FAIRFAX, Va. — While synthetic motor oils have an impact on the performance of everything from race cars to minivans, many drivers may not be aware of the critical role such oils play in their engines. A new documentary featuring Mobil 1 intends to change all that.
Titled “Speed Dreams,” the 24-minute program will premiere March 16 at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT on The Documentary Channel. In addition to visiting revered locations such as the Corvette Hall of Fame and delving into the history of synthetic motor oils, the program highlights several successful drivers as they discuss the factors that have helped propel them to the top of their circuits.
“Speed Dreams” features interviews with 2008 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Automotive, Porsche factory GT driver Wolf Henzler and drag racing specialist Jason Whitfield of Whitfield Racing. Each discusses the personal experiences on and off the track that have helped bring auto racing success. In addition to the lifelong support of family and friends and an innate desire to compete, the drivers credit breakthroughs in racing technology – including the reliable performance of Mobil 1 – for their ability to win at the track.
The documentary also features Bill Maxwell, Distinguished Engineering Advisor, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, a prominent member of the team that invented Mobil 1 more than 35 years ago. Maxwell discusses the origins of synthetic motor oil and traces its roots back to the U.S. military’s need for lubricants that would not freeze in the extreme temperatures experienced by its naval aircraft during World War II. Maxwell also discusses his lifelong love affair with Corvettes, and how it inspired him to become an engineer and eventually play a key role in the development of Mobil 1. One of Maxwell’s own dreams even comes true on-camera as he is given the honor of turning the ignition on a just-completed Corvette at the factory in Bowling Green, Ky.
“We’re very excited about this project, as it really shows viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the technology that goes into a product like Mobil 1,” said Scott Howard, Americas Automotive marketing manager, ExxonMobil Lubricants and Specialties. “We’re proud of the contributions that Mobil 1 makes to auto manufacturers and race teams around the world, and we think any fan of fast cars and powerful engines will enjoy this documentary.”
In addition to airing on The Documentary Channel, “Speed Dreams” can be viewed online in its entirety on the network’s Sling.com channel (www.sling.com/network/189/The-Documentary-Channel) from March 16 through the end of 2009.
From March 16 to May 15, the network will also offer a unique interactive sweepstakes, titled “Drive of Your Dreams,” which features Mobil 1 and will award two grand-prize winners a trip of a lifetime to the renowned Porsche Sports Driving School in Leeds, Ala. Over two days, the winners will be able to experience first-hand what performance driving is all about by putting various Porsche models through their paces on the track and off-road.
The sweepstakes will be hosted at www.driveofyourdreams.com. Visitors to the website will be able to watch outtakes and other video clips related to “Speed Dreams,” after which they will be asked to answer a two-question multiple-choice quiz. For each question, entrants will have the opportunity to increase their odds of winning the grand prize. A new set of questions will be posted each week for the two months of the sweepstakes. No purchase is necessary to enter or win in the “Drive of Your Dreams” sweepstakes. The full set of official rules and prize details will be available at www.driveofyourdreams.com.
