[EMAIL] Get on the National Car Care Month Bandwagon

21 July 1999

Car Care Council
42 Park Drive
Port Clinton, OH 43452
(419) 734-5343

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
	Donna M. Wagner (419) 734-5343

Get on the National Car Care
Month Bandwagon

October is opportunity month for the automotive aftermarket industry. It 's
National Car Care Month, when car care events in communities throughout the
USA again will be checking vehicles and providing preventive maintenance
information to the motoring public.
From these check lanes, manned by volunteers from various community
organizations, have come reports of more than 80% of vehicles inspected
needing maintenance.
"As a marketing tool, it's a natural for sponsorship by people in the
automotive service and parts business," declares Donna Wagner, Vice
President of Car Care Council. "To this end, we make it easy with our
28-page Event Planner, an easy to follow, step-by-step manual. Because this
program generally is carried out by community organizations which may not be
familiar with such an activity, we provide everything the novice needs to
know in our planning guide. The manual includes everything from a basic
planning calendar to procedures for performing the inspection. Public
service radio scripts and newspaper ad slicks are included, along with order
forms for literature and promotional materials.
	Last year's inspections disclosed 32% of vehicles having cooling system
discrepancies, 28% with low or dirty engine oil and 23 % with incorrect tire
pressure. Twenty-one percent had worn or frayed drive belts and 20% had
dirty air filters.
             "The consumer gains so much from these check lanes, " says
Wagner, "as do the people who are in business to provide needed services.
Taking care of one discrepancy often discloses others that need attention.
The value in terms of vehicle safety and efficiency is obvious, as are the
business benefits. It's a great fund raiser and we expect to see more
communities holding car care events this year than ever before."
Now in its 20th year, National Car Care Month is the only industry event
designed specifically to educate and motivate consumers on the benefits of
proper maintenance and repair of their vehicles. In addition to the check
lanes this program incorporates a public relations campaign that provides
information packets to news media throughout the U.S.A.
To order the Event Planner (free to Car Care Council members) send a check
or money order in the amount of $12.50 to Car Care Council, Department EP,
42 Park Drive, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Additional information can be
accessed via the Council's web site www.carecarecouncil.org/nccm.htm.