More than 10,000 people viewed Inside Line’s “Astra Test-Drive in Germany” contest page, but one writer was chosen. Tingwall’s essay submission caught the attention of the magazine’s editorial staff. Then he won a trip to spend four days in Germany covering the Frankfurt Auto Show.

“I was just thrilled, I don’t think I’ve ever won anything like this before. I wrote about my background and tried to put some humor into it,” Tingwall said. “I think that may have set it apart from other essays.”

In his essay, Tingwall said between his areas of study and his ability to tolerate the smell of sauerkraut, were reasons he was a good candidate for the job.

“Just like you hope from a good writer, he showed some insight to the issue and brought his own personality and his own perspective into his submission,” Inside Line’s Executive Editor Michael Jordan said. “Writing about cars is not just a matter of giving an abstract description, but it’s giving you a personal perspective and an experience. He seemed like the type of person who understood that.”

Tingwall said he grew up enjoying automotive magazines and loves the characteristics and personality a car can have and the emotions it can evoke.

In Germany, Tingwall got the opportunity to test drive the new Saturn Astra and to meet leaders of the automobile industry. Tingwall’s father, John Tingwall, was shocked when he received the news from his son.

“He hadn’t even mentioned he had even entered the contest, he just called and said that he was going to Germany,” John Tingwall said. “His mom and I just hope that he can just live out his dreams.”

The whirlwind achievement happened as fast for Tingwall as it did for his parents, as he found out of his success less than a week after he submitted his essay.

“The best part was just the experience of being there and the atmosphere. They kind of let me do whatever I wanted really, so that was really cool,” Tingwall said.

“I got first hand experience, and I really enjoyed it. I love that kind of work.”