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FYI
08-11-2001

LaPOINT SIGNS WITH LYNX

Los Angeles, California – Lynx Racing announced Thursday August 9th that it will field a car for karting champion Jason LaPoint, currently running second in the US F2000 Championship, in three of the final four races of the CART Toyota Atlantic season.

LaPoint, 24, of Woodburn, Oregon, will be teamed with David Rutledge, 23, of Vancouver, British Columbia, who is currently second in the Atlantic championship with three wins from the pole. LaPoint will drive the #32 Lynx Racing/Infinity Racing Swift 008.a at the Motorola 220 at Road America on August 19, the Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston on October 7, and the season-finale Honda Grand Prix of Monterey on October 13.

#32 is the number used by CART/FedEx driver Alex Baron when he won the Atlantic Championship with Lynx in 1997, and is the number used by Patrick Carpentier (who won the Atlantic title in 1996 with Lynx) on his Player’s/Forsythe Reynard. Lynx alumni also include Memo Gidley, now driving for Target Chip Ganassi. Note: All of these drivers have also risen to success from the ranks of kart racing!

“To say I’m jazzed about the opportunity is a complete understatement,” said LaPoint, who hopes to move into the championship points lead in this weekend’s U.S. F2000 race during the Miller Lite 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. “Every young driver in my position would give anything for a shot at a Lynx ride and I’d like to thank Alan Green of Infinity Racing and all the other people who helped make this possible.” LaPoint continued, “ I’ve race at Road America recently in the U.S F2000 race where I won the pole and set a track record, So even though this will be my first-ever Atlantic race, I’m hoping to make a good impression on the team and help support David’s battle for the championship.”

Driving the *#89 Van Diemen Ford for the Richard Morgan Racing team (with sponsorship from Infinity Racing, Regency Aviation and TrackMagic Karts). LaPoint sits second in the US F2000 Championship going into this weekend with two poles, four front-row starts and four podium finishes.

“Bringing in a new teammate during the stretch run of a championship is something only a team the caliber of Lynx could do successfully,” said Rutledge. “I raced against Jason in karts in the Pacific Northwest before he moved down to Southern California, and he’s obviously very talented, so I think that even though he’s new to this level of racing, he’ll make a positive contribution to the team.”

LaPoint began racing karts in 1989, won a variety of regional and national championships before being signed in 1997 as a factory test and race driver by TrackMagic Karts of San Francisco, California – a position held until that point by Lynx graduate Memo Gidley, now driving for Chip Ganassi. LaPoint was chosen for the Team Green Academy in 1997, and won the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship in 1998. His prize was a sponsored season in the Formula Dodge Midwest Series where he won five races in 1999 and was selected for the Barber Dodge Pro Series Shootout. He also won the SKUSA (SuperKarts! USA) S1 Moto World Championship in 1999, driving for TrackMagic. In 2000, LaPoint was the factory Star Formula Mazda driver on the Valley Motor Center team, winning “Rookie of the Year” and finishing third in the championship. He earned the money for his Formula Mazda season as a driver coach and at-the-track car setup specialist.

Both his parents raced karts, so he grew up at the track – but without letting his racing interfere with his studies. He graduated high school with honors, was his class salutatorian, editor of the school newspaper and captain of the tennis team. His other interests include baseball, basketball, soccer and slalom skiing. He then attended Willamette University before transferring to Portland State University to study Marketing and Speech.

“Jason has proved over the last ten years that he’s one of the top young American drivers and we’re happy to give him the chance to show just how good he really is,” says Lynx Racing team manager Steve Cameron. “Usually when we evaluate a driver’s future potential, we have to look at what they’ve done in the past and make an educated guess about what the might be able to achieve. But, with Jason, as with Michael Valiante, who ran four races with us earlier this season, we have the luxury of seeing how they perform under pressure in the middle of a championship season where every minute of track time counts.”

INDY TOUTS RACING - What a surprise?

Indianapolis, Indiana – The Summer 2001 edition of InsideIndy, a publication of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, points out that by hosting the three largest single-day sporting events (Indy 500, Brickyard 400 and the US Grand Prix), Indianapolis has made a name for itself as the “racing capital of the world.” Fast cars, famous speedways and celebrity legends carve the “Circle City’s” historical motorsports roots Racing is king in Indy.

Strap yourself in: When visiting Indianapolis, check out these race–related venues:
1. Fastimes Indoor Karting – On the city’s north side, with precision European-style karts racing on the only two-level indoor track in the Midwest.
2. GameWorks Studios – A 27,000-square foot entertainment center featuring motion simulators and gaming technology.
3. Racers Indoor Karting at Union Station – Within walking distance of most downtown hotels, European-style racing with a unique meeting and banquet site.
4. Stefan Johansson Karting Center – Between downtown and the Speedway, racers can choose from Le Mans, Super Prix and Exclusive Practice formats.
5. Track Attack Racing School – On the city’s northeast side where everyday drivers are put in real race cars on a real race track!

