It’s not like I’m not enjoying the season! On the contrary. I’m one happy camper as far as that goes. Real life has just intervened and taken up all of my spare time and then some. I actually wrote a couple of blogs that I, for whatever reason didn’t go live with. *duh* (I may tweak and upload at a later date if relevant) I even attempted to live blog the Brazil race, but that was just too edge of your seat enjoyable to be distracted! (plus it was the first race I was able to watch live since St. Petes due to ‘real life’) I was even recently a guest on Motor Week Live (not archived yet) where I gushed lovingly about the season to date. (one big run on sentence, no breath taking, will likely not be invited back… LOL) All the while also overseeing my team at Open Wheel World. So I have been in the fold, just not on here… sorry kids, I’ll try to do better.

That said, I have a good chunk of racing scheduled in for the next couple of months, starting with Indy, and will be catching up and updating more frequently.

I hit the road on Wednesday for Indy for my annual Indy/Detroit sojourn. As much as Indy isn’t my favourite race on the schedule (I know, I know, sacrilege…) it will definitely be a barn-burner this year and not to be missed! It’s also a chance for me to catch up with my Indy-Only peeps, and try to convince them to venture out of their bubble and come to the other races on the schedule! Oh, and there will be a little bit of socializing… (just a bit )

I won’t go into too much more right now, as “real life” is pressuring me to close the lid on this thing and get ready for work (I have too many jobs!) But I just want to say how chuffed I was to run into the dressing room last night, open up my livestream app, and watch Ed Carpenter snag the pole! It’s so nice to see him come into his own. He is one of the nicest, most down to earth drivers, and to see him come up through the ranks, run his own team, and accomplish this monumental David vs Goliath achievement, well, you can’t help but smile and root for him to drink the milk a week from now.

Ok, more later! But for now, enjoy the rest of bump day!

I go to this race to work. It’s actually one of, if not the most frustrating race on the circuit for me. Thankfully Detroit is the following weekend. It is such a joy to cover and attend that race, that it makes up for all the anger and tears Indy sows in my soul…

That said, I told them that many of my friends, colleagues and readers definitely fall into the Indy 500 superfan category, have many more stories, and do many more interesting and traditional things that weekend with their friends and family. So, here you go kids! If you think you are who they are looking for, drop them a note!

TRAVEL CHANNEL SEEKS ENTHUSIASTIC INDY 500 FANS FOR NEW SHOW

Passionate Indianapolis 500 fans are encouraged to contact The Travel Channel to appear on a new show celebrating great food, amazing tailgate setups, one-of-a-kind traditions and the best parties at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

The show will be taped in and around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway beginning on Coors Light Carb Day, Friday, May 24, through Race Day on Sunday, May 26. The episode will air in August or September.
If you’re a die-hard Indianapolis 500 fan attending this year’s race and hosting a great tailgate party, have an amazing RV or a special dish you’d like to share, contact The Travel Channel by emailing  Travelsuperfancasting@gmail.com with subject line “Indy 500.”

Be sure to include photos of you and your friends and family showing off your Indianapolis 500 pride and passion!

Good luck everyone! Let me know how it goes!

So in the interest of not merely tossing everything in the trash again in a couple of months, I’ve decided to just tip out the bucket and do a “catch” all post,

In the last couple of weeks I’ve started quite a few entries, but stopped for one reason or another. I couldn’t write a cohesive thought; the moment passed; I felt like the only dissenting voice; just as I was putting the finishing touches on an entry someone else posted the exact same thing to the extent that mine was now plagiarism…(Ross!!)
anyway, lets work through some of these

Kat/Dragon Racing/Saavedra

This kids is a lose lose situation.
Is it fair? no.
Does it happen all the time in racing? yes.
Does it make it right? no. But it is what it is.
Clearly there is way more to the story behind the scenes than what any of us know. A decision this huge, with so many ramifications doesn’t happen overnight on a whim.
Will we ever get the complete, unbiased version of it? Probably not.
It’s either going to be an ugly public spectacle of of he said/she said/they said litigation, which doesn’t accomplish anything positive for anyone involved, or more likely it’s going to be private, quiet, gag-ordered settlement with Katherine getting a big cheque, and skulking off into the shadows.
Either way, I don’t think we see Katherine in a car this season, if ever again.

