SYLVANIA 300 Fans Enjoy Race in Style, Comfort

DANVERS, Mass.--Sept. 17, 2004--Far from the portable grill and warm beer that defines the typical tailgate party, some NASCAR fans bring all the comforts of home when they head to the track.

Luxury RVs cover the grounds at the New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) in Loudon, NH this weekend, as millions of racing fans prepare for the SYLVANIA 300 - the kick-off of NASCAR's ten-event "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup." Costing hundreds of thousands of dollars and including such amenities as built-in dishwashers, DVD players, and flat-screen televisions, these campers are anything but rustic.

"Our RV is our luxury home away from home. We installed a flat screen TV, over-sized chairs and couches and a queen sized bed. Being in this atmosphere really enhances watching the race for us," said Kathleen Maher.

Tom and Kathleen Maher are NASCAR fans from Greenland, New Hampshire. They have been making the yearly trek to the Speedway to watch the SYLVANIA racing weekend for the past four years, after being on a waiting list for one of the more coveted RV lots for five years.

"After gaining this spot on the hill we would never go sit in a grandstand again. We had always been closet NASCAR fans and stayed home to watch the races on TV because we hated to sit in the grandstands. When this spot on the hill became available, it was the perfect opportunity for us to show our true appreciation for the sport" said Kathleen Maher.

When the action is going on down at the track, RV owners usually find that they have the best seats in the house. While others may be satisfied with the hard bleacher seats, Tim and Brenda Mason from Stratham, N.H. will be watching the race from the cushioned Adirondack chairs set up on the lawn in front of their RV. High tech SYLVANIA lanterns illuminate his vehicle's tented deck, and if anyone wants a cold drink during the 3-hour long race, the refrigerator is just a few feet away.

"Not only do we have some of the best seats in the house, but we get to watch the race with our friends. Being up here, you get to know everyone real well and you become a SYLVANIA 300 family," Brenda Mason said.

Fans have a wide range of preferences when it comes to the way they want to experience the race, but RV living allows for a great deal of flexibility for fans at the track. According to Jon DiGesu, director of brand strategy for OSRAM SYLVANIA, one of the reasons the company decided to sponsor the annual race at the NHIS was because the sport appeals to such a variety of fans.

"There really is no "typical" racing fan. We have people coming to the track from all over the country with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds," DiGesu said. "Whether they come in just for Sunday's race or make a weekend out of it like many of the RV owners, everyone can appreciate the energy and excitement of NASCAR."

About OSRAM SYLVANIA

Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH. Together we are the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries. We manufacture and market a wide range of lighting products, including automotive, electronic and magnetic ballasts, and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers, sold primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, but also under the OSRAM brand. OSRAM SYLVANIA also offers lighting systems installation and maintenance services. For further information, please refer to our Web site at www.sylvania.com.