TTAC Future Writers Week: We Have New Winners. And You Can Vote For More

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

The Wednesday installment of TTAC’s Future Writers Week, where YOU decide who will write for you, ended better than the round the day before. This time, you voted for three serviceable writers, and they are:

  • Matthias Dean-Carpentier, a.k.a. Contestant #20
  • Andrew Nevick, a.k.a. Contestant #16
  • Evan Reisner, a.k.a. Contestant #19

Contestants 15, 17, 18, and 21 did not make it past the jury of your reading peers. Do not despair, there is always a chance to get called upon via the “Editor’s Choice” award, where we apply our strictly subjective, and self-serving criteria.

Note: Some contestants have expressed impatience over the fact that they have not been notified, told what to do, where to show up, what to write etc. Hold your horses. Take a vacation. Buy a new keyboard. You will get notified once the contest is over, and when we know exactly how to do this. As you may already have suspected, we make it up as we go along.

As for sources and methods: All I can say is that carburetor rebuilds on kitchen tables are more popular than ideal inventory levels and item-master systems. I know, this is despicable, but what can I do?

What I can do is present to you the Thursday set of seven writers, from which you choose the three best ones by popular vote. You have two votes. The best three win.

If you haven’t entered yet, and if you still want to play: Submission rules are here. Please try to stick to the rules, especially to the part where it says to simply send a note to editors, with “Becoming a TTAC Writer” as the topic. This helps sorting the applications into my proper mailbox. Creative topic writers are subjected to the hazards of spam filters and inattentive Editors. They also may receive a mark on my list, labeling them a potential pain in the neck that doesn’t listen to directions. (If you have already lost, and you are thinking of re-submitting: As long as you do it with a new email address, and using a new name, I probably won’t notice. But you will be stuck with that name forever!)

And now … drumroll, please

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Eggsalad Eggsalad on Jan 25, 2013

    I'm honored to have been selected among the winners. I hope I can satisfy all of you with my work.

  • Ryoku75 Ryoku75 on Jan 25, 2013

    Wait, entries that're actually about cars? I'm just waiting for yet another entry to bring up Volvos in one way or another.

  • Mebgardner I test drove a 2023 2.5 Rav4 last year. I passed on it because it was a very noisy interior, and handled poorly on uneven pavement (filled potholes), which Tucson has many. Very little acoustic padding mean you talk loudly above 55 mph. The forums were also talking about how the roof leaks from not properly sealed roof rack holes, and door windows leaking into the lower door interior. I did not stick around to find out if all that was true. No talk about engine troubles though, this is new info to me.
  • Dave Holzman '08 Civic (stick) that I bought used 1/31/12 with 35k on the clock. Now at 159k.It runs as nicely as it did when I bought it. I love the feel of the car. The most expensive replacement was the AC compressor, I think, but something to do with the AC that went at 80k and cost $1300 to replace. It's had more stuff replaced than I expected, but not enough to make me want to ditch a car that I truly enjoy driving.
  • ToolGuy Let's review: I am a poor unsuccessful loser. Any car company which introduced an EV which I could afford would earn my contempt. Of course I would buy it, but I wouldn't respect them. 😉
  • ToolGuy Correct answer is the one that isn't a Honda.
  • 1995 SC Man it isn't even the weekend yet
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