Firstly, no Team/Sponsor wants that kind of drama attached to them, rightly or wrongly. In addition, and I’ll likely take some flack for this, Kat really hasn’t really proven herself in the car. This is strictly my opinion, but I think she did herself a huge disservice wasting a year hanging out on pitlane schmoozing for a ride. She should have done a year in lights. It would have given her a season to acclimate to open wheel again, become familiar with the circuits, and actually “show” owners/engineers what she is capable of, perhaps opening more doors. Especially now that she’s in the situation she finds herself in.

Many out there have chosen sides, flinging all sorts of angry vitriol towards Dragon Racing. Fair enough. As an organization they are a shit show. An epic fail on all accounts last year, if not for the Seabass who rose above the bullshit and showed sparks of brilliance.
Now I’m the first to admit it’s way more fun to have a “villain”, someone to root against on race weekend. (believe me, I have a few in my arsenal) After all, when it’s all hearts and flowers and kumbaya, it’s fucking boring. I can’t say I think too highly of Jay Penske, but I certainly am not going to fault either Sebasti(e)(a)n for taking the seat and running with it. Sure we can all stand on our pulpits and preach principles, but principles don’t pay the rent, feed the kids, or fuel the dream. Period.

Now… Full disclosure, I was the first to shake my head in disgust when Saavedra quit the BHA lights team in Kentucky a couple of years ago. I was standing right there when he voiced his opinion over the loud speaker. I was gobsmacked. Now I know this wasn’t solely his decision per say, but nonetheless, he went along with it, and it was ugly. I was equally gobsmacked when he lined up a ride shortly after, stating that I wouldn’t have touched him with a 10ft pole. That said, I have gotten to know him a little over the last couple of years. He is a hard working, humble young man. He had a not so great season in the big leagues, and had the humility to take a step back down the ladder so as to stay in the public eye, and work on his race craft. Because of that he is now being rewarded with a fulltime ride alongside a 4 time champion. I may be in the minority, but I am looking forward to seeing what this pairing can accomplish, no matter how it came to be.

ok… who’s next…

AJ/Penske Test

Everyone keeps talking about what a “big deal” it is that AJ Allmendinger is testing in IndyCar. The NASCAR crowd keeps quizzing us Open Wheelers about it, as if we should be falling all over ourselves that he is gracing us with his presence.
Really? is it really that big a deal?
Would we even be talking about it if he hadn’t completely jacked his NASCAR career in 2012? NO. He’d be preparing for the Danicatona 500 and being ignored along with the rest of the good ol’ boys this week.

Sorry, but just I don’t get the hype.
Sure, the kid was quick and likely on the path to a championship when he BAILED on Forsythe and Open Wheel after his people did the “show me the money!” dance and lead him to the NASCAR garages. oh, and that was six years, a mediocre NASCAR career, a failed drug test, and a rehab program ago! Does anyone really expect him to hop in the car and become some phenom? Seriously? Give your head a shake.
If Rubens Barricello barely moved the needle, then AJ ain’t the Messiah you’re seeking.
Further to that, and my bottomline: I would rather see Ryan Briscoe in a seat before AJ

Next… (this will be the last one tonight… I promise )

#Indy500orBust

It is January and there is a campaign/marketing push for the Indy 500. (ok… so now it’s Feb, but the time stamp on this was Jan 28th, and I should have posted it, but I felt a little like Grumpy Cat for shitting all over the idea, so I shelved it, but then Ross posted his tome on the subject this week, which made me laugh cause it was virtually identical, and I love him for that! And then I realized I need to stop second guessing my thoughts and just throw them out there no matter how Grumpy Cat the sentiment, cause really, isn’t that what y’all expect from me?… )(but I digress…)

Once again, as per usual, this campaign perpetuates the mythic focus on a singular race, rather than the season as a whole.
*sigh*
There are FOUR events before the Indy 500, and ELEVEN post Indy 500. But you would never know it most of the time. Even over the winter there were several team campaigns plugging their off season efforts to prepare for Indy rather than the season. What is WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!

