Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
In the following video, Art Anderson goes on about his baby, which has big, round eyes; a rosy complexion; and a healthy appetite…for dirt and rocks. Anderson is the chief engineer for the 2015 Jeep Renegade.
The Renegade is so important that Jeep put up big money to air a commercial for it during Super Bowl XLIX. I’ve never been to “the New York island,” but I did get the chance to drive the Renegade in California.
If you’re Jeep and rolling out the 2015 Renegade, you have to host your introductory event at a place that will simultaneously demonstrate the vehicle’s on-road composure and off-road prowess. You have to hold it in Northern California.
After seeing all of the sweet rigs on this site’s forum, I’ve concluded that the only unmodified Jeep is one that hasn’t been sold yet. However, Mopar has proved me wrong. Its display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is proof of that.
If you’ve ever purchased printer ink, you know how expensive it can be. The ink found in markers, on the other hand, is not – unless it comes out of the markers the Rolling Stones used to autograph a Jeep Renegade for a charity auction. Find out more about it after the jump.