BOB BONDURANT NAMED ARIZONA TOURISM ALLIANCE 2009 ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Arizona Tourism Alliance recently honored Bob Bondurant as a 2009 Advocate of the Year during its 5th Annual Arizona Tourism Unity Dinner on April 15, 2009.

The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving – one of the largest driving schools in North America featuring a 1.6 mile road course and an 8-acre asphalt pad – is located on the Gila River Indian Community outside of Phoenix, Ariz. Since it opened in 1968, the school has taught advanced driving skills to more than 250,000 students.

The Arizona Tourism Alliance’s Advocate of the Year is an honor given at each Unity Dinner to individuals or organizations within the Arizona tourism industry that have made significant and measurable contributions to the advancement of the tourism industry.

“The Unity Dinner is an opportunity for leaders from business, government and the community to join in celebrating tourism and honoring the contributions of extraordinary Arizonans for their leadership and support of the tourism industry,” said Greg W. Gilstrap, chairman of the Board of the Arizona Tourism Alliance. “Bob Bondurant and the School of High Performance Driving have made a notable economic impact on the Valley within the automotive sector of the tourism industry. We salute him for his dedication to the industry and to Arizona.”

According to an economic impact study performed by Arizona State University, more than 77% of the visitors to the Bondurant School in 2008 were from outside of Maricopa County, Ariz. The school attracted thousands of students in ’08, who reported expenditures of $528.60 per day during their stay in Phoenix, which includes lodging, meals, transportation, entertainment and retail.

The operations of the Bondurant School generated a gross economic impact of $19.6 million to Maricopa County for 2008, with an estimated impact of $309.3 million since the school relocated to Chandler, Ariz., in 1990.

Bondurant built the Phoenix-area facility in 1990 after a visit to Arizona convinced him to move the school from its southern California location.

“Arizona has become home to me; Nothing is better than driving through the picturesque mountains in a Corvette with the top down,” said Bondurant. “It has been wonderful to bring students, celebrities, professional racers, police officers and others to learn advanced driving skills while enjoying the unsurpassed natural beauty of the Phoenix area.”

About Bondurant Bondurant Enterprises consists of The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving – one of the largest driving schools in North America – featuring a 15-turn, 1.6 mile road course, an 8-acre asphalt pad for advanced training, and more than 200 race-prepared vehicles, sedans and open-wheel cars. Located on the Gila River Indian Community outside of Phoenix, Ariz., it is recognized as the "Fastest 60 acres in America." The purpose-built facility is adjacent to Firebird International Raceway with access to three additional race tracks, a lake and three skid pads. Bob Bondurant, an internationally recognized leader in advanced driving training, opened the school in 1968. Bondurant SuperKart School, located on the facility, offers two karting tracks with state-of-the-art equipment and training. Bondurant Trackside is the premier leader in OEM events, showcasing manufacturer's vehicles. For more information or to book an event, call 800.842.RACE (7223) or visit www.bondurant.com. Write to Bondurant at P.O. Box 51980, Phoenix, AZ 85076.

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