Maybe it’s because I spent a good portion of my adult “fandom” on the CART/ChampCar side of the fence, so Indy was a non-issue/entity for me, in fact, it was verboten, so I find it frustrating as hell as someone who covers, promotes, and tries to attend the entire season as a whole. One would think it would have to be equally frustrating to the other events on the schedule, along with their associate sponsors. It seems there is more importance on who hoists the trophy of a singular race on the circuit, rather than who hoists the big trophy at the end of the season.

There were 10+ current drivers racing at Rolex 24 in Daytona. Was there any mention of or tie in with the season opener, which coincidentally is also taking place IN FLORIDA barely 2 months from then? Nope. But you know what I did see? A group photo of them holding “Indy 500 or Bust” signs… *sigh*

Yes, I get it, it’s all about the history, blah, blah, blah. But you know what? It already has an audience. I’d venture a guess that 80% of the attendees/viewers of that race are lifelong place fans. They will migrate back year after year, with very little goading. For most, their entire season is that one weekend in May. So why oh WHY do the powers that be waste precious time and resources “selling” something that doesn’t need to be sold? Why, in fact, aren’t we selling those folks on the great season that leads into and out of the Month of May?!

Yes, it’s (the 500) been around for a century, but sadly it will likely be around long after IndyCar has gone belly up because of their stagnant and myopic all the eggs in one basket viewpoint that it is “all about Indy” everything else be damned. Being the oldest, or biggest, or most “pomp and circumstancey” race does not necessarily equate to it being the best. There are many events out there that are better for a multitude of reasons. Again, just my opinion based on my own experience attending many, many races over the years (including several 500′s)

How about “Fontana or bust”? Or, how about mapping out the “Race to the Championship” with X’s on the map outlining each stop on the way, including the 500? Play it up like the Amazing Race with Road Blocks and challenges. Or, how about “Road to Rookie of the Year”? (er… strike that… that is pretty much an express train for Tristan, and he’s riding in first class all by his lonesome) How about just doing something DIFFERENT?!

Why was it Dario Franchitti and the Borg Warner at the Detroit Autoshow?
Why wasn’t it the new AMERICAN Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, who won with a CHEVY engine, standing alongside the Astor Cup ?!

Does anyone think outside of the safety of the big boring cardboard box anymore? Anyone?? Bueller??

*and exhale*

ok… there are still a few slips of paper in my bucket but I’m tapped out for now…

OH, on a happy side note, 4 weeks from right now, I will be sitting at the bar of my hotel in St. Petes (one of those 4 races before the 500 ) with some of my racing BFF’s toasting the start of the 2013 season!! woot woot! Can’t wait!!

“Starting today, CME showgoers will have an opportunity to participate in special access sessions with NASCAR stars Michael Waltrip and Kyle Busch. There are a limited number of tickets available for private VIP Meet & Greets as well as Reserved Seating for the on-stage Question & Answer sessions. Both feature guaranteed, enhanced autograph and photo opportunities with Waltrip and Busch.”

VIP Packages range from $150 to $50 (!)
For more info and to order your VIP tix in advance, click here:  CME Website

Additional info:
NOTE: For those who don’t wish to purchase a VIP Meet & Greet or Reserved Seating autograph package, there will be General Admission autograph lines for both Michael Waltrip (Saturday) and Kyle Busch (Sunday). People in these lines will receive an autograph (1 each) on a ‘first come, first served basis.’ Tickets go on sale each morning of the show at 9:45 a.m. and the autograph lines will form inside the show, adjacent to The Mazda Stage. No additional costs are associated with being in the General Admission autograph lines. However, as we cannot predict the number of people who will want autographs, the CME is unable to guarantee that General Admission line members will receive an autograph. That said, everyone in attendance will be able to see and hear our guests on The Mazda Stage during their respective Q&A sessions and we will make every effort to satisfy as many people as possible with autographs. Our experienced staff will keep the line moving as quickly as possible. If you have already purchased a General Admission ticket to the CME but would like to upgrade to a VIP package, please email info@canadianmotorsportsexpo.com or call David Weber at (416) 938-7223.

The Rage’n Canadian meets the cast of Swearnet!

