ir a principal |
Ir a lateral
As we come to the end of 2008, our wonderful global economy is in a slump and the US is well along into a deep economic recession. Personally, I am doing okay at the moment (fingers crossed) thanks to the strength of IBM products and services which our clients continue to need and purchase. That is not the case for many other businesses, industries and markets including motorsports companies both domestically and internationally. All you have to do is check out the latest auto racing news at SpeedTV, USA Today, CNN etc. and you will see that the sport I love is getting hammered and will continue to get hammered as the economy and car makers suffer through declining sales and revenue. A quick look back at recent headlines illustrates the truly changing times we face. To no great surprise, Bernie Ecclestone has in head in his ass as usual as he discusses the demise of Honda F1.
For all the doom and gloom, some positive news still trickles out for 2009 and beyond. As I focus on my own financial situation and business, I'm also watching the industry that entertains me and millions more worldwide. Here's to hope and a better year in 2009 for everyone.
I recently read this little gem from a writer over at RACER Magazine and SpeedTV.com.
Jeff hits the nail on the head regarding race fans (or racephans) in my opinion. Enjoy it below with photos from your's truly.
Written by: Jeff Olson - Senior writer, RACER Magazine
12/03/2008 - Indianapolis, Ind.
This isn’t just a specially placed kiss on readers’ rears, but a statement of fact: Race fans are the smartest fans in all of sports. Not just saying that to score points. It’s a pseudo-scientifically proven fact. Seriously.
This train of thought has been following me like a cloud of Pigpen’s dust since I stumbled into this line of sportswriting a few centuries ago. Somewhere between football, wrestling (real wrestling, not the ’roid-infested fake kind), baseball and basketball, I discovered this strange world that stood by itself, widely disparaged and disrespected by the common sports fan and sports media, yet blessed by paying customers who were disproportionately knowledgeable and passionate about their game.
It wasn’t, as the disrespectful constantly reminded me, just cars going around in a circle. It 
was, I discovered, an intense sporting contest involving all of the elements of other widely accepted games that entertain us. It had strategy, athleticism, skill and a complicated set of rules and structure. It had drama and backstory and a monstrous cast of characters. It had grit and zeal and emotion. It had everything the other quote/unquote real sports had, only more.
Unlike other sports, racing had fans who were knowledgeable and passionate to the point of intimidating. Not afraid to tell a cub reporter he had no clue of what he wrote. Knowledgeable to the point of nerdishness. Able to name every car owner and crew chief in the pits. Not appreciative nor impressed by media. Among the first to turn to the Internet for information. Independent in their approach, unwavering in their support.
The notion that race fans are abnormally aware of the goings-on in their chosen hobby came to light a few days ago (for about the millionth time) when a crew cleaned the carpets in my 
home. One of the workers spotted a pile of fresh Autosport magazines near the desk and started a conversation, and not just a run-of-the-mill conversation about racing. He wanted to talk specifically about Formula 1’s switch to slicks next year, and, conversely, the disappearance of Michelin from the F1 scene.
The guy knew his stuff. Our conversation wasn’t just a gee-whiz, ain’t-them-cars-purdy 
discussion. It was complicated and deep. In a short period of time, we discussed everything from F1 tires to Nicky Hayden to cost containment to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There was a reason my new friend hadn’t been back to the Indy 500 since 1995, and he offered it in detail. He also offered some clues to his possible return in the future.
He wanted to talk about Tony George, of course, but not necessarily in an angry context. Pleased that TG stood up to Bernie Ecclestone, pleased at the addition of MotoGP, and even,
somewhat contradictorily, hopeful that F1 might return to the Speedway. Pleased that the Speedway exists (unlike the Colts’ new palace, Lucas Oil Stadium) without his tax dollars. Pleased that IMS actually pays its fair share and contributes mightily to the local economy. And, naturally, still wounded by what happened in 1995.
