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OMG. Jeffy over at MyNameIsIRL.com committed another act of podcastery on Jan. 25 and I totally spaced off putting up the link.
RUSH to listen to the 30-minute wonder now and hear the voice of the incomparable Meesh Beer. Plenty of "a-boats" and other wacky Canadian stuff -- including the obligatory testimony on Paul Tracy's total awesomeness -- from Meesh.
Dear Indy Racing League:
Because I know just how much you love me, both as a fan and as a media-center space-hogging, buffet-attacking word butcher, I recently took my Dish Network programming up a tier to get VERSUS (which must be in ALL CAPS at ALL TIMES).
This represents an additional programming investment of $120 per year for myself. I know, these are challenging economic times, but I know that the IRL loves me at least $120 worth.
Fortunately, this upgrade also brings me more HD hockey via VERSUS and the Fox Soccer Channel featuring the English Premiere League. The Premiereship is presented by British announcers who speak in four-word phrases and without technically opening their mouths.
Feel free to contact me about where to send the IRL/VERSUS co-branded apparel appreciation gifts.
Yours $120-worth,
pressdog
After an AP story that says Rahal Letterman would not be participating in the Indy Racing Series busted out this morning -- causing wailing and gnashing of the teeth, no doubt -- Bobby dispatched the PR Posse with this Bobby quote:
"As I said in the quote from the story, as of this time we do not have any sponsorship that will allow us to compete in the IRL in 2009, but by no means does that mean that we are giving up. We are continuing to search for sponsorship to run the 2009 season and to run in the Indianapolis 500 and we feel that there is still time for us to put something together that will allow that to happen."
So, in other words, if the season started today, RHR would not be in it. But the season doesn't start today, so never mind.
Sarah Fisher Racing News Release:
SARAH FISHER AWARDED THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP AWARD AT NADA
Fisher accepts award in person from the Women's Automotive Association International
New Orleans, LA - (Jan 24, 2009) IndyCar Series driver and owner of Sarah Fisher Racing, Sarah Fisher, was awarded the Spirit of Leadership award today by the Women's Automotive Association International (WAAI). The award was presented in conjunction with the National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Continue reading "Sarah Fisher wins Spirit of Leadership Award" »
Bang the gong slowly. With their presentation of podcast #23, Johnny and the Duke are riding off into the sunset, shutting 'er down indefinitely.
That's right, these pioneers in podcastery are calling it quits. LiveFastRacing.com and RumblestripRadio.com will live on, but the Johnny and Duke podcasts are history. Check Johnny's site for the epitaph and a link to the actual 'cast.
I don't normally (OK, hardly ever) deal with stock-car news here -- in fact I try to never actually say the N-word at all. But this story got my attention because it's about the power of the marketplace to finally bring some sanity to race ticket prices.
The rule of the market jungle is this: something is only priced too high if nobody will buy it. So for years, even though I thought you'd have to be insane to pay Fenderland prices to watch a race, they found people to buy the seats. And, to be honest, I thought charging north of $50 to watch an IndyCar race was a little confiscatory as well.
Well, with the economy in the crapper, suddenly the market is rising up and forcing Fenderville and other entertainment merchants to cut ticket prices. Selling a seat for $25 is better than leaving it unsold at $100.
Q&A with the Washington Times here. Excerpt on Sarah throwing down about the sponsorship landscape:
SF: Well, (the sponsorship quest) changed a bit from the past in that now they're saying "unless you can help me sell my widget, I really don't care." It's a little bit of a different idea plan. If there are certain ways that we can prove to them ahead of time that we can provide those opportunities and increase their business for sure, then obviously they're more open to talking with us than before. It's more of just the story we need to provide them, more value. As the league moves forward and tries to think big picture, all of the teams are trying to increase the value because at the end of the day, we're in the entertainment business. Our sport costs so much, at the end of the day what else can we provide to make it more reasonable to hop on board and that's the goal we're constantly trying to achieve.
The IndyCar Web mothership, www.indycar.com, just posted the lineup for the VERSUS broadcast.
Bob Jenkins will do play-by-play with friend-of-pressdog Robbie "Incredi" Buhl doing the color. Robbie is a good guy and I thought he and Jenkins did well together on their Indy Lights broadcasts last year.
Robbie told me he last year he was geeked about his Indy Lights announcing gig, so I'm glad he's getting a shot at the big show.
In a stunningly intelligent move, VERSUS has also hired Jon Beekhuis for the third chair in the booth. I'm a huge fan of Jon (pronounced Yon), because he seems to proceed from the question "What do fans want to know about?" HUGE.
The Shakespearean Pit Reporter, Jack Arute, is back trackside along with newbees Robbie Floyd and Lindy Thackston.
Friend of the 'dog John Oreovicz has a good post up on hugely burred IndyCar speck of espn.com.
Oreo dives into the chemistry challenge at Andretti Green Racing and offers Andretti & Green some advice on how to make it work in 2009. Check out Oreo's epic tale here:
And, rather than rip them off and put it on my blog, I'll just say subscribe to Trackside Online to see who it is! I'm sure the blogosphere will help itself via cut-and-paste to the information in seconds, but that's now how the pdog rolls. Props to Patrick, Joe and the crew for working it for the fans.
