Detroit's Urban Wheel Awards Approach "Oscar" Status

December 20, 2006

DETROIT—(U.S. ASIAN WIRE)-- An “Oscar” for the auto industry? “Why not? After all, cars touch as many lives as movies do,” says Randi Payton, President of On Wheels Incorporated and producer of Detroit’s shimmering Urban Wheel Awards event. Equal parts entrepreneur, philanthropist and showman, Payton has been working to make the people of color behind the cars we drive more visible to the general public for the past 11 years. His brainchild, the 11th Annual Urban Wheel Awards will take place at 7PM on Tuesday, January 9, 2007, at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, located at 3711 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, Mich. Held in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show, Hollywood celebrities will present awards to auto companies, auto executives, the top urban car and truck, and to the best automotive diversity advertisements.

Attended by a formidable cadre of highly influential guests from both inside and outside the auto industry, the event has broadened its award categories, has attracted nationally known celebrities and is now an absolutely must-attend experience. At the Urban Wheel

Awards the auto industry is the royalty and Hollywood royalty joins in saluting the auto industry companies and executives who have made the auto industry a beacon of diversity on the highways of life. The show will be hosted by movie sensation Vivica Fox and comedian Alex Reymundo with a royal court of presenters such as comic Tommy Davidson, actress Gina Hirazumi, Jamie Foster Brown, Curtis Granderson, Vickie Winans, Brian Tee, Tamia and D.J. Funkmaster Flex.

Now in their 11th year, Urban Wheel Awards are presented to the African-American, Asian and Latino automotive executives of the year, as well as the automotive Company and Supplier of the year. An independent panel of jurors, comprised of leading automotive and mainstream journalists from across the nation, selects the recipients of the awards. Commitment to diversity is also recognized in the motorsports arena with the Diversity in Motorsports Award. In addition to people, products and organizations, Urban Wheel Awards are also presented for the best set of diversity-oriented advertisements of the year. People’s choice awards, the Diversity Print Advertisements of the Year are selected by the users of 15 different websites that cater to people of color.

About On Wheels Inc.

Detroit-based On Wheels, Inc. is a multicultural, multimedia company that publishes African- Americans On Wheels, Latinos On Wheels, and Asians On Wheels magazines, which are distributed in more than 100 newspapers throughout the United States and have a combined readership of more than 5 million. Additionally, On Wheels founded the Edward Davis Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to students pursuing secondary degrees in the automotive industry. Since 1996, On Wheels has hosted the annual Urban Wheel Awards; the automotive industry’s premier diversity awards ceremony, in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show.

CONTACT:

Jessica Pipkins
On Wheels, Inc.
(313)963-2209
PR@onwheelsinc.com