Give the New Boss Some Letter-Based Air Cover

Imagine the scene ..

The new boss, CEO Randy Bernard, who many people are dissing before he's spent one minute on the job ("He's never seen an IndyCar race? OMG!") walks into a meeting with Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske.

Chippy starts in telling the new guy how it's going to be, this and that, Delta Wing, teams know best, yada yada.

Randy lets them go for a while then pulls out a stack of 1000 printed out letters (two reams of paper*) from fans and tosses it on the table.

BAM. Ka-pow. BOOM goes the dynamite.

Randy: "Well I got 1000 fan letters here that say what we got ain't workin ..."

That, my friend, is a little juice for the new CEO to make some changes. I guar-on-tee 1000 letters from fans gets everyone's complete attention. But it's up to you. Get your letter into Randy before he starts work March 1. (You can always write later, of course, but a nice stack on March 1 would be super awesome.)

(*Note to my eco-loving friend Leilani Münter: we'd recycle those 1000 sheets. I swear.)

Randy Bernard knows I'm asking for fan letters. I know that he knows. So don't make the pdog look bad. Write to Randy. Cards, letters, email. Addresses are below. But FIRST, some guidelines, so you don't get pressdog in trouble:

1) Be polite. Pretend you are talking to Randy in person, and he knows your name (and maybe that Security Chief Charles is sitting next to you). Not only is this good manners, it's the only way to have even a remote chance that he will take you seriously. Ranting screeching hate mail does no good because it just gets deleted or tossed in the recycle bucket, and rightly so.

2) Looking for ideas on what to say? Here ya go. Choose a few of these:

• What do you like most about IndyCar racing?
• What do you dislike most about IndyCar racing?
• What advantages does NASCAR have on IndyCar?
• What advantages does IndyCar have on NASCAR?
• What makes you go to races?
• What prevents you from going to races?
• Why do you watch on TV?
• What prevents you from watching on TV?
• What's the biggest competitor (in all forms, not just racing) for the time and attention you give IndyCar?
• When friends ask why they should watch an IndyCar race, what's your answer?
• If you were CEO, you're first two moves would be ...?
• Biggest threat to the league.
• Biggest opportunity for the league.
• What can IndyCar do to best keep your business (expressed through race attendance and TV viewership)?

3) Keep it as short as possible. Randy has things going on. He can't plow through 1000 five-pagers. In reality, Randy's people will probably look through these letters and maybe compile a report for the boss. He may eyeball a few directly. He may read them all. Make your point, move on. Do unto others -- pretend you're the busy person getting this letter. One page is the goal.

4) Please, please, please don't flash back to 1994. Let's not re-fight The Split, OK? Geez. Time to move on. That's like arguing over the Korean War. If there is something about CART that you liked that you think would be good today, by all means. But if your point is the "the league was screwed the second they split" save everyone's time and disregard this entire post. Don't be a bitter hater. Life is too short.

5) Anonymous letters are for cowards. If you can't sign your real name to it, don't send it. It's amazing how when you put your real name to something, and return address and even phone number, you tend to be more civil and polite. Include your phone number if you don't mind getting a call from the league to discuss. Could happen.

OK, so let's offer some positive feedback and make Mr. Bernard say "I'm glad I asked." For maximum impact, send a paper letter to:

Randy Bernard
CEO, Izod IndyCar Series
4790 W 16th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46222

If paper mail is just too Flinstone-ish for ya, email to [email protected]. Be sure and address the email to Randy Bernard specifically.

Go forth politely in non-hate, and in the spirit of trying to help the form of racing we all enjoy and want to see thrive. A CEO who at least says, right out loud, that he cares about what fans think is a good sign. Let him know.

Comments

[JP]

For some additional cred attach photocopied images of RECENT races you have attended. You are allowed one paragraph for just being a fan, then an additional paragraph for each race attended. Want to say more? then you need to invest more also. It's a two way street.

[pressdog]

Yes. Exactly. Awesome idea JP.

[H. B. Donnelly]

Be polite to him -- not for the reasons listed above, but because he may jump out of that photograph and beat you down with a fuel hose!

[Pat W]

Great idea, and I love the non-hater vibe on the blog at the moment. It was what it was, let's move on.
I hope my fellow non-US fans will contribute, the management needs to know we are watching the races too. I'll have a think of what to write.

[Leigh O'Gorman]

My non-US contribution will be sent after work
:)

[pressdog]

Awesome. Much pressdog love for everyone who takes the time to drop Randy a respectful but honest note. I'm getting mine in the mail this weekend.

[Vicki H.]

P-Dog - just a note to your girls - "You have an amazing dad!".

Thanks for this post - possible the best I've read (not counting the one Robin wrote about hubby a few years ago) regarding our beloved sport and being a good person. THANKS!

My letter and pix are on their way.

[pressdog]

Manly tears, Vicki, but you and everyone else who takes the time to let Randy know are the rock stars here. If the boss asks for your thoughts, and you don't take the time to give them to him, then you give up your right to bitch later. That's how pdog rolls.

[Leigh O'Gorman]

I did an open letter which is also here:
http://formula1archive.blogspot.com/2010/02/open-letter-to-randy-bernard.html

Letter-ised version was posted yesterday!! Go Royal Mail - go!! Find your quarry and deliver forthwith...

[Catie R]

Just saw this idea! I'm on it. This is a great idea!