This is a common occurrence in the part of the world. Walk into almost any bar, restaurant or café in Indiana and you’ll overhear a conversation along this line. A friend jokes that finding a 
race fan in Indiana is as easy as finding a cornstalk. Simply drive a few miles into the country and you’ll see them everywhere. A touch condescending, perhaps, a statement that suggests race fans are hillbillies. Not true. The vast majority – again, pseudo-scientific survey here – are successful professionals who live in urban areas. If they happen to be from rural areas, they’re hardly hillbillies. They’re connected to the subject, in tune to technology, and far from rubes.
Another misnomer is that race fans are myopic, that they choose one form of the sport and ignore all others (i.e., the stereotypical NASCAR fan who’s ignorant of all other racing disciplines). Again, not true. One of my best friends, a successful banking exec in Texas, loves
all racing, from late models at a nearby dirt track to F1, and he’s typical of most race fans I know. He has his favorite niches, but he’s wild (and remarkably knowledgeable) about all of it. He can talk at length about the NHRA while watching a Craftsman Truck Series race while checking his BlackBerry for F1 qualifying results. He’s as interested in Le Mans as he is in Daytona. To him, the variety of motorsports is the true appeal of it. It’s not one sport; it’s 20 different sports that just happen to involve motorized vehicles.
Years ago, while covering local racing for a newspaper that routinely buried races that drew tens of thousands while playing up stick-and-ball events that drew a few hundred, an editor 
would joke about the tattoo-to-teeth ratio at the local dirt track. Insinuating, naturally, that people who attend races aren’t as bright (or as wealthy or as hygienically correct) as the general populace. But after each race, the brightest and most articulate responses to my buried stories came from those same fans, who, according to the editor, were missing teeth and covered in tattoos. They were quick-witted, funny and properly assembled in their responses. Even if they had a complaint, they delivered it in diplomatic fashion.
Flip the mirror the other way. A particular basketball team I once covered had an unusually ardent season-ticket holder whose seat was located directly behind my spot on press row. I’m still slightly deaf on my left ear from this dillweed. I’m told he was a successful, educated 
professional and huge booster of the program, but what came out of his mouth made me think otherwise. Screaming, F-bombs, dogging officials, huge slobbering soliloquies about basketball that made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Not one tattoo, and all of his teeth remained intact, although during one red-faced fit it appeared as if one flew over my head and on the court, only to be kicked out of sight by a player, but that’s another story for another day.
Other fans of that basketball team were well-mannered, and most (pseudo-science again) were 
ashamed that this drooling fool served as their unchosen representative. One bad apple doesn’t spoil a basketball team, just as one race fan in need of dental work doesn’t make every race fan a dim-witted hillbilly, but they do reveal an observation gleaned from the years: Never at a race have I seen someone behave like my basketball fan from hell.
Instead, I meet people who are connected, educated, sharp and thoroughly into what they’re watching. People who ignore the labels and misgivings directed at them and their sport and 
embrace what they’ve found and attempt to know as much about at and become as involved as possible. People who don’t fit the mold we’ve tried to place on them. People who behave as if they’re respectful of their fellow fans. People who are far more knowledgeable about their sport than the media covering it. Other sports should be so lucky to have fans like this.
This fan, of course, is a blessing. Without this type of customer and his or her knowledge and passion, auto racing is nowhere. Instead, because of that very customer, racing is where it is: a top-level sporting interest in spite of the rejection of a media that’s obsessed with stick-and-ball sports. All of us in the business should personally thank each and every race fan worthy of his or her scanner and seat cushion. Without you, we don’t exist.
Nothing pseudo about this science. It’s time to give race fans the credit they deserve.
During the second half of this year, I was able to get in a little more time with racing, that being watching cars speed by and people (including myself) run by. Here are some more pics from those weekends at Summit Point, Virginia Beach, Virginia International Raceway, Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, Bank of America Panther's Stadium, Manteo and Nags Head.
The racing season started late for me this year due to another big event in June - getting married! We had a wonderful wedding and weekend in Raleigh before heading off to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico for 8 days. Earlier in the year, we also took a trip to New York City to visit friends, Ellis and Liberty Island and for Michelle to perform in Brooklyn at the BAX. I was also lucky enough to have one heck of a guy's weekend in Washington DC in April. Since there aren't a lot of stories left from this year's racing season for me, I'll let the racing and non-racing photos do the talking. Enjoy!
