Fill Your Calendar with these Spring Events in Clearwater/Tampa Bay

Although the weather in Florida is pretty phenomenal all year round, spring is a special time for the Sunshine State. Spring events in the Clearwater and Tampa Bay area help make it such a memorable season—and an exceptional time to live here or visit. So make this season special by getting out and enjoying yourselves at these unique events! 

Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” comes to Carol Morsani Hall in May. Photo credit: Strazcenter.org

• Spring welcomes the eagerly awaited comeback of America's favorite sport—baseball. Tampa Bay's MLB team, the Rays, have lots of home games during April, May, and June. So grab a mitt and head to Tropicana Field.
• Love the sound and power of race cars? Tampa’s own East Bay Raceway Park offers exciting events every weekend, specializing in sprints and open-wheel modified races. Check out their schedule of events online for more info.

In addition to the ongoing activities listed above, there are many other special events to hit up in the areas of Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Pete:

• This year, the 9th Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Races last five days, culminating with the final races on the 28th. Held at Cotanchobee Fort Brook and the Marriot Waterside, this international event brings rowing teams from all over the world to compete for the gold.

Photo credit: Gulfport Grand Prix Facebook page

• Come out and support the very first Gulfport Grand Prix from April 28-30.  Their event promoters promise three days of powerboat racing and general fun for the whole family. The Downtown Gulfport area will also become packed with thematic activities, including public pit area, an antique boat show, and over 100 vendors.
• Lincoln Center Theater brings Broadway to the Bay with their acclaimed production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. Get your tickets now for one of three performances at Carol Morsani Hall on May 2-4.
• Riverfest 2017 is free to the public and celebrates the Tampa Riverwalk and all the sights and sounds that make it great. Events within this event include the Hot Dog Festival and Hot Dog Eating Contest, Pops in the Park with the Florida Orchestra, and a fireworks finale Saturday night. Come to the Riverwalk May 6-7 to enjoy live entertainment, food, and family-friendly activities.
• If all the area events make you hungry, then the annual Clearwater Beach Taste Festival is just the ticket you need punched! Held on May 12th, this event features various savory food items, craft beers, premier wines, live music, and fireworks.  Grab some vino, an app, and enjoy your view of the gorgeous sunsets from the promenade.  

While you are out and about enjoying all that St. Pete, Tampa and Clearwater has to offer, you might be left yearning for a new set of wheels—it happens. Extend that “spring fling” love and contact your local Chevy dealership, Dimmitt Chevrolet, at (727) 791-1818 to satiate that new automotive hunger. As a premier Chevrolet dealer near Tampa, we have our very own spring specials on many of new Chevy models and quality pre-owned cars. When you shop at Dimmitt, you’re guaranteed to save. 

Is your calendar now loaded up with springtime excitement? Good. We wouldn’t want it any other way.

Sources & Photos:

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tb

http://eastbayracewaypark.com/events/schedule/

www.motoringtampabay.com/allshows.php 

https://www.panamdragonboat.com/races/tampa-international-dragon-boat-festival-2  

http://flacarshows.com/

https://www.facebook.com/events/1767466273519160/

http://www.clearwaterbeachrestaurantweek.com/index.html

https://www.visittampabay.com/tampa-events/details/rodgers-and-hammersteins-the-king-and-i/64203/ 

http://www.thetampariverwalk.com/activities/riverfest-2017.aspx 

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

If you haven’t heard, April has been designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Even before April starts, though, you can begin making an effort to become a less distracted driver. Here’s how:

Take the Pledge

In Florida, texting and driving is banned by secondary law, meaning the law can only be enforced if you are pulled over for another driving infraction. Handheld as well as hands-free cell phone use while driving is permitted in our state. However, just because it is legal to talk on your phone and drive does not mean it is safe.

According to data provided by the Florida Department of Transportation, between 2011 and 2015, there were 994 people killed and 15,236 people seriously injured in distracted driving crashes. Often people do not realize the extent a distraction can have on their ability to drive. For example, the average text takes a person's eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that is long enough to travel the length of a football field.

One great way you can make a difference is to take the pledge. Through this pledge, you are saying that you will not have phone conversations, text, use social media, or send emails while driving. You will also avoid other activities, such as taking selfies or inputting destinations in your GPS. Along with that, you can pledge to be an example to others. When you are a passenger, encourage the driver to avoid distractions. And always avoid calling or texting someone you know is driving.

Honoring the Pledge

While it might seem difficult at first to honor your pledge to go cell phone-free while driving, there are several things you can do to make your pledge easier. If you know your phone is going to be a distraction, turn the sound off, and put it somewhere where you will not be able to reach it.

