BFGoodrich Tires Preps for 23rd SCORE Baja 1000 Victory in 24 Years

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Nov. 16, 2009 – BFGoodrich Tires is preparing for its 23rd victory in 24 attempts at the granddaddy of off-road races, the SCORE Baja 1000. The 42nd running of the most well known of all desert races will begin on Friday, November 20 and end on Saturday, November 21 in Ensenada, Mexico. More than 325 racers will attempt to master the rugged terrain and dethrone last year’s Baja 1000 champions and BFGoodrich Tires’ drivers Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler by taking home the overall title.

BFGoodrich has raced the SCORE Baja 1000 for 34 years in order to prove the extreme capability of our tires,” said Roberts Kukainis, Motorsports Manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “The Baja T/A tire may grab the headlines, but a majority of our wins come from racers who compete with tires that are available off-the-shelf. That off-road BFGoodrich tire on your truck has won the SCORE Baja 1000. That’s proven, extreme capability in tires recognized by the people that choose our tires because they’re proven winners in extreme conditions.”

Each year, BFGoodrich teams compete on a variety of tires, including the BFGoodrich® All-Terrain T/A®KO tire, BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® tire and BFGoodrich® Baja T/A®KR tire. During recent years, teams driving on BFGoodrich® Baja T/A® tires have been near perfect in the Baja 1000. In 2008, BFGoodrich Tires took victories in 12 of the competing classes, including the overall title by Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler in a Trophy-Truck. BFGoodrich Tires also supported the entire Baja Challenge Class with Mud-Terrain T/A®KM2 tires.

“Ask any driver who was down in Baja last year (2008) and they will tell you that while not the longest course in race history, the 631-mile loop course was as demanding on the racers, equipment and tires as ever before,” said Frank DeAngelo, off-road motorsports manager for BFGoodrich Tires. “This year’s course is set up similarly to last year’s, but they’ve added an extra 40 miles to the course for good measure.”

BFGoodrich Tires will be lending pit and communications support to teams through its fleet of off-road motorsports vehicles. This immense undertaking involves more than 250 off-road enthusiasts and volunteers each year who are passionate about BFGoodrich and donate their time to help make the race an overwhelming success.

“We’ve been waiting to put our BFGoodrich Baja T/AKR and Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tires to the test on this treacherous course since the end of last year’s race,” added DeAngelo. “Each Baja victory is sweet in its own shape or form and we hope to taste number 23.”

BFGoodrich driver Rod Hall knows what it’s like to taste victory in Baja. Hall is the only racer to have driven in all 41 SCORE Baja 1000 races and will be competing again this year hoping to capture his 20th victory at the 2009 SCORE Baja 1000. Hall is currently the all-time leader with 19 class wins.

Those unable to witness the 42nd SCORE Baja 1000 firsthand, International Racing Consultants (IRC)/Tracking International (TI) and BFGoodrich Tires have partnered to provide an online experience. Beginning at 9 a.m.ET on Friday, November 20, fans can log onto www.bfgoodrichtires.com and connect to a portal to follow their favorite drivers as they conquer the grueling race course. The site will feature a live tracking page that will show the location of all vehicles equipped with IRC tracking systems. The information on each vehicle will update at two-minute intervals throughout the race.

This year’s 672.85-mile race, to be held Nov. 19-22 in Mexico, will start for the 35th time and finish for the 20th time in Ensenada, Mexico while extending over a rugged course on both sides of the Baja peninsula. The motorcycle and ATV classes will start their journey at 6:30 a.m. (PT, Friday, Nov. 20) with the car and truck classes starting at approximately 10:30 a.m., or three hours after the last ATV leaves the line. Vehicles will leave in 30-second intervals in the elapsed-time race and while the fastest finishers are expected to complete the course in approximately 14 hours, all vehicles will have a 31-hour time limit to become official finishers in the legendary adventure.

More than 325 entries from 13 countries and 38 U.S. states are expected to compete in 29 Pro and six sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will take part in this year’s SCORE Baja 1000. It is the oldest and most well known of all desert races, and it remains as the single most appealing accomplishment to a driver. Since 1967, the mother of all desert races has been run over the mysterious Baja California peninsula every year except 1974 when the international fuel crisis forced a cancellation.

This year’s Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be televised on a delayed basis as a one-hour NBC Sports special for the sixth consecutive year, scheduled to air at 2 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Dec. 19 on the NBC Television Network. It will also air on a delayed basis outside of the U.S. on ESPN International.

