Waku-Waku World―Cars and Making Things

Tokyo ― TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) plans to hold “Waku-Waku World―Cars and Making Things” at Toyota Stadium in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11. Waku-Waku World will be jointly sponsored by Toyota Engineering Society (TES)^*1, a TMC voluntary group headed by TMC Executive Vice President Akihiko Saito, the Expo 2005 Aichi Toyota Regional Promotion Council^*2, headed by Toyota Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Shoji Watanabe, and Toyota City.

Waku-Waku World is an event open to the general public free of charge under the themes of “making things” and “global environment.” It is comprised of the Toyota Engineering Society’s TES Festival 2004 and the Toyota Making Things Festival, hosted by Toyota City and the Expo 2005 Aichi Toyota Regional Promotion Council.

Under the slogan of “Let’s awaken the techie in us all!” TES is holding the TES Festival 2004 to demonstrate various “homemade” vehicles made from car parts, a “battle car race” featuring vehicles built based on a “hybrid” theme, the display of restored vehicles by TES members (a new event), and demonstrations of various examples of technical ingenuity by Toyota and other parties. Fun events for children and family members are also planned. This is the debut year for the TES Festival, which will give both TES members and the general public the chance to experience the fun of getting back to “making things.”

The Toyota Making Things Festival, hosted by Toyota City and the Expo 2005 Aichi Toyota Regional Promotion Council, will be held under the banner of “Toward EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN, Toward the Future. The City of Making Things, Toyota.” The festival will feature numerous interactive events, including a Toyota City hands-on “making things” area, and an area for kids to play with the EXPO mascots Morizo and Kiccoro.

*1.	Established to develop the skills and talents of its members and promote friendship. This year marks its 57th anniversary. TES has approximately 31,000 members.
*2.	Established in December 2001 to promote EXPO 2005 AICHI and related town development. Comprised of approximately 1,600 individual members and 66 organizations.

TES Festival 2004

Idea Contest: Car Contraptions
An array of amazing contraptions made by TES members using automobile parts, from large “vehicles” you can ride to everyday utensils. Approximately 30 items will be demonstrated/displayed from a total of 753 entries, and one will be awarded the Chairman’s Prize.

Idea Battle: Hybrid Battle
This year’s theme is “hybrid technology.” Time trials will be held over a 100m course using vehicles employing multiple sources of natural energy. The large-scale track, the first of its kind, will offer plenty of energy! A final race will be held between approximately 50 competitors, who have already won regional heats.

Historic Motor Show (New)
Historic cars of yesteryear lovingly restored by TES members will be on display, with all models of the Levin Trueno including the first Levin. Numerous vehicles that have appeared in other motor shows will also be on display, such as the 4500GT and ES³, some of which may also be test-driven.

Master Engineers (New)
Leading engineers from Toyota and other companies, show their stuff! Toyota Ingenuity: Seven items will be on display, including computer art and “sheet metal” crafted by a World Skills Competition participant! Third Party Ingenuity: Four items, including a 1:3 scale model 2000GT carved from ice and interesting vegetable art. There will also be lots of family oriented participatory events, such as a caricature corner and a windmill made of PET bottles.

Kids Battle
This is a class in which kids can experience the fun of “making things” themselves. Children will make a “surface glider” and have a flying contest, learning about the principles behind flight and the mechanics involved, while still having fun.