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10A i ASBURY PARK PRESS APP.COM FORRISING5 TH -8 TH GRADERS SATURDAYJUNE24 TH FORFURTHERQUESTIONSCALL646.302.2827orvisit ChampionFootballCamp.com REGISTERONLINEAT CHAMPIONFOOTBALLCAMP.COM FEATURING NewEnglandLinebackerscoach BrianFlores NewYorkDefensiveLinecoach PatGraham ALONGWITHDIVISION1COLLEGECOACHES! AP-5000833407 Joinusforourlatestseminar, PreparingforRetirement DoYouHaveWhatIt TakestoRetire? VisitEdelmanFinancial.com/APP1 orcall866-PLAN-EFS(866-752-6337) Discoverkeystrategiestohelpyouplanforalong- Howtomanageyourinvestmentsandgenerate theincomeyouneedduringretirement andyourchildren Howtoensureyourassetsareprotectedand TheTruthAboutRetirementPlansandIRAs 7p.m. FINANCIALPLANNING There is a scantily clad girl who stands next to the Black Horse Pike in Blackwood all day and night, and she has quite a story to tell. also 18 feet tall and holds a tire in her left hand as if handling a donut. Several years back the fiberglass statue was dressed in a skimpy green top and turquoise miniskirt, standing outside of Werbany Tire Town, an automotive center. She has many aliases: the Doll, Miss Uniroyal, the Big Broad.

But, you can just call her what her family calls her: just call her the Big says Ed Werbany owner of the automotive service center, as well as Miss Un- iroyal itself. Werbany sits behind the desk of his modest office in his shop, a business owned and operated by his family since 1958. Wer- bany is bemused; not at all a stranger to answering questions about the tallest woman in his life. In fact, the little establishment is rather proud of her. Even their automated phone message proudly boasts, For The Tire Lady Out The origins of Miss Un- iroyal date back to the 1950s.

A company called International Fiberglass, then located in Venice, California, designed and sculpted a series of towering figures. The idea behind these figures was to catch the attention of potential customers by sitting outside various automotive centers. Werba- father, Ed Werbany purchased Miss Un- iroyal when he first saw her in 1965. The price: a whopping $250. Werbany says, bought the doll AND a boat trailer so he could truck her in.

Later, he sold the boat trailer for $200, so, in essence, he bought the doll for fifty The doll was trucked in from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and has been standing in Blackwood ever since, coaxing in customers in need of auto repair. Werbany settles back in his chair and explains how the Big Lady came to be. was originally as a promotion to go to different stores Uniroyal stores the He cites the doll as being biggest marketing he has, casting an occasional glance out the window to where she is perched, held in place by two chains attached to either shoulder. Miss Uniroyal recently turned 50 years old, but her sex appeal is still grabbing the attention of travelers on the busy highway. She has an uncanny resemblance to Jackie Kennedy, which, according to the former owner of International Fiberglass, Steve Deschew, is no coincidence.

During her 50-year reign, she has suffered an injury here and there, just like anyone else. did fall down once when we were putting her up and broke one of her arms I think on the left-hand The female figures originally were designed wearing only a bikini, but they came with a snap-on outfit to offer protection from the blistering winters. Think of her as an 18- foot Barbie doll; she comes with accessories. But how exactly does one go about fitting the doll in comfortable clothes that could drape over a city bus? have her says Werbany with a mischievous grin: Also, she wears underwear! How do I know? I looked. judge me; Werbany least once a says Werbany, reporting on how often he sees a passerby or customer check under her hood.

But checking out the goods the only fun that can be had with Miss Un- iroyal. Surrounding neighbors know how to have their fun, too. in a while on Saturday nights, people will have meets, where they have to meet here and have to do something, like take a picture with her or something. So sometimes when sitting out here, see a whole bunch of people come up to her and do different stuff to her. During the day, see people come up, getting out of their cars and tak- ing With all the attention that the doll has garnered from people of the community, she also attracted the attention of someone more suited for her: the Tire Guy.

The 20-foot statue formerly of Clementon stands at a mere two feet taller than the doll. They seemed a match made in heaven; however, it meant to be. they fit next to each says Werba- ny, with a tinge of disappointment. He purchased the Tire Guy at a hefty sum of $10,000 in 2002 and Tire Guy remained on a trailer parked in the rear of the automotive center. He was recently trucked to Royal Tire store in Magnolia on the White Horse Pike, where he now resides.

Besides, like Wer- bany put it, really need the publicity of having two up there: one is In 2002, a little girl came in and asked Werba- ny what had happened to the tire in the hand. He checked it out, and sure enough, the tire had somehow disappeared. even he replied with a shrug. A replacement tire was quickly put in place. kids notice, the little kids always try to use her for a landmark; our biggest says Werba- ny.

More often than not, people do. makes ordering pizza a hell of a lot says neighbor Ray Willis. just tell them, a left at the tire lady and go Despite her cult status among the community, Werbany confesses a surprising revelation. scariest thing is people who say lived in Blackwood for 20 years, and you ask them if ever seen the Big Lady and they say Werbany shrugs it off. probably more of a kid thing then an adult Several years ago Miss Uniroyal was treated to a makeover.

Her Jackie Kennedy look was transformed into a new character. Looking like a cross between Wonder Woman and Super Girl, her outfit includes a flowing cape, starry headband and skirt, go-go boots and gloves. Werba- ny hired two artists to create the new look, saying that with women holding greater positions of power these days, they wanted to have their big gal reflect a stronger female persona. Perhaps though, the new look is just her super hero disguise that we see, and her old Jackie secret identity still is hidden beneath. The preceding article is an excerpt from Weird NJ magazine, Travel Guide to New Local Legends and Best Kept which is available on newsstands throughout the state and on the web at www.WeirdNJ.com.

AReal Wonder of a Woman in Blackwood JOE TONZELLI AND WEIRD NJ PHOTO BY MARK NJ Several years ago, Miss Uniroyal became "Nitro Girl." new jersey.