More than 100 Australian-built Pontiac G8 sport sedans -- some from both U.S. coasts and Canada -- are expected at the first-ever Pontiac G8 Nationals meet, August 20-22 in Bettendorf, Iowa, part of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River between Chicago and Des Moines.

"We'll have drag races at a local track Friday night, a car show and cruise Saturday, awards Sunday morning and other activities too," says Joe Morgan of Middleton, WI, who organized the event on owner's forums at www.grrrr8.net and www.G8board.com.  "I'm excited!"

The mid-range G8 GT model, with a 6.0 liter V8 producing 361 horsepower, won universal praise among automotive journalists at Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Automobile and Consumer Reports after its introduction in March 2008.  (Editors:  See links below)

Commended for its compliant but track-capable suspension, similar to a BMW 550i but at half the price, the G8 also won acclaim for a roomy, comfortable interior and sleek styling.  The family performance sedan doubles as a daily driver and hobby car for many owners.

The base G8 model comes with a 256 hp V6, while the premium G8 GXP features a 6.2 liter V8 producing 415 hp.  Some 38,000 units were produced, mostly mid-range G8 GTs.

The G8 GT is virtually identical to the Commodore VE model produced by Holden, GM's subsidiary in Australia.  Holden reportedly spent a billion dollars developing the car and Commodores still are being produced for sale in countries outside North America.  Some in Australia now feature the handsome Pontiac fascia (minus the logo) for a premium price.

Last year the G8 became a source of debate when GM product guru Bob Lutz argued it was a great car that could be continued as a Buick or Chevrolet, but GM's then-CEO Fritz Henderson and management decided against the idea.  Lutz, who is 78, retired May 1.  Henderson was replaced by current CEO Ed Whitacre Jr.

Registration for the G8 Nationals is free, although donations are welcomed to help cover insurance and other costs.  All Pontiac owners are invited.  The Isle of Capri casino and hotel in Bettendorf is the host hotel for the meet.  Interested parties can sign up at www.nationalG8meet.com

Hunters and Anglers are 'Economic Powerhouse'

Bass Pro Shops event features pro's, seminars, youth activities and more!

Springfield, Missouri (July 23, 2010)?The Fall Hunting Classics are a tradition at Bass Pro Shops and an event that some 6.5 million people are expected to attend this year.  Why is this important?  "Because hunting is big business," says Bass Pro Shops spokeswoman Katie Mitchell.

And, indeed it is.  A report by the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation cites America's 34 million hunters and anglers are an economic powerhouse?spending some $8.6 million an hour.  If this $76 billion-a-year industry were a corporation it would be among America's 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T.

"The Bass Pro Shops Fall Classic is a huge event and hunters and other outdoor sportsmen and -women look forward to it all year long," said Mitchell.  "Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to learn the secret techniques and strategies used by professionals to gain a better advantage in the field, see all the latest products and attend workshops and seminars.  And, there is a 'ripple effect' as other area retailers, gas stations, hotels and restaurants benefit as well from the increased traffic the Classic generates," Mitchell added.

This 17-day event will be held August 6th through August 22nd at 51 Bass Pro Shops retail locations across the United States and Canada and it is all free.

Hunting and fishing sportsmen directly support 1.6 million jobs, spend more than a billion dollars just on licenses, stamps, tags and permits, and they generate $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes.  More than 12.5 million hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts pump $24.9 billion into the economy each year.

But the buck doesn't stop there.  It is vitally important that today's youth get involved in the outdoors so they can become the stewards and conservationists of tomorrow to insure the maintenance and well-being of our natural resources.  "I've heard it said that if you don't have a fishing rod in the hands of a youngster by the time they are 8 years old, the chances of getting them to go fishing later in life diminishes dramatically," said Mitchell.  "I would think the same applies to getting them introduced to hunting and shooting sports," she continued.

This is important because the sale of hunting licenses, tags and stamps is the primary source of funding for most state wildlife conservation efforts.  Hunters and anglers have always been, and continue to be, the largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs.  Through excise taxes and license revenues, these sportsmen have contributed more than $10 billion dollars to conservation and provide more than 80% of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies.  Just from hunters alone, nearly $200 million in hunters' federal excise taxes are distributed to State agencies to support wildlife each year.

