Fans Race to Build World's Longest Hot Wheels(R) Track
10 May 1999
Fans Race to Build World's Longest Hot Wheels(R) Track World Record-Setting Event to Help Raise Money for Children's Charities
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., May 9 -- Hot Wheels(R), "The Official
Cars of the New Millennium,"(TM) will create the "World's Longest Hot Wheels
Track" in Trinity, North Carolina, on May 9, 1999 in honor of the Kyle Petty
Hot Wheels Racing Charity Ride Across America fundraising festivities. Hot
Wheels is this year's title sponsor of the Charity Ride benefiting the Winston
Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary (WCRWA) and various children's charities across the
country.
The "World's Longest Hot Wheels Track" will measure 2,863 feet long,
equalling the number of miles that the more than 200 charity riders will
undertake to help raise money for the Charity Ride. The famous Hot Wheels
orange track will include turns, twists, loops and overpasses as it spells out
"Hot Wheels." Officials at the Guinness Book of Records are closely watching
the world record-setting event for recognition in their next edition.
The Hot Wheels track will be decorated by children from across the country
and autographed by NASCAR(R) drivers and celebrities, including Paul Newman,
Rosie O'Donnell, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Melissa Joan Hart, Jeff Gordon, Richard
Petty and others. Track will be collected at children's hospitals, NASCAR(R)
race tracks and from the families of participating racecar drivers. The track
will be gathered and the final pieces assembled at the Petty Farm in Trinity,
North Carolina, where the Charity Ride will conclude at an estimated time of
3:30 p.m., May 9, 1999. After the record has been set, the
celebrity-autographed track is planned to be made available to consumers via
an on-line auction and a portion of the proceeds donated to the WCRWA.
To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Charity Ride, Mattel has
created special Hot Wheels Charity Ride-themed products that will be available
through direct mail. The highly collectible black and silver-colored die-cast
race car design features the Charity Ride logo on the hood. The limited
edition Charity Ride model will be available in a 1/24th replica ($39.99), a
1/43rd replica ($19.99) and an exclusive 1/24th chrome-colored replica
($49.99), which will only be available via the Hot Wheels Website. Mattel will
donate $10,000 to WCRWA from the sales of Hot Wheels Charity Ride-themed
products.
On May 3rd, the Pettys, along with a host of NASCAR(R) celebrities,
competitors and fans will begin the journey from Ontario, California to
Trinity, North Carolina. Kyle, his father Richard Petty, better known as "The
King" and son Adam will ride on custom Harley Davidsons. The riders, also
traveling via motorcycle, will stop with the Pettys at children's hospitals
along the way to present checks and toys, meet with children and parents,
collect signed track, and sign autographs. Over the past four years, Kyle's
Charity Ride has raised more than $1 million for children's charities
benefiting from the WCRWA Trust Fund.
"Driving across the country with 'The King,' my son, and 250 riders will
be a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Kyle Petty, driver of the #44 Hot
Wheels Pontiac(R) Grand Prix(TM). "And working with Hot Wheels to raise money
for children's charities makes it that much more memorable. The best part is,
they even decided to create the 'World's Longest Hot Wheels Track' in honor of
this year's Ride."
This is the first year Hot Wheels will be the title sponsor of the Charity
Ride. Hot Wheels is the official sponsor of the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac Grand
Prix and Mattel will unveil a special, new paint scheme with the Charity Ride
logo for the California race at the California Speedway on April 30, 1999.
"After 31 years of making kids happy, Hot Wheels is glad to be a part of
Kyle Petty's efforts to directly help needy kids," commented Jim Wagner,
senior vice president of marketing and licensing for Hot Wheels. "Kyle is a
wonderful advocate for kids everywhere. In addition to sponsoring Kyle on the
track, Hot Wheels is proud to be the title sponsor of this year's Charity
Ride."
Hot Wheels cars thundered into the toy world in 1968. More than 30 years
later, Hot Wheels is a global brand and Mattel is a leader in design,
manufacture and marketing of vehicles, playsets and tracks. In addition to
leading the way with power, performance and attitude, Hot Wheels cars are also
cool collectibles for adults. For the latest information on Hot Wheels, make a
brake on the information superhighway and cruise over to http://www.hotwheels.com.
For up-to-the-minute information on the Charity Ride, check out
http://www.kyles-charityride.com.
B-roll will be available: May 9 KU Feed 2030-2100 Telstar 5 (KU)11 C-Band
2115-2130 Telstar 4(c)/6 2200-2215 Telstar 4(c)/20
Mattel, Inc. is a worldwide leader in design, manufacture and
marketing of children's products. With headquarters in El Segundo, Calif.,
Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and markets its products in
more than 150 nations throughout the world.