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Park Place Motorsports Makes New Home In Dallas

Park Place Motorsports is making the great state of Texas its new official headquarters as the team continues to expand.

After a five-year relationship with sponsor Park Place Porsche of Dallas, Team Principal Patrick Lindsey is moving Patrick Lindsey Racing Inc., the asset of Park Place Motorsports, to Dallas. The new shop at 3281 Manor Way Dallas, Texas 75235 features 10,000 square feet of space and is located two minutes away from Dallas Love Field Airport; equal distance to Park Place Porsche of Dallas on Lemmon Avenue.

The proximity to Park Place Porsche of Dallas and Porsche of Grapevine allows Park Place Motorsports to sync further efforts in gathering notoriety of Dallas area Porsche enthusiasts. The race team hopes that being closer to Park Place will serve both entities with customer growth and create new opportunities for the people of Dallas in the motorsport realm.

While Dallas was ultimately the right option for Park Place Motorsports, it was not originally the only option when the race team considered moving. The long list of potential cities speckled California’s Central Coast. Ultimately, the wider arrange of extensive facilities and the chance to further ties with Park Place made Lindsey’s choice [to move to Dallas] an easy one to make.

“We’re happy to have finally found a space that places us so close to the dealerships,” Lindsey said. “The move to Dallas gives us the ability to have full time shop personnel and service much more than just the professional level race team and cars. Being closer to most of the races will give us the benefit of having the cars back at the home shop more often and even allow us to showcase our hardware at the Dallas and Grapevine dealerships when we aren’t racing.

“We hope the relationship continues to grow and prosper between the race team and the dealership; made easier now due to proximity. We’d like to come alongside Park Place and engage with the customers that show interest in motorsports and help them navigate the various avenues of the sport. We can also provide an opportunity for clients that are wanting to learn how to get more out of their Porsche or learn more about their car in general. In general, I’m happy to be serving the Dallas community.”

The move to Dallas comes on the heels of Park Place Motorsports’ recent announcement of its Michelin Pilot Challenge program as well as the hiring of Mike Johnson as Director of Race Operations. To read more on Park Place Motorsports plans for the 2019 race season visit http://parkplacemotorsports.com.

 

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The Season of Giving: Park Place Delivers Donated $55k Sprinter To Momentous Institute

Park Place Dealerships Donates $55k Sprinter Van To Salesman Ship Club’s Momentous Institute

As we enter a season of gratitude and giving, it’s crucial we take a step back to reflect on the why behind last month’s October 13th event. Rain couldn’t keep the crowds away from the 2nd Annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase last month, where luxury manufacturers, local retailers, restaurants, and collectors came together to host almost 3,000 attendees for a day of fashion, food, and, of course, show-stopping vehicles.

The event benefitted the Momentous Institute, owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920. Each year, the organization serves more than 6,000 children and family members through its nationally acclaimed Momentous School and innovative Therapeutic Services. Ken Schnitzer presented Patton Chapman, Salesmanship Club president, with the keys to a $55,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van, on stage during the awards ceremony, to help the organization with its transportation needs for the kids.

during the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase in Irving, Tx, on October 13, 2018. (Michael Ainsworth)

The following week, Corey Bedford, Fleet Sales Manager at Park Place Motorcars Grapevine, delivered the shiny, new 2018 Sprinter Passenger van to Momentous Institute- red carpet style. Momentous Institute, owned and operated by Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, has been committed to building and repairing social-emotional health for all children so they can achieve their full potential. It was our privilege to host the community to benefit such a worthy cause for the second year in a row.

 

 

Stay tuned for more on information on next year’s 2019 Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase by tuning into our blog (news.parkplace.com) and our social media channels (@parkplacetexas).

 

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The Volvo XC40 Earns Two “Bests” from Kelley Blue Book

Since its introduction, the Volvo XC40 has made quite the impact on the compact SUV market-including exceeding sales expectations originally set by Volvo Cars and in April, dubbed Volvo’s most successful product launch in the UK.

