Hi folks -- as I just posted on the main site (http://www.stockgumshoe.com/2007/06/first-gumshoe-contest.html), I'm sponsoring a contest starting this weekend.

I don't want any interesting teaser ads to be ignored while I'm traveling, so I'm providing an incentive to make sure some great ideas continue to be sleuthed out during the few periods this summer when I'll be unable to post to stockgumshoe.com for more than a couple days.

For this first contest, which starts at midnight this Friday, submit your own sleuthed stock (or other investment, if it doesn't happen to be a stock), with a full writeup that explains why you think it's the right pick and what you think about the company (more or less as the Gumshoe would do, though of course you can have whatever personal style you want).

The best one that is submitted will win its author $50 in cash.

That's it -- no second prize, other than the plaudits of your fellow sleuths. And I personally will decide which one is the best sleuthed solution and writeup.

So, the specific details:

You must be solving a stock teaser that has been used in advertising in the fairly recent past, either a web or email ad. It can be from any adviser or newsletter.

It cannot be one that was already sleuthed out either on this site, or on the forum by another reader. If two people both submit the same solution at near the same time, I'll consider both the speed and the quality of the post.

The sleuthed solution must be submitted to the Sleuth Challenges and Solutions category between midnight Friday night, June 30 and 8 am Thursday morning, July 5, US EST. I'll automatically consider everything posted during that time to be a contest entry. Stuff posted before or after those times won't be considered for the prize (though it's still welcome, of course).

The solution must be correct.

The winner will be both correct and, I hope, both well analyzed and amusing. It doesn't have to be a good investment, but your comments do have to be interesting or useful.

For those who don't want to enter the contest, feel free to participate by commenting on the submissions -- which ones you like, don't like, or think are right or wrong, etc. Be nice, as always, personal attacks will still get you banned from the forum.

I'll post the winner sometime during the day on July 5th, including the full submission on stockgumshoe.com, and I'll send the winner $50 that same day.

If you don't want or need the cash, I'd be happy to donate it to the charity of your choice. If you're unable to use Paypal, I'll figure out some other way to get it to you.

And if you don't win this time ... or don't get around to submitting, take heart: If this works well and we get some good submissions, I'll be doing it again at the end of July.

Oh wow .. just found this site while I was researching a teaser letter that led to Playfair Mining. I have been 'decoding' these 'secret stocks' for years .. had no idea there was a forum like this where we can share information. This is so cool.
Most of the 'secret stocks' seem to go nowhere .. or you have to hold them for years, but occasionally there are winners.
Look forward to meeting others in this forum. I have a site with free information for new traders, http://traderstar.com and will be posting a link to this site there if that is OK.
Now .. off to find a new secret stock so maybe I can win the contest :-))
-TraderStar
Scottsdale AZ