McMillen visits RHS

A taste of the pro’s life in the fast lane
(Reprinted with permission of The Rockdale Reporter.)

Racing program makes a pit stop at RHS; helps efforts of local junior sibling racers

By KEN ESTEN COOKE
Reporter Staff Writer

 Alesi Gerthe and brother Ayrton are excited. They’re getting a visit today from a professional race car driver and his team and they get to show off their hobby to every student at Rockdale High School.
  The Gerthes, part of the successful brother-and-sister tandem of junior drag racers, were chosen to participate in a new “adoption” program that lets them rub elbows with the big boys of the International Hot Rod Association—in this case, Terry McMillen of Elkhart, Indiana, who stopped in Rockdale on Tuesday to show off his wheels.
  McMillen and his Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team were on the way to San Antonio for the eMax Drag Racing season the Amalie Oil Texas Nationals. His team was chosen to help the Gerthes learn about the racing industry and help them get a leg up on learning the ins and outs of the sport.
  The team rolled out the Amalie Oil “InstiGator” Funny Car and also displayed the drag racers of the Gerthes in the RHS parking lot.
 “This program is a way we can help the sport continue to grow and see that these young racers learn things to continue their careers,” McMillen said of the program.
McMillen, who has spent the past 30 years in racing, admits that the few seconds from starting gate to finish line are only a tiny part of the sport and the “unseen” parts of the business—the marketing and endorsements—end up taking up far more time.
  That’s a big part of the push for the “adoption” program—showing them the ropes of racing.

Marketing
  “We don’t want these young racers to wait until they are 30 or 40 to learn how to get some of the corporate money,” McMillen said.
  McMillen admitted that learning to get sponsorships is a big part of this sport. Racing is not like buying a bat and baseball glove and being in business. These performance machines demand a lot of upkeep and the costs are prohibitive to many. He said even at all levels of the sport, marketing plays a huge part of keeping a team on the road.
 “In this sport, it’s about selling product—not so much about winning or losing on the weekend, but on how much product gets sold on Monday,” he said.
 The Gerthe family watched as the racing team put sponsor stickers on Alesi’s new maroon dragster. Since she recently turned 16, she was allowed to move up to a 750-horsepower dragster from her junior model in which she dominated her age divisions.
  “It helps a lot,” Alesi said. “He’s shown us a lot of things about marketing that we didn’t know. It’s been great.”
  Parents Duane and Lisa Gerthe are trying to raise their children right in a sport that gets a lot of attention. The siblings’ racing team is called “New Breed.”
  “The Gerthes really exemplify what drag racing is all about,” McMillen said. “It’s a true family sport. They live it and it shows in how tight-knit they are as a family.”
But the program looks for youth who look beyond their sport. McMillen was impressed that the Gerthes get their kids to help with the Christmas Round-Up, which provides needy local families with food and toys.
  Alesi also donated 10 inches of her hair to “Locks of Love,” which provides hair pieces to medical patients. She also recently joined RHS’ Peer Assisted Leadership (PAL) program.

Motivation
  But the visit wasn’t only for the Gerthes. McMillen, also named IHRA Sportsman of the Year, gave an assembly to RHS students about setting goals—both short-term and long-term ones and using education to reach those goals. A short feature film was also shown at the assembly. The Gerthes were pleased to be able to glean some knowledge from a big-time racing team.
  “It’s not every day you get to talk to a pro driver,” Alesi said.

InstiGator Team Makes Stop at RHS

March 22, 2006 - Rockdale, TX - New Breed Racing, the sister and brother team Alesi and Ayrton Gerthe, welcomed Terry McMillen and InstiGator team members Tad Heflick, Brent Lidgard, and Jim Walczak to Rockdale High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2006. Everyone was all smiles as the InstiGator prowled its way through the streets of the small Central Texas town, delivering an awesome motivational speech to the students and staff and displaying the Funny Car and rig. “I’m not sure who was smiling more, Alesi & Ayrton or the toothy paint schemed Amalie Oil InstiGator, powered by TORCO Racing Fuels. I’m not a betting lady, but I’d have to put my money on my kids. They were so excited when we received the call from Terry that he would like to visit our town on his way to San Antonio Raceway’s 5th Annual Amalie Oil Texas Nationals,” said Lisa Gerthe. “I’m not sure how many times Alesi and Ayrton called on Monday to see how close Terry and his team were to arriving in Rockdale, but when we saw that rig heading towards us, it was an awesome feeling. Although the team was so exhausted from the long drive from Indiana, they spent time with us and we really enjoyed getting to meet Terry’s team for the first time and visit with Jim, Tad and Skinny.” Lisa continued, “Since we met Terry at last years Amalie Oil Texas Nationals and he and Rhonda decided to implement the Adopt a Jr. Dragster program with IHRA and adopt Alesi & Ayrton, we have sort of adopted them also and communicate with them often. I knew Terry visited schools in the areas that he raced and I hoped he would offer to speak to the students of our school district. Terry’s an excellent role model and ambassador for the sport of drag racing, and he delivered a great motivational message for our students and staff yesterday. I’ve already received many positive comments and know we will see a positive result within our school from his visit.” After the assembly, students were allowed to view the InstiGator Funny car along with Ayrton’s jr. dragster and Alesi’s Quick Rod Dragster. “We’re really looking forward to getting to San Antonio Raceway to offer Terry our support and to enjoy a great weekend of racing,” continued Lisa. “Judy, Todd and their staff have been diligently working and preparing for this event and we know it will be a great success.” Alesi and Ayrton would like to thank the best sponsors in the racing industry Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owners, Terry and Rhonda McMillen and their team, along with Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets and NGK Spark Plugs.
Have a great day!
Alesi and Ayrton Gerthe

