With presenting sponsorship from Castrol Edge, associate sponsorship from Prestone, Quiznos and American Legacy; a unique consumer sweepstakes prize package that includes three days in stunning Monterey, Calif., driving and riding with the likes of Mario Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Kyle Petty; and a high-powered spokesperson deal with red-hot Mercury Records recording artist Jessie James, SPEED is ready to go full-throttle with "SPEED Dream Ride" -- the network's inaugural fully integrated holiday programming and promotional event.
"In developing 'SPEED Dream Ride,' the key was to blend elements unique to SPEED with a package attractive to all television viewers -- a package combining the thrill of racing, the love of the automobile and some of the network's hottest television properties," said Lila Everett, SPEED SVP of Marketing. "The six-week promotion will serve as both a holiday gift for our current viewers and a welcome mat for those who may take the time to check us out for the first time."
On air, "SPEED Dream Ride" will be woven through multiple marathons of SPEED's most popular weekly programming, as well as the series premiere of "Dangerous Drives," a new prime time series debuting on Thanksgiving Day. In addition, SPEED will be highlighting a national consumer "Dream Ride" sweepstakes with a chance to win an extraordinary VIP experience at Laguna Seca Raceway that only SPEED can deliver.
Five winners and their guests will spend three days at the famed track in Monterey, riding along with Andretti (in a two-seater IndyCar), Petty (in a NASCAR stock car), Jason Pridmore (on a two-up MotoGP sportbike) and Tanner Foust (on a Drifting course) … and if riding shotgun isn't enough to jack up your adrenaline, winners will take turns crushing cars behind the wheel of the menacing black and green Monster Truck known as "Gravedigger" and touring the beautiful Northern California countryside piloting a collection of Super Cars supplied by World Class Driving.
Several other "surprise" guests from the worlds of racing and entertainment will make appearances throughout the three-day experience.
"SPEED Dream Ride" will be supported by www.speeddreamride.com, an Internet micro-site hosted by the network Web site www.SPEEDtv.com (Keyword: "Dream Ride"). The micro-site, which opens Nov. 9, will offer sweepstakes entry, "SPEED Dream Ride" video teasers and promotional content, as well as prize information, program schedule and links to music on James' Web site and "SPEED Dream Ride" long-form video and photo galleries.
James, whose self-titled debut album is enjoying immediate success, already has shot "SPEED Dream Ride" promotional spots on location in South Florida, as well as "Dream Den" programming interstitials at a Charlotte, N.C., race shop.
As part of the campaign, James has re-styled Bullet, one of the songs from her new album, with a "SPEED Dream Ride" theme. For more information on James and her new album, please visit www.islanddefjam.com.
Dangerous Drives, which premieres Thanksgiving Day with a four-episode marathon, will give SPEED viewers a unique opportunity to ride shotgun with drivers whose risky rides are simply part of their daily routine. Prisoner transport services, storm chasers, border patrol agents, executive protection agencies and war-zone convoy teams will all be featured as part of the new 13-episode series from Pangolin Pictures.
A strong "SPEED Dream Ride" affiliate promotion and prize package also is in place, with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Charter, Cox, Mediacom and Cable One systems combining to put the promotion in front of millions subscribers.
The "SPEED Dream Ride" programming lineup will be made available through SPEED on Demand in November and December, with customized affiliate spots available for download at foxcable.com.
SPEED™ is the nation's first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 79 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.
