus the addition of the Bucket List – a group of competition challenges similar to the first game’s 1000 Club; and Car meets, an online mode where players can meet up online, compare their...

Some professions, like teaching, can help score you a lower car insurance premium. Everyone knows that those with high-risk jobs like loggers, power linemen and rodeo clowns (yes, rodeo clowns, better known as bull fighters) pay higher health and life insurance premiums. But did you know that being in a low-risk line of work can help reduce your auto insurance premiums? Yep. That’s because careers considered low-risk by auto insurance companies statistically are ones held by people who exercise risky driving behaviors less often than those in other jobs. Among those whose lines of work may score them a policy discount are: Engineers Scientists Teachers and professors First responders (including police officers and firefighters) Nurses Pilots Certified public accountants If...

There are multiple ways to help keep your auto insurance premiums low. Recently, E3 Spark Plugs gave you the low down on American cities with the highest car insurance premiums. This time, we’ve got good news – five top tips to help keep your insurance premiums as low as possible… Limit your mileage: Drivers with low annual mileage can save about 10 percent on their insurance. Plus, you may be eligible for a discount if you only drive your vehicle a couple of days a week. Consider carpooling with a co-worker, make use of public transportation or, if your destination is close enough, walk or ride your bike. Chances are you could use the exercise. Have a little loyalty: Insurance companies typically offer discounts to clients who stick with them for long periods of...

Drivers in Detroit pay the nation’s highest average car insurance premiums. Let’s face it – Nobody LIKES paying car insurance. But if for those who live in Detroit, the pain of making that monthly payment hits a little harder. A recent study of average insurance rates nationwide shows that drivers in the Motor City pay more than drivers in any other city across the country – a full 165 percent more than the national average car insurance premium. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 most expensive cities for car owners, their average annual premium and what’s to blame, according to researchers: Detroit, Michigan: $10,723.22 – The city’s high crime rate, a territorial rating system that bases risk and premiums on zip codes, and...

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, known for his 2011 film “The Lincoln Lawyer” is the newest Lincoln pitchman. Film buffs and Ford fans, including many of us here at E3 Spark Plugs, no doubt gave a thumbs up to 2011 film, The Lincoln Lawyer. Now, the Lincoln Lawyer himself, actor Matthew McConaughey, has been tapped as new Lincoln Motor Co.’s newest celebrity pitchman. In the film, McConaughey plays Mick Haller, an eccentric defense attorney who works out of the backseat of his 1986 Lincoln Town Car on account of having lost his driver’s license, presumably due to a string of DUIs, though the script doesn’t directly deal with the issue. Haller’s clientele primarily is comprised of garden-variety Los Angeles street hustlers, drug dealers and...

Can you dig it? Winnebago gets its groovy back with two far out new models. Baby Boomers and Boomer kids – including many of us here at E3 Spark Plugs – almost invariably have fond memories of weekends on the road, at the lake and in the campgrounds, stylin’ in the family Winnebago. But after a decade-long downturn in sales, by 2009 it appeared that the iconic motorhome maker might be a goner. Now, in a Tony Manero-esque comeback, the Winnebago is back on the scene in a big way. In 2009, the Forest City, Iowa-based company named for the area’s massive lake, which was named for a Native American tribe, saw its sales tank to a paltry $211 million – less than a fifth of its 2004 sales. Some 20 players in the RV industry went under or got sold to...

2015 Chevrolet Corvettes owners will have the option to add a valet mode, designed to thwart joyride attempts and keep your valuables safe. (AP Photo/General Motors) “Bueller… Bueller… Beuller…” Americans of a certain age most certainly recall the iconic 1986 comedic film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And those who grew up to be owners of high-end classic cars likely suffer cringe-worthy flashbacks of a few scenes involving a certain 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California, snuck out of its gorgeous glass garage and taken out for a spin around town by not only the film’s two main characters, but a couple of knucklehead valets as well. We here at E3 Spark Plugs certainly do. Unfortunately for a few, that very scenario has left the realm of John...