Eight Families Go Head-to-Head in First-Ever National 'Minivan Summer Games' to Win a Trip Anywhere in the World

* Five-week nationwide real-world competition culminates in New York City on July 31 * Top prizes include new 2005 Chrysler and Dodge minivans and dream vacations * View footage from a semi-final event at http://www.minivansummergames.com and click on "play video"

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 26 -- Eight families from across the country are heading to New York City on July 31 to compete in the nation's first Minivan Summer Games to determine the best team in activities reflecting the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Each team advanced to the finals from more than 5,560 families nationwide who entered online to compete in one of eight regional semi-final events, which began in late June.

Chrysler Group, the inventor and long-standing leader of the minivan segment, created the first-ever Minivan Summer Games in celebration of the all-new 2005 Chrysler and Dodge minivans with Stow 'n Go(TM) seating and storage system and the 20th anniversary of the ultimate family vehicle.

The Minivan Summer Games promotes the importance of family, quality time in the vehicle, and togetherness and teamwork, which is needed to handle the rigors of daily life. The final competitions will include stowing, going, packing, running, and putting families to the test in a series of real-world events.

The family that proves it has the best speed and coordination, and shows they can handle the rigors of everyday life will be crowned the national champion and gold medal winner, receiving a dream vacation of their choice anywhere in the world and an all-new 2005 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with Stow 'n Go seating and storage system. The silver medal family wins an all- new 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan and a family vacation anywhere in the U.S. and the bronze medal family receives a two-year lease on an all-new 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan.

"We wanted to create a fun competition featuring all the unique features of our Chrysler and Dodge minivans, especially our exclusive Stow 'n Go seating and storage system," said Larry Lyons, Vice President, Front-wheel Drive Product Team, Chrysler Group. "This competition is our way of recognizing the fundamental life skills that families demonstrate every day in our minivans. May the best Minivan Summer Games contenders win!"

To prove that they are world-class minivan contenders, finalists must pass through four rounds of increasingly difficult competitions:

* Family Dream Vacation - families race to pack the minivan for a dream vacation while dressed in costumes provided for the occasion and running and crawling through various obstacles

* Manhattan Marathon - Contestants collect odd-shaped, N.Y.-themed objects and rush around inside the minivan to stow them all out of sight and leave room to still comfortably fit the entire family

* Stow 'n Go Spin - Families spin a wheel of different real-life tasks and must complete the first five tasks as quickly and accurately as they can

* Side Door Shot Put - clad in rain ponchos, families toss water balloons through minivans to teammates waiting on the opposite side

Beginning June 14, 2004, all interested Minivan Summer Games contenders were invited to enter via the online qualifying round, which asked contestants to fill out an entry form and questionnaire at http://www.minivansummergames.com/ . The questionnaire required families to write a convincing story explaining why they should be selected to compete and how an all-new 2005 Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan could change their lives.

Among the more than 5,560 families that signed up via the online qualifying round, judges contacted the contestants and invited them to compete in one of the eight semi-final games held in Boston, Cheyenne, Wyo., Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Raleigh, N.C., Gilroy, Calif., and Virginia Beach, Va. The eight gold medal families from these semi-final games won a trip to New York City to represent their region in the national finals.

Since introducing the minivan 20 years ago, Chrysler Group has sold more than 10 million minivans worldwide and has a 34 percent share of the minivan market. The minivan market continues to be vibrant with industry-wide sales averaging 1.2 million for the past 10 years.

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