Now the 2019 Volvo XC40  has earned two more accolades from Kelly Blue Book: Best New Model and Best Subcompact Luxury SUV for 2019. Starting at $34,000, the XC40 offers plenty of passenger and cargo space within a small footprint.  It’s the perfect combination of modern aesthetics, intuitive design and technology, and safety from all angles.  

“We are extremely proud to win two more awards for XC40, especially these,” said Anders Gustafsson, President and CEO, Volvo Car USA. “The people at Kelley Blue Book really know what they’re talking about. By bringing design, technology, and safety features from our larger award-winning SUVs Volvo can offer luxury subcompact buyers a great value in a great package.”

In Kelly Blue Book’s Review, they specifically call out the modern, two-tone paint scheme and the cutting edge infotainment system on top of its base safety features as some of the reasons the XC40 stands out in the subcompact SUV crowd. 

“The Volvo XC40 is an all-new vehicle, and it has wasted no time shaking up not just the Swedish automaker’s lineup, but also the burgeoning segment of subcompact luxury SUVs. In shape, style and attitude, the all-new 2019 XC40 goes its own way,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book.

There is so much more to the ‘why’ behind the XC40’s successes since its introduction to the public, but instead of reading about it- why don’t you experience it for yourself? Check out ParkPlace.com to see our current and available inventory and give our team a call, they’d be happy to help you begin your journey to human-centric, Scandinavian luxury.

If you still need to research the XC40 or your next Volvo a bit more, check out the walkaround showcasing XC40 below and let us know if you have any questions.

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Bekim’s Sweet First Birthday at Porsche Grapevine

The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase Mini-Macan Winners Receive Luxury Delivery Experience at Porsche Grapevine.

Guests of the 2nd Annual Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase had the opportunity to win a miniature battery-powered car all for themselves (or at least for their aficionados in the making).  Entering was simple (post a photo of the little ones enjoying the Kiddie Concours), and it was clear that guests were well aware of the stakes- snapping photos left and right for the opportunity to win hearts on social media and hopefully, a brand new Mini Porsche Macan.

That was at least the story for Xavier and Janet, and their almost one-year-old, Bekim, who has quite the head start in sharing in his parents’ love of exotic cars:

“We found out about the [Mini Macan] contest through the Park Place Instagram page. This seemed like a very unique and inclusive contest for our little one so, we decided to make it a point to visit, while at the showcase.”

When asked if the weather forecast almost deterred them from coming, Xavier and Janet shared that they just planned their day to arrive at the tail-end of the last round of forecasted showers so they could enjoy the outdoor experience, noting that “This is one of those events that you have to experience firsthand, vs trying to explain with pictures. Under the same weather circumstances, we would absolutely go again.”

By random drawing, Bekim’s entry (see below) in the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon won the ultimate prize just in time for his very first birthday. 

Given the special circumstances, our Porsche Grapevine team didn’t hesitate to invite Bekim, his older brother Elijah, and his parents, to the dealership for a luxury delivery experience sure to create lasting family memories.

Poised next to a couple other life-size Porsche’s ready to meet their owners, Denette Norlie, Service Director, set up the Mini Macan with a few extra surprises for the two boys.  After all, Park Place is their place too.

“Our experience at the Porsche dealership was absolutely wonderful! The amount of people that took the time out of their workday to help make this a special day for Bekim and to include his older brother, Elijah, is truly amazing! It really meant a lot to us all.” 

Not every one year old can say they receive a Porsche Macan for their 1st birthday, but we certainly hope the memories created last long after Bekim outgrows his first car.

“The Mini Macan might be a little tough to top for a 1st car. For Bekim’s 16th birthday, we aren’t quite sure what his first car will be. However, things will probably come full circle and his first actual car WILL be from Park Place.” – Xavier, Bekim’s Dad.
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The Transformed 2019 Lexus ES Now At Park Place Lexus

After nearly 30 years of success, Lexus has launched the seventh-generation ES to redefine its status among entry-level executive sedans.  Among other exciting design updates, Lexus is also introducing the first ES F Sport to the line-up, giving clients a brand new level of performance in this model family. The ES-F actually borrows its grille design from the flagship LS sedan. 

