Be Prepared to Feel a Pinch When Renewing Your Tabs

Be prepared to feel the pinch when renewing your vehicle tabs this year. As of March 1st, the Regional Transit Authority tax goes into effect for those living within the Sound Transit District. While Gamblin Motors’ hometown of Enumclaw and Buckley are not positioned within the taxed district, many of our neighbors in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County can expect a higher bill this year. How much higher? The tax will increase from 0.3% to 1.1% resulting in a $110 annual fee for a $10,000 vehicle. While the Sound Transit 3 measure garnered strong support last November, residents are still in for some sticker shock when it comes time for tab renewals.

Taxes collected are slated for a large expansion of light rail in Tacoma, Seattle, and Everett. The Sounder Commuter will also see expansion under the measure. In addition to the rail improvements, park-and-ride and bus-rapid transit are scheduled for further development. Just how much is this investment going to cost you? First, it is important to determine if you live within the taxable district. Sound Transit provides an address locator to see if you fall within the boundary: http://bit.ly/2mECzfm. If you do in fact live within the Sound Transit District, the Department of Licensing has a vehicle tab estimator to give drivers an idea of what to expect when their tag renewal letter arrives in the mail: http://bit.ly/2lOrI51.

25 Years in the Business

Alan Gamblin 25 year award2016 marked Alan Gamblin’s 25th year as a Chevrolet and Buick dealer. Alan starting working at Gamblin Motors in 1969 and spent his formative years at the Gamblin dealership washing cars and making sure the original Gamblin location on Griffin looked its very best. Every now and again his hard work would pay off in the form of moving one of the shiny new Corvettes for sale. After high school, Alan went off to college and returned home in 1978 with his new wife, Jeri, and an eagerness to learn all of the different aspects of the car business. For the next 13 years, Alan moved through the ranks of the dealership. He began as a salesman and eventually graduated to sales manager. He continued to learn and study the important roles of the varying departments including finance, parts, service, and the body shop. In 1985 Alan became a full partner in the dealership. During his time as a partner, Alan took the primary role of building and managing the main Gamblin location on Hwy 410. He officially took the dealership reins from his father, Art Gamblin, and purchased the business in 1991. This past November Alan was honored by General Motors for his 25 years as a Chevrolet and Buick dealer.

Since Alan became the managing dealer and owner in 1991, Gamblin Motors has continued to expand and grow under his guidance. The community of Enumclaw’s rugged and beautiful terrain called for a location focused on tough working vehicles. To better service hometown customers, Gamblin Motors opened one of General Motor’s few GM approved truck showrooms in the United States. The Gamblin Truck Center opened its doors in 2000. In addition to the construction of an additional dealership location, Alan also completed a significant remodel to the main store in 2012. These two award winning dealerships are a testament to the hard work and effort put in by the Gamblin family with Alan at the helm. Alan’s knowledge of the car industry is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has twice been named President of the Northwest Chevrolet Dealer’s advertising association and served on a national Chevrolet advertising committee. He is currently the Washington State Auto Dealer’s Vice President and will be named president of the association this coming May. Alan hopes to pass his training and success on to the next generation of Gamblins. Just like Alan, Tyson and Andrew Gamblin began washing cars and sweeping floors as young boys. With the completion of their college degrees, both have come home to learn the business and continue the Gamblin legacy of honest and professional service.

Community Coat Drive

When the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to open up the coat closets. It is important to Gamblin Motors that everyone in our community has a nice warm coat to combat the chilly weather. Each fall we host a community coat drive and invite our employees, customers, and community members to go through their closets and donate their gently used coats, clothing, shoes, and socks. This is our fourth year of giving, and we are proud to have collected almost 100 coats for donation to the Enumclaw Clothing Bank.

The Enumclaw Clothing Bank is a non-profit organization that offers donated clothing items free of charge to community members in need. This wonderful organization provides necessities for many Enumclaw families who need a little extra help. A clean set of clothing provides both safety from the winter cold and confidence to face the day in comfort. We thank all those who donated. We thank Works-Sports and Outdoors for hosting one of our donation trucks. If you were unable to donate during the clothing drive, the Enumclaw Clothing Bank is located at JJ Smith School and is open for drop off and pick up on Tuesdays.resized_20161121_150833

Enumclaw Youth and Family Services Celebrity Golf Tournament

enumclaw-youth-and-family

Gamblin Motors is proud to be a sponsor of the Enumclaw Youth and Family Services Celebrity Golf Tournament being held on Monday, October 10th at the Enumclaw Golf Course. The proceeds from this event go directly to helping youth and young adults in our community. This tournament helps to provide important services to the most vulnerable populations in the Plateau area. At Gamblin Motors we believe in caring for and investing in the future of our youth and hometown.

