Nov 19, 2010
Rocket is proud to welcome Johnathan Harrison as our new President.
Jonathan's diverse business background includes more than 35 years in industries ranging from aircraft, consumer products, medical device, drug, automotive and metals manufacturing and power generation industries. He has held executive, quality control and technical systems responsibilities in corporations including Babcock and Wilcox, Parker-Hannifin GTFSD and Technicare Corporation. At Madison Kipp Corporation he developed and facilitated a new corporate strategy including integration of Lean manufacturing as part of continuous improvement process, as well as being responsible for Corporate Quality and guidance in compliance to ISO/TS 16949.
Jonathan also helped develop Advanced MicroFinish Incorporated, a successful ultra-high purity tubing company into a multi-million dollar organization that was sold in 1999. He is also listed as a developing partner on three different material and product patents. Today Rocket is proud to have Jonathan at the helm as he continues work with select entrepreneurs in a management consulting capacity to define long term strategies, improve process effectiveness, develop leadership competencies and improvement of bottom-line results.
Jonathan earned his MBA from Columbia University in 1987. His Materials Engineering undergraduate degree is also from Columbia. He participated in a family owned business and also earned a scholarship to attend New York University, this degree being in Theater Arts and Music. Jonathan lives in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife who are both now thoroughly enjoying the empty-nest stage of life.
Sept 19, 2010
Kutter Harley-Davidson of Janesville, Wisconsin — welcome to Rocket! Our latest dealer is one of Harley's very best, annually honored by the prestigious Harley-Davidson Circle of Excellence Award (meaning they are among the top 0.5% of 700 dealers in the United States.) They have been serving riders for more than 25 years so if you are in the area be sure to stop by and see them. You have to see their facility to believe it. A barstool racing league and other unique events are in store at Kutter and surrounding communities. We're proud to have them on board and please visit them on-line at www.kutterharley.com.
Sept 20, 2010
It has started; the winning ways of Chuck Calvert have now taken on a new direction but the results are the same. Chuck took our Jolly Roger Rocket Barstool to Tomahawk, Wisconsin over the weekend and ruled the barstool race that was held at their motorcycle rally last weekend. Chuck won the heat race easily, and with a little drama also came out with the feature win. We are looking forward to many more victories from our Director of Manufacturing, "Rocket Chuck."
Sept 19, 2010
The Shriner Motor Corps gathering at the annual SASA gathering in Myrtle Beach was a blast. Thanks to all host Shriner's for having us. More than fifteen Motor Corp groups from that part of the country expressed great interest in having the Rocket Barstool as their vehicle of choice for their parades and competitions. Rocket is looking forward to serving the Shriner community and doing anything we can to help keep the great ideals of Shriner's alive and well.
August 29, 2010
Rocket was proud to lead the way for the 2010 Madison Ride The Drive 5K event sponsored by Champion Style Athletics and their rock stallion trainer Haywood Simmons. Our daughters and our dogs enjoyed it too. Apparently Lance Armstrong was on the scene as well but we could not stick around long enough as our night-before hangovers needed tending to. But nothing like tearing wide open down four-lane John Nolen Drive on barstools on a beautiful Sunday morning. Thanks all!
August 2, 2010
Chuck and Mike had an amazing time in Tower, Minnesota last weekend. Ken Kube, "The Voice of the Vikings", one time Mayor of West St. Paul is our new Rocket Barstool Dealer for Northern Minnesota as a result. Ken hosted a unique Barstool Racing and Blue Grass Festival weekend. Talk about Americana! We are looking to Ken for more events in his area. What a guy!
June 30, 2010
We're excited to have signed Mike Adams on as our new Director of Sales and Marketing. Mike is long-time trusted friend and business associate of our majority owner and a life-time motor sports enthusiast. There was a time when Mike was also a leader in the telecom and dot com space, working for providers like Sprint, USXchange and 2WayTV. He's happier now to be earning his living in the much more esteemed profession of barstool racing, though. Get in touch with Mike and experience some of his infectious energy.
July 21, 2010
Rocket welcomes Mike's Corner of Alma, Georgia as a new dealer. We were fortunate to have met Mike through Danny Bryant, a nearby Shriner. Mike also sells classic cars, motorcycles, ATV's, golf carts and is an auctioneer too. He even bought a go-cart track recently and has big plans for a barstool racing series there. Quite an entrepreneur, welcome Mike!
