Shell looking for 'ultimate automotive enthusiast'

HOUSTON (Aug. 6, 2013) — Royal Dutch Shell P.L.C. has launched its second annual Shell V-Power Ultimate Enthusiast Contest.

The company's Shell oil brand is searching for the one person who "best represents" an unyielding passion for automobiles. It rolled out the contest today, with top automotive experts on hand, in Reno, Nev., at "Hot August Nights"—called the largest classic car and nostalgia event in the U.S.

Last year, Shell said, it collected hundreds of stories from enthusiasts across the country illustrating the "moments that sparked their love for all things automotive—a passion at the heart of Shell V-Power, our best, most advanced gasoline for those who know and love their automobiles inside and out."

Elizabeth Hudson, fuel category manager at Shell Oil Products U.S., said the response last year to the company's Ultimate Enthusiast contest "was phenomenal. The stories these enthusiasts shared showcased what we always thought we knew: A passion for cars is about memories and an unwavering focus on performance.

"Like our enthusiasts last year and the ones we expect to hear from this year, we understand their dedication to performance. That is why we develop fuels like Shell V-Power, designed to deliver maximum protection for optimum performance for today's high performance vehicles."

Shell is inviting fans from across the automotive world—from classic car enthusiasts to race car aficionados—to enter the contest from Aug. 6 to Sept. 17. Enthusiasts can share the stories and photos that show why they are the Ultimate Enthusiast at the contest's website.They're also being asked to share their formulas for excitement—"their personal combination of time, place, destination and companion that would create their dream automotive experience," Shell said.

One grand prize winner and a guest will receive an Ultimate Enthusiast week in Italy, including an exclusive experience with Ferrari in its hometown of Maranello, Italy.

Judging the contest will be a roster of prominent automotive insiders and experts, according to the oil company, including: Roger Penske, founder and chairman of Penske Corp.; Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.; Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver magazine; Larry Webster, editor-in-chief of Road & Track; Alan Taylor, host of "The Drive with Alan Taylor"; Tony Marini, executive director of Hot August Nights; and drag racer Don Prudhomme. Shell said Harold Craige, the 2012 contest's Ultimate Enthusiast grand prize winner, also will lend his "unique perspective" to the panel.

Shell said all photo submissions will be judged by the Joey Logano Foundation; one winner could have his or her photo featured in the foundation's 2014 calendar and will receive a $100 Shell V-Power Gift Card.

The top three Shell V-Power Ultimate Enthusiast Contest finalists will be flown to Scottsdale, Ariz., for a three-day, VIP experience at the 43rd Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, to be held Jan. 12-19. Finalists will receive access to the world-famous car auction and an invitation to Barrett-Jackson's opening night gala on Jan. 13, where Shell's contest grand prize winner will be announced. That person also could win $5,000 in Shell V-Power Gift Cards for his or her car club, according to Shell, which added that all finalists will receive a year's worth of Shell V-Power Premium Gasoline.