Annual Ride & Drive

Our 2007 Ride & Drive event at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia was a tremendous success and great fun for all who attended. In 2007, 33 vehicles were on-hand from 18 different manufacturers, ranging from entry-level models like Kia Rio5 SX and Suzuki SX4, all the way through exotic cars like the Audi TT Roadster and the Mercedes GL 550. Many of the manufacturers' PR representatives were at the event, along with nearly two dozen journalists from across the Southeast.

New at the 2007 event was our judging for the "Family Car of the Year" award. Tom Kelley, SEAMO's Executive Director, said "while there are dozens of 'Car of the Year' awards out there, the family car segment has yet to gain an appropriate level of attention, so the creation of SEAMO's 'Family Car of the Year Award' was long overdue."

From the pool of 33 available test-drive vehicles, attending journalists submitted a total of 97 ballots to select the top family-friendly vehicle. Vehicles were judged on family friendliness through eight categories: safety, capacity, accessibility, value, amenities, ergonomics, NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and styling. A maximum score of 100 points could be awarded for each ballot.

To determine the vehicle's final score, points from each ballot cast for the vehicle were averaged and then the average score was weighted with one additional point for each ballot cast for the vehicle.

The 2008 Mazda CX-9 took top honors with a final score of 91 points. "We are honored to receive this inaugural award from journalists in the southeast," says Dave Sweet, group manager, Product Strategies, Mazda North American Operations. "The CX-9 3.7L is our newest and most exciting vehicle that combines the utility of a family vehicle with seating for seven, and the power and 'zoom-zoom' of a sports car. "

Plans are currently underway for our 2008 Ride & Drive event, again at Callaway Gardens. Please save the date for our 7th annual Ride & Drive during Mid-October 2008. We're considering extending the event with a two-day schedule, so please contact us if you'd like to provide any feedback or participate in the planning.

SEAMO Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards

SEAMO "Dream Rides" Student Concept Car Design Competition

SEAMO Mission
Founded in 2001, the South East Automotive Media Organization (SEAMO) represents and supports a wide range of automotive media professionals based in, or doing business in, the Southeastern United States. Membership is open to all segments of the press, as well as public relations and media support personnel. In addition to the annual Concept Vehicle Awards and the annual driving event, SEAMO also hosts a number of press conferences and social networking events throughout the year.