Introducing Team Coker Tire for the 2016 Great Race
June 10, 2016
Coker Tire has been heavily involved with the Great Race for many years, and since 2011, we have used our staff to organize and promote the event. It has grown tremendously over the last few years, with highly anticipated routes and of course, a $50,000 prize for the winners. Since Coker Tire is a sponsor of the event, we always want at least one team to represent our company during the race. This year we have two Coker Tire corporate teams, and both will be great representatives for the Great Race, which is a nine-day time, speed, endurance rally for vintage vehicles. Coker Tire 1 is car number 38 of Gary and Jean Ann Martin, piloting a 1964 Chevy II, while Coker Tire 2 is car number 6, a 1927 T35b Bugatti replica built by Pur Sang. Both cars will be rolling on Coker Tire products, and proving themselves along the 2,400 mile race from San Rafael, California to Moline, Illinois on June 18-26, 2016.
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The cars on Team Coker Tire are pretty special, but the drivers and navigators are the stars of our team. Gary and Jean Ann Martin are a husband-and-wife team from Simpsonville, Kentucky, and they've been rallying for many years. They started in a 1957 Chevrolet, then moved to a 1938 Ford coupe, and now rally in a "Coker Blue" 1964 Chevy II Nova. This duo is well known in the rallying world, and they're friends with everyone even though they are fierce competitors in the Expert division of the Great Race. Late last year, we got the unfortunate news that Jean Ann had been diagnosed with cancer and that her path to recovery would involve chemo therapy, surgery and months of unpleasant doctors visits. She approached this journey with a good attitude, and lots of faith, with intentions of competing in the 2016 Great Race. Jean Ann said, "When I learned of my health issues, my goal was to be able to complete treatments and be able to participate in the Great Race." She continued, "The support of my Great Race family has given me much strength during this time." We are so thrilled that Jean Ann's treatments have gone as planned, and she is preparing to strap into the passenger seat of the Nova and hit the road on June 18th. We'd like to ask that you continue to pray for Jean Ann's full recovery, as well as safety of all 120 teams on the Great Race.
Coker Tire 2 is a star-studded team as well. The spectacular Pur Sang T35b is a high end Bugatti replica that will feature the team of Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre, along with Pur Sang representative John Bothwell. Jessi Combs is a well known figure in the automotive world, as she has hosted TV shows, such as Xtreme 4x4 and All Girls Garage, and made special appearances on many other programs. Now, she's hosting a show called "The List: 1001 Car Things to do Before You Die" which airs on www.autoblog.com, as well as the Velocity network.
Stay tuned to our blog, as well as www.greatrace.com for daily updates and recaps of all of our team's adventures on the road. The route is sure to be spectacular with lots of cool destinations, such as the Bonneville Salt Flats, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, among some of the best roads and highways our fine country has to offer. Also keep an eye on our Facebook page, as well as the Great Race Facebook page for live updates from the road.
The cars on Team Coker Tire are pretty special, but the drivers and navigators are the stars of our team. Gary and Jean Ann Martin are a husband-and-wife team from Simpsonville, Kentucky, and they've been rallying for many years. They started in a 1957 Chevrolet, then moved to a 1938 Ford coupe, and now rally in a "Coker Blue" 1964 Chevy II Nova. This duo is well known in the rallying world, and they're friends with everyone even though they are fierce competitors in the Expert division of the Great Race. Late last year, we got the unfortunate news that Jean Ann had been diagnosed with cancer and that her path to recovery would involve chemo therapy, surgery and months of unpleasant doctors visits. She approached this journey with a good attitude, and lots of faith, with intentions of competing in the 2016 Great Race. Jean Ann said, "When I learned of my health issues, my goal was to be able to complete treatments and be able to participate in the Great Race." She continued, "The support of my Great Race family has given me much strength during this time." We are so thrilled that Jean Ann's treatments have gone as planned, and she is preparing to strap into the passenger seat of the Nova and hit the road on June 18th. We'd like to ask that you continue to pray for Jean Ann's full recovery, as well as safety of all 120 teams on the Great Race.
Coker Tire 2 is a star-studded team as well. The spectacular Pur Sang T35b is a high end Bugatti replica that will feature the team of Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre, along with Pur Sang representative John Bothwell. Jessi Combs is a well known figure in the automotive world, as she has hosted TV shows, such as Xtreme 4x4 and All Girls Garage, and made special appearances on many other programs. Now, she's hosting a show called "The List: 1001 Car Things to do Before You Die" which airs on www.autoblog.com, as well as the Velocity network.
Stay tuned to our blog, as well as www.greatrace.com for daily updates and recaps of all of our team's adventures on the road. The route is sure to be spectacular with lots of cool destinations, such as the Bonneville Salt Flats, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, among some of the best roads and highways our fine country has to offer. Also keep an eye on our Facebook page, as well as the Great Race Facebook page for live updates from the road.