Has a nice ring to it huh? Also announced was an appearance by the stars of  “Trailer Park Boys” who apparently have a new racing themed movie called “Swearnet” coming out. (sounds like it’s gonna be right up my alley!!) This might actually be the most fun part of the weekend!

There is still no schedule up on the site, so I have no idea who or what seminars are being offered, or the full stage schedule. And since no one at the show has responded to my email from a week ago asking for those details, I have no further recommendations for you at this point. But should they decide to enlighten me or upload the schedule, I’ll let you know!

Once again, the International Centre out by the airport opens it’s doors to thousands of pasty white Canadian race fans who groggily come out of hibernation every year to catch up with friends, colleagues, vendors, and venues, to shop, research and plan for the racing season ahead.

Post Q&A photo op with Journalist Panel

With the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series making its Canadian debut on the road course at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on Labour Day weekend in 2013, and with the Canadian Motor Speedway  in Fort Erie, Ontario coming closer and closer to fruition, the CME is Capitalizing on NASCARization of the Canadian racing landscape by providing a very NASCAR-centric show this year. In fact both “headliners” for the weekend come from the top tier of the US tintop side of the fence.

Saturday afternoon will feature an appearance by 2-time Daytona 500 Champion Michael Waltrip. While Sunday the show welcomes one of NASCAR’s most popular stars, Kyle Busch

Following along with the NASCAR theme, the aforementioned Canadian Motor Speedway will also have a major presence at the show, the highlight being a display featuring Jeff Gordon’s Gen-6 NASCAR Sprint Cup car.

Not enough NASCAR for you? How about the opportunity to have your picture taken with the NASCAR Sprint Cup trophy? This comes courtesy of Michigan Motor Speedway.

Other feature presentations this year include the Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Continental Tire, and the DragRaceCanada.com Quarter-Mile Corral.

One of the unique features of this show is the full schedule of panel discussions on the main stage, including the annual Q&A with the who’s who of Canadian motorsports journalists, as well as a series of smaller presentations and seminars offered throughout the weekend.
*at the time of this posting, the official schedule had yet to be posted, but it will appear HERE once posted*

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 8: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, February 9: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 10: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Click Pic to save on Admission to the show!

To keep on top of the the latest information on the show bookmark: http://www.canadianmotorsportsexpo.com/

You can also like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter

I’m gonna be covering the event, and will be milling about throughout the weekend, so if you’re heading to the show, drop a note here, or tweet me on site so we can say hello!

And now you’re all scratching your head saying “what the fuck is she talking about? she’s been silent for weeks!”

Well, yes, that’s because it’s mostly all been behind the scenes. Lot’s of “i” dotting and “t” crossing, and planning, and making lists, and sorting through files and folders and drawers and stuff. Lots of “stuff”. (with lot’s of stuff still to do!)

But after a truly dreadful off season, I can now say without a doubt that I am actually very excited for 2013 and the upcoming racing season.

By the end of this weekend the first major race of the season will have concluded. The Rolex 24, a mega event whose participants are some of the top names from all levels and genres of the North American racing community. A chance for the drivers to kick the rust off so to speak, while their people network and schmooze and leak rumours of sponsor signings and secured seats in their respective series.
Every year I plan to get down there, and every year that plan is massively derailed by some unexpected road bump. This year was no different in that regard. Dammit.

As it stands I won’t be able to catch any of it until Sunday due to a variety of other commitments, but really, come on… the first 23 hours don’t mean diddly-squat other than culling the herd down for the final shootout. It’s all about that last hour. I will be around for that. And maybe some drunk tweets in the wee hours with the punchy folks doing the marathon viewing.

Speaking of which I did a quick write up over at OWW for Daytona
Zach (otherwise known as IndyCarAdvocate) did a great little IndyCar Guide to Rolex 24 on his blog
And it wouldn’t be the 24hrs of Daytona without the Annual Blogathon over at Grabbagsports! There are a couple of great previews up already. oh and Click here for the schedule of the weekend’s events

Let me know if I’ve missed anything noteworthy in the comments

Two weeks from now the CME (Canadian Motorsports Expo)(see banner in sidebar) opens its doors to thousands of pasty white Canadian race fans who will groggily come out of hibernation to catch up with friends and colleagues, and check out the latest offerings from local vendors and venues. More on that later this weekend.

