Mattel Inducts Five More Automotive Legends, Rides and Moments at Second Annual Hot Wheels Hall of Fame Ceremony.EL SEGUNDO El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and , Calif. -- Mattel, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :MAT): --Auto Legends George Barris and Carroll Shelby Carroll Hall Shelby, (born January 11, 1923 in Leesburg, Texas) is an American racing and automotive designer and former racing driver. Life before racing After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas, Shelby enlisted in the United States Army Air , "Speedster speed·ster n. 1. One who drives very fast. 2. A fast car. " Craig Breedlove Craig Breedlove (born March 23, 1937) is a five-time world land speed record holder. He was the first to reach 400 mph, 500 mph, and 600 mph, using several turbojet-powered vehicles that were all named "Spirit of America". , and Larry "Mr. Hot Wheels Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Johnny Lightning and Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco. (R)" Wood Inducted Along with 1955 Chevrolet at Specialty Equipment Market Association Show (SEMA SEMA Specialty Equipment Market Association SEMA Société d'Encouragement aux Métiers d'Art (Society for the Promotion of Art Trades; France) SEMA Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association SEMA State Emergency Management Agency ) in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT) today honored four automotive designers and racers and one "dream" car at its second annual Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame induction ceremony held at SEMA in Las Vegas. Three recipients - George Barris, Carroll Shelby and Craig Breedlove - trace their "need for speed" to roots in aviation and competitive auto racing, while recipient Larry Wood, better known as "Mr. Hot Wheels(R)," was honored for his 35 years of innovative Hot Wheels(R) designs. And in 1955 with its breakthrough Small-Block V8, Chevrolet put an edge on performance and turned the automotive industry on its ear, earning this "great ride" a spot in the Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame. "Hot Wheels(R) has always celebrated the originality that sets certain cars apart from the rest of the pack," says Amy Boylan, vice president of Hot Wheels(R) Marketing. "This year's honorees truly define where that distinction comes from and what makes automobiles hot." To complement the current Hot Wheels(R) Hall of Fame, the accolades of these significant people, vehicles and moments will live on at the permanent displays in the Petersen Automotive Museum The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a non-profit organization specializing in the education and history of in Los Angeles. This year's inductees were chosen as the embodiment of the Hot Wheels(R) tradition of speed, power and performance in three categories: Legends: People who have designed or driven the coolest cars --George Barris: Barris' automotive accomplishments began as early as high school, when he created his first custom cars - a tricked-out, orange-and-blue striped 1925 Buick and a 1936 Ford ragtop rag·top n. Slang A convertible automobile. . His passion for cars led to driving at prestigious Saugus races in the l940s and an invitation to exhibit the only custom car at Hot Rod Magazine's first hot rod show. Barris' "Hirohata" 1951 Mercury was the sensation of the 1952 Motorama and attracted contracts from enthusiasts around the world, also catching the attention of Hollywood film and television makers who later featured his famed cars including the "Batmobile" and "General Lee." --Carroll Shelby: An Air Force pilot, Shelby was in the right place at the right time when car racing took off after WWII WWII abbr. World War II WWII World War Two . A win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans inspired his concept for what would become the fastest car on earth in its time: the Cobra. When Ford Motor Company needed some "juice" to make its new Mustang perform as hot as it looked, Shelby filled the bill. The legendary "Shelbys" gave all Mustangs the perception of performance to match their design panache. Lee Iacocca enticed Shelby to strike lightning twice with the Dodge Viper. Milestone Moment: Historic automotive event that captures the Hot Wheels(R) essence --Nov. 15, 1965: Craig Breedlove sets land speed record: Breedlove drove his "Spirit of America Spirit of America is the trademarked name used by Craig Breedlove for his land speed record-setting vehicles. The Spirit of America was the first of the modern record breaking cars, build within new rules with its three wheel design, narrow stream-lined " 555 mph on Nov. 2, l965 and then broke his own record 13 days later by clocking 600.601 mph. This achievement made Breedlove the first man to break the 400, 500 and 600 mph barriers on land. For someone who bought his first car - a deuce coupe that could do 154 - at the age of 13, breaking the rules and records would be a lifetime pursuit. Greatest Ride: An engine that epitomizes the Hot Wheels(R) attitude of speed, power and performance --1955 Chevrolet(R) Small-Block V-8: The original 265 small-block was the technological marvel that started it all. It debuted in the Chevy Bel Air and was more compact, lighter and more powerful than the six cylinder it replaced. Possibly the most prolific engine ever built, a version of the 350 small block, introduced in 1967, is still sold in crate applications today. The small block tradition of "more from less" continues with the 400 horsepower 2005 Corvette corvette, small warship, classed between a frigate and a sloop-of-war. Corvettes usually were flush-decked and carried fewer than 28 guns. They were widely employed in escorting convoys and attacking merchant ships during the great naval wars of the late 18th and . In any automotive hall of fame The Automotive Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for notable figures in the development of the automobile industry. Founded in 1939, the group opened a permanent museum in Midland, Michigan, United States, in 1971. , the small-block's evolutionary design and production elements would be a major exhibit. Lifetime Achievement Award: A body of work that defines the "hot" in Hot Wheels(R) --Larry Wood: Since the origins of Hot Wheels(R) cars, Wood has created concepts that have delighted kids and car enthusiasts for more than 35 years, typically designing more cars in one year than Detroit's "Big Three" designers do in a lifetime. From Hot Wheels(R) classics like the 1949 Merc to the Boyd Coddington collector set, the Ramblin' Wrecker(R) and many more, Wood has put "V12" pump into hearts of auto buffs of all ages. About Mattel Mattel, Inc., (NYSE:MAT) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products, including Barbie(R), the most popular fashion doll ever introduced. The Mattel family of toys and games is comprised of such best-selling brands as Hot Wheels(R), Matchbox(R), UNO(R), American Girl(R), and Fisher-Price(R), which also includes Little People(R), Rescue Heroes(TM), Power Wheels(R), as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs more than 25,000 people in 36 countries and sells products in more than 150 nations throughout the world. The Mattel vision is to be the world's premier toy brands -- today and tomorrow. HOT WHEELS and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by Mattel, Inc. (C) 2004 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shelby, the CS Design, the design/shape of the Cobra, 427, 427 S/C s/c abbr (= self-contained) → indipendente , GT-350, GT-500, GT-350H, and GT-500KR are registered trademarks and/or the trade dress of Carroll Shelby and Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. Cobra and the Cobra Snake Designs are registered trademarks used by Shelby under a worldwide exclusive license with Ford Motor Company. FORD trademark used under license from Ford Motor Company. General Motors Trademarks, all related Emblems and the related vehicle model body designs are used under license to Mattel, Inc. MERCURY trademark used under license from Ford Motor Company. Dodge is a trademark of DaimlerChrysler Corporation. Dodge Viper and its trade dress are used under license by Mattel, Inc. (C) DaimlerChrysler Corporation 2004. |
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