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“Nature’s Amazing Machines” Shows The Marvels Of Natural Engineering

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Giraffe Visitors will get a chance to see some of the amazing evolutionary adaptations of this animal. A large heart and complex circulatory system keep this mammal alive. © Chris Burt / Shutterstock

DENVER, June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Imagine if you could swim 60 miles an hour, your punch could break through aquarium glass or your ears could act as air conditioners. From the inside out, every living thing is a machine built to move and survive. In the new exhibition “Nature’s Amazing Machines,” opening at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on June 16, the whole family will discover the marvels of natural engineering.

Giraffe Visitors will get a chance to see some of the amazing evolutionary adaptations of this animal. A large heart and complex circulatory system keep this mammal alive. © Chris Burt / Shutterstock

Ever wondered how a giraffe’s heart pumps blood up its long neck or how a cheetah is so fast? How a toucan stays cool in the jungle or how insects breathe without lungs? The biomechanics of how animals and plants stay in one piece despite what appear to be insurmountable challenges are fascinating. Using their biological pumps, pipes, insulation, motors and springs, these creatures endure extreme temperatures, find food against fierce competition, circulate their own life-sustaining fluids and defend against the forces of wind and water and the pull of gravity.

The exhibition, presented in English and Spanish and free with Museum admission, explains these phenomena with real objects, scientific models and engaging activities.

  • Try pumping “blood” from the heart of a life-size giraffe model all the way up to its brain. 
  • Learn to “fly” using two different types of wings.
  • Explore the mechanics of cheetahs and what makes them the world’s fastest land mammal.
  • Try activities to feel the intense grip of a chimpanzee and the strength of a harpy eagle.
  • Discover the stories behind breakthroughs inspired by nature’s ingenuity, such as Velcro, wind turbines and chainsaws.
  • Stand in front of a thermal camera to learn how much heat your body loses compared to animals covered in fur, blubber or feathery down.
  • Find out how toucan beaks and fox ears act as radiators to regulate temperature.
  • Consider the complexities of the human gait as you watch a two-legged robot try to walk.
  • Collect animal trading cards, a new one each month during the exhibition’s run, while supplies last.

This exhibition was developed by The Field Museum in partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, with generous support provided by the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust and ITW.

For more information, visit www.dmns.org/NAM.

MEDIA CONTACT: Maura O’Neal, 303.370.6407, [email protected]

Cheetah Why is the cheetah the fastest land animal? The aerodynamic snout, the long, skinny tail for balance, claws that never retract provide extra traction, and a spine that curls under for extra reach. © The Field Museum, Z95153_32Bd

 

Pileated Woodpecker A Pileated Woodpecker can withstand a great magnitude of force when pecking. Exhibition

 

Saw Whet Owl Strong talons and sensitive vision make this night predator a hunting machine. But its uneven ears are what give it a unique advantage in total darkness. © Ron Austing | WildNaturePhotos

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519933/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Giraffe.jpg

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519936/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Cheetah.jpg

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519937/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Pileated_Woodpecker.jpg

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519938/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Saw_Whet_Owl.jpg

SOURCE Denver Museum of Nature & Science

“Nature’s Amazing Machines” Shows The Marvels Of Natural Engineering

0
Giraffe Visitors will get a chance to see some of the amazing evolutionary adaptations of this animal. A large heart and complex circulatory system keep this mammal alive. © Chris Burt / Shutterstock

DENVER, June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Imagine if you could swim 60 miles an hour, your punch could break through aquarium glass or your ears could act as air conditioners. From the inside out, every living thing is a machine built to move and survive. In the new exhibition “Nature’s Amazing Machines,” opening at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on June 16, the whole family will discover the marvels of natural engineering.

Giraffe Visitors will get a chance to see some of the amazing evolutionary adaptations of this animal. A large heart and complex circulatory system keep this mammal alive. © Chris Burt / Shutterstock

Ever wondered how a giraffe’s heart pumps blood up its long neck or how a cheetah is so fast? How a toucan stays cool in the jungle or how insects breathe without lungs? The biomechanics of how animals and plants stay in one piece despite what appear to be insurmountable challenges are fascinating. Using their biological pumps, pipes, insulation, motors and springs, these creatures endure extreme temperatures, find food against fierce competition, circulate their own life-sustaining fluids and defend against the forces of wind and water and the pull of gravity.

The exhibition, presented in English and Spanish and free with Museum admission, explains these phenomena with real objects, scientific models and engaging activities.

  • Try pumping “blood” from the heart of a life-size giraffe model all the way up to its brain. 
  • Learn to “fly” using two different types of wings.
  • Explore the mechanics of cheetahs and what makes them the world’s fastest land mammal.
  • Try activities to feel the intense grip of a chimpanzee and the strength of a harpy eagle.
  • Discover the stories behind breakthroughs inspired by nature’s ingenuity, such as Velcro, wind turbines and chainsaws.
  • Stand in front of a thermal camera to learn how much heat your body loses compared to animals covered in fur, blubber or feathery down.
  • Find out how toucan beaks and fox ears act as radiators to regulate temperature.
  • Consider the complexities of the human gait as you watch a two-legged robot try to walk.
  • Collect animal trading cards, a new one each month during the exhibition’s run, while supplies last.

