Ask Keith’s media contemporaries to describe his approach to anything he undertakes and you will hear such words as “passion”, “enthusiasm”, “energy and “innovation” used repeatedly.
Never in neutral, the Brit-trained news guy drives projects as he would a finely tuned car, adding the options and features along the way to make the experience as good as it can be.
Indeed, Keith is an innovator in developing editorial content for all media platforms and a master at weaving informative and entertaining material of wide appeal into imaginative revenue generation projects.
He launched his journalistic career in 1975 as a reporter for his hometown newspaper in Blackpool, England, moving to Vancouver in 1980 where he began a 32-year-career with The Province/Vancouver Sun. Latterly he created such highly profitable and readable specialty sections at the papers as Driving and Sunday Homes.
The multiple-award-winner broadened his media experience by authoring two books, making regular TV appearances, hosting talk shows in Vancouver and Kelowna and writing and executive producing The Province Road Test quiz show for prime time TV.
Away from the day job, Keith has donated his creative abilities in support of the Coast Foundation’s Courage to Come Back Awards, the United Way and the Christmas Bureau. Email Keith at: keith [dot] morgan [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca
Ian Harwood has been involved in the light truck industry for the past 30 years. His career started with the opening of a small 4-wheel drive shop in the early 80s. This shop was involved in custom fabrication, complete 4×4 rebuilds, and sales of off-road related products. This would prepare him for his current position as Manager for Custom Truck Parts, one of the largest accessory warehouses in Canada.
Ian started his journalism career in the late 1090s with a column in a national magazine for automotive enthusiasts. In the spring of 2005 Ian was approached by a local news outlet to write a weekly column. Wilderness exploring, fishing and four wheeling have been his passion since he was a teenager.
Some memorable moments in Ian’s career are flying in by hto the famous Rubicon Trail in Northern California and driving a 2007 Jeep Wrangler out of the backwoods, up a waterfall and out of the trail to Lake Tahoe. Email Ian at: ian [dot] harwood [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca
For as long as Alexandra Straub recalls, she has loved cars. She can even remember thinking at the age of six, “Only ten more years until I can get my licence!”
Born in Zurich, Switzerland to Hungarian parents, she moved to Canada when she was just a baby.
Spending her summers in Budapest with her grandparents helped cultivate a strong liking for motorsports. Alexandra can remember watching F1 races with her grandfather, and still does even when she goes to visit.
Over a decade ago, Alexandra started her career in the automotive industry. Since then, she has had countless stories and photos published. You can find her work online, in newspapers, magazines and on television. She has hosted “Shifting Gears Automotive TV” and regularly makes appearances on various shows talking about, you guessed it, all things automotive.
When she’s not testing out the latest in vehicular goodness, you’ll either find her on a motorcycle (she tests and writes about those, too), on a track or traveling the world.
While she considers her “job” her hobby, she enjoys other activities that don’t necessarily involve wheels, engines or motors. Growing up on the North Shore of Vancouver, she loves the mountains and the ocean. An avid snowboarder and a wannabe surfer, count on her enjoying the outdoors when she has the chance. And to really help her relax, she scrapbooks. Email Alexandra at: alexandra [dot] straub [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca
I’ve been writing about cars for over 25 years and I’m a long-term member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). My auto background is mainly in the service side of the industry as I’ve always had a keen interest in knowing how things work. Especially those oily, greasy parts that make the wheels go around.
My first car was an early sixties Triumph Herald Coupe (web example photo) that was traded-in to a dealership where I worked as an apprentice auto mechanic, back in Dublin, Ireland. It spent more time off the road, being repaired, than on the road, during my time as its owner. A Herald had the same chassis and a similar powertrain as the much nicer looking Triumph Spitfire, which was sold in North America.
At the BC Automobile Association I initially worked as a mobile Vehicle Inspector in the Vehicle Inspection Service. The vehicle was an AMC Gremlin (see photo) and it was painted to look like a cut-away or skeleton view of the car’s mechanical bits. A small car with a big gas-guzzling engine, a Gremlin was an odd choice of vehicle for that job and the paint job just added to its weirdness, yet I grew to like it.
Currently I enjoy serving on the AJAC Technology Awards panel and have also been involved in the promotion of trade skills training for young people in BC. When time permits, I still like to get my hands dirty and give my son a helping hand with, his pride and joy, a 1966 Ford Thunderbird Coupe. Email Bob at: bob [dot] mchugh [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca
Zack Spencer is a professional broadcaster, writer and host covering all media, including TV, radio, print and on-line. For over 21 years Zack has been covering every aspect of the new and used car automotive marketplace as an automotive journalist.
Many will recognize Zack as the host and writer for the national TV program called Driving Television, which has been running for over 10 years on Global TV. Also on GlobalBC and BC1 are new automotive reviews and automotive product information segments.
Driving With Zack Spencer is the name of the national radio program he hosts every week on the Corus Radio Network.
On-line is a fast growing part of the media business and Zack has developed his own outlet called www.motormouth.ca where he posts his articles and high quality video reviews of new vehicles. On YouTube, his channel called MotormouthCanada has over 5000 subscribers and millions of video views.
This unique combination of electronic media capability and writing has propelled him to be one of the top automotive personalities in Canada.
Zack is married with two sons and lives in Vancouver BC. Photography, traveling and spending time with his family along with a full work schedule keep him busy. Email Zack at: zack [dot] spencer [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca
