Kasem Revs up SPEED Channel's New Program Build or Bust; ``You Can Teach Me Something Once and I Can Do It''

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--May 6, 2005--Kerri Kasem, daughter of famed radio and television personality Casey Kasem, will join SPEED Channel's new show, Build or Bust, as a contestant in an attempt to combine two of her longtime passions -- television and motorcycles.

Build or Bust, which debuted on SPEED Channel in February and airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, brings in novice motorcycle enthusiasts and gives them a chance to work under a master builder in an attempt to create a custom bike in 30 days. Build it, start it and pass the master builder's inspection, and the bike belongs to the builder. Fail and the contestant walks away with nothing.

Kasem, an avid motorcyclist who has been riding since she was a child, already has begun taping the episode scheduled to air later this summer.

"There's so much to do," Kasem said. "My strengths are the fact that you can teach me something once and I can do it. I am a fast learner, and I'm persistent. But my weaknesses are not knowing anything and being a complete novice and never building anything and having to learn how to do everything from the basics to the not-so-basics. But I'd love to own a bike that I built myself."

Master builder Gard Hollinger, who oversees Kasem's work on Build or Bust, believes the show is giving viewers a little more appreciation for what goes into crafting a custom motorcycle.

"I'm happy to see that there's an interest from the general public in our artform that previously had only been appreciated by a small following of enthusiasts," said Hollinger, owner of famed LA County Choprods. "People have become much more aware of the skills involved in building a custom motorcycle and a much larger segment of the motorcycle world wants their bike to be better, different, etc. from the average bike. The interest has not challenged the industry, but helped in prosper in the last couple years ... and hopefully we're not 14 minutes into our 15 minutes of fame."

Kasem, whose list of hobbies includes skydiving, dirt bikes and bungee jumping, is no stranger to television, having worked in commercials and as a host on MTV and E! Entertainment Television. In addition, Kasem is the host of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champion) DVDs and PPVs. Her high-risk interests, she insists, are not about the thrills, but about conquering fears.

"I'm not an adrenaline junkie," said Kasem, a proud owner of a Harley-Davidson Sportster. "If I'm afraid of something, I want to do it until I get the fear out of my life."

Hollinger applauds Kasem for taking on the challenge and insists that the task isn't an easy one, and challenges those who believe it is.

"It's always easy to sit at home on your sofa and yell at the TV, 'Big deal -- who can't do that?' " Hollinger said. "The fact of the matter is that it's not easy and the show has proven that. Think it's so easy? Think you can design and build a bike in 30 days? Go on Build or Bust and put your money where your mouth is."

SPEED Channel is the nation's first and foremost cable network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED Channel delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 68 million homes in North America, SPEED Channel is among the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country.