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Letter to the Editor

Pep Boys Kicks Off First Ever Virtual Car Show

PHILADELPHIA -- Pep Boys, the full-service automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, has announced it is sponsoring a nationwide "Virtual Car Show," the first of its kind anywhere.

The show, which will be held via the Internet beginning March 6, will allow automobile enthusiasts throughout the country to "stroll virtual rows" of cars, trucks and vans representing various makes and models from the past and present, all without leaving their home or office.

Spectators can also be part of the action by registering their own car in the show to compete in any of 12 classes, and by taking part in the voting process to select the winners. This is the only car show of its kind in the country where the public can participate in such a unique way. The show runs through May 31, with public voting beginning May 15.

"The Pep Boys Virtual Car Show will allow auto fans nationwide to easily participate in an activity that, until now, was limited geographically and often needed the promise of good weather," said Bill Furtkevic, director of marketing communications for Pep Boys. "This program will allow us to reach out to enthusiasts and customers nationwide on a grass roots level by providing them the chance to join in an activity they enjoy, but in a much more innovative way."

This program - held in conjunction with emap-usa, one of the world's foremost media companies - represents a unique "clicks-to-bricks" marketing tool for Pep Boys.

The one-of-a-kind promotion has the potential to not only unite the customers and employees of Pep Boys' 628 stores, but also the readership of several emap-usa magazines and their corresponding websites, individuals surfing the web, and consumers who learn about the contest through news stories and simple word of mouth.

To enter, participants can stop by any Pep Boys store to pick up an official entry form and registration instructions, and then upload the best photo of their car, truck or van to the Pep Boys Virtual Car Show site at pepboys.com or http://www.hotrod.com/.

Classes include American Motors, Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mopar, Ford/Mercury, Pre-1949 Cars & Trucks, 4x4s & SUVs, 2-Wheel Drive Trucks and Vans, Replica Cars and Trucks, and Imports.

Once all entries are received, Pep Boys and the editors of emap-usa publications Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Car Craft, Sport Truck and 4Wheel & Off-Road will choose three finalists for each category, and from May 15 through May 31, the public will vote for the winners in each class.

Winners in the 12 classes will be posted on the Pep Boys Virtual Car Show site from June 2 through June 30, and will receive $2,000 worth of Pep Boys gift certificates. Pep Boys and the magazine editors will then choose four top overall winners, including the Best of Show.

The four overall winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles, where the Best of Show vehicle will be displayed at the Petersen Automotive Museum this summer.

Pep Boys, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, operates 628 stores and nearly 6,500 service bays in 36 states and Puerto Rico.

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