This exhibition was developed by The Field Museum in partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, with generous support provided by the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust and ITW.

For more information, visit www.dmns.org/NAM.

MEDIA CONTACT: Maura O’Neal, 303.370.6407, [email protected]

Cheetah Why is the cheetah the fastest land animal? The aerodynamic snout, the long, skinny tail for balance, claws that never retract provide extra traction, and a spine that curls under for extra reach. © The Field Museum, Z95153_32Bd

 

Pileated Woodpecker A Pileated Woodpecker can withstand a great magnitude of force when pecking. Exhibition

 

Saw Whet Owl Strong talons and sensitive vision make this night predator a hunting machine. But its uneven ears are what give it a unique advantage in total darkness. © Ron Austing | WildNaturePhotos

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519933/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Giraffe.jpg

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519936/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Cheetah.jpg

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519937/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Pileated_Woodpecker.jpg

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519938/Denver_Museum_of_Nature_and_Science___Saw_Whet_Owl.jpg

SOURCE Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Miller Lite® Conciertos Originales Returns With Calibre 50, Yandel, Moderatto And Other Award-Winning Artists

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CHICAGO, June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Miller Lite Conciertos Originales, the ongoing, free Latin music concert series, enters its fourth year bigger and better, spanning seven cities with even more chart-topping Latin artists. After an exciting Miami kickoff in April headlined by Billboard Latin Music Award-winning duo Zion & Lennox, Conciertos Originales is hitting the road again from June through December with various artists, starting with the best-selling Mexican group Calibre 50 in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

The concert series, which is free for those 21 and older, offers fans of Latin music a unique concert experience that brings them closer to the internationally known artists they love. With more than 15 concerts taking place in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, McAllen, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas, fans can expect to enjoy a wide range of Latin music genres, including urban, tropical, regional Mexican and rock.

“Over the last three years, we have been curating concerts that offer Latin music fans an experience where they can enjoy their favorite artists and hold true to their passion,” said Juan Boido, associate marketing manager for Miller Lite. “Not only are we featuring amazing talent, but we’re making these concerts fun and engaging with meet-and-greets, VIP perks and interactive video generators that fans can experience with friends.”

This year Miller Lite is once again partnering with the award-winning regional Mexican quartet Calibre 50, who was nominated for three Billboard Latin Music Awards this year.

“We’re excited to return to Miller Lite’s Conciertos Originales and to participate in more concerts in the series,” said Eden Muñoz, lead vocalist for Calibre 50. “We had an amazing experience in Dallas in 2015 and we’re ready to bring that energy back to Texas this summer.”

Also joining Conciertos Originales’ extensive artist lineup are Latin GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist Yandel and the popular Mexican rock band Moderatto, both of which will headline concerts in Chicago this year.

Entry to each concert is free on a first-come, first-served basis up to venue capacity for those 21 and over. Most concerts will award a limited number of VIP passes and opportunities to meet-and-greet the headlining artist. Fans can tune into local radio stations in each participating city for more details throughout the series.

For more information on Miller Lite, visit www.MillerLite.com or www.Facebook.com/MillerLite and follow @MillerLite on Twitter, and @millerlite on Instagram.

About Miller Brewing Company
Miller Brewing Company was founded in 1855 by Frederick J. Miller when he purchased the Plank Road Brewery in Milwaukee, a city he chose as the best place for a brewery given its access to great water. Miller Lite, the original great-tasting light pilsner beer, (MillerLite.com, Facebook.com/MillerLite, @MillerLite on Twitter, YouTube.com/MillerLite) was introduced nationally in 1975 and is among the top-five selling beers in the United States. The brewery’s oldest enduring beer is Miller High Life (MillerHighLife.com, Facebook.com/MillerHighLife, @MillerHighLife on Twitter). Known as the Champagne of Beers, it was introduced in 1903 and still is brewed with the same yeast strain that Miller carried in his pocket from Germany. Miller Genuine Draft (MGD.com, Facebook.com/MillerGenuineDraft, @Miller_Global on Twitter), introduced in 1986, is the original cold-filtered, packaged draft beer. Miller Brewing Company operates in the United States and Puerto Rico as part of MillerCoors, a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at Facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519949/Miller_Lite_Can.jpg

 

SOURCE Miller Lite

New Mobile App Changes How Foreign Nationals Apply for Mortgage Financing

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MIAMI, June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —  Miami-based commercial and residential mortgage lender The Q Kapital Group Corp. has launched a mobile app to better serve its international clientele. The Q Kapital specializes in mortgages for foreign national buyers interested in purchasing commercial or residential properties in Miami, Florida and New York; the app facilitates the application process for both domestic and international buyers of real estate in the U.S.A.

