Team Hot Wheels to Attempt World Record-Breaking Distance Jump at This Year’s Indianapolis 500.


On Sunday, May 29, IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500, an attempt by Team Hot Wheels, a newly created crew of stunt drivers, to break the current world record distance jump of 302 feet in a four-wheeled vehicle at the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Fans all around the world will watch in awe as a masked mystery driver from Team Hot Wheels attempts the outrageous — speeding down a 90 ft. ramp, suspended on an enormous 10-story high door (100 feet tall) and soaring across the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The “IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500” stunt brings to life the iconic Hot Wheels V-Drop track set boys have played with on their bedroom doors for years, and is part of an overarching brand campaign designed to extend the Hot Wheels experience past childhood, capturing the attention of fans of all ages. The Hot Wheels campaign is supported across multiple media platforms with digital media and television ads, on product packaging, social media activations and premiere partnerships.

“The essence of this multi-year, multi-platform campaign is all about taking the feelings you experienced when playing with Hot Wheels as a kid and bringing them to real life in full scale,” said Simon Waldron, vice president of marketing for Hot Wheels. “By featuring an epic vehicle stunt at this year’s centennial anniversary of the Indy 500, we are engaging fans with a jaw-dropping moment in a way that only Hot Wheels can.”

Team Hot Wheels:

The “IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500” jump will be attempted by the Yellow Driver from Team Hot Wheels – a real-life group of mystery, over-the-top professional stunt drivers spanning four vehicle disciplines – rally (green), drift (blue), off road truck (yellow) and freestyle motocross (FMX – red). Consumers can engage with larger-than-life Team Hot Wheels branded content online at www.hotwheels.com/videos, and become a fan on www.facebook.com/hotwheels to catch exclusive behind-the-scenes training and stunt videos.

Live Event—“IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500”:

The “IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500” stunt will culminate by revealing the mystery driver’s true identity to the world in a not-to-be missed moment following the race on Sunday, May 29. A 30- minute documentary- style special is in the works to air on race day.

Partnerships

Hot Wheels has teamed with world class partners IZOD and the IZOD IndyCar Series for the stunt:

  • IZOD: As presenting partner, IZOD is supporting the Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500, with a 360-degree marketing campaign spanning print, outdoor and online featuring the historic record attempt.
  • IZOD IndyCar Series/IMS: Setting the world stage for this monumental stunt, Hot Wheels is partnering with the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to bring racing fans an entirely new and thrilling vehicle experience at “The Most Important Race in History” – the 2011 Indianapolis 500.

Social Media

  • Get Glue: To make sure stunt enthusiasts and fans get the maximum interactive experience while watching “IZOD Presents Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500” – Hot Wheels is partnering with GetGlue. A leading social network tool for entertainment, GetGlue allows users to check into TV events and shows, movies, music and books, plus see what their friends are consuming in real-time.
  • Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: Fans can interact with Team Hot Wheels through their favorite social media channels including: facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Iconic Product

  • Hot Wheels V Drop Track Set: A Hot Wheels classic and now a Toys“R”Us KidPicks exclusive, the V-Drop™ super velocity track is a tall gravity set that hangs over the top of a door creating a thrilling almost vertical Hot Wheels® drop. The track set’s impressive seven-foot drop and adjustable ramp pushes Hot Wheels® cars to extreme speeds launching them through the air allowing boys to create their own jump stunt.

National Promotion

  • Hot Wheels For Real™: From March 8 to April 30 Hot Wheels fans can go to www.hotwheels.com/forreal for a chance to win a VIP trip to the Indianapolis 500 or thousands of other cool prizes. With special codes found on select Hot Wheels packaging, fans can not only enter to win a trip to Indy but also unlock 17 live-action videos featuring heart-pounding Team Hot Wheels stunts. Codes to unlock exclusive content will be available on packaging and online.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.HOTWHEELSMEDIA.COM FOR ADDITIONAL PRESS INFORMATION, HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OR BROADCAST-QUALITY, DOWNLOADABLE B-ROLL

About the Hot Wheels® Brand

Since 1968, Hot Wheels® has been passionate about creating thrilling vehicle experiences through innovative product and content. With a fan base of more than 41 million people, Hot Wheels is the No. 1 vehicle property in the United States producing the coolest cars imaginable. The Hot Wheels brand began as a line of 16 1:64-scale die-cast vehicles; today, it has evolved into a true, global lifestyle brand for boys of all ages with segments that range from aftermarket parts to licensed apparel to branded digital content from Team Hot Wheels, a real-life race crew of professional drivers performing over-the-top stunts. For consumers to learn more, visit www.HotWheels.com and www.Facebook.com/HotWheels.

About Mattel

Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) (www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica® and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment inspired toy lines. In 2011, Mattel was named as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the fourth year in a row. Mattel also is ranked among Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens” and the “World’s Most Ethical Companies.” With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs approximately 31,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are “Creating the Future of Play.” Follow Mattel on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mattel

MAT-W

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6680475&lang=en

 

Contacts

Mattel Brands PR:
Rachel Cooper, 310-252-5327
rachel.cooper@mattel.com
or
Bret Ingraham, 310-252-6396
Bret.ingraham@mattel.com
or
Ketchum PR:
Sofia Lombardo, 646-935-4202
sofia.lombardo@ketchum.com

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110412005807/en/Team-Hot-Wheels%E2%84…