Lifetime Wells For Ghana
We started the event, Laps For Life in 2007 as a way to add to our annual golf tournament and auction to benefit Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The fundraiser takes place in June at Summit Point Raceway, near Charlestown, WV at the NASA Racing event, Hyperfest. This year, we have a new cause. Ken Wood, a local Maryland eastern shore man, has dedicated the last few years bringing clean water to remote villages in the volatile regions of Ghana. Ken, a local well driller, was contacted by a church about a well rig he was selling. Little did he know that would change his life...after donating the rig, he traveled along to Africa with it. Since that first trip, he has gone back 15 times and has grown a team in Africa to keep drilling while he is away. Ken spends 4 months a year there and continues to bring life saving clean water to thousands of people. Ken has run the project out of his own pockets and it is our hope that we can contribute to his worthy cause.
itROX Racing sponsors “Laps For Life” for third year at 2011 Hyperfest
Joe Boschulte is a passionate driver and team owner who has been a driver in Laps For Life since its inception in 2007 For the past three years, his team, itROX Racing has been a corporate sponsor of the charity. Jack Higginbotham stated, “Over the years, Joe has been an enthusiastic partner for the charity and has made a great impact into the lives of many needy people. We are thrilled that he has come back on as a corporate sponsor for 2011.”
Visit itROX on the web at www.jbmracing.com/
Behe Performance- Thanks To Our Newest Sponsor
We’d like to welcome and thank our newest corporate sponsor, Behe Performance, a Maryland high performance facility. John Behe has 34 years in the automotive industry, most of those as a business owner. The story of Behe Performance is really John’s story.
John has had a lifelong fascination with design and fabrication. He left a promising career as a professional classical musician to pursue his passion for speed and machines; he has built street and race cars, motorcycles and airplanes. John believes that the discipline inherent in flying airplanes, and performing orchestral music at a professional level, has heavily influenced his approach to the automotive industry.
John has invested heavily in the computer and other advanced equipment discerning customers demand. John has learned to understand performance tuning as an art of systems integration: harmonizing software, proprietary and third party parts, and customer needs and desires.
John believes the performance tuning business should be based on science, not sales pitches. Today, Behe Performance is a growing business with three specialties: performance tuning, service of performance cars and motorsports preparation.
John is a Washington, DC area native. He lives in Glenwood, Maryland with his wife, Donna, and is the proud father of two sons, Brian, a teacher, and Colin, a rising star at Behe Performance.
Laps for Life 2010 – Our Most Successful Year Yet
2010 Hyperfest is over and Laps for Life was a great success! Thank you to all our corporate sponsors and the drivers who participated, Grassroots Motorsports Magazine for coverage (and participation!) and GRAND-AM Road Racing for having our charity guitar signed by many top drivers. And a huge “thank you” to all the people who sponsored a “Laps” driver…this is a group effort to say the least! Bill Repass was the top fund-raiser amongst the drivers and received a trophy on the main stage for his efforts. After the smoke cleared and most drivers were able to complete a record 15 laps, this was clearly the most successful Laps For Life to date. I am looking forward to another great event next year with even more drivers. See everyone in 2011!
– Jack Higginbotham
Event Wrap-up from Jack Higginbotham
April 27th, 2010
We just returned from a nice week in my old stomping grounds around Greensboro, NC. We had a “PRS DAY” at the Greensboro Guitar Center and (most of us) enjoyed eating BBQ, meeting PRS owners, hosting a tech day and having our paradigms expanded while listening to Kirby Kelley and Emil Werstler put on a clinic of virtuositi. GRAND-AM also brought in a race car, VIR track simulator and promotional material for the series. It was an exciting day!
After the Guitar Center event, Larry Urie (National Sales Manager), Mike Clark (Amplifier Sales Manager), Vinnie Santoro (Nashville Drummer Extraordinaire) and I headed to VIR for the GRAND-AM event on April 24. We had a great time at a beautiful track exhibiting a hands-on guitar display in the GRAND-AM Fanzone, and the Rocky Mountain Stoneflies also enjoyed playing a concert prior to the Rolex race (Larry, Mike, Vinnie and me make up the Stoneflies). If you ever have an opportunity to visit VIR, you will likely be amazed at the park-like setting and amazing accommodations. General Manager Josh Lief (logistics wizard, race driver AND guitar player) runs an extraordinary show...and look for him to sit in with the Stoneflies in the future (Hyperfest show may be calling)!