The app, searchable as “Q Kapital” and categorized under finance, allows users to submit required documentation that initiates the mortgage application process via their mobile devices. It makes applying for a mortgage faster and easier thanks to its user-friendly design and intuitive functionality.

“Our objective is to simplify the mortgage application process,” said President and founder Mauricio Ordoñez. “We created this app so foreign national buyers can apply for mortgage financing from anywhere in the world in a secure way. This expedites the process tremendously.”

Foreign national buyers from Latin America, Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa interested in luxury residences, commercial properties or income-producing assets like multi-family homes or hotels tend to believe they can only acquire U.S. properties with cash. However, mortgage credit for commercial and residential properties in Miami and New York is indeed available to them via direct lenders like Q Kapital.

Co-founder Gaston Schneider added, “The mortgage process shouldn’t be complicated. Now that virtually everyone is accessible via mobile, buyers can use our app from anywhere worldwide and see how much financing is available to them within seconds. It’s a fantastic tool that we’re proud to say is also free.”

Apple: http://apple.co/2mth4hb
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2nt6it0

About The Q Kapital Group

Based in Miami and celebrating their 10th anniversary, Q Kapital is a direct mortgage lender with a focus on foreign national clients. Q Kapital provides loans to buyers purchasing commercial or residential properties in Florida and New York. Originally from Colombia and Argentina, respectively, co-founders Mauricio Ordoñez and Gaston Schneider understand the challenges of buying property in the U.S. as international buyers. They can explain the requirements of the U.S. banks thoroughly and facilitate mortgage financing for international buyers, U.S. citizens and residents.

Source: https://www.theqkapitalgroup.com/new-mobile-app-changes-foreign-nationals-apply-mortgage-financing/

Mauricio Ordoñez
(305) 705-0080
[email protected]

SOURCE The Q Kapital Group

31st Annual Leadership & Legacy Awards Luncheon

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LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — National Association of Women Business Owners Los Angeles Chapter (NAWBO-LA) is pleased to announce its honorees for its 31st Annual Leadership and Legacy Awards Luncheon set for June 16, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Beverly Hilton.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519808/NAMBO_LA_Luncheon.jpg

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) was founded in 1975. Today, the organization has over 5,000 members and 60 chapters across the country and serves as the premiere voice of America’s 13 million women entrepreneurs across all industries.

NAWBO-LA is a leading and innovative chapter of NAWBO since its inception in 1979 in the entrepreneurial capital of Los Angeles. We annually recognize outstanding business and community leaders for their distinct leadership and contributions to empowering women business owners.

“We are proud to support our city’s women entrepreneurs with resources, connections and inspiration. This June, we are pleased to celebrate this year’s honorees. We look forward to continuing to strengthen a community of fellow aspiring women business owners, dreamers and successors,” said Hilary Lentini, owner of Lentini Design & Marketing, Inc. and outgoing President of NAWBO-LA.

NAWBO-LA’s Incoming President, Schenae Rourk, owner of RedwoodResources.net shared, “These honorees inspire each of us to grow and continue to lead the charge in women empowerment with a resounding collective voice that is heard throughout the region, the state and the nation. As we begin our journey together for the next two years, we look forward to celebrating every member, every supporter, every ambassador as we continue to grow the chapter and continue to raise our hands proclaiming our seat at the table.”

The highly anticipated luncheon will be hosted by Pat Harvey, co-anchor of CBS2’s 5, 6 and 11 pm broadcasts. In addition to her anchoring duties, Harvey has appeared nationally as a guest-co-host on the CBS Television Network daytime show, “The Talk.”

NAWBO-LA’s 31st Annual Leadership & Legacy Awards honorees are selected on the basis of their entrepreneurial leadership and community inspiration. This year’s list represents the best of Los Angeles.

This year’s list honorees are:

  • TRAILBLAZER – Deborah Flint, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
  • ENTREPRENEUR – Ariana Stein, Co-Founder, Lil’ Libros
  • INNOVATORS – Sarah Heering and Angel Anderson, Co-Founders, NailSnaps
  • LEADERSHIP – Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, Co-Founder, Berkhemer Clayton, Inc.
  • LEADERSHIP – Renee Fraser, Founder, Fraser Communications

NAWBO-LA appreciates the value of building sustainable partnerships with individuals and organizations that align themselves with its mission of propelling women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of influence. These partnerships immensely improve the personal and professional lives of our members and the communities they live in. This, in turn, strengthens the wealth-creating capacity of our members, promotes economic development within the entrepreneurial community, and helps make innovative and effective changes in the business culture. NAWBO-LA builds strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations, transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers.

