gaijin
02-01-2005, 01:55 PM
AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES TO INSTITUTE $100,000 "PIT CREW CHALLENGE" AND CREW CHIEF AWARDS IN NEW KLEIN TOOLS RELATIONSHIP
Sebring, Fl. - The American Le Mans Series has secured an official sponsor in a key category specifically created and designed to make a significant impact upon the series. Klein Tools, a leading manufacturer of professional hand tools, announced today that it will become the Official Hand Tool of the American Le Mans Series with category exclusivity.
A major element of the sponsorship includes ALMS and the tool manufacturer creating the $100,000 Pit Crew Challenge and the annual Crew Chief Award worth $20,000. In addition, Klein Tools will enhance selected ALMS event weekends by presenting professional air shows at the race tracks and having a paddock support vehicle at selected ALMS events.
"This is a tremendous development for the American Le Mans Series," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the ALMS. "Klein Tools is an important industry leader that also has a motorsports heritage. We welcome the participation and appreciate that Klein has recognized the value that the American Le Mans Series offers to sponsors."
Klein Tools is making its initial entry into professional sports car racing but has been involved in motorsports most recently as a sponsor of Andretti Green Racing in the Indy Racing League.
"Our new association with the American Le Mans Series will help drive an increase in public awareness of Klein Tools as a leading producer of quality products preferred by professional users of hand tools," said Richard T. Klein, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Klein Tools. "We believe this will be an effective way to communicate to the larger public our commitment to producing the world's finest quality hand tools. We are pleased to be associated with the world's top sports car racing series."
The Crew Chief Award will be presented in each of the four classes of competition within the ALMS with a $5,000 year-end award in each class. Full details of both the pit crew competition and the crew chief award will be announced at a later date.
The new air show presentation element of the Klein Tools association with the ALMS is an extension of the company's sponsorship of Michael Mancuso Airshows of Long Island, N.Y., which began in 2001. Mancuso, who has been an aerobatics pilot for many years and was formerly a member of the award winning Canadian Northern Lights Aerobatic Team, will perform at selected ALMS events in the Klein Tools Extra 300L aerobatics aircraft.
About Klein Tools Based in Chicago, Klein Tools is a family-owned and operated company which has been in business since 1857, designing, developing, producing and marketing worldwide quality tools and protective equipment to meet the demanding needs of trade professionals who earn a living with their tools. The company, which initially grew as the premier plier manufacturer for the telecommunications and electrical industries, offers hand tools used in construction, electronics, mining, electrical, communications, aviation, security, audio/video and other fields.
Klein Tools, which employs approximately 1,000 people nationwide, began its motorsports association to support the marketing efforts of the company and its distributorships in key markets. Klein Tools' motorsports sponsorship has also led to the development of products specifically designed for the motor racing industry including spark plug pliers and protective wheel gun covers now used by sports car and open wheel racing teams.
Sebring, Fl. - The American Le Mans Series has secured an official sponsor in a key category specifically created and designed to make a significant impact upon the series. Klein Tools, a leading manufacturer of professional hand tools, announced today that it will become the Official Hand Tool of the American Le Mans Series with category exclusivity.
A major element of the sponsorship includes ALMS and the tool manufacturer creating the $100,000 Pit Crew Challenge and the annual Crew Chief Award worth $20,000. In addition, Klein Tools will enhance selected ALMS event weekends by presenting professional air shows at the race tracks and having a paddock support vehicle at selected ALMS events.
"This is a tremendous development for the American Le Mans Series," said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the ALMS. "Klein Tools is an important industry leader that also has a motorsports heritage. We welcome the participation and appreciate that Klein has recognized the value that the American Le Mans Series offers to sponsors."
Klein Tools is making its initial entry into professional sports car racing but has been involved in motorsports most recently as a sponsor of Andretti Green Racing in the Indy Racing League.
"Our new association with the American Le Mans Series will help drive an increase in public awareness of Klein Tools as a leading producer of quality products preferred by professional users of hand tools," said Richard T. Klein, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Klein Tools. "We believe this will be an effective way to communicate to the larger public our commitment to producing the world's finest quality hand tools. We are pleased to be associated with the world's top sports car racing series."
The Crew Chief Award will be presented in each of the four classes of competition within the ALMS with a $5,000 year-end award in each class. Full details of both the pit crew competition and the crew chief award will be announced at a later date.
The new air show presentation element of the Klein Tools association with the ALMS is an extension of the company's sponsorship of Michael Mancuso Airshows of Long Island, N.Y., which began in 2001. Mancuso, who has been an aerobatics pilot for many years and was formerly a member of the award winning Canadian Northern Lights Aerobatic Team, will perform at selected ALMS events in the Klein Tools Extra 300L aerobatics aircraft.
About Klein Tools Based in Chicago, Klein Tools is a family-owned and operated company which has been in business since 1857, designing, developing, producing and marketing worldwide quality tools and protective equipment to meet the demanding needs of trade professionals who earn a living with their tools. The company, which initially grew as the premier plier manufacturer for the telecommunications and electrical industries, offers hand tools used in construction, electronics, mining, electrical, communications, aviation, security, audio/video and other fields.
Klein Tools, which employs approximately 1,000 people nationwide, began its motorsports association to support the marketing efforts of the company and its distributorships in key markets. Klein Tools' motorsports sponsorship has also led to the development of products specifically designed for the motor racing industry including spark plug pliers and protective wheel gun covers now used by sports car and open wheel racing teams.