And don’t miss out in a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum represents a widely diversified collection of vehicles, plus more than one third of all the 500 winners, including the 1911-winning Marmon “Wasp”. Also on display are trophies, photographs, helmets, uniforms, goggles and other artifacts. A historic video is shown every twenty-minutes in a 48-seat theater at no additional cost, while bus rides around the famed oval track are offered for an additional fee when the track is not in use.

For more information on sites and sounds of racing in Indianapolis call 1-800-983-INDY or 317-684-7590.

OPEI ANNOUNCES NATIONAL POWER EQUIPMENT DEALERS’ CONVENTION

Louisville, Kentucky – At Expo 2001, OPEI President and CEO Bill Harley, announced the first-ever pre-EXPO convention for dealers. Planned as a two-day event, the National Power Equipment Dealers’ Convention will be launched just prior to EXPO 2002 on July 17, 2002 in Louisville, Kentucky and it will include a well-rounded schedule of events that will both educate and entertain.

Harley said, “Our goal is to provide a top-quality, educational opportunity for dealers so they can keep their businesses up-to-date and growing.” Although planning is still in the early stages, extremely positive feedback has been received through surveys of potential stakeholders including dealers, manufacturers, related association and leading trade press. Moreover, surveys indicated that dealerships would send between two and four employees each, leading to a well-attended convention.

Plans are to develop a high quality, comprehensive education program consisting of three tracks with four seminars each. Tentatively, the following topics will be covered: parts and service; marketing; business management; commercial equipment; HR training; e-commerce; technology; and succession planning. There will also be a keynote speaker and educational round tables at a lunch hosted by OPEI.

And OPEI fully understands that all work and no play is too dull, so the convention will be kicked off on July 17 with a “Dealer Day of Fun”. The intent is to provide an exclusive opportunity for dealers to meet and network with each other in a relaxed setting. A variety of activities are being considered including a gold tournament, Caesar’s Casino, tours of local attractions and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Thrill Park. Later that evening, they can all come together to relax, share stories and network at the opening reception. The next day, July 18, will be a full day of seminars, capped off by a dinner for registrants and guests. When it’s over, it won’t be really over because it will be time to attend Expo 2002, July 19-21.

The idea of a National Power Equipment Dealers’ Convention is receiving enthusiastic support from interested parties: Mike Ariens, Chairman of Ariens Company said, “ As manufacturers, we’re eager to provide dealers with a very special program in an effort to instill in them the kind of confidence they need to grow profitably and more customer-wise in a challenging and ever-changing industry.” Ariens continued, “This means educating them and providing the with the tools we’ve been advocating for a long time.”

From a dealer perspective, this convention is expected to fill a long-time need: that is, a quality educational meeting that focuses on the OPE dealer. According to Dan Cain, Executive Director, North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDE), “This whole concept is an idea whose time has finally come. Dealers should welcome this outstanding networking and educational opportunity. And, there’s no question that, in the years to come, those dealers who participate in this type of program will be the ones who are still in business.”

For more information contact OPEI in Alexandria, Virginia at 703-549-7600.

NO FEAR INC. GOES TO COURT

In January 2000, without the knowledge or consent of NO FEAR, Inc., David Duke’s organization began to use the name N.O.F.E.A.R for what they believe to be a new white supremacy group. When No Fear, Inc. learned of this misappropriation of their trademarked name, they immediately files a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (Civil Action No. 00 CV 0309 E (RBB)) to prevent David Duke from using the name No Fear in any way, including Internet domain usage.

Duke’s website has recently posted a press release stating that, as of June 4, 2001, the National Organization for European American Rights (N.O.F.E.A.R.) has changed it name to European American Rights Organization (ERO). The release goes on to say that when Duke started his organization, he was unaware of a clothing company by the name of No Fear Clothing Inc., which had previously trademarked the initials. Finally it states that after a great deal of thought and consideration, Duke has changed the name of the orgainzation.

No Fear Inc. was founded in 1990 in Southern California as an extreme sports company, and their mission from the beginning has been to celebrate athletic competition and excellence. Though they started with the popular motivational tee shirts, they have expanded their produce line to include casual wear and accessories of all types, as well as professional motocross riding gear and competitive automotive racing gear. But the message has always been the same: “Face Your Fears. Live Your Dreams”. They do not discriminate or promote prejudice, nor associate themselves with organizations that do. Their staff, roster of sponsored athletes and their customer-base spans many races, colors and religions.

For more information contact No Fear Inc. see www.nofear.com.

END

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