The PRS GRAND-AM trophy guitar went to the TELMEX Ganassi Racing team of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas...their third of the season! The MRN Podium Move of the Race guitar was presented to the TRG Motorsports team of Ted Ballou and Andy Lally. MRN decides which team receives this award based on the most critical move of the race resulting in a podium finish. Larry and I got a chance to share the booth with track announcer Tom Hnatiw, long time friend of PRS and all around good guy. Josh took us out for a lap after the dust settled…a great way to close the weekend.
We've added some photos from the V.I.R. event to our gallery page. Be sure to check them out.
We are looking forward to the next GRAND AM event: the season finale at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah on September 11, 2010.
Hope to see you at the track or on the road.
Jack
PRS Guitars and Chevrolet Partner for “Race to Win Corvette” Promotion
PRS Guitars is proud to continue its support of Chevrolet and the automotive community by sponsoring the 2010 “Race to Win Corvette” promotion (contest link). With a Grand Prize that includes a 2011 Corvette Grand Sport along with a trip to the 2011 24-Hours of Le Mans in France, this promotion is not to be missed! PRS Guitars is providing this year’s Refer-A-Friend prize — a PRS SE Singlecut autographed by the 2010 Le Mans Chevrolet C6.R Race Team—so be sure to pass the word along! The PRS SE Singlecut pairs a mahogany neck and back, a maple top, and a rosewood fretboard for a classic sound and feel.
“To us, Chevy and PRS have always made a great team: American manufacturers focused on designing and building-high performance, high quality products,” PRS Guitars’ President Jack Higginbotham said. “This promotion is another great example of our partnership.”
The “Race to Win Corvette” promotion runs now – June 30, 2010. For your chance to win, visit http://www.racetowincorvette.com. While you’re there, Refer-a-Friend for your chance to win an Antique White PRS SE Singlecut autographed by the Le Mans Chevrolet C6.R Racing team!
“Corvette Racing’s long and successful affiliation with PRS Guitars continues, and we are honored that PRS Guitars remains so supportive of Chevrolet and the automotive community,” said Todd Christensen, Marketing Manager, Corvette Racing. “We are thrilled that an autographed PRS SE Singlecut is this year’s Refer-A-Friend prize in our ‘Race to Win Corvette’ promotion.”
PRS Guitars’ extensive involvement in the racing community began with Chevrolet in 2003 with a sponsorship of the world-dominating factory Corvette C6.r racing team and continued through five consecutive years of supporting the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 with one of the most distinctive trophies in racing, among other endeavors. PRS is also pleased to extend this commitment to a more “grass-roots” level with their “Laps For Life” charity event held each summer during the annual Hyperfest event at Summit Point Raceway. To learn more about PRS Guitars’ involvement in the automotive world, please visit www.lapsforlife.com.
PRS and GRAND-AM Continue Partnership at Guitar Center Greensboro and V.I.R. Events
This March, PRS announced a season-long partnership with GRAND-AM Road Racing, throughout which PRS provides a custom GRAND-AM PRS electric guitar to the overall winning driver of each race. In addition, PRS Guitars has teamed-up with Motor Racing Network to offer a special “MRN Podium Move of the Race” guitar award at selected races this season and with Mazda and Pirelli for the much-anticipated “Watch and Win” sweepstakes.
On Thursday, April 22, 2010, PRS and Guitar Center will have their second event, this time at the Greensboro, NC Guitar Center, to celebrate this partnership (event link). Representatives from PRS, GRAND-AM Road Racing, and Virginia International Raceway will all be on-site in preparation for the weekend race at Virginia International Raceway. PRS Guitars’ in-house artist tech, Len Johnson, will be onsite performing a limited number of free PRS guitar setups. There will be a display on PRS guitar manufacturing, as well as PRS electric, acoustic and amplifier demonstrations by Larry Urie (National Sales Manager), Mike “Jr.” Clark (Amplifier Sales Manager), and Jack Higginbotham (PRS President). Blues guitarist Kirby Kelley will be onsite from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. and Emil Werstler of DAATH is stopping by in the early evening. GRAND-AM Road Racing will be bringing a 44-foot trailer, free iRacing Race Simulator of Virginia International Raceway, a race ready 2010 Boss 302R Mustang, and the PRS Guitar Race Trophy. VIR General Manager Josh Lief will be on hand for Q&A and GRAND-AM will be shooting film for an in-race segment on the SPEED broadcast.