The Enumclaw Youth and Family Services (EYFS) and Auburn Youth Resources (AYR) work together to provide much-needed support to families and young adults in need. Necessary services like early childhood education, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, homeless services and transitional housing are all programs provided by these two charitable and hard working groups. The golf tournament proceeds will specifically be used to provide mental health counseling to the disadvantaged youth and families of Enumclaw. In addition, funds raised will benefit an EYFS partnership with the Foothills Wellness Foundation to provide free dental care, food, hygiene kits, and case management programs for those in crisis on the Plateau.

Gamblin Motors is not the only group invested in supporting the great work done by EYFS. We thank all of the celebrities who are backing this charitable cause. Former NFL players such as Jason Chorak, Robin Earl, Alonzo Mitz, Nesby Glasgow, Jack Thompson, Mkristo Bruce and other celebrities will be in attendance to add their support to help raise funds for these critical community programs. To add your support to this wonderful cause, please join us on the course. To register for a round, please visit https://ayr4kids.ejoinme.org/eyfsgolf.

Louisiana Flood Relief

flooding

When Gamblin Motors employee Mark Maxey headed to New Orleans for a family vacation, he was not prepared for the devastation he would see on the way to their destination. As the plane began its descent into New Orleans, Mark was able to see firsthand the flood waters covering most of the greater Baton Rouge area.  Despite being in the area five days after the waters had crested and started to recede, only outlines of streets were visible and homes were still fighting off water. Mark explained, “There was more water than land, and we were there after the worst of it.” Mark came home determined to share what he had seen and find a way to help. The National Auto Dealers Association was also determined to offer assistance to the flood victims through the NADA National Relief Fund. Gamblin Motors employees were able to raise $1,500 to donate to the fund and help fellow dealership families affected by the flooding.  

The NADA National Relief Fund was established in 1992 and since its inception has donated almost $5 million to more than 8,700 dealership employees in need. The fund provides immediate assistance to dealership families hit hard by natural disasters. With the Louisiana flooding, an estimated 140,000 individuals were displaced due to the flooding, 1,500 of which were dealership families. The majority of the homes affected by the flooding were not located in floodplains and not insured for flood damage; flooding of this magnitude was unprecedented and unthinkable. These people are in desperate need and Gamblin Motors employees were looking to do their part in helping fellow automobile industry families with their recovery.

Gamblin Motors offered to match all employee donations to help the flooding victims. Employees raised $750 and Gamblin Motors matched these funds to bring the total donation to $1,500. NADA called on all dealerships across the country to donate $1,000 to reach their goal of $2 million in aid. Gamblin Motors was determined to do more with their contribution. We continue to think of all those affected by the Louisiana floods and encourage all to determine how they might help flood victims in need. To learn more about the NADA Emergency Relief Fund, go to www.nada.org/EmergencyRelief/.

Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship

This year marks the fourteenth year of the Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship.  Since its inception, the fund has awarded scholarships to twenty-seven Enumclaw High School scholar athletes. These awards mark a combined total of $27,000 of scholarship funds designated to help students achieve their post-secondary school goals. We are proud to announce this year’s scholarship recipients and their future educational pursuits: Kylie Rademacher, Pacific Lutheran University, and Dylan Miller, Central Washington University.

The Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship aims to recognize students who excel in academics, leadership and athletics. These qualities and skills were important to Art Gamblin starting at a young age. Academics played a strong role in the Gamblin family. Art learned first hand the importance of education by watching his single mother go to school and become a teacher during the Great Depression. He was literally surrounded by school at all times as the family later lived in the basement of the schoolhouse where his mother taught. His love for learning led him to become a teacher himself. While teaching and coaching high school in Sandpoint, Idaho, he found a new passion and career path during a summer sales job at the local Chevrolet dealership.  Art’s friendly nature and leadership skills made him a successful car man, and this led to Art buying the local Chevrolet dealership in Enumclaw, Washington.  The Gamblins quickly fell in love with Enumclaw and rooted their family in the community. For many years Art could be heard yelling from the stands as he cheered on his Enumclaw Hornet children and grandchildren. It is with this memory in mind that the friends and family of Art Gamblin continue to cheer and recognize the amazing scholar athletes from Enumclaw High School.

Every school year one senior boy and one senior girl are each awarded $500 a year for the course of two years. The money is earmarked for their continued educational aspirations. In the spring we welcome all graduating senior submissions for the Art Gamblin Memorial Scholarship. Teachers and administrators from Enumclaw High School comprise the selection committee and look for students with outstanding efforts in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. Gamblin Motors was Art Gamblin’s legacy, and we are proud to honor outstanding student achievement in his name.

2017 Corvette Grand Sport

The new 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine to deliver exceptional performance. The Grand Sport Collector Edition features an exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics, satin black full-length stripes and black wheels. the new Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine.

