About My Research

This site serves as a reflection of my graduate thesis work in automotive textile design at North Carolina State University.  I began this site in January 2009 and plan to maintain it until my graduation in December 2009.  I have been in the graduate program at the College of Textiles for 1 year of a 2 year program.  During this first year, I have focused on the automotive industry, design, and sustainability.  Now at the half-way point, I have selected my thesis topic and made plans as to how to approach my research so that my work is complete by October 2009.  In the right column of this blog, I have posted my personal timeline to ensure that I am meeting my deadlines.  Please take time to look through all the information included in the right hand column, especially if this is your first time visiting this site.

The purpose of this site is 3-fold.
1) Most scholars are only given 1 chance to write a thesis, and 2 years to learn how to do so.  Sure there are books on research methods and databases of theses to form a background or starting place for your work, but no one really explains to us exactly what this process is like from start to finish.
2) Over the past year, I have learned beyond my expectations about the automotive industry, past, current, and future.  Throughout my next year of study, I have access to resources that would be coveted by any designer in this industry and plan to uncover valuable correlations between design and success.  I will post many images and articles which I find the most enriching.
and 3) Writing my thoughts and progress where it is publicly available will encourage me to meet deadlines and provide a clear platform to keep my committee informed.

My Topic
I will be examining the history of automotive bodycloth development and aligning this with outside factors such as the economy, increase in mass production, increase in technical standards and regulations, the importance of fashion and color, along with what at this time is an unpredictable number of additional variables.  The ultimate question I aim to answer is if there is a concrete way to measure and predict success in order to save time, money, and resources.

10.27.2009

Antique Automobile Club of National Vintage Tour

Monday, October 26, the Antique Automobile Club of America's 2009 Vintage Tour began in my hometown of Sanford, NC. This tour is hosted by the Brass-Nickel Touring Region and includes 71 antique automobiles from twenty-two states. Each day the tourists will drive their vintage automobiles approximately 100 miles, avoiding highways whenever possible. One of the most well-known historic routes, which they will travel is Old US 1, which partially runs between Sanford and the state's capitol, Raleigh.

The small town of Fuquay-Varina will be the hub of this week long event. All cars have been restored to their factory original condition. The cars range in age from 1912 to the cut off of 1931 and include rare makes such as Pullman, Stanley Steamer, Essex, Packard, Franklin, Peerless, Hudson and Oakland. Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth and Chrysler are also represented in the lineup.

While most of the tour has been "playing it by ear", Wednesday is sure to be an exciting day. The tour plans to start at Historic Yates Mill Park, the State Farmer's Market and Mordecai Historical Park. That night, from approximately 5:00 to 7:00 pm, the town of Fuquay-Varina will close off its streets to vehicle traffic to facilitate pedestrian viewing of the cars. The Town of Fuquay-Varina is planning special activities to highlight the tour as well as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the town.

The tour continues Thursday with proposed stops at Tobacco Farm Life Museum and Charles B. Aycock Birthplace
On Friday proposed stops include Airborne and Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, and Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex.


- If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Riley Reiner (919.554.1158) or email (rreiner@earthlink.net).

- All information from this post has been obtained from Fuquay-Varina Independent, October 17, 2009.

- For more information on the Brass-Nickle Touring Region, check out: http://www.bntraaca.org/
- For more information on AACA, check out: http://www.aaca.org/

PICTURES TO COME!

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