PRS staff will also be at the race on Saturday, April 24 displaying the trophy guitar and a custom painted PRS that is part of the Dempsey Racing Mazda RX8r3 “Watch and Win” sweepstakes grand prize package, while promoting their “Laps for Life” charity for Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The season’s previous showcase event at the Hallandale Guitar Center was held just prior to the Homestead-Miami GRAND-AM event. The next weekend, PRS was onsite at the race to talk with fans and to award the overall race winners, Chip Ganassi (team owner), Memo Rojas (driver) and Scott Pruett (driver) of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, a customized PRS SE GRAND-AM guitar.
For the complete story on PRS Guitars, new products and how they have integrated into the racing world, come to Guitar Center located at 2221 Vanstory Street, Greensboro, North Carolina between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on April 22, 2010.
PRS Guitars and Motor Racing Network Offer “Move of the Race” Guitar
As part of the PRS/GRAND-AM 2010 season-long partnership, PRS is providing a custom GRAND-AM electric guitar to the winning driver of each 2010 race.
Additionally, Paul Reed Smith Guitars is pleased to team-up with Motor Racing Network to offer an additional guitar at three races this season. PRS President, Jack Higginbotham, will be on-site at Miami Homestead Speedway on March 6, V.I.R. on April 24, and Miller Motorsports Park on September 11 where the three “PRS/MRN Move of the Race Guitars” will be awarded by Eli Gold and Preston Root to one driver who makes a move (a strategy, pass, pit stop, etc.) that gets them onto the podium in each of these three races.
PRS has also partnered with GRAND-AM, Pirelli tires and Mazda for this season’s “Watch and Win” sweepstakes, which gives fans the opportunity to win a Chip Foose designed Dempsey Racing edition 2010 Mazda RX-8 R3 and a custom designed PRS SE Singlecut guitar with a matching theme. Dempsey Racing drivers will be on-hand when the grand prize is awarded to the lucky fan at the Miller Motorsports Park season finale.
Higginbotham and PRS are looking forward to meeting race fans and garnering support for their own racing charity event, Laps for Life, over the course of the season. For more information on PRS's involvement in the automotive world, visit www.lapsforlife.com
Motor Trend Radio Interview with Jack Higginbotham and Terry Borcheller
Tune into Motor Trend Radio this Saturday, February 27 for a live interview with PRS President Jack Higginbotham and Rolex 24 at Daytona winner Terry Borcheller. Co-driving the No. 9 Action Express Racing Porsche Riley, Borcheller shared the overall victory in the Rolex 24 with Sylvain Tremblay. The interview is scheduled to air between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. EST (with exact airing around 11:40 a.m.). Visit Motor Trend Radio on the web for all the ways you can tune in!
PRS Guitars and Homestead Miami on-site at Guitar Center Halladnale — Saturday, February 27th 2010
To gear up for this year’s Rolex Series premier Miami event, PRS and the Homestead track will come together at Guitar Center Hallandale on February 27, 2010 with entertainment, education and eye candy for race and music fans alike. A Grand Am DP racecar will be onsite, as well as a tent full of fun activities. PRS will have the trophy and sweepstakes guitars on site, as well as representatives to answer questions and demonstrate a wide array of PRS product, including electric guitars, acoustics, and amplifiers. PRS Endorser Pat Travers will be onsite signing autographs and hanging out in the afternoon. In addition, Guitar Center will be hosting a “PRS Tech Day,” where owners of PRS guitars can come to the store for a free setup with PRS’s in-house artist tech. Be sure to visit if you’re in the area!
PRS Guitars Partners with Mazda and Pirelli for “Watch and Win” Sweepstakes
PRS, Grand Am, Pirelli tires and Mazda are partnering for the 2010 season’s “Watch and Win” sweepstakes, which gives fans the opportunity to win a Chip Foose designed Dempsey Racing edition 2010 Mazda RX-8 R3 and a custom designed PRS SE Singlecut guitar with a matching theme. Dempsey Racing drivers will be on-hand when the grand prize is awarded to the lucky fan at the Miller Motorsports Park season finale.
