As part of its North American Centennial celebration, Ford Motor Company is hosting a 100th anniversary gala at the College Football Hall of Fame here today for its area dealers and suppliers and their families.
Kicking off events at the hall of fame is Ford Purchasing executive director Andy Benedict. Kicking contests, food, music and Ford vehicles in Gridiron Plaza are slated to entertain about a hundred guests.
“These road trips are fitting way to mark the 100th year of Ford, and they give us a chance to get out of our Dearborn, Michigan, headquarters to spread our enthusiasm about the Centennial with people around the country,” Benedict said. "The South Bend and Elkhart area is home to many fine Ford dealerships and thousands of Ford customers."
Joining a variety of Ford and Lincoln Mercury vehicles is a Model T, an icon of the company and nation's past, and today's Model U concept, the Model T of the 21st century. Powered by the world's first supercharged hydrogen internal combustion engine, it is also equipped with a hybrid transmission. Featured in this vehicle are natural materials such as soy resin body panels and corn-based tires.
An additional guest at the event is the Ford GT concept, which reflects on the company's great performance history June 1966 at Le Mans and points to the future of Ford engineering prowess. It will be produced in limited quantities in 2004.
In the spirit of their founder Henry Ford who put the world on wheels, Ford Motor Company executives are fanning out to 100 North American cities this spring as part of Ford’s 100th anniversary celebration. Henry Ford was one of the first to tour the great American landscape regularly with friends, including fellow historical figures inventor Thomas Edison and naturalist John Burroughs.
During the Centennial tour, executives will take part in community events and classic car shows and will visit Ford dealerships. In 15 cities, they will host a mobile Centennial experience with historical and vehicle displays, including ride-and-drives in hand-made Model T replicas and new Ford F-Series pickups. In other cities, they will hook up with Ford enthusiasts taking part in a 3,000-mile cross-country rally with 43 original Model Ts.
During the tour, executives also will meet with Ford employees and retirees, Ford dealerships and suppliers, and schools and local media to reflect on the impact the company has had on the world in its first 100 years. That impact includes revolutionizing transportation, starting with the affordable Model A and Model T, and redefining industrial processes with the moving assembly line. Events include:
Ford President and COO Nick Scheele joins 20,000 Ford enthusiasts at "Fabulous Fords Forever!" at Knotts Berry Farm near Los Angeles. About 2,000 vintage Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and a host of special Ford exhibits will be on hand.
Chris Theodore, Ford vice president of North American Product Development, serves as honorary chairman of the oldest continuously running classic car show in California -- the 47th annual Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance near San Francisco.
Edsel Ford dedicates a new environmental research center at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
The 100-city road show is a prelude to Ford's hometown celebration in Dearborn. The Road is Ours Centennial Celebration from June 12-16 is expected to draw thousands to the grounds of World Headquarters. Tickets may be purchased by calling 866-410-0367 or online at
http://www.celebrateford100.com.
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