Pixar’s ‘Cars’ hits the road with two show vehicles

Two of the stars of Disney/Pixar’s exciting new computer-animated
feature "CARS" will race straight off the movie screen and into the
real world as actual life-sized models of hotshot rookie racecar
Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Sally Carrera, a snazzy
2002 Porsche 911 (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) will hit the road today for
Disney/Pixar’s "CARS Road Trip ’06" presented by State Farm(R), it was
announced today by Brett Dicker, Executive Vice President of Buena
Vista Pictures Marketing.

Full list of tour dates below the cut. (link)

The film’s sheet metal counterparts were created by famed movie car
creator and customizer Eddie Paul of Customs By Eddie Paul, with help
from Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios’ artists and technicians. Paul
is responsible for famous Hollywood car creations such as the hot rod
that John Travolta drove in "Grease" as well as custom built vehicles
for "The Fast and the Furious" and "xXx."

Disney/Pixar’s "CARS
Road Trip 06" presented by State Farm will bring the "CARS" stars to
life through interactive experiences. The tour, which was designed and
will be managed by the Becker Group, will cross the country with stops
in over 40 cities and be highlighted by an appearance at the World
Premiere for Disney/Pixar’s "CARS" on May 26 in Charlotte, NC at the
Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The cars will ride in style via a special truck
inspired by the character Mack, which will be provided by Mack Trucks,
Inc. As the number one auto insurer in the U.S., and with their
headquarters located along Route 66, State Farm sought to sponsor "CARS
Road Trip ’06" in addition to their category sponsorship of "CARS."

"CARS"
tells the story of Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie racecar driven
to succeed, who discovers that life is about the journey, not the
finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy
Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. On route across the country to the
big Piston Cup Championship in California to compete against two
seasoned pros, McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters who
help him realize that there are more important things than trophies,
fame and sponsorship. The all-star vocal cast includes free-wheeling
performances by Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, "Larry the Cable
Guy", Tony Shalhoub, Michael Keaton, George Carlin, Katherine Helmond,
Cheech Marin, John Ratzenberger, Paul Dooley, Michael Wallis, Darrell
Waltrip, Richard Petty, Jenifer Lewis and Jeremy Piven. Fueled with
plenty of humor, action, heartfelt drama, and amazing new technical
feats, "CARS" races into theaters on June 9.

"CARS Road Trip ’06" travel cities will include:

  April 17             Akron, OH
  April 18             Washington DC
  April 19             Baltimore, MD
  April 20             Philadelphia, PA
  April 21             Allentown, PA
  April 22             Hartford, CT
  April 23             Boston, MA
  April 24             Toronto, CN
  April 26             Detroit, MI
  April 27             Chicago, IL
  April 28-29          Minneapolis, MN
  May 1                Denver, CO
  May 2                Salt Lake City, UT
  May 4                DuPont, WA
  May 5                Seattle, WA
  May 6                Portland, OR
  May 7                San Francisco, CA
  May 8                Bakersfield, CA
  May 10-12            Los Angeles, CA
  May 15               Houston, TX
  May 17-18            Atlanta, GA
  May 20-21            Orlando, FL
  May 22-23            Jacksonville, FL
  May 24-28            Charlotte, NC — World Premiere/NASCAR Coca Cola 600
  May 30               Charlottesville, VA
  May 31               Parsippany, NJ
  June 1-6             New York, NY
  June 11-18           Los Angeles, CA
  June 19              Phoenix, AZ
  June 21              San Antonio, TX
  June 22              Dallas, TX
  June 23-24           Tulsa, OK
  June 26              St. Louis, MO
  June 27              Erlanger, KY
  June 28              Cincinnati, OH
  June 29              Lexington, KY
  June 30              Columbus, OH
  July 5               Battle Creek, MI
  July 6               Oakbrook, IL
  July 7               Bloomington, IL
  July 8-11            Chicago, IL