"I have a huge amount of respect for Mazda and the support they have given the motorsports community. Likewise, partnering with a performance giant like Pirelli is an honor," commented Jack Higginbotham.
PRS Guitars Teams Up with Grand Am Racing for 2010 Season
PRS Guitars is continuing its presence in the automotive community in 2010 by teaming up with Grand Am Racing. Throughout the season, PRS will provide each winning driver a customized PRS guitar to be presented in the winners circle after every race. The first event will be held at Homestead-Miami on March 4, 2010.
PRS will be on site at Homestead, VIR and the season finale at Miller to meet fans. The trophy guitar will be on display at every race as well.
"We are excited about our partnership with Grand Am Racing. Grand Am is a mecca of highly competitive, highly talented teams that provide exciting racing. We are proud to recognize the race winners for their efforts and look forward to meeting fans and spectators through the season," stated PRS Guitars President, Jack Higginbotham.
PRS Sponsors the Corvette C6.R ALMS Race for Fifth Year in a Row
2010 marks the fifth year that Paul Reed Smith Guitars will sponsor the Corvette C6R ALMS team. The partnership began in 2005, when PRS created a limited run of matching Corvette Z06 guitars for the team. Corvette racing is now participating in the GT2 class, which means stronger competition and a larger playing field. Corvette Racing has dominated the GTS and GT1 categories in the last decade, winning 77 races and eight consecutive ALMS championships. Join us in wishing them luck for the 2010 season!
PRS Designs and Builds the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Trophy for Fifth Consecutive Year
When PRS President Jack Higginbotham flew to Detroit to meet with Terry Dolan of Chevrolet Motorsports in 2005, Terry asked if PRS had ever made a trophy. Having designed small in-house trophies for the PRS/Johns Hopkins Annual Golf Tournament, Jack thought this was a great opportunity. He sketched an idea on a cocktail napkin on the flight back to PRS Guitars’ factory in Maryland.
This sketch was to become a 4 foot tall, larger than life trophy—holding a fully-functional PRS guitar—that was presented at NASCAR’S Chevy R&R 400 Cup Race for five consecutive years. Each year, PRS received paint codes from Chevy to ensure the guitar was painted to exactly match the pace car of the race, and with the combined efforts of Baltimore metal sculptor Karl Saar and the PRS team, the trophy was a huge success year after year.
PRS Guitars and NASCAR Drivers Partner for Charity at Chevy Rock & Roll 400
The 2009 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 marks the fifth year that one winning NASCAR driver will walk away with a four foot tall, fifty pound trophy custom designed and built by PRS Guitars from Stevensville, Maryland. This year, six drivers will also leave the track with their own PRS guitar that will help aid many more people down the road.
All-American Rejects Rock NASCAR’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400
Multi-platinum recording artists The All-American Rejects will make a pit stop from their worldwide tour at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 12, 2009 to perform hits from their third album “When the World Comes Down.”
2009 “Win Dale Jr’s Camaro” Sweepstakes
2009’s “Win Dale Jr’s Camaro” promotion culminated on September 12, 2009 at the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 race at Richmond International Raceway. As part of the grand prize package, the winner received a trip for two to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 race where he met Dale Earnhardt Jr. and witnessed the famed driver autograph a PRS Silver Sparkle Starla guitar that had already been penned by Paul Reed Smith himself. The keys to an All New Camaro were also presented to the lucky winner.
“To us, Chevy and PRS have always made a great team: American manufacturers focused on designing and building-high performance, high quality products,” PRS Guitars’ President Jack Higginbotham said. “This promotion was another great example of our partnership.”
For more information on Chevrolet, please vist: www.chevrolet.com
For more information on the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, please visit: www.rir.com
PRS and Johns Hopkins Bring Charity to Hyperfest
Since 2000, PRS Guitars and Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer have joined together to help cancer patients and their families through difficult times by hosting an annual golf tournament. PRS is proud to extend their fundraising efforts to the automotive community in 2005 by offering onsite guitar raffles at this year’s Hyperfest event.
For more information on Hyperfest, please visit: www.hyper-fest.com
For more information of the Hopkin’s Kimmel Cancer Center, please visit: www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org
