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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Samantha Krepps
(717) 234-8886 x158
skrepps@pavone.net

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IMI AND NAPT HONOR NATION'S FINEST SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (Nov. 4, 2002) - Heeding the phrase, "two are better than one," the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) * and International Marketing Inc. (IMI), makers of EQUAL ® Tire Performance and other tire and wheel products, recently honored a seasoned driver team with the 2002 School Bus Driver Excellence Award at NAPT's 28 th Annual Conference.

Together, the winners, Paul Manlove and Grant Schmaus, have completed 79 years of school bus driving experience. Both are employed by the Park Rapids School District in Park Rapids, Minn.

Recognized for "being exemplary school bus drivers with perfect driving records and receiving outstanding respect from students," Manlove and Schmaus both received a $250 cash award and a commemorative plaque.

With so many dedicated years in the Park Rapids School District, Manlove and Schmaus have transported parents and grandparents of the children they now drive to school. Because of their reliability, despite the snowy and cold Minnesota mornings, families have grown to love the team and rely on their expertise to get their children safely to school.

"We take safety very seriously with EQUAL ® and all of our products, and we're glad to honor such exemplary drivers as Paul Manlove and Grant Schmaus, who are also committed to safety," said Bob Fogal Jr., president and CEO of IMI.

EQUAL is a patented dry, granular polymer formula that is placed inside the tire to provide a continuously smooth ride for the life of the tread. It works quite simply: a specified amount of EQUAL is placed inside the tire to reduce vibration levels in the tire/wheel assembly by dampening, adapting and responding to the disturbances at the footprint.

Because EQUAL is free to move continuously inside the tire, it adjusts to changing road conditions such as varying speeds, temperatures, road surfaces and loads (change in loads due to passengers getting on and off the bus on a regular basis). Most importantly, it provides a more stable footprint that gives drivers and passengers an overall smoother and safer ride.

EQUAL has been installed in millions of truck, bus and aircraft tires since its introduction in 1991. More than 3,000 commercial tire dealers, truckstops, truck dealerships and alignment shops in North America offer EQUAL. Additionally, the product is sold internationally in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia.

For more information about EQUAL and other IMI products, visit www.imiproducts.com or call 1-800-233-7086.

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* NAPT, the school transportation industry's largest non-profit membership organization, provides education and information services to school transportation professionals from around the world who advocate the highest standard of safety and efficiency in school bus operations.