ACOMPANYING PERSON AND INDUSTRIAL TOUR INFORMATION

The America Charters, Ltd. has been designated the official tour company for the TMS 2004 Annual Meeting & Exhibition. The following tours are scheduled for your enjoyment. Tours will depart from the Charlotte Convention Center. You may reserve the tour(s) of your choice in advance by completing the registration form. DO NOT MAIL THE FORM TO TMS. Please complete the form and mail or fax along with payment to:

America Charters Ltd
1251 W. Craighead Road
Charlotte, NC 28206
ATTN: Vicki
or (704) 865-5382

Sign up now till 11:00 AM the day before the tour is to leave. Upon arrival in Charlotte, your tickets will be available at the Tour Desk located near the conference registration desk at the Charlotte Convention Center.

CHARLOTTE CITY TOUR

Date: Monday, March 15, 2004
Time: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 per person

Step back in time and focus on some of the finest neighborhoods and suburbs in this “ Queen City”. You will be taken back to the late 1700’s when the city was first founded by Scots-Irish settlers and walk through the development of Charlotte as a major manufacturing and distribution center. Charlotte has been described as “One of America’s most livable cities. The 2nd largest banking center in the nation. The best place to start a new business”.

The tour starts in the Southpark area and winds around the impressive Southpark Mall and prestigious upscale shopping district on the way to Myers Park. Learn how this massive 1200 acre neighborhood was created from a huge cotton plantation, owned by John Springs Myers, beginning in 1912. Today the view is graced with wide boulevards lined with majestic White Oaks and some of the most beautiful homes in the Queen City as well as the campus of Queen College and the Duke Mansion.

The tour moves into the 450-acre community of Dilworth, in which many of the homes have been restored. Passing the Historic Trolley Barn, you will learn about the history of Charlotte’s Trolley System and it’s future.

Moving into the uptown area, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the development of the city wards, Historic Fourth Ward to view the only surviving pre-streetcar neighborhood. You will learn how the Fourth Ward fell into ruin in the “1960’s”, and came back in the late “1970’s”.

You will visit the banking enter and notice the prominence of the skyline shimmers with the beaming bank towers including the Bank of America Tower, 60 stories and topped with the crown of Queen Charlotte. You will discuss the statues on the four corners and the meaning behind their placement.

You will travel towards the University area and really see the growth of Charlotte. Moving toward Lowes Motorspeedway and circling around Concord Mills returning to the Southpark area. During the trip, stops will be made at Latta Plantation and the Charlotte History Museum.

Lunch will be on your own during the tour.

NASCAR

Date: Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Time: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Cost: $29.00 per person

The sport that has joined the ranks of basketball, football, and baseball, with excitement at every turn, has sky rocketed in the Charlotte area. Men and women alike enjoy the fast cars and bright new stars of the sport. Today you will see some of he new and a little of the old, but the sights will make you appreciate the intensity of this sport.

The first stop will be Hendrick Motorsports; home of Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, both Winston Cup Champions. Enjoy the museum; be sure to take in the exercise room and the shop where all the work takes place. The Lowes’ Motor Speedway Track tour will make you feel like you are a part of the action. Hang on as you go around the track. Sam Bass, the NASCAR artist will delight you with his work and ability to catch the true heart of the driver.

Leaving the speedway area, you will make your way over to Mooresville, NASCAR City. The North Carolina Museum of Motorsports will be your next stop, allowing you time to enjoy all of the memorabilia, and to remember the first days of racing. When you leave the Museum, many of the race shops are within walking distance. Rusty Wallace’s shop is just across the street.

The last stop is Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI), home of the late Dale Earnhardt. This museum is a tribute to the past, yet remarkable teams of this company continue to enjoy the future. You will feel the presence of the real heart of this sport.

Lunch will be on your own during the tour.

BILTMORE ESTATES

Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Time: 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Cost: $92.00 per person

Step back in time as you travel to this mansion surrounded by 8,000 acres, which was begun in 1889 and opened Christmas Eve 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt, grandson of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. Self-guiding tours include four floors of Biltmore House, the gardens, conservatory and the Biltmore Estate Winery.

You will tour through this 250-room French Renaissance-style chateau, where the Vanderbilt family lived and entertained. You will experience the recreation and work areas, including an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, three kitchens and servants’ quarters Vanderbilt provided his guests and servants with many labor-saving devices unavailable to the general public at the end of the 19th century.

The house is surrounded by 75 acres of formal gardens, which has many seasonal plants. The Winery is housed in the restored dairy area. They produce a variety of white, red, rose’ and sparkling wines.

Lunch, which is included in the cost of the tour, will be at the restaurant on the grounds.

NORANDAL USA INC. SALISBURY PLANT

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2004
Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Cost: $30.00 per person

See first-hand the operations of Norandal’s light gauge sheet and foil facility. Located in nearby Salisbury, North Carolina, this tour will take visitors to view the Norandal USA Salisbury plant, which produces light gauge sheet and foil products primarily for the flexible packaging market. Production capacity is approximately 45,000 metric tons per year for the principal markets of consumers of flexible packaging materials, air conditioning, and food containers.

The plant tour to the Norandal Facility will include roundtrip transportation on a private motorcoach and a one and a half hour narrated tour of the facility.