Ford Motor Company Offers Free Model T Rides, Ice-Skating to Public at Motown Winter Blast

DETROIT, Jan. 5 -- As Detroit prepares to host Super Bowl XL, Ford Motor Company is getting ready to offer everyone the opportunity to share in Super Bowl weekend excitement at the Ford Motor Company Family Fun Zone during Motown Winter Blast. Open to the public Feb. 2, 2006-5, this outdoor winter festival at Campus Martius Park in Detroit will offer visitors ice-skating, Model T rides and interactive vehicle games, compliments of Ford Motor Company.

Ford will sponsor the Campus Martius skating rink, inviting all guests to enjoy ice-skating while attending the festival. Visitors who do not bring their own skates will be charged for skate rental, but ice time is free, compliments of Ford Motor Company. As an added bonus, Red Wings alumni will be on hand to sign autographs and skate with the public on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. The ice rink will be open to the public during all hours of Motown Winter Blast, which are: 4 p.m. to midnight on Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight on both Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Also courtesy of Ford Motor Company, a fleet of Model Ts will be available to provide guests with the rare opportunity to ride around Campus Martius Park in the revolutionary invention of Henry Ford. Model T rides will be offered from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

"We're proud to provide opportunities in Detroit for those who wish to share in the excitement of Super Bowl XL," said Susan Pepper, Corporate Alliances, Ford Motor Company. "The Model Ts and ice rink were popular attractions at last year's Motown Winter Blast, and Ford Motor Company is pleased to sponsor those elements again."

Inside the tent, two featured products will provide an interactive-game experience, designed to engage the consumer in both the football-related event and vehicle product features. First, the Lincoln Aviator will be filled with an unknown number of footballs. Guests will have an opportunity to guess the correct number of footballs inside the vehicle. And, the Ford F-150 will be used in an activity called Quarter Back Challenge. In this game, the contestant plays the role of a quarterback, with 30 seconds to complete passes to "receiver targets" with Velcro footballs, from behind the F-150 "defender." Grand prizes for both contests will be announced on Sunday.

The Ford Motor Company Family Fun Zone will cater to families looking to share in the experience. Not merely a warming station, the tent will provide families with an interactive environment featuring Ford Motor Company's latest products and technologies. A spacious Family Activity Area will be buzzing with children as they engage in art, science, reading and music programs. Special guest readers will be featured daily to entertain children and adults alike.

In anticipation of the Motown Winter Blast, Ford Motor Company has joined forces with Travel Michigan, through michigan.org, to host an online giveaway with the opportunity to win an outdoor adventure for four to explore the wonders of Michigan winters. Now through Feb. 5, go to http://michigan.org/motownwinterblast to complete the online entry form, review contest rules and learn more about travel, careers and business services in the State of Michigan.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With nearly 325,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company and Hertz. For information regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.fordvehicles.com/ .

The Motown Winter Blast is Detroit's Winter Festival. Created and paid for by the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee, the festival serves as the backdrop, for visitors and local residents, for Super Bowl XL. The event, made possible by General Motors, Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler and michigan.org, provides creative programming that embraces and celebrates winter. The event is produced by Jonathan Witz and Associates. For more information, visit http://www.motownwinterblast.com/ .