If you feel a call or text requires an immediate response, have a passenger respond. You can also find a safe location where you can respond to the message. Even if you are on the highway, you can find a place to pull off the road as Florida has 64 designated "Safe Phone Zones" where drivers can use their phones, including a few in the Tampa Bay area.

Get Rid of Other Distractions

While cell phones often get the reputation for being the cause of accidents, they are not the only driving distraction. Driving distractions can be categorized as visual, manual, and cognitive. All three distraction types should obviously be avoided. This can be done by:

• Getting enough sleep before a trip
• Avoiding changing the radio station or other music
• Not turning around to talk to passengers
• Not eating or drinking
• Keeping your focus, both physically and mentally, on the road

As we prepare for Distracted Driving Awareness Month, figure out what distracts you most as a driver, and make a goal to eliminate that problem. Of course, eliminating driving distractions is just one of the ways you can be safer behind the wheel. Another way is to get a vehicle with great safety features, such as the Chevy Malibu. Examples of some of the features available on newer Malibus include back-up cameras, muted audio when the front seat passengers are not buckled, front automatic braking, and Lane Keep Assist. The Malibu has also been an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick every year since 2010!

Visit our Chevrolet dealer in Clearwater for help finding a Malibu or another Chevy model that’s right for your needs. 

Sources:

http://www.fdot.gov/safety/SHSP2016/FDOT_2016SHSP_Final.pdf

https://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html

http://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/states/florida

Detroit Auto Show: New 2018 SUVs & Car of The Year Chevy Bolt

Christmas extended into January for the auto industry at Detroit’s 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). And Chevy was at the front and center of the action, delivering gift upon gift to its audience. Here are some of the best Chevy highlights from the NAIAS.

The 2018 Chevy Traverse



Photo: trucks.com

Chevrolet put their upcoming 2018 Traverse on full display at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, and it left every SUV owner in awe.

The eight-passenger crossover has undergone an extensive redesign for 2018. At first glance, the Chevy Traverse looks longer, and that’s because it is; engineers added seven inches to increase passenger and cargo room. With 98.6 cubic feet of trunk space, the ’18 Traverse is now set to be the class leader in that department. It’s also lost a significant amount of weight (nearly 400 pounds).

A Look at the All New 2017 Chevy Cruze Hatch

As the interest in angular, Euro-inspired hatchbacks has grown in America, so too have sales (hatchback sales account for over 15% of the industry). But aside from the Volt, Chevy has too long been voiceless in this red-hot market. That bashfulness ends with the 2017Chevy Cruze Hatchback, the manufacturer’s newest and loudest model to come out in years. Packed with personality and a ferocious amount of flexible cargo and seating arrangements, the newest Cruze Hatchback is bound to put Chevrolet on the hatchback map, now and into the future. Here’s why.

Highlights of the New Cruze Hatch

With a clear understanding of its target audience, Chevrolet has released the Cruze Hatchback in just two available trims: the mid-tier LT and Premier.

The Cruze Hatchback LT has standard features that are anything but standard, including a 7.0-inch MyLink display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM radio, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and a wireless charging station. Additional available features include an upgraded 8.0-inch touchscreen, premium Bose sound system, and a sunroof.

Choose Your Own New Year’s Eve Adventure in Tampa Bay

Not all New Year’s Eve events and parties in Tampa Bay are made the same. Depending on your personal preferences and style, your ideal New Year’s Eve celebration might be far different than the average Joe—and that’s completely fine. At Dimmitt Chevrolet, your premier TampaBay Chevy Dealer, we want to help you find that ideal. Instead of simply following in the footsteps of every other NYE party-goer in Tampa Bay, choose your own path and take a new adventure into 2017. Who knows? You might find an annual New Year’s Eve tradition that’s perfectly suited for little old you.

Adventure #1: NYE Wrap Party at Tampa Theater

Photo: tampatheater.org

Comedy is the peanut butter to your jelly. In your heyday, John Belushi was the president-elect of your fraternity. When you hear the word “toga,” images of mashed potatoes come to mind rather than Julius Caesar. Your college GPA looks better as a score on a par-three hole. To you, a food fight is a rite of passage and a new year is just an open invitation to run wild.

Will you revive your fun-loving self and ring in 2017 with an Animal House-themed NYE event? (Click Here)

Or are you comfortable playing the Dean Wormer character? (Continue Reading)

Our 10 Favorite Chevy Videos & Commercials

As a trusted Chevy dealer near Tampa Bay, we know what makes drivers tick. We know they want a reliable vehicle without having to pony up the big bucks. We know they expect modern features to keep them connected and safe. We know they seek interior spaciousness as much as exterior style, and turn their heads away from vehicles that aren’t up to snuff. But most of all, we know they (probably) love creative car commercials and videos.