Last week, Park Place launched the all-new 2019 ES at Park Place Lexus Grapevine and Park Place Lexus Plano.

Key Design Enhancements

The key element to the updated design is the all-new Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform. Because of this, the ES sedan is longer with a wider wheel base to provide sharpened performance, more spacious interior, and a quieter drive. The overall design and performance update to this 7th generation ES is perfectly in tune with Lexus previous releases of the UX and updated LS, to reach a new market of buyers.

Project Chief Designer, Yasuo Kajino, describes the look of the ES as “provocative elegance.” 

For this Generation, we have added daring design elements that challenge traditional expecatations of buyers.

Low lines and fluid shapes represent some of the major improvements to the ES; the slim headlights with a distinctive L shaped marker, the latest iteration of the brand’s iconic grille nodding to the performance of the LC, and a low hood line highlight the visual enhancements to the classic ES. 

Transformative Performance

Why simply improve on something that’s already good, when you can transform a sedan traditionally known for comfort and quietness into one that is capable of delivering dynamic handling. 

“We knew the ES had to feel responsive and easy to drive, no matter what kind of road it was on and that can only be achieved with a solid foundation.” – Lead Engineer, Yasuhiro Sakakibara.

The all-new GA-K chassis structure gave the engineering team the opportunity to address some concerns including noise and vibrations, at the source.  One key update includes the installation of performance dampeners typically seen on Ultra Luxury and F SPORT models to reduce vibrations. 

Power and Efficiency

All ES 350s are powered by 3.5 liter V6 engines that are designed to deliver effortless acceleration and impressive efficiency.  Now the ES can adapt to high or low power moments by transitioning from the traditional Otto cycle during sporty driving or the more efficient Atkinson cycle when power demand is low.

What’s Otto and Atkinson? Otto Cycle is a thermodynamic cycle found in most automotive engines. Atkinson Cycle is a modified Otto cycle, which differs in delivering efficiency and increased fuel efficiency. 

A More Comfortable Cabin For All

No detail was left untouched for the driver and the passengers. The steering wheel on the 2019 ES is set a more natural angle, the pedal positions revised, and 10-way power adjustable front seats lend itself to a comfortable and luxurious driving experience.

The cargo room has increased versus the previous generation,  boasting 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space and additional underfloor side pockets for smaller items.

Do you remember we mentioned a lower roofline? Well, if you were worried the sleek roofline would affect your guests’ accommodations, we are happy to report that the answer is not at all. Headroom has been increased slightly through the use of a lower hip point and a carefully configured headliner.

The Next Chapter ES

The 2019 Lexus ES ushers in a new era from one of the brand’s most popular models. In line with previous model releases, the ES sedan is meant to engage with a broader range of guests by delivering both the expected Lexus luxuries and unexpected performance that traditionally is not a character of the Lexus mark. 

More dynamic styling and performance, unique cabin materials assembled by the finest craftsmen and the latest technology add a chapter to the ES story that hasn’t been told, but that all changes now at Park Place Lexus Plano and Park Place Lexus Grapevine.
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Park Place Lexus Grapevine Kicks Off GRACE Christmas Cottage Toy Drive

Holiday Event Included Unwrapping New Lexus ES Luxury Sedan

 Park Place Lexus, the official “Drive For Toys” sponsor of the GRACE (Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange) Christmas Cottage, hosted the kick-off party for the 2018 toy drive collection. 

The GRACE Christmas Cottage provides gifts for local children in a store-like setting and is open for a full two weeks prior to Christmas.

As guests arrived, they filled the back of several Lexus SUVs with Christmas toys.

“We’ve partnered with GRACE for many years now,” said Gary Venner, Park Place Lexus Grapevine General Manager. “We are blessed to help local families through our support of the GRACE Christmas Cottage. We want to make sure every child in our community has the best possible Christmas. The GRACE Toy Drive makes it easy to participate.”

