1959.(National Automobile Dealers Association)(Competition Press)(Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.)

1959 is a busy time for Competition Press. Six months after its birth, Denise McCluggage takes over ownership and becomes editor and publisher. The paper moves from Detroit to Cornelia Street in New York City. This tenure lasts from January to September, when it is sold to John and Elaine Bond, owners of Road & Track, and moves to Southern California.

Meanwhile, CP co-founder Don Stewart is named editor of Motor Life magazine by Robert E. Petersen, president of Petersen Publishing.

Eight-time British racing champion Stirling Moss is given the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. His irreverent American friends immediately dub him "Commander Moss-head.''

A display ad offers two charter flights from New York and Chicago to Sebring for the race. The sell line: "Lose only Friday from work.'' You can get details from one Chris Economaki of Ridgewood, New Jersey.

At its 42nd annual convention, the National Automobile Dealers Association puts "import cars'' on its business agenda, representing the organization's recognition of this growing market. NADA conducted a survey of import-car owners. Among NADA's findings: "It is generally conceded,'' said Paul Herzog, director of research, "that individuals who are well educated are more inclined to break with tradition and less inclined to conform to the general patterns of behavior followed by the society surrounding them. The iconoclasm is obvious in this group.'' Some 68 percent of the respondents are identified as college-educated. To plant the seeds of customer loyalty: "An interesting and important factor . . . is their degree of [high] satisfaction to their service and repair work . . . on their vehicles.''

Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Dan Gurney and Chuck Daigh combine to win the 12 Hours of Sebring. It is a Ferrari 1-2 finish. CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite swaps his radio microphone for driving gloves and finishes 40th in a Lancia Appia GT Zagato.

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