(All statistics are from the Congressional Sportsman's Foundation report "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors." It can be accessed online at www.sportsmenslink.org)

Some of the special events during the Bass Pro Shops 2010 Fall Hunting Classic include :
· Aug. 6-8 - Bass Pro Shops Free Hunting University.  Nationally recognized professional hunters and outdoorsmen will be at stores to give seminars and talk about their experiences. Friday 5-9pm  Saturday and Sunday Noon - 5pm (Visit www.basspro.com/classics for individual store location listing of seminar pros, topics and times)
· Aug. 6-22 - Preferred Rewards
· August 9 - 18 Additional savings up to $100 off when using your Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards Visa.  U.S. stores only.
· Aug. 12-17 - Binocular Trade-In.   Trade in your old pair of binoculars and save on any new binocular purchase.  See a store associate for details.
· Aug. 21-22 - Next Generation Weekend.  Noon to 5pm.  Activities include Free youth seminars (1pm and 3pm), Free Shooting Arcade*, BB gun/pellet gun range*, archery range*, paintball cage, (*in stores where available), deer sun catch craft 12N to 2pm (while supplies last).  Youths will receive a punch card to be punched once for every activity they complete.  Once the card is full youths will receive a "Bass Pro Shops Next Generation" logo drawpack (while supplies last). 
· Aug. 21-22 - PictureU Free Photo.  Picture yourself on the cover of an Outdoor Life Magazine!  Saturday and Sunday Noon - 5pm
· Aug. 14-15  and 21-22?ATV Test Drive* 12Noon - 5pm

In addition, customers will be able to register August 6th - 22nd for a sweepstakes to win a 3-Day Spring Turkey Hunt in Kansas with Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Hosts of "The Crush" TV show and RedHead Pro Hunting Team Members (visit www.basspro.com/winahunt for details). Plus, one winner in every store will win a RedHead® Hunting Gear Package with a retail value of $560.00 (US), $733.00 (CAD) that includes a RedHead deluxe gear bag, Enigma Hub-Style hunting blind, Epic binoculars, RedHead 12-can soft side cooler, RedHead caliber waist packs and RedHead bow/rifle pack.  (Contest rules: Customers may also enter to win online at www.basspro.com.  52 First Place winners will be drawn and one Grand Prize winner will be drawn nationally.  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE.  Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry.  Void where prohibited.  Sweepstakes begins 08/06/10 and ends 08/22/10.)

For more information on the free Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic go to www.basspro.com/classic.

Davenport, IA, June 28th, 2010: Effective July 1st, all three Davenport Public Golf Courses will be beating the heat with cool prices. For the entire month of July, golfers can play 18 holes for the price of 9! The special will only last until July 30th and is valid for weekdays only, so reserve your tees times today at Emeis Golf Course, Duck Creek Golf Course, or Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center!

For questions regarding event, please contact 563-326-7812 or www.golfdavenport.com

June 11, 2010

(Des Moines) -- Today the Iowa Civil Justice Foundation and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition announce a joint Safe Cycling project promoting bicycle helmet use for Iowa kids. The groups will collaborate to outfit children with new bike helmets at community events across the state. This bicycle helmet project is a continuing commitment for the Iowa groups, who are currently accepting event requests.

If you are interested in organizing a bike rodeo or bike ride in your community, the Safe Cycling project may provide free bike helmets for the event. For more information please contact the Iowa Bicycle Coalition at 515-309-2867 or at mark@iowabicyclecoalition.org.

The Iowa Civil Justice Foundation is the education and community service arm of the Iowa Association for Justice - an organization of nearly one thousand Iowa attorneys who fight for justice in courtrooms and communities across the state. The Association serves the legal profession and the public through its efforts to strengthen our justice systems, promote injury prevention, and foster the transparency of information critical to the health and safety of all Iowans.

"Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile," said Brad Lint, executive director of the Iowa Civil Justice Foundation. "Our members are often called into service after a child has been terribly injured, or worse, while riding his or her bicycle, and those cases are truly tragic. That's why attorneys across the state are working so hard to outfit kids with the helmets that can save their lives and prevent terrible injury."

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is a state-wide bicycle advocacy organization with 1,150 members and over 5,000 partners through affiliated organizations. The Coalition works to build partnerships, educate Iowans, and help to establish safe and enjoyable bicycle transportation and recreation networks throughout Iowa.

"Bike helmets save lives," said Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. "We encourage cyclists of all ages to wear a well-fitted helmet every time they ride, and the Safe Cycling project helps instill that practice at a young age."

The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet. Bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. It is estimated that 75 percent of bicycle-related fatalities among children could be prevented with a bicycle helmet.

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