Hold Your Horse (Power): Toyota "Hands On" Contest Connects Washingtonians With a New Car

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington, you've hung in there, long enough! After a 10-year hiatus of its "prized" event, The Washington Auto Show® today announced the return of the Toyota "Hands On" Contest, which will give this year's show attendees the chance to win a brand new 2014 Toyota Corolla.

The legendary Hands-On Contest, in which show guests must stay in physical contact with the prize vehicle for a period of several days, first wowed Washingtonians in 1999 when the match came down to a test of will between a pair of officials from the army and navy.  The contest will begin Tuesday, January 28 and end at noon, on Sunday, Feb. 2.

This time around, the Washington Auto Show will update the classic with various challenges to keep the contestants guessing – and everyone entertained.

"The return of this wildly popular contest not only lets our participants get up close and personal with this award-winning automobile, but also adds to the excitement and anticipation that makes the Washington Auto Show a one-of-a-kind experience for thousands of attendees," said Kevin Reilly, chairman of the 2014 Washington Auto Show. "We are grateful for our valued and long-standing partnership with the Washington area Toyota dealers,  which not only enables us to give show guests a chance to win a beautiful car that demonstrates the ingenuity and achievements of our industry, but to also generate enthusiasm about this trend-setting automaker."

Beginning on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, listeners may register through the show website, www.washingtonautoshow.com, with a short explanation of why they want to win the car. Thirty applicants will be chosen from that pool of registrants to qualify for the next round, from which a final group of 10 will be screened and selected by The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) to participate in the final stage of the competition.

The 10 contest finalists will be required to keep their "hands on" the Corolla for the duration of the contest. Finalists will be positioned around the prize vehicle at random by the judges and must be continuously in physical contact with the vehicle at all times (excluding sanctioned breaks). If a participating contestant does not maintain continuous contact with the vehicle for any reason, including reward challenges, that contestant will be disqualified.

The last person remaining in physical contact with the prize vehicle will win it. In the event that the end of the live contest leaves more than one finalist, a random drawing will be conducted by the sponsor to determine the winner.

Each participating contestant will be responsible for acquiring his or her own food and beverages. Each contestant may bring no other personal property to contest except the following: one blanket, one change of clothes and one set of toiletries. Once the contest has begun, no additional personal property will be permitted. A regular break of exactly fifteen minutes is scheduled every three hours. (Participants returning late from these breaks will be disqualified.) No electronic devices, reading, writing or drawing materials are allowed, and smoking, alcoholic beverages, offensive language and physical contact between contestants are prohibited. Family, friends and on-lookers are encouraged and welcomed, but only contestants are allowed within the confines of the contest space.

The prize vehicle is being donated by the Washington area Toyota dealers. 

The Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association, producer of The Washington Auto Show and contest sponsor will have complete contest judging and management authorization.

The contest is open to all legal United States residents 18 years of age or older. Contestants must have been at least 18 years of age by December 31, 2013, to participate. All entrants must have a valid driver's license and must have proof of insurance. 

No purchase is necessary to win, and the contest is void where prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. For complete contest rules or more information about The Washington Auto Show®, visit www.washingtonautoshow.com.

SOURCE The Washington Auto Show