What should we expect for the new year starting this weekend?
My predictions after living in this great country of ours and being self employed for most of my working life:
• The industry and markets in automotive are changing before our very eyes, as it should with technology advancements. The younger people (18-35) better understand the electronics but are quickly learning what many of us have known all along - build a stronger drivetrain so the electronics will not break it!
• The existing administration wants all small garages, shops and businesses to diminish with more regulations being brought on them. Only our state governments can stop this based on structure of powers, quit wasting time on Congress and start with local state's government. The atmosphere is so caustic right now in DC neither party is going to help save our automotive history and sports.
• Suburbia will be in decline for automotive aftermarket and the rural areas will increase. Why do you find auto chain part stores in all of the small towns? They still have to drive to get to work, school and entertainment. Suburbia youth are not even getting driver's licenses until their 20s.
• Sometimes in 2022 there will be a glut of new vehicles in the market since the chips will catch up with production - then the prices will start dropping in order to move them. Right now people are rebuilding their older trucks because it is still cheaper than buying new and even if you can find new trucks.
• Part shortage will continue as long as our government allows outside manufacturers to short us. We ALL should seek building everything in the US again and not be held hostage on parts that were patented and designed here in the first place. The intention of outside sourcing is to drive our economy down to their level - it's always about the dollar.
• People love automotive, that will never end! They will look for new outlets to be involved, some old and some new avenues will become the norm! Fixing along the way what the bean-counters have destroyed or mismanaged! The true enthusiasts will return!
• Yes, we will be moving some events around this year because of multiple factors such as weather, track contracts and new opportunities! That is why I put tentative schedule untill the end of January, we get at least 20 requests from the PRI show to do events in new areas. We just can not get them all because of budgetary restraints but if something looks interesting and makes sense we will try it out. My local old farmers and the Almanac says a long cold, wet winter and spring so yes, I listen to experience.
• Yes, we will all be here this time next year! I will reprint this next year on this date and let's see what has happened.
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