Pierce Named Official Fire Truck of 2000 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Business Editors

APPLETON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2000

Pierce Apparatus to Protect More Than 500,000 Motorcycle Enthusiasts

Pierce Manufacturing has been selected as the official fire truck for the 60th Anniversary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, to be held August 7 through 13 in Sturgis, South Dakota. The company will provide three new fire trucks for use by the Sturgis Fire Department. These trucks will be on hand to help protect citizens, motorcycle enthusiasts and property during the world-famous rally, when the population of this small town is expected to swell to an amazing 500,000 plus.

"This event is one of America's greatest rallies, and we expect the largest crowd ever for our 60th anniversary. It's an opportunity for our town and our department to shine, and we wanted to make sure we had the best apparatus to protect our citizens and guests. We recently took delivery of another Pierce apparatus, so we know first-hand that their reputation for quality is well deserved," said Ron Koan, fire chief of the Sturgis Fire Department.

A Pierce Enforcer(TM) custom pumper, decked out in special rally graphics, will lead the Governor's Tour parade in Sturgis, S.D., August 11.

The Ninth Annual Governor's Tour is one of the highlights of the week. Governors and dignitaries from across the country participate in the parade. The 2000 Pierce Enforcer pumper will lead the parade, which will also include hundreds of motorcyclists. It begins at Fort Meade Veterans Administration Center just east of Sturgis, winds through the Black Hills, past fabled Mount Rushmore, and ends at the Crazy Horse Memorial near Custer, S.D., a trip of more than 70 miles.

The three fire trucks that Pierce is donating for the event are an Enforcer pumper, a Saber pumper, and an 100-foot aerial platform on a Dash chassis. Both pumpers are equipped with Pierce's own Hercules(TM) compressed air foam system.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NASDAQ: OTRKB). Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers and elliptical tankers. The company also designs and integrates its own foam systems and has its own foam testing center. Pierce(R) apparatus are backed by 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week service, with the strongest support network dedicated exclusively to the fire service.

For more information, contact Kirsten Skyba, Vice President - Communications at 920.233.9621 or via e-mail at [e-mail].