Gotta Go

A couple of days ago I had the pleasure to meet Roger Miret. He gave a concert in Hamburg with his band Agnostic Front and visited his Rumblers C.C. Chapter Hamburg.

For a full story (written in German) just follow this link. 

Need for Speed Euro Spokesmodel Search

I am proud to announce Electronic Arts (EA) teamed up with Chromjuwelen.com in search of the "2012 Need for Speed Spokesmodel". Our job is to help EA/NFS finding the right two ladies for the "German language sprachraum" (D-A-CH). Tuff!

What a NFS girl should be like? Well – this is how our colleagues from Speedhunters.com summarize it best: "boundless energy, an outgoing personality, a sexy, edgy style fused with a passion for cars and gaming."

A little more (borrowed from Speedhunters as well):

The winners will act as Need for Speed ambassadors at events throughout 2012 including representing Need for Speed products at high profile gaming events across Europe and our Team Need for Speed racing team in the prestigious FIA GT3 European Championship and Drift program.

Model searches and competitions are being conducted in five territories: France, Germany, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom. Two finalists will be selected from each territory with the final two winners from the European Spokesmodel Search Competition being announced in November in conjunction with the release of Need for Speed The Run. All contestants must be 18+.

Two winners will be announced in November and awarded a contract worth EUR 10.000,- each.

As UK, France, Norway and Russia have very charming ladies as well, it won't be a piece of cake. So help us and spread the word!

Google+

A few days ago Google rolled out "Google+" and we are honored to be part of it. At the moment it is still a kind of closed beta. "Kind of" because sometimes it seems to be possible to invite other people, but most of the time it fails. 

Due to our concerns for Facebook we are thrilled what this will do to the whole "Social Media" circus. Will it be a game changer? Or a geeky non-starter? It seems Ford (FoMoCo, Ford Europe) tries to find an answer as well.

Be that as it may — our first steps on Google+ feel very good. The whole interface (web/mobile) is excellent designed and fun to use. If you are on Google+ — let's get in touch! 

Rain ... er ... Race 61

Although we got warned in the forefront that it would pouring rain, we hit the road to Finowfurt in our 1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II. Usually we came back with heavy sunburns from the Roadrunner's Race 61 – not so this year. What a bummer.

We snapped some photos with our cellphones. For some more photos just click on one of the images – or follow this link.

Oh. It's me.

Tobi Faust and Arthur Heisler (Faust & Heisler) just released a video portrait of me. And my work. And Chromjuwelen.com. Which makes me self-conscious. To be honest.

The video was shot during the "Street Mag Show Hamburg" and presents some people of our Chromjuwelen Family. Including Helge Thomsen (Motoraver, 1973 "Mad Max" Ford Falcon XB GT), Kris "Kick 'n' Rush" Karathomas (1958 Chevy), Niels-Peter Jensen (Cheezy Rider), Oliver Kaps (Style Deluxe). And — of course — our 1972 "General Tire" International Harvester Scout II.

Enjoy.

Social media is not "cool." MAKING MONEY IS COOL.

If you are making your money in the publishing-/marketing- or agency business, you've got to have an idea regarding "Social Media". There's no getting round it, Social Media is the big hype these days. And as there are no instruction manuals how to use Social Media, it is just a big trial and error. So do we, by the way. I post regularly about our defeats and successes.

Today I came across an article from Peter Shankman (Business Insider), which is perfect for all of those, who are just thinking about hiring a so called "Social Media Expert". Read it. And think again.

My favorite quotes (except the borrowed statement which I used as headline):

[...] Being an expert in social media is like being an expert at taking the bread out of the refrigerator. [...]

[...] Social media is just another facet of marketing and customer service. Say it with me. Repeat it until you know it by heart. Bind it as a sign upon your hands and upon thy gates. Social media, by itself, will not help you. [...]

[...] "It’s not about building a website anymore! It’s so much cooler! It’s about Facebook, and fans, and followers, and engagement, and influence, and…" Will you please shut up before you make me vomit on your shoes? [...]

Sure, some statements in Peter Shankman's article may sound radical. But there's some truth in it.

Beautiful Beast

During our Chromjuwelen En Route video shoot last weekend — see sneak previews above — I had the opportunity to race my Nippon Pontiac for a few meters. Damn, that Poncho kicks *ss. Maybe this is due to the fact the "Kustom City family" worked a little on the setup of my 7M-GTE? 

At the moment the LeSupra waits to get customized at Style Deluxe Hamburg, but I must admit I start loving the Millenium Falcon "Piece of Junk" style ... 

Auto Buch: I love 'em

"Auto Buch" – A Rat Fink is catching flies with his tongue while he is doing a wheelie

Concept cars

"Renn Autos" – Plymouth Superbird aka King (Cars)

Three Window Coupé Hot Rod

Wheelstander Burnout with flames

Yesterday my eldest son (7) presented me his second "Auto Buch". I guess this is what your offspring is sketching when they have to grow up with a car nerd among a ton of car literature and hot rod movies.

Of course. I am hefty proud. And I think I've done everything right.

Techno Classica Essen 2011

1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II

Needs some tlc. Opel Rekord Limousine

1955 Flajole Forerunner

"I cruised the Reeperbahn" - Peter "Monsti" Theobold (Fusseltuning)

1928 Opel Raketen-Motorrad

Mercedes: Bertha's Benz (Motorwagen)

Bitter SC

Quote: "If the raver's dream is the Loveparade, the petrol head's dream is the Techno Classica."

Word. We just have brought our 1972 General Tire International Harveseter Scout II to the booth of our colleagues from Street Magazine and took some pictures. Hit one of the images above to see them all. 

General Tire Ad

Wow. It still works. We just found out we are still able to work for dead tree media. Although we hang on the interwebs 24/7.

This is our latest ad we did for General Tire Germany. The ad—photo taken by Dirk "Pixeleye" Behlau during our trip to the General Tire Mint 400 2010—will be published in the german Street Magazine. It promotes our 1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II as well, which we will bring to the Baja 300 Powerdays. Meet us there!