AKA Rally Hosts Hundreds Of Automotive Enthusiasts June 12 - 17
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PHILADELPHIA/EWORLDWIRE/Feb. 12, 2004 --- The hum of engines roars ever louder as the March 1 application deadline approaches and registrants assemble.
More than 100 participants have already signed up to join other car enthusiasts for a cross-country event June 12 through 17 unparallelled in its variety of automobiles and attendees.
One enthusiastic participant scheduled to make the event is Pro Skater Josh Kalis. "(AKA Rally is about) real cars, real people - this (event) is gonna be off the hook!" stated Kalis.
Filming footage for two videos to be released post-rally will be Teckademics and Ryan Gee.
L.A.-based Teckademics is best known for making import car lifestyle videos.
Gee, a Philly resident, is recognized in the skating industry for his photography for Transworld SKATEboarding Magazine and for the video "CKY 3".
"AKA Rally is distinctive among automotive events: from donating a portion of the proceeds to charity, to the quality of the accomodations along the way to L.A.," stated Dan Schnieder, event organizer. "The most significant difference is that our entrance fee is designed to permit people from all backgrounds to participate."
While Schneider is just beginning to make a name for himself with rally promotion, he is well-known throughout the Philadelphia area as someone who stirs things up - in the cell phone marketing industry.
Remarkable about Schneider is his history, albeit only a few years. He did not graduate but elected to drop out of high school at age 16 and applied his energy to building a cell phone business, successfully. By 19, he had already earned over a million dollars in sales and was on his way to owning ten stores. As Schneider's company grows, he finds many people can't see past his exterior to his drive - drive that's now bent on making inroads in the rally marketplace.
"As with every venture I undertake, my goal is to break down people's preconceived notions about how something should operate or who someone should be based on their educational background or outward appearance," said Schneider.
Schneider's drive spills over into his personal life as a Big Brother, mentoring in the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, the organization Schneider is looking to help fund with proceeds from the event.
While models of cars scheduled to be represented include Porsche, Rolls Royce and Vipers, participants driving Volkswagon, Nissan, bikes and even U-Hauls trucks have registered.
"Other rallies are cost-prohibitive to the mainstream population, with some requiring a $15,000 entrance fee," added Schnieder. "For about the cost of a standard vacation, more people can participate in the AKA Rally - and they can feel good knowing that they're supporting a worthy cause while doing it."
In addition to the memories, many of the rally-goers will going home with tangible prizes in nearly a dozen categories ranging from most expensive to cheapest chariot on wheels.
"Memorabilia is not limited to the prizes," said Schnieder. "We have worked with sponsors to create gift packs, and everyone who comes along will find themselves listed in the AKA Rally book and at the center of national magazine and TV coverage."
In the works for post-travel are an AKA Rally Video Game and AKA Rally DVD.
"We will capture the essence of the excitement of the road and parties to share well into the future," concluded Schneider. "With the reception of AKA Rally already overwhelmingly positive, we're expecting fun and good times all the way."
AKA Rally is currently in the process of selecting one of three major PR agencies to hire for promotional activities during the event.
CONTACT:
Dan Schneider
AKA Rally
569 North Main Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
EMAIL: dan@akarally.com