The community is invited to drop off a new, unwrapped toy for the GRACE Christmas Cottage through December 15th at Park Place Lexus Grapevine, located at 901 Highway 114 East. Or drop them off at GRACE Christmas Cottage, 3100 Timberline in Grapevine. You can also make a monetary donation to the GRACE Christmas Holiday Fund at gracegrapevine.org.

during the GRACE Toy Drive at Park Place Lexus, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, in Grapevine, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth)

During the event, guests enjoyed eclectic bites from DRG Concepts, including Mediterranean fare, chicken tacos with cilantro rice by Wild Salsa, and chopped beef short ribs with horseradish and onion strings courtesy of Chop House Burgers.

during the GRACE Toy Drive at Park Place Lexus, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, in Grapevine, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth)

Seasonal cocktails were provided by Hendricks Gin and Reyka Vodka, with celebratory sips by Dark Horse Wine and Peroni Beer. Guests danced to popular tunes by the Adrian Garcia Band, then capped the night with innovative coffee creations by Nightowl Coffee Cart, including a delicious Peppermint Latte with a sprig of mint and crumbled mint cookies on top.

Pat and Janet McCoy of Colleyville dance during the GRACE Toy Drive at Park Place Lexus, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, in Grapevine, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth)
Alan Tracy and Karen Roberts of Colleyville dance during the GRACE Toy Drive at Park Place Lexus, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, in Grapevine, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth)

The GRACE Christmas Cottage provides new, unwrapped gifts to families facing financial hardship due to limited income or recent emergency.  Each qualified family is given a voucher with a value based on the number of children in the family, allowing the parents to “purchase” donated toys, home goods and appliances in a private, store-like setting. This unique approach allows families to budget their resources and select unique presents while preserving the family’s dignity. More than 2,700 individuals and families are served at Christmas Cottage each holiday season.

Guests also got to see the new 2019 Lexus ES luxury sedan, featuring bold new styling inside and out, astonishing power and state-of-the-art safety and entertainment technology.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 18 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Bentley and Maserati. For more info, visit parkplace.com

 

 

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The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Earns ‘World’s Fastest’ Title on Nürburgring

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Four Door Coupe arms a driver with driving dynamics at motorsport level- with ‘explosive sprints and With an officially measured, certified and notarized time of 7:25:41, the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S is the world’s fastest series production four-seater on the legendary North Loop of the Nürburgring.maximum comfort.’  This, four-door production car can go 0-60 in 3.2 seconds With an additional RACE drive program including ‘Drift Mode’, the pilot has sporty driving manoeuvers available at their fingertips.

Mercedes-AMG Development Engineer Demian Schaffert sat behind the wheel of the fully equipped standard eight-cylinder model to achieve the record lap. The former racing driver was involved in developing the driving dynamics of the four-door coupe and demonstrated the performance of the powerful 630 hp sports car to impressive effect with his record lap.

The Nürburging-“Nordschleife” (North Loop) is regarded as the world’s toughest race track. A record lap here is the ultimate test of a sports car. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S offers many features suited to this challenge: Its standard equipment includes dynamic highlights such as fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, active rear axle steering, electronically controlled rear-axle limited slip differential and AMG DYNAMICS drive programs. The available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires enabled optimum traction and acceleration out of bends in the “Green Hell”. The record lap was measured precisely by the neutral experts of “wige SOLUTIONS”. The specification of the vehicle, as well as the lap time, was additionally certified by an independent notary public.

