The Texas Auto Writers Association is reaching out to PAPA members as it calls for entries in its inaugural Bill Neale Fine Art Award Invitational.

Neale, a founding member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society, died early this year at the age of 95. The Dallas artist won many awards over the years for his work including concours posters, race cars and classics.

The award is intended to recognize and encourage excellence in automotive fine art. Entries are limited to paintings published between Sept. 13, 2020, and Dec. 1, 2021. Neale’s daughter, Leslie, will judge artwork based on creativity and design, skill and execution, communication of the subject matter, and overall impression.

Click here for a link to award details and entry forms. Deadline for entries is Dec. 1.

Andrew Caron, Space Manager for Polestar Scottsdale, brought us up to speed with Courtesy Automotive Group’s history, values, and experience bringing the Polestar brand to the Phoenix market. Given the small size of our group, a lively Q&A conversation followed. You can download the recording from the link here.

Sparks are starting to fly on Phoenix’s electric circuit with Polestar and Lucid joining Tesla with storefronts at Scottsdale Fashion Square.

Polestar reps Andrew Caron and Jason Church will join PAPA’s Thursday, Aug. 19, Zoom meeting to talk about the new Polestar 2 sedan, the local electric market and how Courtesy Automotive Group partnered with Volvo’s former race unit on its growing line of electrics.

Jason is Courtesy’s COO; Andrew is space manager for the Scottsdale Polestar location.

Currently, the $61,200 ($53,700 after federal tax credit) fully loaded Polestar 2 Launch Edition is the only model available. Like many electrics it is quick off the line with a zero-to-60 sprint of 4.5 seconds. Its two electric motors combine for a comparable 408 horsepower. Range is pegged at 233 miles. 2022 will bring lower-cost options of the 2 plus a Polestar 3 SUV to be built in South Carolina.

Learn more at PAPA’s Aug. 19 meeting, which starts at 8 p.m. A short business session will precede the Polestar presentation, which will be followed by plenty of time for questions.

Email invites should be going out next week. If you don’t receive a link to the Zoom meeting by Aug. 16, contact Tyson Hugie at tysonhugie@yahoo.com.