Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > July > 13 > Entry
7/14: Winner of Star’s car promo
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Star 94’s third “live in it and win it” type contest called “Wheel World Atlanta 2007,” Jesika Wehunt, 19, outlasted seven other contestants to take home a 2007 Mercury Mariner, a place she called home for 33 days.
Sitting in the main court at North Point Mall, Wehunt only got 10 minute breaks every three hours plus an occasional reprieve to compete for prizes.
I shot the photo above on June 30. Evony Butler, who was ousted that following Monday is with Jesika on the right.
Wehunt beat out Cyndi Rafus, a stay-at-home mom from Loganville. Star 94 had only two contestants left Friday when they had the pair pick out letters and numbers randomly until the first one spells out Star 94.
Wehunt, a chipper Delta Zeta sorority gal who is a rising sophomore at the University of Georgia, became buds with Rafus and they plan to stay in touch. (Rafus got a three-day trip to Cancun as a consolation prize.)
Over 33 days, she said she actually lost 3 pounds despite the relative inactivity though she said in the last few days, her legs would start aching more while she tried to sleep upright in the Mariner. “It scared me,” she said.
She said she ate Chick Fil-A every day, especially the fries with honey barbecue sauce. Her mom Zandra drove 45 minutes from Smyrna most days and when she couldn’t make it, Wehunt’s sorority sister came by. About 30 different women visited her, she said.
The toughest part of the contest? “It was having no control, not being able to eat if I get hungry, to go to the bathroom when I wanted to. And having to wake up every three hours was tough.” (The rules required they leave the car every three hours, even in the middle of the night.)
Wehunt also won a lifetime subscription to Tivo and a Tivo, and a $500 gift card from Macy’s. Her first post-car meal was a home-made meat loaf with mac and cheese, green beens and squash.
Wehunt’s beat-up 1990 Builk Sklylark (sans air conditioning) broke down before the contest. This will be quite an upgrade. And her dad offered to pay the $1,700 in sales tax for the $22,000-plus vehicle.
She’s back to work Sunday at Italian restaurant Provino’s in Douglasville. (“A double shift!” she said.)
Do you think this type of contest is a net gain for a radio station?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Flo Jean
July 14, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
The first time STAR 94 did this promotion it was a unique idea and got lots of coverage. This time not so much.
By PD
July 14, 2007 5:42 PM | Link to this
The purpose of a contest is to get people to listen to the station longer. This promotion would not have accomplished that.
By eric
July 14, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Another example of why I stopped listening to terrestrial radio and switched to Sirius three and a half years ago. Gimmicks, commercials, poor playlists, all they can do is give stuff away to get listeners. Ack.
By tesla
July 14, 2007 11:42 PM | Link to this
Ugh. The sound on XM or Sirius stinks. You folks never seem to realize that. Another thing…for people who are in to niche music (oooh Americana, oooh Bluegrass, oooh sea chanty’s) it makes sense to spend the $$$…but to the average person who doesn’t obsess about music…they could care less. Just give me tunes, traffic and weather…I got other things on my mind.
By Kevin O'Connell
July 15, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
Thanks for mentioning bluegrass. Get plenty of it FREE at www.mountainechoesradio.com. Bluegrass on the Internet from Dahlonega, GA all day, all night, all year.
By BadRadio
July 16, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Your computer’s spellchecker is your friend, Rodney.
By war eagle
July 16, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Star 94 is coming to an end. The station and the show have lost their purpose. Time for Steve and Vickie to retire. It is old and not funny any more. One final senseleess survey-How many people think Steve and Vickie need to go? The Survey says-95%!
By Josh
July 16, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
Single moms should not be allowed to participate. I mean, get some priorities.
By Rodney Headed Ho
July 17, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
I think this is a great idea…..It helps us isolate the less then desirable citizens that tend to drag out society down.
By WW Fan
July 17, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
How in the world can a working college student be considered a less than desirable citizen. This is a young person who is trying to become an asset to society vs what you have become!
By Rodney Headed Ho
July 17, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
It was a Mercury Mariner…..Also, she is attending Georgia, hardly a top notch academic institution…….
By Rodney Headed Ho
July 17, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
One more thing Ms WWFan….Consider, she won this by sitting in this car longer then anyone else(OK, it was a tie). That just reinforces my theory that we are rewarding the mentally obtuse for little or no effort. Again, it allows us to isolate the un-fit citizens(at a mall!..Surprise surprise) where the rest of us can feel safe.
By WW Fan
July 19, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
I truly hope that this “Rodney Headed Ho” person has nothing to do with the AJC or the person who wrote this story! RODNEY HO ANSWERS: Nope. Not at all.
By WW Fan
July 19, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Oh, one more thing Rodney Headed Ho, exactly what do you do to contribute as a citizen? What academic institution did you attend? I wonder what all the UGA alumni would say about your unfounded comments.
By BJohnson
July 20, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
It’s wierd to see so many people using ANY excuse to make a snide comment about what other people did for a radio contest. You cared enough to post even if it was negative, so to the station that’s a win. Any publicity is good publicity. Keep posting!