Recipient takes first production International® LoneStar® Harley-Davidson™
Special Edition on the road for charity during Truck Driver Appreciation Week
and asks fellow drivers for support
MILWAUKEE--(Business Wire)--
Chris Hawker, a successful owner-operator truck driver and Harley-Davidson®
motorcycle owner doesn`t just drive. He rides.
While his garage has plenty of room for his black and silver 2003
Harley-Davidson® 100th Anniversary Edition FXSTD Softail® Deuce™ motorcycle,
he`ll undoubtedly have to build a bigger garage to store his latest
Harley-Davidson related collectible - the first production unit of the
International® LoneStar®
Harley-Davidson™ Special Edition truck.
At an event last Friday at the Harley-Davidson Museum® in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
Hawker was presented the keys to the vehicle in a ceremony recognizing him as a
true ambassador of both the International truck and Harley-Davidson motorcycle
brands.
"The International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition is one of the
coolest-looking trucks I`ve ever seen," said Chris. "When I first caught wind of
this truck, I knew I had to have one."
With deep black paint and contrasting silver and orange striping, the
attention-grabbing, chrome-laden big rig truck is one-of-a-kind. Unveiled to the
public for the first time at the Mid-America Trucking Show earlier in the year,
the Harley-Davidson Special Edition takes the International LoneStar to the next
level through a combination of LoneStar originality and Harley-Davidson
authenticity.
Hawker has been a truck driver for more than 20 years and typically hauls food
products from New York to Florida, having logged more than two million
accident-free miles.
Earlier this year, Hawker entered his local International truck dealership in
Erie, Pennsylvania, seeking information on a new International LoneStar. "Chris
came in and expressed interest in a LoneStar before the Harley-Davidson Special
Edition was even announced," said Randy Leighton, sales manager, Five Star
International. "As a fellow motorcycle guy and Harley owner myself, we got to
talking about motorcycles. Once I heard about the Harley edition, I called him
and told him we have a `dream truck` coming out - he couldn`t get to the
dealership fast enough!"
Design teams from International and Harley-Davidson collaborated to create a
heavy-duty on-highway tractor with distinct design elements directly from
Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
"Custom has always been an important word in Harley-Davidson`s brand language,"
said Willie G. Davidson, senior vice president & chief styling officer,
Harley-Davidson. "We wanted the design impact of this new LoneStar
Harley-Davidson to have a `wow` factor equal to our motorcycles."
"Knowing the passion that customers have for both brands, we`re proud to get
this vehicle out in the hands of enthusiastic customers like Chris," said Jim
Hebe, Navistar senior vice president, North American sales operations.
"Combining the bold look of the International LoneStar with the attitude of
Harley-Davidson delivers a winning product for our customers."
"Drive for Jobs"
The delivery of International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition marked
the starting point in Chris Hawker`s maiden voyage and the launch of Navistar`s
"Drive for Jobs" program. For each mile that Chris Hawker drives in his new
LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition, Navistar will make a donation to the
American Trucking Associations` GetTrucking.com, a driver recruitment initiative
which includes training returning military personnel for careers in the trucking
industry. While the current U.S. economic recession has driven up unemployment
rates in numerous industries, trucking included, the trucking industry has and
will continue to face driver shortages in the near future.
As Chris began his journey to Jacksonville, Florida, an "all-points bulletin"
was distributed at the delivery event in Milwaukee. The "A.P.B." was used to
encourage anyone who saw Chris driving the LoneStar to sign up for the
opportunity to win prizes and make a donation to the "Drive for Jobs" program.
All of these events will lead up to Truck Driver Appreciation Week from November
1-7, culminating with a check donation to the ATA`s GetTrucking.com initiative.
Navistar supported this charity earlier this year with a $15,000 donation
generated from proceeds from DVD sales of Drive and Deliver, the documentary
Navistar developed to celebrate the lives of truck drivers and the contributions
they make to society. "We appreciate Navistar`s support for the ATA`s
GetTrucking initiative," said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO. "The men and
women of the U.S. Armed Forces are ideal candidates to become trucking industry
professionals - they have all the motivation and tools necessary to move
successfully from the military into our industry."
To learn more about the International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition,
go to www.internationaltrucks.com/lonestarhd.
About Navistar
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose
subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand commercial and military
trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial
buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse® brand chassis
for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and
manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The
company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate
offers financing services. Additional information is available at
www.Navistar.com/newsroom.
Navistar International Corporation
Media contacts: Steve Schrier, 630-753-2264
Investor contact: Heather Kos, 630-753-2406
Web site: www.Navistar.com/newsroom
Copyright Business Wire 2009