Although still a work in progress, this year’s Leadership & Legacy Awards Luncheon is thus far sponsored by the following individuals and organizations:

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch

SILVER SPONSORS:

• Union Bank

• SoCalGas

BRONZE SPONSORS:

• Southern California Edison

• Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)

• Northrop Grumman

• AEG

• Metropolitan Water District (MWD)

• HP

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

• Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

• LADWP

• GoDaddy

MEDIA SPONSOR:

• Redwood Resources

• DiversityComm, Inc.

NAWBO-LA is proud to call these individuals and organizations our partners and is grateful for their continued support in promoting the success of women business owners and the entrepreneurial spirit.

If you or your organization would like to sponsor this event, please email [email protected] or call (213) 622- 3200.

To purchase tickets, tables and ads, please call (213) 622-3200.

Date & Time: Friday, June 16, 201711:00 am3:00 pm
Place: Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90210

For more information on this event, please email [email protected] or call (213) 622-3200.

SOURCE NAWBO-LA

Rahal, Honda Dominate in Detroit

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Graham Rahal and Honda swept both races of the IndyCar Series double header weekend in Detroit.

DETROIT, June 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Despite a late-race red flag, Graham Rahal and Honda completed a dominant performance Sunday in Detroit, as Rahal became the first driver to win both races of the Verizon IndyCar Series double header weekend on the Motor City’s Belle Isle Park temporary street circuit.

Graham Rahal and Honda swept both races of the IndyCar Series double header weekend in Detroit.

After leading a 1-2-3 victory podium sweep for Honda in Saturday’s opening 70-lap contest, Rahal scored his second win of the weekend today in an entirely different manner.  Starting third in his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, Rahal first had to get past fellow Honda driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, making an outside pass in Turn One to move into second.

Rahal then jumped ahead of early race leader Takuma Sato during the first round of pit stops, taking over the lead on Lap 23.  Rahal, running the race on two scheduled pit stops, then traded the lead with Josef Newgarden, quickest of the three-stoppers, throughout the middle stages of the 70-lap contest.

After all stops were completed on Lap 55, Rahal held a commanding, 15-second lead over Newgarden.  However, a mechanical failure for Spencer Pigot on Lap 66 resulted in a major fluid spill in Turn 3, and race officials halted the race with a Red Flag.  The race restarted after a 20-minute cleanup, with two laps to go, and Rahal immediately pulled out a two-second advantage over Newgarden at the checkers to score his sixth career Indy car victory.

Although unable to contend for the victory, last weekend’s Indianapolis 500 winner Sato went on to finish fourth as his impressive first season at Andretti Autosport continues.  After being delayed by a malfunctioning fuel probe during his first pit stop, Scott Dixon recovered to finish sixth and maintain an eight-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship over Helio Castroneves.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda racing activities in Detroit, including this weekend’s pair of Honda Indy car victories and Saturday’s Acura NSX GT3 IMSA sports car race win, are available on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV

Indy car’s five-week run of consecutive May-June event weekends concludes next week, as the series heads south to Dallas-Fort Worth for Round Nine, the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday night, June 10.

Graham Rahal (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) started 1st, finished 1st, completed a weekend sweep of both IndyCar Series races for Honda: “Once again, we got a win for Honda and there are a lot of happy people right now.  I didn’t think [Josef] Newgarden had anything for us as long as we had a clean track. The marbles were really bad, so those last two laps were ugly. But we won. It was a spectacular weekend for us and a great weekend for our family.”

Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 8th, finished 6th, leads Drivers’ Championship standings after 8 of 17 races: “The problem on the [first] pit stop really hurt us today. I think there was a problem with the fuel probe, and normally we’re really good in that area. That issue cost us some crucial time and we tried to play ‘catch-up’ after that. I think Newgarden finished second, and we were ahead of him [on the track] before that [issue in the pits]. It was unfortunate how it played out, but all-in-all, it was a decent [championship] points day today.”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race and weekend victory sweep: “This series is so competitive, it is extremely rare when a driver and team combine to dominate a weekend as Graham [Rahal] did here in Detroit.  Combined with our win at last week’s Indianapolis 500, yesterday’s historic first victory for the Acura NSX GT3 in sports car racing, and our 1-2-3 IndyCar sweep on Saturday, it’s been a very memorable eight days for everyone at Honda Performance Development.  Congratulations to Graham, to Scott [Dixon] for a gritty effort in both races, and to Takuma for coming off a hectic Indy 500 ‘Champion’s Tour’ to perform very well this weekend.”

Verizon IndyCar Series Detroit Grand Prix

Circuit:

Belle Isle Park (2.35-mile temporary street circuit) Detroit, Mich.

2016 Winners:

Sebastien Bourdais (KV Racing) 97.857 mph average, Race 1, Saturday

Will Power (Team Penske) 96.414 mph average, Race 2, Sunday

Weather:

Sunny, hot, 85 degrees F

 

Top-10 Race Results:

Fn.

St.

Driver     

Team

Manufacturer

Laps

Notes

1.

3.

