Auto Fans Nationwide Can Bid on Rock & Roll Hot Rod; Arras Group's Rolling Entry Revs Up United Way's GuitarMania

Asset Caption: Arras Group revved up a 10-foot-long fiberglass Fender Stratocaster(R) guitar to support GuitarMania, a public art project in Cleveland spearheaded by United Way Services, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio. This Rock & Roll Hot Rod and other guitar sculptures will be auctioned off Saturday, November 9, 2002, with all proceeds to benefit these charities.

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    CLEVELAND--July 18, 2002--Arras Group revved up a 10-foot-long fiberglass Fender Stratocaster(R) guitar to support GuitarMania, a public art project in Cleveland spearheaded by United Way Services, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio. This Rock & Roll Hot Rod and other guitar sculptures will be auctioned off Saturday, November 9, 2002, with all proceeds to benefit these charities. Fans of automobiles and Rock & Roll nationwide can bid on this or any guitar using an absentee bid form. For forms, contact Meredith Kaplan, United Way/GuitarMania public relations and events manager, at (216) 436-2123 or mkaplan@uws.org.
    George Barris, famous for custom car creations in the 1950's and 60's, inspired Arras Group's Stratogasser, literally a rolling work of art. Hand-painted and airbrushed with flames and sporting an aluminum wing, this car emulates a true 1960's style vintage AA fuel dragster. Currently it is on display in Cleveland's Tower City mall and online at www.arrasgroup.com.
    "Fast cars and rock and roll belong together," says Mark Taylor, President of Arras Group Automotive. "Our guitar embodies 1950's rock and roll."
    Valued at $25,000 in parts and labor, the Arras guitar is the result of more than 250 man-hours. The car has a fully fabricated frame, a mock small-block Chevy engine, classic American Racing Torque Thrust wheels and Yokohama tires. It combines creative efforts and donations from many automotive companies including Mr. Gasket, Yokohama Tire Corporation, American Racing Custom Wheels, Lakewood, Brembo North America, Hays, Accel and Hurst.
    "Because of Arras Group's unique connection with the automotive industry," explains Taylor, "We were able to partner with our clients to create this outrageous guitar sculpture. They helped us take our guitar concept to this sophisticated level."
    Well-known local and national recording artists who also painted guitars include Joe Walsh, Graham Nash, Michael Stanley and Mickey Hart, Peter Max, Yoko Ono and Omar Vizquel. Pictures of their work can be seen at www.cleveland.com/guitarmania.
    Arras Group's guitar was handcrafted at Autocrafters in Medina, Ohio. Scott Tullius, owner of Autocrafters, has been customizing cars since the age of 14. The company put more than 150 hours into the Rock & Roll Hot Rod with work contributed by Tullius, Steve Deblaay and Luis Gabriel, in addition to Arras employees Taylor, Terry Pacifico and Rick Braun.
    Founded in Cleveland in 1991, Arras Group's more than 60 full-time professionals provide clients with fully integrated marketing communications in all disciplines including; market research, sales promotion, direct marketing, advertising, merchandising, sales support and public relations. Co-founders Jim Hickey and Scott Keglovic fully support both the company and its employees giving back to the community. The company also participates in various community efforts including Habitat For Humanity, St. Augustine Charities, Adopt-A-Family and Harvest for Hunger, to name a few.
    For more information about Arras Group or additional photos of the Rock & Roll Hot Rod please visit www.arrasgroup.com or call (216) 621-1601.

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