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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1994-01-26, Page 5This futuristic car was a project Mike McGregor did for Corvette in design school. It was his proposal for the 2010 model for the car. (Don Jackson photo) Local man designing cars in Munich By Don Jackson Clinton News Record For most people, a love of cars usually gets them little more than a stack of auto magazines and a lot of wish- ful thinking, but for one man from lensall, it has be- come an exciting career. Mike McGregor, of Kip - pen works in automotive de- sign for Nissan in Munich, Germany. He was back in Huron Coun4y for the Christmas holidays. In a job market with great competition and few jobs, car design is a very difficult field to get into. Firstly, there are few schools which train people for this very specialized • -profession. "There are about three schools in the world where companies get designers from," said McGregor. The one he attended is the Art Center College of De- sign in Pasadena, California. He said the school has a very restricted entrance, choosing only a few of many applicants. "They're pretty selective about who they choose," he stated. While new car models come out annually, the de- signers have to look well into the future. "Usually we work about four years ahead," he said. He added that in the col- lege they often worked even further ahead to give various companies an idea of what prospective designers thought Mike McGregor about the future of the indus- ry. t "During school, companies came in and gave sponsored projects," he explained. "Our final project was for the 2010 Corvette." Alfa Romero also asked the school to create some new models. McGregor said that he -is not a liberty to discuss his work with Nissan in any de- tail. Because of the competi- tiveness of the auto design industry, "they make you sign a piece of paper - everything is strictly confi- dential." He said that models de- signed in the European stu- dios are generally designed for European clients, mean- ing they might design small- er more efficient cars than the American studios. He said that there are often dif- ferences in cars produced in Europe and the West, even when it is the same year and model of car. Design will become even more importan( in the '90s than it is now, said McGre- gor. "I think in the `96s, de- sign is what people are look- ing more and more at. It- (a car) has to look good, have quality and be functional." Despite the demands of the job, he said he likes his wor. "To me it's not like work. Because school was so pressure -oriented, with a lot of stress, when you get working it's actually less diffit lj," he commented. Times -Advocate, .January 26, 1994 Page 5 Ellison Travel confirms plans to relocate in July EXETER - Rumours were con- firmed Friday afternoon when Doug Ellison announced he would be relocating his travel agency business from the Old Town Hall. The Old Town Hall has been home to Ellison Travel and Tours since August 1980, although it was named It's a Small World Travel for its first two years. Ellison said he opened the company's doors with two employees. The company has grown to 20 employees today. Ile said a comparison of records shows that 1980s total business would represent only five to seven percent of today's sales. "I really started by knocking on corporate doors," Ellison told the corporate customers he invited to the luncheon at Frenchman's Inn. "We're certainly proud of the direc- tion we've taken." In July, Ellison said he will be re- locating his business across the street to a completely renovated huilding, the present site of Exeter Electric and Sam the Record Man. Architect's drawings include offic- es to keep corporate and commer- cial travel separate, and a new brick facade for the building. Ellison said he hopes to make the brickwork re- semble the Old Town Hall as much as possible. As for the old offices, Ellison said the Old Town Hall is "the worst huilding in the world to heat" and r INVESTMENTS GIC/RSP 1 Yr. - 4.00% 3 Yr. - 5.00% 5 Yr. - 6.00% Segregated Funds 1 YR. - 22.31% 2 YR. - 12.94% 3 YR. - 14.89% GEGaiser-Kneale 235-2420,238-8484 • GIC rates subject to change. Short. term rates vailable. Segregated fwd rates re ect actual past performance. Future returns will vary. said his company is overcrowding its quarters. He said he is expecting the overall travel industry to continue to grow. "There's a lot of change coming. It's certainly an interesting business to be in," he said, pointing out there is a cruise ship under construction large enough for 10,000 passengers and to show several major broad - way shows in its on -board theatres. The seniors' travel market is in- creasing as well, he said, and noted that computer networking will be- come an important part of corporate travel arrangements. Ellison told the group that his company actually has the largest group travel planning department for large tours west of Toronto in the ITP (Independent Travel Pro- fessionals) network. "This is a unique thing for this area," he said. As for the fate of Exeter Electric, owner Bill Rowe confirmed he will be closing his business later this year. "I guess I'm going to semi -retire," he said. The closing of Exeter Electric will leave the Sam the Record Man franchise open to interested busi- nesses, said Rowe, who added he has had some inquires already. Rowe moved his business to the huilding in 1961. Before that it was a record store operated by Andy Snelgrove, and a grocery store before that. However, the huilding is most famous for having been Leavitt's theatre, a motion pic- ture house converted from the old Gould residence in 1914 by W. Leavitt of Granton. Leavitt later re- located to the present McKer!ie- Millen Automotive building when he added talkies in 1931. Our Top Five Mutual Fund Selections Plus:.. Ask About Our Free Mutual Fund Chart Service Call Us For Details Gary Bean 235-2231 or 1-800-265-3478 RBC DOMINION SECURITIES Member of Royal Barak Group 186 Main Street Exeter, Ont. NOM IS1 RECYCLE YOUR DOLLARS IN YOUR HOMETOWN...YOU CAN MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN... Local retailer pays wages for 2 employees When you spend your money in the community of Exeter it never goes to -waste. It's recycled over and over and over again to the benefit of everyone. Let's explain; spending gets the economy moving. It increases employment. It provides more donations for churches, servive clubs and more. It bolsters selection with expanded inventories while it lowers the cost of public services through a greater tax base. Spending improves our comforts through home improvements and recreational courses.Your money spent in your community can work for you again and again. On the aef)erage your dollar spent will change hands seven times before leaving Exeter.What a friendly good buy for your dollars. r EMPLOYEES deposit their wages in local Trust Company WITH EARNINGS employees arrange for car loan CAR PURCHASED from Exeter dealership. Salesperson paid wages ENOUGH MONEY has been saved to purchace extra home furnishings PLUMBER decides upgrade his home with purchase of house in subdivision WITH WAGES salesperson has plumber install new bathroom HOME FURNISHINGS STORE feels business up turn and hires new employee NEW EMPLOYEE rewards his positive future with a pet purchase from pet store PET STORE OWNER makes donation to youth sports; Exeter Cross Country Ski Team Get the pkturel Be a recyder of your dollar by making them work and work and work and work... Brought to you courtesy RECYCLE YOUR DOLLARS... IT PAYS 1