inRoads Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC O June 2008 Bridgestone Americas Brings Style Feature page..........................1, 10 Feature to 2008 Chicago Auto Show Company showcases tire technology, driver safety Contact page ................................2 education and environmental excellence Patch With several certified wildlife habitats across the United States and Photo a contest that inspires award-winning page ................................2 Gallery driver safety videos “for teens by teens,” Bridgestone Americas is making a difference in the many Consumer page ....................3, 7, 8, 9 communities it calls home. These two elements combined with an amazing display of technologically advanced Bridgestone- and Firestone-brand Off Road page ................................3 tires and open-wheel race cars made the Bridgestone Americas booth a must-see attraction at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. Ag page ................................4 Throughout the event, visitors to The Bridgestone Group’s “One Team, One Planet” theme in its the Bridgestone Americas booth Chicago Auto Show display illustrates the company’s global received a firsthand look at the commitment to environmental performance and working together with communities to protect and preserve natural surroundings. Dealer page............................5, 7 Bridgestone brand’s innovative Run- Flat technology, as well as two new Greatec Super Single truck tire and Multicell® members of the Bridgestone-brand family of compound in the Bridgestone Blizzak™ tires: the Potenza™ RE760 Sport and Potenza winter tire. Motorsport page ................................6 G019 Grid with UNI-T® technology. The During a special reception before Media booth also featured other technological Preview Day, the top four winners of advancements, including the energy-saving Bridgestone Americas’ 2007 Safety Scholars contest showcased their auto safety videos to In the News page ................................7 automotive journalists from around the country. The contest awarded $5,000 college scholarships for the most compelling and effective teen-created videos that drive home BBTS page ........................10, 11 life-saving messages on auto and tire safety. “Our company has a fascinating story to tell about our commitment to the Education community, safety education, cutting-edge page ..............................11 tire technology and environmental performance, and we were very proud to Former NFL Tennessee Titan and Dallas Cowboy Eddie share that story with visitors to the 2008 OE page ..............................12 George talks with 2007 Safety Scholar winner Sarah Chicago Auto Show,” said Christine Karbowiak, Wilson and friend Cameron Thacker at the Chicago Vice President, Community and Corporate Auto Show. Relations, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. The 2008 Safety Scholars student video contest is now open. Videos will be accepted through June 24. Please visit www.safetyscholars.com for more information. 2 inRoads June2008 Contact A Note from John Gamauf Photo Patch First, let family of dealers in the tire business. It has Gallery me begin been gratifying for me to have had the by simply expressing opportunity to work with so many my heartfelt thanks to incredible dealers over the years and watch all of my great friends your businesses grow. I’ve seen how you who make up our have been involved in your communities Family Channel of and how you have made a difference. As dealers and to those of you’ve grown, our business has grown, you who have sent me well wishes and which has allowed us to give back to our congratulations on my retirement. Your communities. cards, e-mails and phone calls have meant We’ve done it together. We’ve been the world to me. through some tough times — and you stuck It’s been a great ride! I’m extremely proud with us. that I spent 39 years at this amazing We’ve also been through a lot of great company. It’s the only company I ever times and I believe our best days together Indy car driver Mario Dominguez worked for. It’s the only company I ever are still ahead of us. I will never forget your (right) and former “Dukes of Hazzard” wanted to work for. I wouldn’t have loyalty when it really mattered! I will always star John Schneider (left) at the Bridgestone Firestone North American changed a thing. cherish the great times: the big events like Tire, LLC booth at the Barrett-Jackson Along the way I have been helped by the Indy 500, our dealer meetings in Vegas Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. terrific teammates and mentors. I started out or the Super Bowl. I’ll also cherish the small The booth showcased Bridgestone- when I was 17 years old selling tires in a get-togethers where we shared a laugh or brand high and ultra high retail store in Chicago where I learned a lot came up with a new and better way to performance tires. about how to run a profitable tire and outsell our competition. We did it together! service store. Later, when my career led me We are very fortunate to have someone to the tire company, I worked with many with the talent and experience of John talented people who pushed me, supported Baratta to move into the position of me and helped me grow as a business President, Consumer Replacement Tire, person and understand what I needed to do Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, to help our dealers — our partners — be LLC. John has great vision, experience and successful in a very competitive business. passion for our business, and I know you I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of will enjoy working with him and his team in Visitors to the Barrett-Jackson Classic great people and hold many different the years ahead. I know John will do an Car Auction saw a set of wheels very familiar to John Schneider (above positions and leadership roles over the awesome job. left), who played the role of Bo Duke years. The toughest and most rewarding Although I’m retiring, I’m not slowing on the popular television show “Dukes position I ever had was managing a tire down. I look forward to seeing many of you of Hazzard.” The famous General Lee store. I know how much hard work it takes down the road at meetings, social functions 1969 Dodge Charger Schneider drove to cover the long hours, motivate your and races. I wish each and every one of you on the show was among the many vintage cars featured at the auction. team, sell tires and take care of your all the success in the world. In closing, let customers. I have great respect for our me again say thank you for your friendship, dealers and how hard you work every day to support and loyalty over the years. You are make your business a success. great partners and the best of friends. With There’s one thing I learned early on in my you by my side … it has been a great ride. career: it’s all about building relationships with customers. People buy tires from people. We make world-class products, we’re leaders in technology and we have iconic John “Johnny G” Gamauf brands. But you are one of the most President (retired), Consumer Replacement Tire important parts of our business. Bridgestone Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC Firestone is very fortunate to have the best June2008 inRoads 3 The Union New Investment Slated for Bridgestone Firestone Consumer of Durability Off Road Off Road Tire Plant and Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is making a Strength Continues significant financial investment in its with New Bridgestone Bloomington, Ill., Off Road Tire plant that will Duravis™ Tire allow the plant to produce new off road tire The Bridgestone-brand sizes and double the facility’s giant loader DuravisTM M700 HD with exclusive tire curing capacity. Total capital expenditure UNI-T® technology is the newest is expected to be a minimum of $12 million addition to the Bridgestone over the next five years. Fifty new jobs will Duravis family of heavy-duty light also be added to the facility in 2008. truck commercial tires. The The new investment to bring in curing presses that will double the plant’s giant Shawn Rasey, Vice President, Bridgestone Firestone Off Duravis line is designed to Road Tire Company, speaks to a member of the media provide the strength, durability loader tire capacity has already begun. The during a press conference announcing the significant and reliable performance project is expected to be completed this financial investment in the Bloomington, Ill., Off Road required for tackling the toughest year. Additional projects that will allow the Tire plant tasks. A commercial-grade light plant to produce new off road tire sizes and President, Bridgestone Firestone Off Road truck all-terrain tire, it is intended types are currently under review and those Tire Company. “The Bloomington plant is for those who venture off- details are expected to be finalized in the playing an important role in helping the highway in the line of duty. near future. company serve the needs of our customers “As we have stated many times, we will who demand world-class heavy-duty tires.” continue to invest in our key facilities where Global demand for off road tires remains there is stability, high productivity and an strong. This new investment ensures that opportunity to make a reasonable return on BFNT customers will continue to receive the investment,” said Shawn Rasey, Vice products they need to maintain their success in the global marketplace. “We are expanding our capacity to meet our customers’ requirements now and in the future,” Rasey said. “With the strong global demand for off road tires, it’s clear that our customers can rely on our proven technology and products for all of their needs.” “We’re very excited about this investment in our facility and our ability to better serve the needs of our customers,” said Greg Halford, Bloomington Plant Manager.