March 31, 2010
Thanks for your patience with our website updates. We're getting there and while only now about halfway done, thanks to SunTec, Walker Creative Design and Web Content Copywriting. Should you need anything web design related be sure to check them out; we recommend them all.
March 24, 2010
Rocket loves Dunlop! Their exclusive US distributor for their renowned kart tires like those on our units really gets what we're doing and we appreciate it. We're glad to continue offering Dunlop's as the standard on all new Rocket Barstools.
March 10, 2010
We continue to be impressed by Rocket's new 6.5 motor (especially its two-year complete replacement warranty) but continue research on other motors too. With Tecumseh sadly bankrupt, Honda and Briggs are the only other serious options. (By the way, many of our ICE racers this past season noticed the increased torque in the new Rocket engine over the old Tecumseh; that was great for us to hear). We're not sure about the Briggs as their warranty is the worst of the bunch (among other things that leave us less than excited by them). The Honda warranty, though a year longer, is limited and at more than three times the purchase of our current power plant it's really going to have to wow us. It hasn't yet, though we like the fact that the parts from the two look identical and are likely interchangeable.
February 21, 2010
We’ll, he didn’t win it, but last night President Chuck completed the entire four month and 16 event coast to coast ICE racing Series in Glens Falls, NY. Way to go Chuck! We had four Rocket Barstools racing again (and the night before in Trenton New Jersey, too) but Chuck is happy to back in Madison now with no more travels planned until Baja in June.
February 7, 2010
One of our preferred dealers from the Chicagoland area, Hangover Racing, gets in touch with renewed enthusiasm on renewing the IBRA racing series. If you know of any racing venues that would benefit from a crowd-pleasing Rocket Barstool event, please let us know.
January 24, 2010
Rocket Barstools finally return to the ICE racing championship series. Back by popular demand, we had three shiny new units racing at the nearly packed US Cellular Arena in Bloomington, IL last night. Riders noted the new engines have more kick over past models. And with our some of own family and friends there too to watch our president Chuck "Rocket Man" Calvert race the again in the Unlimited Outlaw Quad division, good times we're had by all. We're looking forward to more Barstool racing this weekend when the ICE Series travels to Ohio and Michigan. Also, you can catch the action live on MavTV.
January 18, 2010
The new website design rocks. We plan to have the live version up in late February, but you know how things can go with technology. Wish us luck!
January 9, 2010
New improvements to the Rocket Barstool are put into place including a much better
power plant with an available two-year limited warranty (while we'd love to have stuck with local Tecumseh as they were based in the mid-west, their recent financial woes made doing so too unreliable). Also available now -- black honeycomb magnesium wheels. These things are sweet! More on the way... president Chuck is on a mission.
January 1, 2010
Months in process, we're happy to report that the business has been purchased and reinvigorated by long-time motor sports enthusiast, technician and entrepreneur Chuck Calvert, along with a silent partner. Chuck has even worked building Rocket Barstools in the past, and is friends with the prior owner. Since October the new ownership has been expanding warehouse office space, replenishing inventories, organizing staff, banking and dealership relationships and yes, building new Rocket Barstools too.
While Chuck is travelling the country racing his custom ATV's at the national ICE Racing Series (including his Harley Davidson 900 cc "Thunder Quad" and thankfully now again, Rocket Barstools too), we have big plans for this great little business. Please do check back soon as we release more details, improvements and an entirely new website. In the interim, we want to say thanks to all in Rocket Barstool community -- it's going to be a great year!
2007 IBRA
(International Barstool Racing Association) Schedule (All Dates Tentative)
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IBRA
(International Barstool Racing Association) O'Reilly World Championship set for DVD Pre-Sell
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December 2006
BarStool Racing has become a professional circuit with the formation of the IBRA The International BarStool Racing Association launches an aggressive 12 race schedule read more...
December 9, 2006
Hampton, Va. 31th ICE Mega Series Championship Shane Vance does it again holding off a very strong field of Twelve Rocket barstools read more...
December 2, 2006
Shane Vance held off the 17 Rocket Barstool field to complete a clean sweep; winning his heat and feature. Shawn Russell finished second... read more...
November 26, 2006,
Jon Stanbrough continues his wining ways on Saturday at the Dave Dayton 31st Annual Racer’s Trade Show & Auction on a Rocket Barstool; by winning the feature on concrete inside of the Indy Convention Center
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