Wayne, N.J. – March 1, 2005 –
Americans have a lasting love affair with the automobile—from
1950s hot rodding and James Dean to the “French
Connection” chase scene, “Bullitt” and Steve
McQueen. And who could forget “Herbie the Love Bug,”
“Dukes of Hazzard” or “Knight Rider?”
Today, the obsession continues with popular reality car shows such
as “Pimp My Ride” and “Ride with Funkmaster
Flex,” yet there remains a growing need for qualified men and
women to service the vehicles we love.
Responding to this need, Castrol ® SYNTEC
® today announced the launch of the 2005 Castrol SYNTEC
Outperformers Scholarship Program, a nationwide search that
encourages young car enthusiasts to take interest and pursue
careers in the automotive service and repair industry, while
rewarding them for their passion, hard work and ambition. Now in
its fourth year, the program is dedicated to attracting young men
and women already thinking about automotive service as a career
choice, as well as vehicle lovers who haven’t yet considered
the opportunities and rewards. This year, Castrol has partnered with Funkmaster
Flex, the most-listened-to DJ in the New York area and host of
“Ride with Funkmaster Flex” and “Funkmaster Flex
Super Series,” both auto-performance-inspiring shows airing
on Spike TV. The selected national Castrol SYNTEC Outperformer will
earn a career-igniting apprenticeship at Flex’s Team
Baurtwell Body Shop. Baurtwell team members include expert
technicians and die-hard enthusiasts devoted to vehicle
customization and performance. “High-performing cars, trucks and
motorcycles make my eyes widen and jaw drop. They’re the
reason I get so excited about work every day,” said
Funkmaster Flex. “I’m eager to share my love for
vehicles with the next generation of ‘Outperformers’
because making vehicles look good, sound sweet and perform better
only happens through knowledge and dedication to the trade.
That’s why we’re offering the one winning Castrol
SYNTEC Outperformer an apprenticeship with Team Baurtwell, an
experience they can use now to help build a career for the
future.” The 2005 Castrol SYNTEC Outperformer Scholarship
program begins March 1, 2005 and continues until June 15, 2005.
During that time, young men and women ages 16 to 25 can log on to
www.syntecoutperformers.com, complete a special educational
curriculum about synthetic oils and answer a series of short-answer
questions surrounding the topic of automotive service and passion
for cars. The curriculum is designed to help make entrants credible
and knowledgeable sources of information for motor oil by teaching
the benefits of synthetic oil on engine performance. The questions
provide the opportunity for participants to demonstrate their
enthusiasm for automotive maintenance and performance. Four regional Outperformers will be selected
from the entrants and earn a trip to John Force Racing Inc. in
southern California, co-headquarters of the 13-time NHRA POWERade
series champion. Force has been an Outperformers program advocate
and supporter since the program’s inception. Other regional prizes include: - Two Tickets to the Automobile Club of southern
California NHRA Finals in Pomona
- $1,000 worth of new Mac Tools
- A year’s supply (four cases) of Castrol
SYNTEC motor oil
Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers hat, t-shirt and other items - Subscriptions to Primedia publications
- A framed certificate recognizing successful
completion of the curriculum in synthetic motor oils
- Membership into the Castrol SYNTEC
Outperformers Club
- The one regional winner who
“outperforms” the others will receive the
apprenticeship with Funkmaster Flex, as well as a $7,500
scholarship to attend a racing, high-performance or automotive
education program to build upon their passion for vehicle
performance and automotive service knowledge.
According to Mike DeBiasi, Castrol SYNTEC brand
manager, “We hope that in addition to meeting and working
with Funkmaster Flex, the apprenticeship and scholarship encourages
as many hopeful automotive technicians as possible to enter the
2005 Castrol SYNTEC Outperformers Scholarship Program. The
initiative is meant to recognize and encourage these young men and
women to pursue an occupation that is increasingly more valuable
and in demand.” This year’s program also involves teachers
and school guidance counselors. The automotive instructor or school
guidance counselor who encourages the most students to enter the
2005 program will receive a similar prize package as the regional
winners, as well as a Castrol SYNTEC racing jacket and 50 cases of
Casrol SYNTEC motor oil for school use. Castrol SYNTEC has assembled a blue-ribbon panel
of judges to identify the winners. Judges comprise veteran members
of the automotive industry and media, and celebrities including
Funkmaster Flex and drag racing legend John Force. Winners will be
chosen based upon the uniqueness and strength of the
student’s automotive talent and experience, academic,
vocational and community achievements, and overall passion for
working on vehicles. The national and regional winners, and winning
instructor or guidance counselor will be announced in August 2005
in conjunction with the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. BP Lubricants USA Inc. markets premium
lubricants and business-building programs directly to independent
lube operators, service providers, new car dealers and leading
retailers. Our leadership brands include: Castrol® GTX®
– a premium conventional motor oil; Castrol® GTX
High-Mileage™ – designed for vehicles with over 75,000
miles; Castrol® GTX® Start Up - formulated to provide
superior wear protection during the critical start-up period;
Castrol® SYNTEC® BLEND™ – with an added level
of synthetic protection; Castrol® SYNTEC® – a
full-synthetic, super-premium motor oil; as well as our range of
commercial transport lubricants and our successful Super
Clean™ line of specialty products. To find out more about
Castrol products and programs, please call 1-888-CASTROL or log on
to www.castrol.com/us. For more than a decade, Funkmaster Flex has been
the most-listened-to DJ in the New York area reaching more than 2
million listeners every week through his now-nationally syndicated
radio program. When he’s on the air, 10 percent of all New
York radio listeners tune in to his Hot 97.1 station. Flex also
hosts a half-hour Spike TV series called “Ride with
Funkmaster Flex,” which mixes celebrity personalities and car
fanatics such as Eminem, Blink 182, 50 Cent and others with
elements of car culture, including drag racing events and
demolition derbies. The show features Flex’s Team Baurtwell
transforming several celebrity vehicles with tune-ups,
customizations and beyond-your-wildest-dreams accessories. Team
members comprise expert technicians and die-hard enthusiasts
devoted to vehicle customization and performance. The “Funkmaster Flex Super Series”
is Flex’s new TV show premiering this year on the same
network. The show exposes the world of motorsports to new groups of
people by providing up-close views of a new type of stock car
racing and candid profiles of emerging drivers. Drivers from across
the country compete during a 10-race season for cash and prizes,
including Flex’s own 1969 Z28 Camaro. # # #
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