Alesi selected as member of RHS PALS

March 16, 2006 - Rockdale, TX – Alesi Gerthe, driver for New Breed Racing Team, was recently selected as a member of the Rockdale High School Peer Assistance Leadership Program for the 2006-2007 school year. “Alesi’s leadership qualities and caring attitude set her apart from her peers. She was nominated by a member of the faculty, interviewed by a panel, and selected as a member of the PAL® Program”, stated Karen Muston, RHS PAL® Sponsor. “I am very excited about the upcoming year and look forward to knowing Alesi better.” The PAL® Peer Assistance Leadership Program is a peer-to-peer outreach program for elementary, intermediate, and high school students. The proven results are improved school attendance, reduced drug and alcohol abuse, a positive school climate, increased academic success, responsible behavior, and involvement in community service. The PAL® Program teaches life skills and builds resiliency and assets in students. Established in 1980, the PAL® Program's comprehensive network of prevention activities and training addresses the underlying causes for alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by youth. The PAL® Program provides students of all ages ongoing opportunities to create supportive environments that empower their peers to make healthy, positive decisions and to achieve their human potential. The primary intent of the PAL® Program is to help create, enhance, and support all peer-to-peer and peer leadership programs in schools. Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owners, Terry and Rhonda McMillen, 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.

Division 4 Pro-Am San Antonio Raceway, March 10-12, 2006

March 13, 2006 - Rockdale, TX – Alesi and Ayrton Gerthe, the sister and brother team New Breed Racing, attended the first two of six races of the Division 4 Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour’s Master’s Class this past weekend at San Antonio Raceway. Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owners, Terry and Rhonda McMillen 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. It was great to kick off this race tour at our home track, San Antonio Raceway. We had a great weekend of racing; Alesi and Ayrton were very focused. The cars ran good, except for a “stumble fairy” on Alesi’s car. Her car stumbled both days on the starting line and we’re trying to find the problem. On Saturday, Alesi and Ayrton made it down to six cars. On Sunday, Ayrton cut a .499 red in the first round and Alesi went a couple rounds before the “stumble fairy” reared its head and the car fell off. First round, Alesi paired up with friend Michael Zampese and both dialed 7.90. With almost identical reaction times, Alesi won on a double break out 7.899 to Michael’s 7.898. Duane Gerthe said, “That first round race was awesome on Sunday and the kids did great all weekend. We will find the problem with Alesi’s car before the next divisional at Pine Valley in a few weeks.” Alesi and Ayrton would like to thank Hoosier Thunder Motorsports Team owners Terry and Rhonda McMillen and their team, Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets, and NGK Spark Plugs for being the best sponsors in the racing industry. Also, thanks to the IHRA, Sherrie Barbour, and Drag Review for your support of jr. dragster racing.

Division 4 Pro-Am Tour - San Antonio Raceway March 10-12, 2006

March 10, 2006 - Rockdale, TX - New Breed Racing, the sister and brother team Alesi and Ayrton Gerthe, will attended the first two of six races of the Division 4 Mr. Gasket Pro-Am Tour this weekend at San Antonio Raceway. Hoosier Thunder Motorsports team owners, Terry and Rhonda McMillen 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. We are excited to be kicking off this season at our home track, San Antonio Raceway and we are equally excited to see all of our “racing family”. The team spent the off-season preparing a Cameron Dragster for Alesi’s anticipated move into Quick Rod. Duane Gerthe explained, “Our initial plans were to have Alesi ready to compete in the Quick Rod class this year at the divisionals and at the Nationals in San Antonio, but we were limited in our opportunities to make the necessary passes toward her license due mainly to weather conditions and scheduling. We want to take it at Alesi’s pace with this big car and considering all the circumstances, I guess we have to look at it as it’s just not the right time. 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.” Alesi and Ayrton would like to thank Hoosier Thunder Motorsports Team owners Terry and Rhonda McMillen and their team, Amalie Oil, TORCO Racing Fuels, Flatout Gaskets, and NGK Spark Plugs for being the best sponsors in the racing industry. Also, thanks to the IHRA, Sherrie Barbour, and Drag Review for your support of jr. dragster racing.