[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4555]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE BO-DYN BOBSLED PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 22, 2010

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Bo-Dyn 
Bobsled Project of Oxford, Connecticut for the performance of its sleds 
in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project designed 
and built the Night Train sled that led the United States Four-Man 
Bobsled Team to win the Gold Medal for the first time in 62 years.
  Even more incredible than helping the U.S. team claim victory is the 
mission of this remarkable company. The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project is one 
of the great Made in America stories of our time. NASCAR veteran Geoff 
Bodine had a vision of providing the highest quality, American-made 
bobsleds to our athletes. He wanted to make sure that they were using 
not only a domestic product, but one that was able to compete 
internationally and win.
  At the time Bo-Dyn was founded, the United States bobsled team 
purchased and raced used European-made sleds. The members of the team 
would famously spend much of their time raising money for the sleds and 
get into physical condition when they weren't doing that. BoDyn changed 
this by creating an enterprise that funds the research, development, 
and manufacturing of the sleds. Generous companies like Whelen 
Manufacturing of Chester make donations that allow the athletes to use 
the sleds at no charge. Phil Kurze, vice president at Whelen 
Engineering and president of the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project, fondly recalls 
a time when the company turned down offers from generous foreign buyers 
so that our athletes could have access to a superb and uniquely 
American sled.
  I admire the good people of Bo-Dyn for putting their values into 
practice as they proudly carry their founder's vision. The hard work 
and creativity of the American people is something that we should all 
recognize and work hard to perpetuate. For this reason I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring The Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project.

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