Friddle: What car first featured three-point seat belts?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: In which U.S. city did brothers Fred and August Duesenberg found Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc.?

Last Week’s Friddle: Des Moines, Iowa

Jasper Engines and Transmissions broke ground September 8th on a 41,250 square foot expansion to its Crawford County facility.

Upon its projected completion in March 2011, the Crawford facility will have increased in size to over 408,000 square feet under roof.

The expansion will allow the space needed to merge Jasper Innovative Solutions with the company’s Distribution operations for a more efficient flow of finished product, along with allowing both departments to grow.

“Over the past six months we have added over 45 new jobs to our Crawford Operation,” said Doug Bawel, JASPER President and CEO. “With this new expansion, we will add a minimum of ten additional jobs, along with room for needed growth.”

The Crawford County facility is located approximately 40 miles east of Jasper. Originally constructed in 1998 for the purpose of core processing, the Crawford County facility has evolved into a complete remanufacturing operation in the disassembly, machining, assembly and testing of gas engines, transmissions, transfer cases and select manual transmissions.

JASPER’s Product Distribution Center opened at Crawford County in 2000. Nearly 600 JASPER remanufactured products are shipped from the Distribution Center each day to a network of 40 branch locations throughout the United States. The Distribution Center is also the primary location for the unloading, tagging and identification of cores and miscellaneous product from the branch locations.

Jasper Innovative Solutions, a sister company to JASPER, moved to the Crawford County facility in 2008. JIS is a supplier of vehicle parts to the United States Postal Service Vehicle Maintenance Facilities.

Friddle: In which U.S. city did brothers Fred and August Duesenberg found Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc.?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: In what year did Porsche introduce the mid-engine Boxster (986)?

Last Week’s Friddle: The first-generation Boxster was introduced in late 1996 as a 1997 model.

You trusted us for the engine, now let us help make the installation easier, with a custom-packaged parts kit from Jasper Engines & Transmissions.

Depending upon the type of engine, a JASPER custom-packaged parts kit includes all of the belts and radiator hoses, along with a mechanical fuel pump if applicable, water pump, thermostat, radiator cap, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, breather filter, spark plugs, plug wires, rotor, distributor cap and PCV valve.

As you already know, JASPER custom-packaged parts kits offer you many convenient benefits, such as a savings over individually-priced parts and the convenience of ordering parts at the time you order your engine.  Plus, JASPER provides an exclusive warranty of up to 3 years/ 100,000 miles on gasoline engine applications.  Of course, the warranty applies when the kit is purchased with a JASPER remanufactured engine.

From time to time, JASPER likes to add special “prizes” to the parts kits.  It’s like digging for the prize at the bottom of the cereal box.  Sometimes the prize might be a JASPER pen, a JASPER keychain, or a JASPER bottle cooler.  Our Associates will also randomly package retail gift cards inside the parts kits, in amounts of $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500.  JASPER custom-packed parts kits - not only do they allow you a fast, hassle-free installation, they can put a little something in your pocket, as well. They are the perfect way to finish off a fast, hassle-free installation.

For more information on these and other JASPER remanufactured products, contact us at 1-800-827-7455 or visit www.jasperengines.com.

Friddle: In what year did Porsche introduce the mid-engine Boxster (986)?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: What non all-terrain production car was the first to feature AWD and ABS?

Last Week’s Friddle: Jensen FF

A Giant who walked humbly and lived among us in a quiet, gentle, loving, caring manner guiding and teaching us to be Servants to Others. His service to JASPER spanned over 64 years.

On September 8, 2010, at the age of 86, Gervase Schwenk was taken from us by cancer. He fought until the end never giving up on living. Less than 8 weeks ago, he was out on his jet ski riding at 50+mph and, prior to one of his treatments, went for a bike ride on his Honda Helix. He truly was a man who Loved Life. He truly lived our mission statement “Do it Right … and Have Fun”.

Just 6 weeks ago, Gervase walked our shop floors talking and shaking hands. Just 2 weeks ago, as we were eating lunch in his kitchen, he inquired about the ESOP, sales, JPS and other projects including the Ground Breaking of an expansion at Crawford County. You see, Gervase lived each minute as if it might be his last, making sure “you felt appreciated”.

Gervase served our nation in World War II and received a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge. He never really talked about that gruesome experience but looked forward to his annual reunions and was always thankful for the service of others.

Doug Bawel, President of Jasper Engines & Transmissions said, “He truly is the smartest man I’ve ever met and, more importantly, the most humble man I have ever met.” Gervase’s talents include being a self-taught engineer, computer programmer, and great tax advisor. He was recognized as being in the Top 10% of the nation’s Stock Portfolio Managers. You would never know it, however, as he didn’t talk about his success or his accomplishments.

Gervase started working for Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Ruxer as a bookkeeper in 1946 when he returned from World War II. Alvin would brag about Gervase’s great penmanship and the fact his letter of why he wanted the job was delivered the same day of his interview. From bookkeeper to Chairman of the Board of JASPER for some 23 years, Gervase is a true testimony of what can be accomplished by “thinking a little differently and working a little smarter”. Whether it was on the shop floor or in a Board Meeting of our company or at Memorial Hospital, the Evansville Dioceses, Precious Blood Church, Sisters of St. Benedict, VU Foundation, St. Meinrad Archabbey or as President of the Jasper Band Parents for a number of years, he stayed in the background, allowing others to receive the credit and the praise. Gervase truly practiced the teachings of Christ… To Serve Others.

Gervase was a family man committed to his 7 children, 18 grand children and 8 great grand children. Whether it was teaching them how to water or snow ski, he enjoyed helping others excel. He was the first one on the ski lift and the last to leave. When asked why – “so you get your money’s worth”, he responded. But Gervase didn’t have to pay as he was over 70, he truly lived each breath as if it was his last.

We all have great memories and stories of this True Giant who was very serious but always willing to have some fun by sharing in company events and programs. Although he will greatly be missed, each of us has been blessed by his presence and his leadership by example. We must work to allow his Legacy to live on in each of us. Let’s remember one of his favorite axioms - to lead by example, not in what we say, but in what we do with our Family, Friends, Favorite Charities and at Work.

Whenever considering a major decision at work, home or on a board, he would share “let’s sleep on it“. Well Gervase, Sleep well our Good Friend… We Love You and Miss You

JASPER sponsored pro bass angler Chad Morgenthaler hosted the 5th Annual Chad Morgenthaler Bass Tournament to benefit Special Olympics Illinois, Saturday August 28th, at Rend Lake in southern Illinois.

The two-day event also featured a pre-tournament meeting, dinner and auction on Friday, August 27, at the Rend Lake Resort.  On Saturday, ninety-one, two-person, teams fished for the most weight and the biggest bass.  Bryan Mitchell and Tony Mitchell won the tournament with five fish that tipped the scale at 18.32 pounds and had the tournament’s big bass, which weighed 5.27 pounds.

This year, teams had the opportunity to enter the “Beat the Pros” challenge for an additional $25.  Teams tested their talents against Morgenthaler and bass fishing icon Guido Hibdon.  Shannon Toigo & David Guill won that challenge and received a gift pack and a JASPER donated $500 Bass Pro Shops gift card.

This year’s event raised more than $32,000 and all of the proceeds from the contest went to Special Olympics.

Friddle: What non all-terrain production car was the first to feature AWD and ABS?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: In the 1960s and early 1970s pony cars were offered as affordable alternatives to muscle cars.  What was Pontiac’s pony car version of the GTO?

Last Week’s Friddle: Firebird