Graham Rahal

Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Honda

70

105.442 mph average speed

2.

13.

Josef Newgarden

Team Penske

Chevrolet

70

+1.1772 seconds

3.

7.

Will Power

Team Penske

Chevrolet

70

4.

1.

Takuma Sato

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

70

5.

11.

Simon Pagenaud

Team Penske

Chevrolet

70

6.

8.

Scott Dixon

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

70

7.

14.

Alexander Rossi

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

70

8.

12.

Charlie Kimball

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

70

9.

4.

Helio Castroneves

Team Penske

Chevrolet

70

10.

15.

Tony Kanaan

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

70

Other Honda Results

13.

9.

Marco Andretti

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

70

Running

14.

19.

Esteban Gutierrez-R

Dale Coyne Racing

Honda  

70

Running

15.

16.

Max Chilton

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

69

Running

16.

6.

Mikhail Aleshin

Schmidt Peterson Mtspts

Honda

69

Running

17.

2.

Ryan Hunter-Reay

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

69

Running

19.

20.

Oriol Servia

Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Honda

69

Running

20.

5.

James Hinchcliffe

Schmidt Peterson Mtspts

Honda

65

Did not finish – mechanical

22.

17.

Ed Jones-R

Dale Coyne Racing

Honda

60

Did not finish – off course  

 

Honda Racing HPD Logo.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519434/Graham_Rahal_and_Honda.jpg  
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

 

SOURCE Honda Racing

Acura Wins in the Motor City

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Michael Shank Racing drivers Katherine Legge, left, and Andy Lally celebrate the first victory of the Acura NSX GT3 in international sports car racing Saturday in Detroit, Michigan.

DETROIT, June 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A strong qualifying performance and fast opening stint from Katherine Legge, followed by a quick pit stop by the Michael Shank Racing team and successful closing run by co-driver Andy Lally, netted the first victory for the Acura NSX GT3 in international sports car racing Saturday on the Belle Isle Park temporary street circuit in Detroit, Michigan.

Michael Shank Racing drivers Katherine Legge, left, and Andy Lally celebrate the first victory of the Acura NSX GT3 in international sports car racing Saturday in Detroit, Michigan.

Starting second in the GTD category after posting the best qualifying performance of the season for the NSX GT3, Legge completed a strong opening drive in the #93 Acura, pulling away from the rest of the field between encounters with slower traffic.

A caution just past the 30-minute mark resulted in most teams heading to pit lane for their single stop and driver change in the 100-minute contest.  When Legge pitted the #93 Acura, her Michael Shank Racing team elected to change only two tires during the stop, enabling co-driver Lally to resume in the lead.

When the green flag waved with just over an hour remaining, Lally held off a challenge from the Ferrari of Alesandro Balzan, then pulled away in the closing laps to take the checkers just over two and a half seconds clear of the GTD field.

Acura and the MSR team came close to a double-podium result in Detroit.  The #86 Acura NSX GT3 of Jeff Segal and Oswaldo “Ozz” Negri ran as high as third before late-race contact from a following GTD car sent Segal briefly off-line, costing him two positions.

Starting at the rear of the 15-car GTD field after a crash in practice on Friday, Negri moved the #86 car up to 12th prior to pitting and handing off to co-driver Segal.  In another dramatic strategy call, the MSR team elected to make the stop for driver and fuel only, saving time in pit lane by keeping the same tires on the #86 NSX and gaining six positions in the process. 

Segal then moved up three more positions early in his run, and attempted to hold on to third place in the closing laps.  But, with just over two laps remaining, contact from the following Lamborghini of Madison Snow briefly sent Segal off-line, and he fell back to fifth at the checkers.  Still, the 1/5 finish for Acura and the Michael Shank Racing team today is the best combined result for the NSX GT-3 since it debuted in the season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway in January.

Competing in the GTD class of the sports car racing championship, the NSX GT3s race against premium automotive brands including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

Developed from the production Acura NSX, the NSX GT3 utilizes the production NSX’s ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body with aluminum-intensive space frame, which is produced at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, exclusive worldwide manufacturing facility for the NSX. The 3.5-liter racing engine uses the same design specifications as the production Acura NSX, including the block, heads, valve train, crankshaft, pistons and dry-sump lubrication system. A six-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox delivers power to the rear wheels.

Video recaps from this weekend’s activities at Detroit, including today’s Acura victory and two Verizon IndyCar Series races, are being posted on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found in the HPD Trackside Video Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV

After the second of two, temporary street circuit sprint races on the 2017 schedule, the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship returns to endurance events on classic road courses for the remainder of the season. The series resumes July 3 with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen International Raceway in upstate New York, the third round of the series-within-a-series Tequila Patron North American Endurance Championship.

