Former Santana Trumpeter: Dunlop Drivers Cup Is Pure Music

Former Santana Trumpeter: Dunlop Drivers Cup Is Pure Music

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Grammy Award winner and former Santana trumpeter Julius Melendez may have to wait awhile to promote his first solo effort, a new double CD set titled "Passion & Romance."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050518/CLW036 )

Melendez will be competing in the Dunlop Drivers Cup in Phoenix on Sept. 10 and 11, while the album -- a tribute to great Cuban composer Osvaldo Farres -- hits the streets nationally Sept. 13.

The fresh, thoughtful, "rootsy" record can wait a few days. The Richmond, Calif., musician and recording artist said he feels fortunate "to finally have a real opportunity to demonstrate my driving skills and ability." Most friends and fans know Melendez for his musical talent, but few might realize his "lifelong interest in everything automotive."

A unique competition, Dunlop Drivers Cup includes racetrack, autocross, off-road sport-utility, off-road all-terrain vehicle and motocross events to test the skills of hard-core driving enthusiasts. Once reserved for the best European drivers, Drivers Cup will allow U.S. drivers to compete for the first time in this international competitive driving event.

Janice Consolacion, brand planning manager for Dunlop in North America, said, "We're proud to have Julius competing. The Manhattan native already has proven himself in his music career. It will be exciting to see him compete against 23 other drivers in Phoenix.

"While Julius and the other drivers come from varying backgrounds, their sole bond is a passion for driving and the ultimate adrenaline rush that comes with challenges to their driving skills," Consolacion said.

Three teams from the two-day U.S. Regional Qualifier will represent Dunlop USA at a three-day off-road camp in Germany in November. Then a single team from each country will vie for the world Drivers Cup in a 10-day series of racing events in the United States.

Melendez's chances for Dunlop Drivers Cup success? "I'm a very dedicated and focused person," he says. Very likely, the up-tempo "Passion" CD might best describe Melendez' driving style. On the other hand, the "Romance" disk is for candlelight dinner.

So the promotion waits a few days. Melendez will celebrate the release Sept. 24 by establishing the Osvaldo Farres Scholarship fund at Contra Costa Community College during a concert there.

Melendez has played professionally since 1983. His unique trumpet style has been featured in numerous salsa, rhythm and blues, reggae and jazz recordings.

Dunlop officials started Drivers Cup to showcase Dunlop's racing heritage and its broad range of passenger, truck, motorcycle and all-terrain-vehicle tire lines. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and Direzza DZ101 ultra-performance tires will be featured in the competition. Melendez said he has used Dunlop tires on his cars and motorcycles.

Dunlop is a global tire brand with an excellent reputation among performance car enthusiasts. Well known for its prestigious original-equipment fitments and sports car racing heritage, Dunlop is also a key supplier to sport compact enthusiasts featuring "tuner" tire sizes and race series sponsorships.

For more on Drivers Cup, go to http://www.dunloptires.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050518/CLW036 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Dunlop Tires

CONTACT: Dave Wilkins of Dunlop Tires, +1-330-796-3758, dfwilkins@goodyear.com

Web site: http://www.dunloptires.com/

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