Small Town Boys Live Out A Dream

DETROIT, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Living out your dreams can have some limits in a town with 300 people and no stoplights. For Michael Hollinger, Bodie Hope, and Dylan "Rocky" Riley, three young men from Arkansas, the chance to live out one of their dreams became reality and they received the opportunity to meet their long-time hero, Storm Chaser Reed Timmer.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120120/DE39540 )

Passion for storm chasing came at a young age for Michael, who enjoys going out and chasing storms with his dad. That enjoyment spurred an immediate draw to the television program in which meteorologist Reed Timmer leads one of three storm-chasing teams, and Bosch is a sponsor. Bosch held a Twitter "retweet" contest, which Michael entered and won. He later tweeted to Bosch that he works at an auto parts store and has sold Bosch ICON Wiper Blades because he showed customers the Reed Timmer television spot. In the midst of a conversation with Bosch, Michael mentioned, "Me and my friends even advertised Bosch Wiper Blades at a community function when we built the Mini Dominator. We worked hard on it!"

The "Mini-Dom" video became an instant hit with Bosch. The idea was a natural and Bosch worked to create a new video and to introduce Michael and his friends to their idol, Reed Timmer. The idea was for the boys and Bosch to pull a "Switcheroo" where Timmer's storm chasing vehicle the Dominator would switch with their "Mini-Dom" while Timmer was inside a local convenience store, all scripted, caught on tape, and looking like the ultimate prank.

The "Mini-Dom" was a fun project the boys worked on around Halloween, built with cardboard, PVC pipe, chicken wire, and a 4-wheeler. After Timmer saw the pint-sized Dominator, he was amazed saying, "It has the anemometer and everything, it's all decked out. You guys really are big fans."

Michael, Bodie, and Dylan received the opportunity of a lifetime. Two of the boys had never even been on a plane before and now they can say they flew out to Chicago and shot a video with their idol, Reed Timmer. Michael mentions, "This has been a dream come true." View the switch on the Bosch YouTube page, www.youtube.com/boschautoparts.

BOSCH

Bosch is a proud supporter of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association's Know Your Parts® education and awareness campaign. This initiative promotes the importance of quality brand name aftermarket parts backed by full service suppliers, and its impact on delivering reliable products to today's motorists. For more information visit: www.AASAKnowYourParts.org.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 285,000 associates generated sales of $62.7 billion ( 47.3 billion euros) in fiscal 2010. For 2011, the company forecasts sales of more than $70 billion (50 billion euros) and a headcount of 300,000 by the end of the year. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent approximately $5 billion (3.8 billion euros) for research and development in 2010, and applied for over 3,800 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.

In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy, healthcare and software innovations. Having established a regional presence in North America in 1906, Bosch employs over 22,000 associates in more than 100 locations, with reported sales of $8.8 billion in fiscal 2010.

For more information on Bosch Automotive Products, visit www.boschautoparts.com

For more information on Bosch Wiper Blades, visit www.boschcleartheway.com

Find Bosch Auto Parts on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/boschautoparts

SOURCE Bosch