During the past 23 years, winners riding on BFGoodrich tires have included:
1986
Mark McMillin/Ralph Paxton
Chenowth Porsche
1987
Bob Gordon/Malcolm Smith
Chenowth Porsche
1988
Mark McMillin
Chenowth Porsche
1989
Robby Gordon
Ford Pickup
1990
Bob Gordon/Robyn Gordon
Chenowth Chevy
1991
Larry Ragland
Chevy Pickup
1992
Paul Simon/Dave Simon
Ford Ranger
1993
Ivan Stewart
Toyota SR5
1994
Jim Smith
Ford Pickup
1995
Larry Ragland
Chevy Pickup
1996
Larry Ragland
Chevy Pickup
1997
Larry Ragland
Chevy Pickup
1998
Ivan Stewart
Toyota Tundra
1999
Larry Ragland
Chevy Pickup
2000
Dan Smith/Dave Ashley
Ford Pickup
2001
Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley, Jr.
Jimco Chevy
2002
Dan Smith/Dave Ashley
Ford Pickup
2003
Doug Fortin/Charlie Townsley, Jr.
Jimco Chevy
2004
Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler
Smith Built Ford
2005
Troy Herbst/Larry Roeseler
Smith Built Ford
2007
Mark Post/Rob MacCachren/Carl Renezeder
Ford F-150
2008
Roger Norman/Larry Roeseler
Ford F-150

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.

BFGoodrich(R) Tires Meets Consumer Demand with New Sizes Added to the All-Terrain T/A Tire Line

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Nov. 3, 2009 – Consumers asked, and BFGoodrich Tires answered once again with the addition of six new sizes to its premier light-truck tire, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A®KO. The sizes added to the line-up were designed to provide coverage for some of the latest pick-up truck fitments in the industry today including the Dodge Ram 3500 Series, Ford F-150 and Super Duty F-250/350 Series as well as the Toyota Tundra.

The additional sizes to the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tire line will fall within in the LRE category, providing drivers with the additional load carrying capacity. The All-Terrain T/AKO line features 57 fitments ranging in size from 215/75R15 to 325/60R22 with the new fitments ranging from LT 235/80R17 LRE to LT275/70R18 LRE. The new fitments were released nationwide starting Nov. 1.

“These new BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tire sizes will give consumers more choices with added capability for many of today’s popular light-trucks,” said Joe Mazur, light truck category manager for BFGoodrich Tires. “BFGoodrich Tires continually looks at the current automotive marketplace and rises to the challenge to meet the current consumer need with the nation’s premier all-terrain light-truck tire.”

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/AKO tire is the tire that invented the all-terrain category and is known for its excellent off-road performance having been tested in some of the most extreme off-road motorsports competitions over the last 30 years. It boasts a number of unique attributes, such as improved stress distribution, which translates to increased treadlife. High-strength, single-strand bead construction, two full-width steel belts and a Tri-gard three-ply polyester carcass contribute to the All-Terrain T/AKO tire’s legendary strength and durability. Bold distinctive sidewall styling that will transform the appearance of any vehicle.

Tire Size
235/80R17 LRE
245/70R17 LRE
275/65R18 LRE
275/65R20 LRE
275/70R17 LRE
275/70R18 LRE

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally (Dakar and WRC) and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.

BFGoodrich Tires and BlueRibbon Coalition Join Forces to Raise Money for Trail Preservation

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Oct. 10, 2009 – BFGoodrich Tires and BlueRibbon Coalition announced today a partnership that will benefit off-roaders and off-road trails alike. BFGoodrich Tires will make a $5 donation to the BlueRibbon Coalition for each of its new 10 sizes of BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tires sold between August 2009 and till the end of December 2009.

Due to consumer demand, BFGoodrich recently expanded its line of Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 tire sizes, which are part of the 10 sizes eligible for the contribution. The tire sizes are as follows:

LT345/75R16 LRD
LT365/75R16 LRC
38X14.50R17 LRD
40X14.50R17 LRD
36X13.50R18 LRD
38X14.50R18 LRD
40X14.50R18 LRC
38X14.50R20 LRD
40X14.50R20 LRC
42X14.50R20 LRC

“The BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain tire has set the standard in the world of off-roading, both for competitive and recreational uses” said Gary Enterline, senior product category manager, light truck tires for BFGoodrich Tires. “What better way to give back to the community that made the tire what it is today than by teaming up with the BlueRibbon Coalition to help preserve our off-road trails.”

As a respected national recreation group that represents more than 600,000 recreationists nationwide, the BlueRibbon Coalition is dedicated to protecting responsible recreational access to public lands and waters.

“This generous donation from BFGoodrich Tires will help the BlueRibbon Coalition continue working to keep public land open for use, whether you recreate on a mountain bike, snowmobile, motorcycle, personal watercraft, ATV, four-wheel drive, horse or your hiking boots,” said Greg Mumm, executive director of BlueRibbon Coalition.

Inspired by the BFGoodrich Tires Krawler™ T/AKX tire, which is the most successful tire in rock-crawling history, BFGoodrich Tires incorporates Krawler TEK® technology into the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/AKM2 TriGard® sidewall. Krawler TEK technology consists of three main components: aggressive sidewall lugs, cut- and chip- resistant sidewall compounds and sidewall cords that are up to 33 percent stronger than the previous Mud-Terrain T/AKM tire. These advancements allow for more bite and sidewall protection along with increased strength and resistance to bruising caused by rocks and rough trails.

More information about the BlueRibbon Coalition is available at www.sharetrails.org.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 30 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock-crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com.

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