The new 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine to deliver exceptional performance. The Grand Sport Collector Edition features an exclusive Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash-mark graphics, satin black full-length stripes and black wheels. the new Grand Sport combines a lightweight architecture, a track-honed aerodynamics package, Michelin tires and a naturally aspirated engine.

Chevrolet recently announced the track-bred 2017 Corvette Grand Sport will be priced at $66,445 for coupe models and $70,445 for convertibles, when they go on sale this summer. The prices include the destination charge, but not tax, title and other dealer fees.

With heritage-inspired design cues combined with track-focused chassis and suspension elements, the new Grand Sport builds on a legacy established in 1963, when five Grand Sport race cars were built under the direction of the Corvette’s first chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov.

Performance enthusiasts will appreciate that the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport carries on the spirit of the original race cars,” said Alan Gamblin. “This track-ready sports car is sure to be a hit in our showroom with its stunning design and powerful performance capabilities.”

The new Grand Sport also offers an estimated 0-60-mph performance of 3.6 seconds and quarter-mile capability of 11.8 seconds at 118 mph, with the available Z07 performance package and available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission. A seven-speed manual with Active Rev Match is standard.

Grand Sport models are offered with the Stingray’s full exterior and interior color palette, including 10 exterior colors:

  • Admiral Blue Metallic (late 2016 addition)
  • Watkins Glen Gray Metallic (new for 2017)
  • Black Rose Metallic (new for 2017)
  • Sterling Blue Metallic (new for 2017)
  • Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat
  • Arctic White
  • Blade Silver Metallic
  • Black
  • Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat
  • Torch Red.

May’s Employee of the Month

Employee of the Month Caren

Congratulations to Caren Radford for being named May’s Employee of the Month. Caren has been working for us since 2008, and she quickly proved herself as an invaluable asset. We’re convinced she knows everyone in town. Every customer that walks through the door feels loved and welcome.  We will miss her greatly as she and Jack move into a new phase in their life.  Congrats Caren!

2016 EHS Photography Contest

EHS PHOTO CONTEST

Over the past few years, Gamblin Motors has sponsored a photo contest for EHS students. The students are given two weeks to send us their very best photos. These photos are uploaded to our Facebook page. Our Facebook followers are asked to vote for the favorite photo. Students encourage their friends and family to vote for their photo. At the end of the contest, the photo with the most likes and comments wins. The winner receives $250.

Our 2016 contest kicks off this next week. Students can send us their photos beginning June 1. They will be uploaded to our Facebook page the next day. The contest runs from June 1-June 17. The Winner will be announced on June 18. Get ready to vote for your favorite photo.

Here are the instructions for interested EHS students:


Contest Instructions

-Save Photo with your name using this format: First_Last _Grade

-Email Photo to corigamblin@gmail.com Your photo will be uploaded to Gamblin Motor’s Facebook page the next day.

-Spread the word to get the most likes for your photo on Gamblin Motor’s Facebook page.

-The photo with the most likes wins $250 cash.

Helpful Hints

  1. Like Art Gamblin Motors on FB
  2. Get your photo in soon. (If your photo is one of the first posted, it will be up the longest.)
  3. Spread the word on your FB page.
  4. Repost our photo contest posts on your wall.
  5. Have friends and family also post your contest photo on their wall.

The more people who see your photo the more votes you will get.

2016 Chevrolet Cruze Offers 42 MPG on the Highway

2016 Cruze

2016 Cruze

Offering EPA-estimated highway mileage of 42 mpg, the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is unsurpassed in its segment for fuel highway economy.

“Offering a maximum highway range of up to 570* miles per tank– you can spend less time at the pump,” said Steve Majoros, director of marketing, Chevrolet Cars. “The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze has more horsepower and torque, and is lighter than the previous generation making it more fun to drive.”

The Cruze’s EPA-estimated 42-mpg highway rating for L, LS and LT models rivals its competition. It tops competitors such as Focus with a four-cylinder (40 mpg hwy), Nissan Sentra FE (40 mpg hwy), Mazda3 (41 mpg hwy), Hyundai Elantra (37 mpg hwy) and Volkswagen Jetta (40 mpg hwy – non-hybrid).

The Cruze’s efficiency is rooted in a new, direct-injected 1.4L Ecotec turbo and a leaner architecture, which contributes to a nearly 250-pound (113 kg) weight reduction on L, LS and LT trims over previous models. Stop/start technology bolsters efficiency in stop-and-go traffic, helping the Cruze offer drivers an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in city driving – a 7-percent increase over previous models.

Customers will find it to be the most connected car in its class based on built-in 4G LTE WiFi and connectivity features, including offering new technologies such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, a more comfortable ride and an athletic, aerodynamically optimized design, the 2016 Cruze elevates the compact car segment.

It also offers 10 standard air bags, as well as an expanded range of available adaptive crash-avoidance technologies, including Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert.

The Cruze range expands in the fall with an all-new hatchback model and the Cruze diesel returns in early 2017.