West Michigan News, sports, weather, coupons and deals in Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Muskegon, Holland from the Grand Haven Tribune a Michigan Newspaper

Fri, Jul 2, 2010    to del.icio.us BY ALEX DOTY They've crafted their mowers for sports teams and television shows — and now the Indiana-based company that makes the Dixie Chopper is looking to make a custom-built lawnmower for the U.S. Coast Guard just in time for the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Click to enlarge "Every year, we try to have something that's ... new," said Mike Smith, executive director of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Smith said the lawnmower is a great opportunity to highlight a local business that cares about the community. in this case, it's PS&T Small Engine Repair in Grand Haven. The local company — which sells Dixie Chopper lawnmowers — went to Magic Circle Corp. of Coatesville, Ind., with the idea of doing something unique for the festival. "They are going to have it done in Coast Guard colors and it's going to be one-of-a-kind, with a definite Coast Guard flare to it," said Madonna Kramer, director of marketing and development for the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. Kramer said the finished product will be on display during the festival's Grand Parade, at Escanaba Park and during the Salute to Heroes event on the waterfront. "We're an American-made product and we are proud to be associated with our hometown heroes," said Eric Bernsee, a public relations representative for the Magic Circle Corp. Bernsee said that a team of builders is now awaiting parts and supplies so they can begin working on assembling the mower. He said the mower will also have a unique riding seat. "Once they get the right parts in, it won't take that long to assemble," Bernsee said. While the company can produce multiple mowers in one day on its assembly line, according to Bernsee, there will be a special Dixie Choppers team will carefully assemble the Coast Guard mower. Bernsee said the company has "done a few wild and crazy things" in its past. this includes a Chinook helicopter-lawnmower equipped with a jet engine that Tim Allen rode on the television show "Home Improvement," a propane-powered mower with a barbecue grill, and one for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts. Click to enlarge Magic Circle Corp. has also had the tables turned on them. Orange County Choppers, a custom motorcycle company, built Dixie Choppers a custom motorcycle made with lawnmower parts. Smith said festival officials are working on the details of what will happen with the lawnmower after the festival, since there are specific rules in place on what the Coast Guard can accept as gifts. On the Net: dixiechopper.com

West Michigan News, sports, weather, coupons and deals in Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Muskegon, Holland from the Grand Haven Tribune a Michigan Newspaper