The following week, CIAS (Canadian International Auto Show) rolls into town. A convention centre full of shiny new cars! Yum! And a day of catching up on all the latest gossip with my fellow auto writers.

Then, before you know it, 5 weeks later, I’ll be boarding a plane for St. Petes for the first race of the season. (yes, that’s my plane ticket in the photo above) (yes, my suitcase already has some stuff pre-packed) (yes, I’m a Virgo)

It’s gonna be an interesting year. I just feel it my bones.
What about you guys? You still lurking in the shadows ready for another year of bitching and bellyaching and all the beautiful moments in between?

It went something like this. (totally paraphrased by moi)

Dear Person we value!
Since you attended our event last year, and we value your presence and coverage, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to attend our event again this year. Yes, it’s over 2 months away, but we want get the pre-registration of our valued regulars completed before moving on to new attendees, so WE are reaching out to YOU to make you feel special and entice you to attend again.

So here is an invite with a link to your profile with all that info you filled out previously, which we saved in a handy database. Please verify that your info is still correct and then click to answer these four easy questions so we can assure you have everything you need when you get here.

Why yes, you can do it right on your cell phone.

Oh, you’re done! Great! now we’re going to send you a confirmation immediately and then mail you your credential so you’re good to hit the ground running on media day.

************************
There you go. One event locked and loaded. Confirmed. In the calendar, no questions marks, no “tentative pending approval”.

This got me thinking, as I have been spending the morning mapping out my 2013 season schedule. There are two events that do this “pre-approval” every year, without fail. The Autoshow and the Indy 500. I love how easy it is, and I love how it takes all of the guess work out of my schedule and my planning.

This would be such a GREAT and SIMPLE thing for all of the races on the circuit to do, especially for those of us that cover the entire season every year.

Here’s how easy:

Dear Media type;
First of all, thank you for your support and coverage of our event in 2012. Since you attended last year, we have taken the liberty of automatically pre-registering you for this year’s event. (one would assume that the goal of these events is to have consistent and continued coverage of their events no?)
Please click this link and answer the following questions:
Are you planning to attend? yes/no
Is your information the same? yes/no
Are your requirements the same? yes/no

Great! Consider yourself registered. (and approved)
Your credential will be waiting for you when you arrive.

Thank you again for your continued support and coverage.

***********************
What a concept!
Sadly though, this is not how it works.

Unless you’re one of the chosen ones who is granted a hard card (took me 4 years to be worthy of one from ChampCar, then the merge happened and I had to start at the bottom of the heap again. It’s now been 5 yrs of polite denial from IndyCar…) (Maybe 6th time’s the charm *sigh*)

So I, and many others, have to jump through a variety of hoops to be granted the privilege of covering and promoting their events. There are multiple registrations dates and deadlines which I have to track down myself in a lot of cases, and Multiple platforms through which to apply. Many have finally (thankfully) adapted to online forms. Some require pre-approval before you’re even allowed to apply. Some still require a written request to be snail mailed.

So great. Whatever. I suck it up and I make the effort and jump through all the hoops, then make my plans and wait.
It doesn’t sound like such a big deal to you I’m sure, but here’s the caveat:

We’re usually  left waiting until approximately the WEEK BEFORE the event for confirmation. That’s right. I’m expected to plonk down airfare, book hotel rooms, and adjust work schedules to attend an event, that I don’t even get the courtesy of a confirmation of access to until a week prior, when it’s either too late to get a refund or too late to book.

This is a good system. NOT.

Since I will be taking on coverage of other series in 2013, it will be interesting to see how the accessibility and hospitality compare… Will keep you posted.

They are pairing their current driver, reigning Rolex Series GT Champion Jeff Segal with the irrepressible Max Papis! Everytime I get to spend anytime with Max, I like him even more than previously if that is possible. He is the total package as a driver. On track, he’s a beast! Off track,  he is charming and funny and the consummate professional. I think, with this move, AIM Autosport has just upped their game in a big way, both on track and off track.

Here is a little gallery after the jump from the event. Enjoy!

Thanks again to everyone at Ferrari and AIM Autosport for having us out this afternoon. