For Immediate Release

From 1968 to 2010: Cobra Jet Heritage Presented by Ford Motor Company and Carlisle Events

Carlisle Ford Nationals Celebrates Heritage of Legendary Cobra Jets at Carlisle PA Fairgrounds June 4 – 6

Friday, April 16, 2010

Cobra Jets of varying eras will be flying into Carlisle for a one-of-a-kind heritage celebration with events, energy and photo opportunities that will have Ford fans talking for years to come.

1968-2010 Cobra Jets: Legends and Champions

To continue efforts connecting the past to the present, Carlisle Events and Ford will flex Cobra Jet drag racing muscle at the June 4-6, 2010 Carlisle Ford Nationals. Attendees can expect to see the full spectrum of Ford’s world-famous Cobra Jet race cars together for the first time in one location.

For over 40 years, Cobra Jet Mustangs have been scoring consistent racing victories, one eighth- and quarter-mile at a time. Along with four of the original classic NHRA-dominant 1968 Cobra Jet race cars from yesteryear, there also will be modern examples of the CJ representing both the 2008 and 2010 model years. In recreating the original drag-racing legend for competition today, Ford followed up its 2008 feat of building a limited run of 50 turn-key Cobra Jet race cars for the track with another updated offering of 50 Cobra Jets for 2010 all finished with white exteriors.

This year, Ford will be showcasing Ford Racing's 2010 Cobra Jet #1 workhorse, the only one produced in silver exterior paint, and truly the ultimate factory drag racing machine. This single extreme example, custom-developed by Ford Racing engineers, has been built to embody the pure muscle of Ford performance. To sum up the building anticipation, Carlisle Events’ Ford Nationals Event Manager, Rick Markko, explains, “The Carlisle Ford Nationals will be rocking with excitement as the legendary Cobra Jets will be here in Carlisle to strike the pose of a lifetime! The heritage continues as the Cobra Jet race cars and their drivers gather together for one more blast, quite likely en route to the Hall of Fame!”

John Clor, Communications Manager for Ford Racing's Ford Performance Group focused on enthusiast organizations, encourages Ford fans not to miss this rare opportunity to see the full Cobra Jet race car heritage all in one place. Clor notes, “Along with Carlisle Events, we [Ford] are proud to show off the proverbial superstar 2010 Cobra Jet alongside some of the 1968 CJ legends for the first time in public. This might very well be the only chance that diehard fans will ever have to get up close and personal with the full gamut of these incredible drag racing cars…all in the same place. Our enthusiasts cannot only see it, but breathe it – and live it! This may never happen again.”

Collaboration between Ford and Carlisle

Clor goes on to declare Carlisle as “the quintessential Ford fan destination.” Recalling the last 15 years of collaboration between the two companies, Clor points out, “Carlisle Events has evolved successfully into the perfect platform for us [Ford] to come out and interact with our loyal owners and enthusiasts, both to celebrate our long heritage of great vehicles and to showcase new Fords that are destined to be the stars of this show in the years ahead.”

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Journalist note: Information about Carlisle Events, its event listings, auction offerings and the Carlisle Expo Center is available to journalists by phone:


Michael Garland
Media Specialist
717-243-7855 ext. 133
michaelg@carlisleevents.com

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