Locks of Love - January 12, 2006

January 12, 2006 - Rockdale, TX - New Breed Racing, the sister and brother team Alesi and Ayrton Gerthe, are gearing up for the upcoming 2006 race season and have been busy throughout the off-season with many tasks. Terry and Rhonda McMillen of Hoosier Thunder Motorsports, through the IHRA Adopt A Jr. Dragster Program, sponsor the IHRA Division 4 Junior Dragster Team from San Antonio Raceway, along with Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets and NGK Spark Plugs. The team has been preparing Alesi’s Cameron Dragster and she will start making passes towards her license and plans to run Quick Rod as well as her jr. dragster this season. Duane Gerthe said, “We want to take it at Alesi’s pace with this big car. We are in no rush for her to move up from jr.’s, but we’d like her to get some seat time so she can become familiar with this car; it’s a big step, but she’s ready!” Alesi said, “Some of my friends who have moved from jr.’s to big dragsters are encouraging me to make the move and let them initiate me. I’m not exactly sure what the initiation will be, but I’m thinking they are ready to start whooping up on me like they did when I first started racing jr. dragsters”, laughed Alesi. The team also continued their holiday tradition by delivering Christmas Round-Up, food and toys for needy families in the Rockdale area. Lisa said, “We have helped with this local charity since Alesi and Ayrton were toddlers and it’s nice to know that we helped make someone’s holiday a little brighter.” Alesi also decided to give a special gift of her own this holiday season by donating over 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love. Lisa said, “Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides custom-fitted hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 with medical hair loss. Donors provide the hair, volunteers staff the office, and the manufacturer hand-assembles each piece, which takes four to six months and requires 6 to 10 ponytails. The organization, which began in 1997, has helped over 1000 children and over 80 percent of the donors are children, making this a charity where children have the opportunity to help other children.” “I hope someone would do the same for me if I lost my hair due to an illness”, explained Alesi. “After I cut my hair a few days before Christmas, two of my cousins decided to do the same a few days after Christmas and I hope I will inspire others; it’s a good feeling.” Alesi continued, “I encourage people to visit http://www.locksoflove.org/ and learn more about this special organization.” We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and wish you a blessed 2006. Have a great day!