Monday, October 09, 2006

Volkswagen Sponsors LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon

Source: Volkswagen of America.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc., in conjunction with the Chicago Area and Northwest Indiana Volkswagen dealers, proudly announces its 11th consecutive year of The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon sponsorship. Forty thousand adult runners of all ages, will be paced by a pair of sprightly Volkswagen Rabbits through downtown Chicago.

“We’re delighted to be sponsoring this phenomenal event for 11 years now,” comments Stuart Karp, Volkswagen Central Region Director. “It provides us with an ideal platform to bring the Volkswagen brand, dealership partners, customers and our prospects together in a celebration of endurance, stamina and determination.”

Press release continues.

Sponsorship of The LaSalle Bank Marathon provides a showcase for the witty and clever Volkswagen advertising and marketing communications that have become a tradition for the brand. Creative ties to the event include decorating downtown Chicago hotel parking lot toll booth arms like Marathon finish lines, establishing a Volkswagen “Filling Station” for runner refreshment, and distribution of stickers, band-aids, air fresheners and Volkswagen shaped pasta. “Roadside Assistance” to runners will also be provided, in addition to a Volkswagen presence at the affiliated Health & Fitness Expo, held at McCormick Place North Hall Building.

Two specific elements of Volkswagen’s presence at the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon reflect the spirit of the event. A Volkswagen Rabbit with a dangling carrot will pace both the men’s and women’s race groups. Secondly, a life size Fast totem, the GTI brand icon, will be on display.

As in the past, Volkswagen will award a new vehicle to the runner breaking a world record. Over the years, three vehicles have been awarded to record breaking competitors in The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, GLI, Jetta, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers.