youlden *lukey*

[smokinJ]

LUKEY RETURNS TO ITS TRADITIONAL HOME

August 10, 2010 - A name that came and conquered at Phillip Island before
and after his victorious 1959 Australian Drivers Championship (ADC) / CAMS
Gold Star Award was that of Melbourne based exhaust manufacturer and gifted
racer, Len Lukey.

Determined and fiercely competitive, Lukey was one of only a few drivers who
attempted to complete the grueling twelve race 1959 ADC schedule, at the
time the longest in the championship's history. Lukey finished just two
points ahead of his season long rival, Sydney based Alec Mildren and in
third was Stan Jones, father of 1980 Formula One World Champion Alan Jones.
Mildren raced to three wins that season, Lukey, Jones and Bill Patterson
each took two victories, with single wins going to Jack Brabham, Bib
Stillwell and New Zealand racer Ross Jensen. Make no mistake, there was no
margin for error with competitors of this calibre during that championship.

Lukey continued to race competitively throughout the 60's in a range of open
wheelers and touring cars, all fitted with his own specially engineered high
performance exhaust systems manufactured from his Melbourne factory. This
constant motor racing test bed ensured that all Lukey high performance
exhaust products were in a class of their own and Lukey Exhaust became the
brand of choice for motoring enthusiasts and Australian automotive
repairers.

Len Lukey's special link to Phillip Island would continue during and well
beyond his successful motor racing career. The running of the 1962 Armstrong
500 saw extensive track damage take place on the Victorian circuit and the
Phillip Island Auto Racing Club (PIARC) could not afford to make the
necessary repairs. The track then sat idle for two years. In 1964, Lukey
bought the circuit and its surrounding property for $40,000, which was a
massive amount of money back in those days. This investment provided a new
lease of life to the majestic seaside circuit and the first public race
meeting was held on the re-opened circuit three years later in September
1967.
Lukey passed away in 1978 still owning the circuit and it was purchased from
Lukey's estate in 1984 for $800,000. In the decades to follow the popular
Victorian motor racing venue grew to become an international standard Grand
Prix circuit and one of the most popular motorcycle, sportscar, open wheeler
and V8 Supercar circuits on this side of the world.

A permanent link to Len Lukey's Phillip Island legacy is the daunting Lukey
Heights corner (Turn 9) that marks the highest elevation of the spectacular
4.4 kilometre seaside circuit.

Now, more than half a century after Lukey won the 1959 Australian Drivers'
Championship and some 41 years since he purchased the Phillip Island motor
racing circuit, Lukey's competitive spirit and the enduring success of his
Lukey Performance Exhaust brand returns to Phillip Island this September at
the L & H 500 as the personal sponsor of FPR V8 Supercar endurance race
driver, Luke "Lukey" Youlden.

Youlden will compete in the L&H 500 at Phillip Island this September as
co-driver to Mark "Frosty" Winterbottom in the number 5 Ford Performance
Racing FG Falcon V8 Supercar, without a doubt one of most formidable driver
partnerships in the 2010 field.

Lukey Performance Exhaust has joined forces with the highly experienced
Youlden for the three 2010 V8 Supercar two driver endurance races, starting
with the L&H 500 from September 10-12, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
during October 7-9 and the Armor All Gold Coast 600 be held from October
21-24.

Taking on his nickname of "Lukey" Youlden for these three endurance races,
this Lukey Performance Exhaust personal sponsorship in 2010 celebrates the
decades of success that has made the Lukey brand a national automotive
industry icon, while paying homage to its founder's gutsy motor racing
exploits. Now owned by Tenneco, one of the world's largest automotive ride
control and exhaust system manufacturers and marketers, Lukey Performance
Exhaust continues to enjoy aftermarket leadership based on the same
principles of quality, performance and value that were introduced decades
before by Len Lukey in his humble Melbourne factory.

The distinctive white, blue and black Lukey Performance Exhaust brand
identity colours and logos will be visible in a newly designed endurance
race helmet used by Youlden at all three 2010 V8 Supercar two-driver
endurance racing events.

Sharing the driving duties at Phillip Island's L & H 500 with one of the V8
Supercar Championship Series' top three V8 Supercar drivers in Mark
Winterbottom, Youlden's chances of taking the Lukey brand back to the
Phillip Island and Bathurst podiums are stronger than ever before. He is
driving one of the series' fastest Falcons paired with one of the series'
fastest drivers. The role carries enormous responsibility for Youlden, while
also being a glowing accolade for his talent behind the wheel.

According to FPR endurance race co-driver Luke "Lukey" Youlden, "It is a
privilege to be the driver who returns the iconic Lukey brand back to where
it all began for this automotive brand both on and off the track. Mark and I
will be working hard to win at Phillip Island, Bathurst and on the streets
of Surfers Paradise and its great to have Lukey Performance Exhaust on board
for what is sure to be an exciting ride."

Roger Lassen, Tenneco Aftermarket Director stated, "The return of the Lukey
Performance Exhaust brand to front line Australian motorsport at Phillip
Island, where the brand's visionary founder had successfully competed and
passionately owned the property makes perfect sense. It marks a return to
the Aussie performance exhaust brand's traditional home. The fact that Luke
shares the same nickname is also a great link. We wish Lukey Youlden and our
Monroe brand sponsored Mark Winterbottom every success in the 2010 V8
Supercar endurance races."

Tradition is on Winterbottom and Youlden's side during this season of
endurance, as during Len Lukey's 1959 Championship winning season, he was
racing a Cooper Bristol bearing the number 5. Winterbottom and Youlden will
also be carrying race number 5 at Phillip Island and in the V8 Supercar
endurance races to follow on their Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon.

[smokinJ]

http://www.marinellipr.com.au/Lukey5.jpg (Image credit - autopics.com.au)
Len Lukey at Phillip Island during his victorious Australian Drivers'
Championship season of 1959 in his number 5 Cooper Bristol race car. On
September 12, 2010 Lukey returns to Phillip Island with Luke Youlden and
Mark Winterbottom in the number 5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon V8 Supercar at the
L&H 500, the first of three major V8 Supercar two-driver endurance races of
the 2010 season.

http://www.marinellipr.com.au/car5side.jpg

Fast forward to 2010 and the number 5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon that Mark
Winterbottom and Lukey Youlden will be racing in the 2010 Season of
Endurance races.

http://www.marinellipr.com.au/lymw.jpg

"Lukey" Youlden (left) and Mark Winterbottom, one of the most formidable V8
Supercar driving combinations competing in the 2010 Season of Endurance
covering the L&H 500 at Phillip Island from September 10-12, the Supercheap
Auto Bathurst 1000 from October 7-10 and the Armor All Gold Coast 600 from
October 21-24.