OTR Plant Throws Firestone 80th Birthday Bash
About 800 people – more than double what plant management anticipated – toured Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations’ OTR manufacturing plant in Normal, Ill., over the weekend as part of an open house event in honor of Firestone’s 80th birthday. "We went through 500 pairs of safety glasses in two hours," Monty Greutman, plant manager, told
GCR Manager Arrested in $23K Theft
The manager of a GCR Truck Tire Center near Louisville, Ky., was arrested last week, charged with stealing some $23,000 from the location he headed. Bridgestone Americas management suspected internal theft at the location after an internal audit of the Madisonville, Ky., center. The audit indicated that beginning in January 2010, the location manager was
Annual TIA OTR Conference Delivers Info, Networking, Weather
Over the years, the OTR tire segment has proven to be among the strongest supporters of TIA and the most interested in educational opportunities. That certainly was again the case with the 2011 TIA OTR Conference, where a near-record crowd gathered at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami. Prior to that panel discussion,
Making the Transition to Non-Lead Wheel Weights
The days of lead wheel weights are numbered. While the federal Environmental Protection Agency has been slow to act, a number of state governments – California, Illinois, Washington, Maine, Vermont and New York – have banned the use of lead wheel weights. In addition, similar legislation is pending in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maryland and Rhode Island,
Change of Mind: Owners Beg Firestone Racing Return
Less than a week after announcing that it was leaving IndyCar racing after this season, Bridgestone Americas had a change of heart and has re-upped with the series at least through the 2013 season. Apparently it was about the money and not a change in marketing direction, as IndyCar owners changed their minds and accepted
Assessing the Damage from Devastated Japan
The world was transfixed this past weekend with information and images from Japan, a country devastated by a record earthquake and tsunami that literally leveled everything in its path for miles. Power outages and other obvious challenges have made it quite difficult to get information about specific individuals and companies, even for the U.S. subsidiaries
IndyCar Owners: The Name That’s Known is Firestone
Even as other tire companies have been contacted, the owners of IndyCar race teams voted March 7 to beg Bridgestone Americas to reconsider dropping its support of the race series.According to reports, the vote was “near-unanimous” to “stick with Firestone – regardless of the price.” Bridgestone announced late on March 4 that its Firestone brand
What Lies Beyond Years of ‘Heritage?’
‘Cos the ’50s shifted out of gearHe was an idol then, now he’s an idol hereBut his face has changed, he’s not the same no moreAnd I have to say that I like the way his music sounded before. – "Idol" by Bernie Taupin, 1976 I was thinking about that Elton John song the
IndyCar’s Silly Season Starts Early With Firestone Announcement
I can’t say I was surprised when my Blackberry buzzed to life late Friday with the news that Bridgestone Americas was closing the book on its IndyCar racing involvement. The writing was on the wall in January when the company passed on renewing its relationship with what’s left of American open wheel racing. And besides,
100 and Out: Firestone Brand Leaving IndyCar After Season
Bridgestone Americas has decided to end its long association with American open wheel racing, and is withdrawing the Firestone brand’s support and sponsorship following this season. Announced after business hours last Friday, Bridgestone said it will also end its sponsorship of the second-tier Indy Lights series.“The partnership between the Firestone brand and IndyCar has been