Charlotte Region to be Home to First-Of-Its Kind Tire Testing Facility

- Research in Response to Federal Mandate Will Address Tire Safety, Wear and
Energy Efficiency Issues -

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Camber Ridge, LLC announced today
that it is forming a consortium of automotive and motorsports companies to
create a first-of-its-kind tire testing facility in the Charlotte Region.
Veteran automotive and motorsports engineer, James Cuttino, Ph.D., director of
the North Carolina Motorsports and Automotive Research Center at UNC Charlotte
and president of Camber Ridge, is taking a leave of absence from the
University to lead the corporately-funded effort.

"High-grade research capabilities, backed by the biggest names in auto and
tire manufacturing, will allow us to tackle tire safety, wear and energy
efficiency issues faster and more cost effectively than if a company or
university pursued it alone," said Cuttino. "This proposed testing facility
will go well beyond what exists anywhere and directly address needs of
automakers around the world."

Camber Ridge has invited representatives from all the major auto and tire
manufacturing companies to participate in this groundbreaking initiative. The
effort was created in response to a federal mandate that says all cars
produced beginning in 2011 must have Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
devices, which automatically apply brakes to one side of the car to prevent
loss of control or rollover. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) website, ESC could prevent 221,000 - 323,000 crashes
and save 5,300 to 9,600 lives annually.

"This may be the single biggest thing since the federal requirement for seat
belts," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, motorsports legend, recent Motorsports Hall
of Fame of America inductee and chair of the Charlotte Regional Partnership.
"Having this facility right here in Charlotte USA, the capital of stock car
racing, will be a source of pride considering its future impact on racing and
consumer safety in general."

The exact location of the facility, which will also conduct research in
collaboration with local universities, has yet to be decided as the Consortium
continues talks with area economic developers. However, the timeline calls for
it to be up and running by early 2012.

"This facility is a world class coup for the Charlotte Region," said Ronnie
Bryant, president of the Charlotte Regional Partnership. "It will undoubtedly
extend our lead in the automotive and motorsports engineering industries."

SOURCE Camber Ridge, LLC

Colleen Brannan, +1-704-458-2289, or +1-704-378-0123, colleen@branstorm.com