Andy Lally (Driver, Michael Shank Racing #93 Acura NSX GT3) GTD race winner at Detroit: “I’m pretty happy. Acura did an amazing job. Michael Shank Racing has done a great job all year. Everyone from HPD have been full-tilt on this program. We’ve had quite an up-and-down year. We’ve had some things go wrong at bad times, but today, everything went right. I’m so happy for these guys. Katherine [Legge] did an amazing job. She helped me get faster this weekend. I was junk [at the start of the weekend], but I found some things she was doing and applied it to what I was doing. Our engineers did a great job, we just put our heads down and drove the car. Hats off to Katherine for putting us in the right position to come out in front. She did an amazing job. I told the guys, ‘we have a really well-balanced car.’ You’re going to [abuse] the back tires here. But you can balance the car with the throttle, so having a neutral car is huge. That was what was critical for us here. Remember, this is [just] the fifth race for Acura in IMSA, so to come in first shows how critical the development of the car is, and how far we’ve progressed in a short time.”

Katherine Legge (Driver, Michael Shank Racing #93 Acura NSX GT3) GTD race winner at Detroit: “It’s a testament to the team, to everyone at Michael Shank Racing, Acura and HPD. They gave us a car that was capable of winning. This is a brand-new car, and the program has come so far in six months. The team has really been working hard to improve the car between each race. We’ve been strong, [finishing in the] points [in previous races], but today, we put it all together. Today was the longest hour of my life, watching Andy [Lally] drive. I was telepathically talking to him. It was harder to watch [him] than actually drive. ‘Thank you’ to everyone who has given us a chance to put together this car and this ride. In 2013, I drove with HPD in the Indy 500, and it started our relationship. I wanted to be part of their program. So it is really special [to have] everything working out. The [#86 team car] was running third, and we were going to be first and third until they got pushed out by another car. I felt so bad for Ozz [Negri] and Jeff [Segal]. We felt crushed for them. We were really hoping to be on the podium with them today. We were so looking forward for their finish.” 

Michael Shank (Owner, Michael Shank Racing) on today’s victory: “I’m just so grateful that our team gets the win for the Acura brand today. You could almost feel it around this place, everyone was really, really calm before the race, it was almost too quiet! We are really making advancements on the car and I am just so thrilled for the team. Everyone from the drivers, to the crew guys, to the engineers, everyone did what they needed to today.”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s first victory for the Acura NSX GT3: “They always say the first win is the hardest, and this one was no exception.  Thinking back to all the hard work of Honda Performance Development, Honda R&D Japan, Honda R&D in Ohio and the Performance Manufacturing Center [where the NSX is built], this is truly a group win.  Congratulations to Mike Shank and everyone at Michael Shank Racing, including Katherine and Andy, our winning drivers.  This is one to enjoy, and the hopefully the first of many to come.”

Acura Logo

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/519375/Acura_Motorsports_Michael_Shank_Racing_Win.jpg 
Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458749/acura_logo.jpg

SOURCE Acura Motorsports

Westin Hotels & Resorts Salutes The Early Rising Running Community

0
National RunWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler leads a run, up before the sun with the brand’s new reflective gear lending. (PRNewsfoto/Marriott International, Inc.)

BETHESDA, Md., June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In celebration of Global Running Day, Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), today announced an addition to the brand’s game-changing Gear Lending program, which offers guests access to New Balance® shoes and workout apparel during their stay for only $5.00 USD or the local currency equivalent. For the month of June, reflective wristbands and light-up sneaker clips will be included in the Gear Lending offering, allowing guests to pack light, stay fit, and now, rise earlier.

National RunWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler leads a run, up before the sun with the brand’s new reflective gear lending. (PRNewsfoto/Marriott International, Inc.)

“Travelers today are over-scheduled and always-on; in response, we are seeing people realign their priorities to put their well-being first,” said Brian Povinelli, SVP and Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Whether at home or on the road, often the only time guests have for themselves is the morning.  Fueled by our guests’ passion for running and the brand’s promise to empower travelers to move well, we hope this extension to our Gear Lending program will inspire travelers to rise early and own their morning on Global Running Day and beyond.”

Global Study Sees a Surge in Travelers Sweating Before Sunrise
With less time and more disruptors on the road, 3 in 4 people have trouble maintaining their wellness routine while traveling: sleeping less and exercising less with increased stress levels, even when on vacation.  In response, guests around the globe are increasingly getting up before the sun to own their morning through well-being and regaining control of their routines on the road.

A global study conducted in partnership with StudyLogic revealed that almost 40% of global respondents are most in control of their wellness routine between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Surprisingly, nearly 25% of respondents specified that they are most in control between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. And many of those wellness routines include running: 45% of global respondents intend to run while traveling.

“As someone who travels throughout the world bringing to life the brand’s renowned running program, I have never met a guest who wakes up early to run and regrets it,” said Chris Heuisler, National RunWESTIN™ Concierge.  “There is magic in the early morning hours that fosters a sense of comradery, broadens your perspective and reframes your day. With a strong commitment to the running community, we are delighted to shine a new light on running for travelers and support an event that has quickly become a global phenomenon celebrated around the world.”