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The Gaylord Texan’s 2018 ICE! Experience Is Open Through January 1, 2018

Lexus is proud to sponsor the 2018 Gaylord Texan’s ICE! Experience, open November 9th through January 1, 2019. Experience your favorite scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brought to life in our walk-through winter wonderland.  Click the banner below or scroll for more information on the Lexus Exclusive Discount

This year’s display includes:

  • 2 million pounds of ice sculptures hand-carved by 35 artisans from Harbin, China
  • 6 ice slides
  • colorful ice sculptures depicting the story of Rudolph
  • Crystal clear ice sculpture scene of the Nativity

Best of all? Lexus is gifting all Lexus owners with exclusive discounts to last you the entire holiday season. See below for details:

Discounted Tickets for Lexus Owners:

Receive a Lexus Owners Discount for Adult, General Admission ICE! Tickets by using the code PARKPLACELEXUS at GaylordTexanTickets.com

Valet Parking

You’ll automatically receive a $10 discount on valet parking when driving your Lexus to ICE!. Please note that you MUST be driving your Lexus to the actual event to receive the discount.

Complimentary Self- Parking 

Enjoy complimentary self-parking in either the garage or Lot R when driving your Lexus to ICE! Simply take a ticket upon entry and present it along with your Lexus key to the box office cashier to get your ticket validated prior to departing. Again, you must be driving your Lexus to the actual event to receive the discount. 

 

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Brynjolfsson and Hindman Join Park Place Motorsports

 Park Place Motorsports is going where it has never gone before, the Michelin Pilot Challenge. In 2019, Park Place Motorsports is set to run Alan Brynjolfsson and co-driver Trent Hindman in the Michelin Pilot Challenge with the new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Brynjolfsson and Hindman will run under the Park Place Motorsports banner with VOLT Lighting, a manufacturer of outdoor lighting, as the primary sponsor. The blending of teams was decided as the best option for both VOLT Racing and Park Place Motorsports as IMSA competition continues to strengthen.

The driving pair competed together last season under VOLT Racing in the Grand Sport class. The team ended the season eighth in the championship with a win at Road America, two top-five finishes and two top 10 finishes to its name. “This was a complex decision. I really liked and believed in the guys that ran VOLT Racing in 2018; I can’t say enough good things about them, especially my Team Manager Chris Vallee,” Brynjolfsson said. “They did a great job getting us wins in both IMSA and PWC. The GT4 field is growing quickly, and we will probably see 30 cars in 2019.
 
“To fight for a championship, we needed a larger operation and the economies of scale of multiple cars. Park Place is a proven Porsche program in WeatherTech, we will be running two Porsches next year, so it was a natural fit. With Mike Johnson my Strategist moving to Park Place and taking the helm as Team Manager it made it a very attractive deal.”


 
While Park Place Motorsports is competently ready to take on the Michelin Pilot Challenge series, Brynjolfsson is equally prepared to take on the nuances of driving a Porsche after spending a year in the Ford Mustang. The 2019 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport was designed with the racetrack in mind. The Porsche GT4 gives a nod to the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in its chassis design and boasts a 3.8-litre mid-mounted flat engine, 385 hp and 420 Nm maximum torque. The redesign makes it more than a competitor; it will be a podium contender.

“I am very excited about the switch,” Brynjolfsson said.  “The Mustang was a point and shoot car where you would diamond off corners to utilize its great torque off the corner.  The Porsche has great balance, and you can carry more speed through corners and slide the car, call it a momentum car if you like. I think Porsche will suit my driving style better. The a/c will be a welcome bonus, but the reliability and thorough development of the Porsche GT4 is the crucial ingredient for being competitive at year end with a large field.”

Though much is scheduled to change next year for the VOLT Lighting entry, one much-welcomed consistency is the driver pairing. Brynjolfsson and Hindman enter their second season together as co-drivers. While Brynjolfsson enters his third season of racing Hindman, 23, is a seasoned professional.

“Trent is an amazing driver, and I feel fortunate to get to drive with him again for the 2019 season,” Brynjolfsson said. “If I hand him a good car in decent position, I expect him to win the race. For the season I expect nothing less than for Trent to win his second IMSA GS Championship and me to win my first. As for my personal goals for next year I want to work on increasing my situational awareness, increasing my speed, and having zero accidents. If I can work on those three things, we’ll have a great year.”

Hindman enters his sixth season in the challenge series and first season with Park Place Motorsports. In those six seasons, he walked away with a championship in 2014, as vice-champion in 2016, third in the points standings in 2017 and with numerous wins to his name.

