California, Ohio and Pennsylvania Leading the Polls for Car Love

From Coast to Coast, Entries Pouring in for National Car Love Contest

CHICAGO, Aug. 2 -- As mid-summer arrives, the race is heating up. Not the upcoming Presidential election or baseball's pennant race but the contest to determine the state that exhibits the most Car Love.

The International Carwash Association, an association representing more than 18,000 car washes and car care locations, is in the midst of its national "Car Love" sweepstakes competition. Car owners from around the country submit entries describing how much they love their car for a chance to win a free car-care prize package that includes washes, detailing, car stereo equipment or free gas fill-ups.

Who's showing the most car love so far? Californians, with 8.9 percent of the entries. Ohioans are a surprising second with 6.2 percent, followed closely by Pennsylvanians with 6 percent. Texas is fourth at 5.1 percent and Florida rounds out the top five with 4.7 percent of the postmarks.

"No matter what state you live in, taking care of your car is important," said Mark Thorsby, executive director of the International Carwash Association. "Many people love their cars and take great care of them by visiting professional car washes regularly. The Car Love sweepstakes gives people from all over the country the chance to win free car care from their local car wash."

New York is in sixth place (4.6 percent), followed by Arizona (4.5 percent), Illinois (3.9 percent), Wisconsin (3.8 percent) and a tie for 10th place between Michigan and North Carolina. Both states each have 3.7 percent.

The deadline to submit entries for the Car Love sweepstakes has been extended to Sept. 30, allowing residents to narrow the Car Love gap in the state-by-state comparison.

   Entries can be sent to:
   ICA Car Love 2004 Sweepstakes
   c/o Ketchum
   225 N. Michigan Avenue -- Suite 1900
   Chicago, IL 60601

More contest details and car care information are available at http://www.carlove.org/ , an online resource devoted to educating consumers about the benefits of professional car washes. The site features a Car Wash Wizard that provides a "prescription" for professional car washes, according to geographic region and fun facts from a recent study conducted by the International Carwash Association.

About the International Carwash Association

The International Carwash Association (ICA) is a non-profit trade association serving 3,000 businesses in the United States, Canada and overseas. Membership includes car wash operators, equipment manufacturers, distributors, and related suppliers. ICA members represent approximately 18,000 car wash and car care locations in North America.