Rise & Shine: Westin Hotels & Resorts Celebrate Global Running Day around the World
Today the brand boasts nearly 200 Run Concierges globally, who host group runs for guests and encourage runners of all levels to grab a runWESTIN™ map and explore their destination. Whether it is millennials, who view fitness activities to be more social than competitive; business travelers who are shifting their preference from country clubs to running clubs; or even honeymooners, who are increasingly running together as a way to decompress, disconnect and be a tourist at the same time; Westin continues to evolve its offerings to support the running community.

To celebrate Global Running Day, Westin hotels around the world will host empowering runs enlisting guests and associates to rise early and own their morning. Equipped with the brand’s new reflective gear, Run Concierges will lead runners through the scenic routes of cities, along beachfronts and amid rural landscapes to experience sunrise through Westin’s well-being lens.

In “the City that Never Sleeps,” guests and locals will hit the pavement before Manhattan wakes up with a run beginning at The Westin New York at Times Square, along the scenic Westside Highway and culminating with a fresh and refueling breakfast downtown.  In Mexico, the newly built Westin Cozumel has partnered with New Balance Ambassador and Olympic Medalist Ismael Hernandez to lead an inspiring morning run along the coastal beach town; while in Germany, The Westin Hamburg has partnered with Mourad Bekakcha, the fastest runner in the region, to run and train with travelers along the waterfront of the famed port city.

Many Westin hotels around the world will join the celebration in markets including: Austin, Beijing, Boston, Costa Rica, Cairo, Cape Town, Vancouver and Jakarta among others.

Brand Campaign Challenges Travelers: “Will You Get Up, or Will You Rise?”
This initiative follows on the heels of the brand’s launch of its new multi-million-dollar campaign, Let’s Rise, which takes on the disruptions, distractions and unpredictability of travel while empowering travelers to embrace well-being as a way to regain control of their routines and be their best while on the road.

Because morning is the first and best opportunity to take control of the day ahead, the campaign uses morning light as a consistent creative device to speak to the potential that the morning holds. Overall, the campaign calls consumers to answer a simple question, “Will you get up, or will you rise?”  The Let’s Rise mantra will continue to serve as an anchor for the wellness programs and partnerships that roll out for guests and associates throughout the year. 

To learn more about Westin and its fitness offerings visit westin.com/letsrise or westin.com/movewell.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, a leader in wellness and hospitality for more than a decade, lives its philosophy “Empowering a Better You™” through the brand’s Six Pillars of Well-Being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. At more than 200 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience offerings that include the iconic Heavenly® Bed, RunWESTIN™ and Westin Gear Lending with New Balance®, delicious and nutritious SuperFoodsRx™ and more.  To learn more, visit www.westin.com. Stay connected to Westin: @westin on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Westin.

Study Methodology
This study is based on a survey conducted by STUDYLOGIC LLC via telephone of approximately 8,000 respondents ages 25-64 with household incomes of $75,000 or above from 6 different areas: North America (the United States and Canada), Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and China.  This summary report is based on the responses of all 7,968 respondents.  Summary charts showing the breakdown of gender, age, and income, broken down by geographic area, are included at the end of this report.  The survey consisted of thirty-two questions including identifiers and sub-questions. Interviews were conducted between October 1st and October 15th, 2016. The survey averaged 30 minutes in length and contains a margin of error of +/-3%.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world’s largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 6,100 properties in 124 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl.

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/518802/Marriott_International_National_RunWESTIN_Concierge.jpg  

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/518803/Marriott_Westin_Reflective_Gear.jpg 

Beginning on Global Running Day through the month of June, Westin will add reflective accessories to the brand’s Gear Lending program in response to a growing global demand among travelers, who are sweating before sunrise. (PRNewsfoto/Marriott International, Inc.)

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

Westin Hotels & Resorts Salutes The Early Rising Running Community

0
National RunWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler leads a run, up before the sun with the brand’s new reflective gear lending. (PRNewsfoto/Marriott International, Inc.)

BETHESDA, Md., June 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In celebration of Global Running Day, Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), today announced an addition to the brand’s game-changing Gear Lending program, which offers guests access to New Balance® shoes and workout apparel during their stay for only $5.00 USD or the local currency equivalent. For the month of June, reflective wristbands and light-up sneaker clips will be included in the Gear Lending offering, allowing guests to pack light, stay fit, and now, rise earlier.

National RunWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler leads a run, up before the sun with the brand’s new reflective gear lending. (PRNewsfoto/Marriott International, Inc.)

“Travelers today are over-scheduled and always-on; in response, we are seeing people realign their priorities to put their well-being first,” said Brian Povinelli, SVP and Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Whether at home or on the road, often the only time guests have for themselves is the morning.  Fueled by our guests’ passion for running and the brand’s promise to empower travelers to move well, we hope this extension to our Gear Lending program will inspire travelers to rise early and own their morning on Global Running Day and beyond.”

