Smart times: up onto the winners' rostrum by airbrush

PR-INSIDE, GERMANY - - Monika Wolfenstädter has been 'infected' only recently, but the fever she has caught is even more intense for all that. The German is not ill, rather more addicted - in the most positive sense of the word: since this year in June she can proudly call herself the owner of a smart.

Originally she did not care much for the tiny racer, but when it was time to buy a new city car, there was no way around the offspring of the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary. 'It is simply much racier than any other small car.' Now she can hardly live without her pocket-size racer.

The smart has become her passion practically over night.As a real smart fan, Monika Wolfenstädter is naturally going to attend the legendary smart times from 25th to 27 August, the official international smart meeting in the 'Europa-Sportregion Zell am See-Kaprun'. And she can already find her way to Pinzgau in her sleep: 'For the last six years we have regularly gone to the 'Europa-Sportregion', usually even several times a year.

We know our way around.' As passionate skiers, the family are enthusiastic about the winter sports facilities first of all. But they also think that Zell am See and Kaprun are ideal for relaxation in summer. 'The countryside is simply wonderful.'During their next visit to the region, however, Wolfenstädter will not find much time to relax. 'There will be much too much action for a real holiday', she says. For: together with her smart Passion she will be at the centre of everyone's attention.

When the craziest of all the tiny racers is chosen in the craziest smart voting, the members of the jury will also be able to cast their vote in favour of Wolfenstädter's smart, which sports an airbrush style. Initially the family had resprayed the car mainly in order to advertise their own business. It has therefore been given the pet name of 'Advertising Space'. The car body was painstakingly treated to a new paint coat. Now the smart shines in a skilful imitation of steel and chrome, which has won it one of the much sought-after places in the field for the craziest smart voting.

There is a lot of competition: participants from all over Europe are going to pour into Zell am See and Kaprun to present their unique darlings there. 'In the end the tuned up smarts will probably be the winners', thinks Wolfenstädter. But thanks to the unique paint coat of her car, she, too, might have a chance of success.Whatever the outcome will be: the smart community is going to have a big party. Live music by the successful Latvian band 'Brainstorm', test drives of the latest models, or disco nights with culinary specialities will make the weekend pass in a flash.

'My personal highlight will be the car procession when more than a thousand smarts drive through the region', Wolfenstädter is looking forward to the event. Small wonder if her fever were to increase by some degrees after that.You can find more information on the 'smart times 2006' at http://www.pr-inside.com/cc~http://www.mysmart.at__13538.htm on the Internet. Details about the 'Europa-Sportregion Zell am See-Kaprun' are available at http://www.pr-inside.com/cc~http://www.europasportregion.info__13538.htm