September 3, 1999

1999 Ford Los Angeles Street Race

The 2nd Annual Labor Day Weekend Ford LA. Street Race brought the American IndyCar Racing Series to the streets of Los Angeles along with 110,000 spectators. Winston cup stars Ken Schrader and Kenny lrwin and NASCAR drivers Ron Hornaday, Chad Little, Mark Martin and Mario Hernandez showed up along with a PRO Racing Series featuring late model production Porsches, Ferraris, Vipers, Ford Mustangs, BMWs and Corvettes. Other celebrity drivers who joined in the fun included professional fighter Randy Shields, Avengers football owner Casey Wasserman, Actor Dennis Haskins, "Saved by the Bell," Actor Greg Vaughn, "Charmed," local sportscaster, Lisa Guerreo, Jane Yamamoto, KTFV-TV special assignments reporter and many others. Tons of concrete barriers had to be trucked in to mark off the "Pac Bell Wireless Circuit," a one mile, eight- turn course bordering the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Actually it was a "set up" by title sponsor, Southern California Ford Dealers, to showcase some of their new 'Environmental Friendly AFV (Alternate Fuel Vehicles) including the electric Ford Ranger Pickups. Other sponsors included Ford's Alternative Fuel Program, Budget EV Rentals, (the only rental car company in the country to rent electric vehicles!), Junior Achievement, CalStart, LA Dept. of Water and Power, Southern California Edison, Pacific Bell Wireless, Anheuser-Busch. www.actfit.com, SEMA, Century Cable Vision, Eller Media, TDI and Calling Card Divisions. The largest ever consumer exhibit of Ford Alternative Fuel Vehicles also took place. Driven by some of these professional drivers, ten electric Ford Ranger pickups took to the track, and demonstrated surpisingly robust acceleration, handling and speed around the course. Several impressed drivers indicated they were not at all aware of the Electric Ford Ranger Pickups. 'Well, we have been leasing them for 2 years now," indicated a Ford representative.

The electric Ford Ranger pickups were provided by Budget EV Rental Cars at the LA International Airport. EV Rental is a joint effort between EV Rental Cars and Budget Rent-a-Car Corp. They have been providing commuters with an alternative rental car choice that addresses air quality issues. With the support of senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Congressmen Ron Packard and Jerry Lewis, EV Rental Cars will open additional locations in California.

Race weekend was also highlighted by the return of "The L.A. Racing Experience" - a motoring & lifestyle expo offering race fans a hands-on experience with the latest and most exciting racing technologies. The outdoor expo took place trackside so fans could take in all the racing action. Spectators also enjoyed the worlds largest Labor Day Weekend barbecue.

For 1999, the course was modified to allow access to Exposition Park museums by the general public and race fans alike. The California Science Center, California African American Museum and Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History were open and accessible to all patrons.

For more information, customers can call (877) 387-3682; write to EV Rental Cars at 9775 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045; or visit the company's Web site at www.EVrental.com.