“I’m very much looking forward to a sixth season in the Michelin Pilot Challenge,” Hindman said. “Having the opportunity to work with Alan and VOLT Racing throughout 2018 and to be a part of his development behind the wheel once again is a very exciting prospect to me. However, the potential of winning races and fighting for another GS championship is what motivates me the most. I feel that we have an excellent team behind us in Park Place Motorsports that will certainly help Alan and me achieve this goal.”

With all of the success, Hindman has seen in the Michelin Pilot Challenge it only makes sense some of it was done in a Porsche. Hindman will look to utilize experience from previous seasons of running a Porsche entry to help Brynjolfsson feel comfortable in their new ride. He also looks forward to the success he sees in his future.

“Fortunately, I had the pleasure of driving the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport in 2016 and 2017,” Hindman said. “It was a phenomenal car, but I absolutely cannot wait to drive the 2019 Porsche Cayman GT4. By all indications, it’s going to be a very competitive platform for the GT4/GS category, and I have no doubts that our Cayman GT4, in the hands of Park Place, will be up towards the front for the entirety of 2019.

“Sitting behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayman gives us a quite a large confidence boost. We have all observed the competitiveness of the car in seasons past but now understanding the improvements and updates with the newest generation Cayman GT4 makes us even more excited to get it on track.”

Success is never possible without drivers willing to do the work behind the wheel and off track. Hindman does not doubt that he and Brynjolfsson will be a strong entry in the Michelin Pilot Challenge after watching his teammate develop over the past season. 

“Alan is really the guy behind what VOLT Racing has developed into, and for me, it’s a huge honor to remain as a part of it,” Hindman said. “Just about every time Alan climbed in the car last year, we saw improvement in some area or another, which is very encouraging for the entire team and me. For only two years of racing at this level he’s come an incredibly long way, so to keep that momentum moving forward into next year will be most important.

Alan has done a fantastic job so far by placing an excellent team around him, as well having a high level of motivation himself to improve and ultimately win races. I don’t think there is any more of a competitive combination in the Michelin Challenge paddock than Park Place and Porsche. We certainly hope to continue the team’s run of success moving into 2019.”

The Michelin Pilot Challenge starts up in early January at Daytona International Raceway for the Roar Before the Rolex 24. At the official IMSA test, Porsche teams will take possession of the Porsche Cayman GT4 for the first time as the manufacturer is set to release the car in North America. The first race of the year, BMW Endurance Challenge At Daytona, will be in coordination with the Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend, January 24-28.

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New XC40 Named 2018 Compact Luxury SUV of Texas

Volvo’s new XC40 has been named Compact Luxury SUV of Texas by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) at its annual Truck Rodeo. The organization also presented the XC40 with the award for Best Connectivity. 

The XC40’s wins in Dripping Springs build on Volvo Cars’ previous success at the TAWA Truck Rodeo, with Best SUV honors for the XC90 and XC60 in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Volvo Cars’ legacy at the rodeo dates back to 2002, when the first-generation XC90 was the first-ever SUV to take home the coveted Truck of Texas Award.

“Volvo Cars has a strong history with TAWA, and we are proud to receive this recognition for our newest crossover,” said Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice President Americas and President & CEO, Volvo Car USA. “The XC40 has been a great success for us, critically and commercially, contributing to our strong growth in the U.S. and around the world.”

In September, Volvo Car USA reported 29.8 percent year-to-date sales growth versus 2017. The first car built on Volvo Cars’ new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), the XC40 includes a range of ground-breaking technologies wrapped in a fresh, creative and distinctive package. Stay up-to-date on the XC40’s availability with our inventory on ParkPlace.com.

The 2018 Texas Truck Rodeo convened a total of 57 vehicles spanning SUVs, crossovers and commercial vehicles. Following two days of evaluation, 69 TAWA members cast their ballots to determine the event’s winners, judging vehicles against interior and exterior styling, performance, value and personal appeal.