Global Study Sees a Surge in Travelers Sweating Before Sunrise
With less time and more disruptors on the road, 3 in 4 people have trouble maintaining their wellness routine while traveling: sleeping less and exercising less with increased stress levels, even when on vacation.  In response, guests around the globe are increasingly getting up before the sun to own their morning through well-being and regaining control of their routines on the road.

A global study conducted in partnership with StudyLogic revealed that almost 40% of global respondents are most in control of their wellness routine between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Surprisingly, nearly 25% of respondents specified that they are most in control between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. And many of those wellness routines include running: 45% of global respondents intend to run while traveling.

“As someone who travels throughout the world bringing to life the brand’s renowned running program, I have never met a guest who wakes up early to run and regrets it,” said Chris Heuisler, National RunWESTIN™ Concierge.  “There is magic in the early morning hours that fosters a sense of comradery, broadens your perspective and reframes your day. With a strong commitment to the running community, we are delighted to shine a new light on running for travelers and support an event that has quickly become a global phenomenon celebrated around the world.”

Rise & Shine: Westin Hotels & Resorts Celebrate Global Running Day around the World
Today the brand boasts nearly 200 Run Concierges globally, who host group runs for guests and encourage runners of all levels to grab a runWESTIN™ map and explore their destination. Whether it is millennials, who view fitness activities to be more social than competitive; business travelers who are shifting their preference from country clubs to running clubs; or even honeymooners, who are increasingly running together as a way to decompress, disconnect and be a tourist at the same time; Westin continues to evolve its offerings to support the running community.

To celebrate Global Running Day, Westin hotels around the world will host empowering runs enlisting guests and associates to rise early and own their morning. Equipped with the brand’s new reflective gear, Run Concierges will lead runners through the scenic routes of cities, along beachfronts and amid rural landscapes to experience sunrise through Westin’s well-being lens.

In “the City that Never Sleeps,” guests and locals will hit the pavement before Manhattan wakes up with a run beginning at The Westin New York at Times Square, along the scenic Westside Highway and culminating with a fresh and refueling breakfast downtown.  In Mexico, the newly built Westin Cozumel has partnered with New Balance Ambassador and Olympic Medalist Ismael Hernandez to lead an inspiring morning run along the coastal beach town; while in Germany, The Westin Hamburg has partnered with Mourad Bekakcha, the fastest runner in the region, to run and train with travelers along the waterfront of the famed port city.

Many Westin hotels around the world will join the celebration in markets including: Austin, Beijing, Boston, Costa Rica, Cairo, Cape Town, Vancouver and Jakarta among others.

Brand Campaign Challenges Travelers: “Will You Get Up, or Will You Rise?”
This initiative follows on the heels of the brand’s launch of its new multi-million-dollar campaign, Let’s Rise, which takes on the disruptions, distractions and unpredictability of travel while empowering travelers to embrace well-being as a way to regain control of their routines and be their best while on the road.

Because morning is the first and best opportunity to take control of the day ahead, the campaign uses morning light as a consistent creative device to speak to the potential that the morning holds. Overall, the campaign calls consumers to answer a simple question, “Will you get up, or will you rise?”  The Let’s Rise mantra will continue to serve as an anchor for the wellness programs and partnerships that roll out for guests and associates throughout the year. 

To learn more about Westin and its fitness offerings visit westin.com/letsrise or westin.com/movewell.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, a leader in wellness and hospitality for more than a decade, lives its philosophy “Empowering a Better You™” through the brand’s Six Pillars of Well-Being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. At more than 200 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience offerings that include the iconic Heavenly® Bed, RunWESTIN™ and Westin Gear Lending with New Balance®, delicious and nutritious SuperFoodsRx™ and more.  To learn more, visit www.westin.com. Stay connected to Westin: @westin on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Westin.

Study Methodology
This study is based on a survey conducted by STUDYLOGIC LLC via telephone of approximately 8,000 respondents ages 25-64 with household incomes of $75,000 or above from 6 different areas: North America (the United States and Canada), Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and China.  This summary report is based on the responses of all 7,968 respondents.  Summary charts showing the breakdown of gender, age, and income, broken down by geographic area, are included at the end of this report.  The survey consisted of thirty-two questions including identifiers and sub-questions. Interviews were conducted between October 1st and October 15th, 2016. The survey averaged 30 minutes in length and contains a margin of error of +/-3%.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world’s largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 6,100 properties in 124 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl.

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/518802/Marriott_International_National_RunWESTIN_Concierge.jpg  

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/518803/Marriott_Westin_Reflective_Gear.jpg 

Beginning on Global Running Day through the month of June, Westin will add reflective accessories to the brand’s Gear Lending program in response to a growing global demand among travelers, who are sweating before sunrise. (PRNewsfoto/Marriott International, Inc.)

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.