BAT TVT Race Car Enters First of Five Colorado Hill Climb Races in May
21 March 2000
BAT TVT Race Car Enters First of Five Colorado Hill Climb Races in May
SAN DIEGO--March 21, 2000--BAT International's (OTC:BAAT) wholly owned subsidiary SuperBAT Inc. announced today that their SuperBAT TVT race car will be entering a series of 5 hill climbing races in Colorado starting May 5th, including the famous Pike's Peak hill climb.The SuperBAT TVT Race Car will feature the following BAT technologies in the vehicle:
A) Dolphin Pulse Charge technology will be incorporated in the engine
to achieve superior horsepower (800 hp+)
B) SuperBAT TVT has been used in all engine, transmission, steering
and differential parts to provide extra protection
C) Ultra-Force Battery Co. will be providing high power fiber nickel
electrode batteries for starting batteries
The SuperBAT TVT race car has been totally revamped to be fully prepared for the series of races. A new transmission has been installed that can handle up to a 1000 hp engine. The engine has been modified with Dolphin Pulse Charge technology to add an extra boost of horsepower and make the vehicle very competitive. The use of SuperBAT in the engine and other vehicle parts will further enhance performance, reduce friction and provide extra protection.
The use of Ultra-Force Battery Co. fiber nickel electrode batteries will also reduce weight and improve starting amps. The UFBC fiber nickel cadmium batteries will provide three times the starting amps at half the weight of a normal starting battery.
Participation by BAT in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and other well known Colorado races provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate a range of technologies from its subsidiary or affiliated companies in a high profile racing environment. The races will be watched by millions of people around the world, who will learn about BAT products after having witnessed their performance in a grueling racing environment.
Two new technologies that are in the vehicle (batteries and Dolphin Pulse Charge technology) are just now entering the market and will be introduced to international markets through exposure at the races. SuperBAT TVT will gain international product exposure in conjunction with development of an international market plan.
The "Pike's Peak Hill Climb" is the second oldest (1916) race event in the U.S. (second only to the Indy 500). Race teams come from all over the world to compete for the World Record Trophy. Pike's Peak International Hill Climb has become an international event watched by over 15 million people around the world on various TV and cable channels including ESPN.
Pike's Peak "Race to the Clouds" (14,000 feet high) is one of the most dangerous races on Earth due to the high elevation, steep 5000 foot vertical climb over a swerving and treacherous 12.4 mile course. There are 152 switch back curves with grades up to 20%, no pavement, no guard rails and vertical drops some over 1,000 feet. One mistake could be the driver's last. In the 1998 "Race to the Clouds," Rod Millen covered the 12.4 mile course in 10 minutes, 4 seconds, or four times the speed a normal motorist would go. This required racing at speeds in excess of 125 miles/hour.
The TVT race car was built by Leonard Arnold and his team, who gained national recognition for building race cars for the Dalenbock race team. The driver will be Keith Harper, who is the manager for the Pike's Peak Test Track for General Motors Corp. and is a GM Test Driver. He was voted "Rookie Of The Year" in 1991 and has won many honors for the past 8 years at Pike's Peak.
BAT International is organized as a holding company with major ownership position in a set of subsidiary companies now commercializing advanced automotive and energy technology products developed by BAT. Technologies developed over the last six years include electric vehicles, super-efficient or high power engines, electric bicycles and scooters, advanced batteries, and lubricant additives (for company information see BAT Web site at www.baat.com, for stock trading information go to www.bloomberg.com or www.stockmaster.com under the symbol BAAT).
This press release contains forward-looking statements that should not be used to make an investment decision. Please refer to our Web site and other sources for more detailed company information (Investor Relations, 619/409-8977).