Below you’ll find 10 of Dimmit Chevrolet’s favorite Chevy videos and ads. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll do a combination of both, while also scratching that itch of finding out which Chevrolet is right for you. Enjoy!

Emoji-Reviewed 2016 Chevy Cruze

Emojis may have opened up some kind of portal leading back to the Stone Age, but sometimes a pixelated emotion does have more of an impact than mere words. Yes, it’s true that the 2016 Cruze and its estimated 42 MPG will save you enough cash for an extra meal, but doesn’t a taco emoji say the same thing?

My Dad’s Chevy

This heartwarming Chevy commercial answers the question: How do you pay back the man you’ve idolized since your childhood? By gifting him a healthy dose of nostalgia, that’s how. Chevy runs deep, indeed.

Hello, 2018 Equinox!

World, meet the 2018 Chevy Equinox, an SUV so beautifully composed, it borders on perfection. Advanced safety tech, incredible fuel efficiency, and a spacious interior are just a few features in the Equinox that will give you everything you need to do everything you want in life.

Teen Driving Report Cards

Parents, there’s no such thing as overreacting when it comes to your teen’s poor driving habits. No matter how well-adjusted your teen is, they’re certain to be distracted by a text or egged on by the triple-digits on the speedometer. Show them who’s boss and grab one of the ten Chevy models with optional Teen Driver technology.

A Truly Romantic (WiFi) Connection

Available on new Chevy models, built-in 4G LTE WiFi awards you the capability to browse the internet, check sports scores, or watch all your favorite reality dating shows and soap operas. Give your rose to the one true love of your life—a brand-new Chevrolet.

Celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Chevy Camaro

Fifty years of the Camaro equals 600 months of inspirational ingenuity. That’s over 2600 weeks of sporty styling, more than 18000 days of powerful performance, or 438000 minutes of era-defining design. And at Dimmitt Chevrolet, we’d like to make a toast to you, Chevy Camaro. At a ripe 50 years of age, you’re an enduring marvel if there ever was one.

Anybody’s Best Friend

We all battle life’s bumps and steep inclines on the way toward our destination. But if this tear-jerker of a Chevy commercial proves anything, it’s that life’s journey isn’t just about the end, but also its beginning. Make sure you have a best friend to share the adventure with. (If anyone asks why you’re crying after watching this video, tell them someone must be chopping onions.)

Hole-y Truck Bed, Batman

This video compares the truck beds on two of America’s best-selling pickups, the Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150. Which one steels the show? Let’s just say that #SilveradoStrong is a trendier hashtag (yes, the Silverado’s steel bed hands-down outperformed Ford’s aluminum bed).

Purely American

Like Chevrolet, traditions run deep right here in the good old U.S.A. Age, gender, location—none of that matters when America’s roots all grow from the same soil. Find your slice of apple pie in one of the country’s most recognized brands: A new Chevy.

The Potential of a Chevy Volt

What was true five years ago remains true now: Chevrolet is continually driving our planet forward. The Chevy Volt gives drivers a world of possibilities, not limitations, thanks to an extended driving range, powerful Lithium-ion battery, and premium electric drive modes. Let’s cut down on emissions, one Chevy at a time.

Visit the Dimmitt Chevrolet Showroom near St. Pete

Videos like the ones above are dandy, but watching them pales in comparison to the feeling you’ll get when sliding your fingertips over the contours of a Camaro or smelling the leather from inside a Corvette. For a first-hand look at the incredible selection of used cars and new Chevy vehicles for sale at Dimmitt Chevrolet, visit our new and used car dealership in Clearwater at 25485 US Highway 19 North, or call us at 888-867-1203.

For even more first impressions of the latest new Chevy models, take a peek at our online showroom. There, you can learn more about specific vehicles, view photos, find incentives, and even get a quote. 

The 2017 Chevy Corvette Rumbles Onto The Scene

Sixties-era purists may balk at the new 2017 Corvette, with its aggressively aerodynamic and wide body, dotted high-performance tires, and burly V8 engine. They may recoil at the sight of Chevy’s unique heads-up display, scoff at its integrated driver-mode knob, and shake their heads when presented with its customizable instrumentation cluster. These features were all but inconceivable in the sports car’s heyday, when hitting 60 mph in under eight seconds would have been equally as miraculous as discovering the Fountain of Youth.

No, your father’s Corvette it is not. And that’s a good thing—the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette is much, much better, and it’s available right now at Dimmitt Chevrolet – your preferred new and used car dealership in Clearwater, FL.