| 7/1/2006 9:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| MEET AND GREET: Kevin Aylesworth, driver of the U-21 Miss Demaree Automotive Group, shakes hands with a young fan during Friday’s Madison Regatta parade. Aylesworth and his U-21 team have already done a lot for children and have announced that they will donate a percentage of their sponsorship dollars for this race to the Lide White Boys & Girls Club. (Staff photo by David Campbell) |
| "We were kind of surprised when we heard about it earlier this week. We now have two favorite boats, the Oh Boy! Oberto and the Miss Demaree Automotive Group."
- Lide White executive
director Ray Black Jr.
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Racing for Kids
Lide White to benefit from U-21 sponsorship
David Campbell
Courier Sportswriter
When the U-21 Miss Demaree Automotive Group hits the water for this weekend's Madison Regatta, it will be racing for more than just the Indiana Governor's Cup. It will also be racing to make childrens' lives better.
The San Diego-based U-21 team runs under the motto of "When We Race, Children Win" and this weekend in Madison, it will be the children of the Lide White Boys & Girls Club that will benefit.
Dating back to its days on the Unlimited Lights circuit, the U-21 has donated a portion of its sponsorship dollars to a children's charity of their sponsor's choice. At Madison, Demaree Automotive Group chose the Lide White Club.
"We were kind of surprised when we heard about it earlier this week," Lide White executive director Ray Black Jr. said. "We now have two favorite boats, the Oh Boy! Oberto and the Miss Demaree Automotive Group."
John Demaree and his car dealership have been very kind to the Boys & Girls Club over the years, donating turkeys for the Club's annual Food Pantry drive around Christmas and other items throughout the year. When this opportunity came up with the U-21, it was a no-brainer for the group.
"Demaree Automotive Group is proud to support a boat that is giving back to the Madison community," Demaree said. "We wanted to support the Regatta by helping a new, young team that's eager to prove itself on the Ohio River, and we appreciate the U-21's donation to a local organization that benefits kids."
The actual amount of the donation has not been released, but last weekend at Evansville, the U-21 team donated $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville thanks in large part to its sponsorship with Kenny Kent Chevrolet.
Whatever the amount, it couldn't have come at a better time for the Lide White Club.
"(The money) is really crucial this year," said Black. "We have five-year pledges on our building and they are starting to come due. This money is coming at an opportune time. We really are thankful to the U-21 and Demaree Automotive for what they are doing. The kids thank you, the board of directors thank you and especially, I thank you."
Since the inception of its "When We Race, Children Win" campaign, the U-21 has raised more than $100,000 for children's charities. This season marks the team's first venture into Unlimited hydroplane racing and they hope this weekend goes more smoothly than last.
Driver Kevin Aylesworth, who is also the boat's co-owner, was unable to even start a competition lap last weekend due to various glitches that hit the team in its Unlimited debut. A faulty gearbox cost the team most of Friday and Saturday and a collision with a massive log in the Ohio River on Sunday ended the boat's weekend.
"We're hoping to conquer the gremlins that plagued the boat last weekend," said U-21 owner Jeffrey Michael Johnson.
To that end, the team camped out in front of the Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison boat shop on Milton Street all week while making repairs to the boat. Now, the team is ready to make its Madison debut. Johnson said it's a privilege to be a part of such a storied, community event like the Madison Regatta.
"We respect the citizens of Madison for their dedication to the sport," Johnson said. "To campaign their own Unlimited on the national circuit for 45 years and host this major, professional sporting event for more than 50 years is to be commended."
The U-21 will wear the Demaree Automotive name all weekend, but a Boys & Girls Club logo will also adorn the craft to help bring more attention to the not-for-profit group.
"Demaree has been real good to us," Black said. "This is a very pleasant surprise. We appreciate it."
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