William Holmes was announced the winner of the Hyundai “Hands-On” Contest at the Washington Auto Show Sunday. Instead of keeping the car for himself, William gave it to his mother, Margaret. She said she raised her son to think of others before he thinks of himself. “This shows that the training paid off,” Margaret said.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Stan Benton, left, of Southeast was one of the contestants. Pictured in the middle, Jason Long of Ocean City said the hardest part of the contest was staying awake. “But that’s good preparation for having a baby,” said the expectant dad.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Mary Harrod of Gaithersburg, Md., left, and Melinda Kinslow of Martinsburg, West Virginia took a snooze on day three of the contest.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
Comfort and snacks helped contestants endure ‘touch’ time between 15-minute breaks provided every three hours for restroom visits and cell phone engagement.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WTOP/Kristi King
One of the original nine contestants who dropped out said she was called into work. Stan Benton said every once in a while someone does lose contact with the car and it’s missed by “officials.” Jason Long said Benton is a jokester and it was fun getting to know fellow contestants. Winner William Holmes said visits from his family helped make the contest easier.
(WTOP/Kristi King)
WASHINGTON — A Maryland resident won a brand new car after participating in the Hyundai “Hands-On” Contest at the Washington Auto Show this week.
William Holmes of Mitchellville, Maryland, received the keys to a 2016 Hyundai Tucson SE on Sunday, as the contest came to a close at noon. But instead of keeping the car for himself, he handed the keys to his mother, Margaret.
Holmes was one of nine finalists in the contest. Contestants have been camping out at the Washington Auto Show since Tuesday to win the new car.
Contestants were required to keep constant contact with the vehicle with at least one body part, and were allowed a 15-minute break every three hours.
“I couldn’t think of a greater gift to give my personal hero than a stylish new means of transportation to aid her in assisting others within her community,” Holmes wrote in his application essay for the contest.
Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the WTOP newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.
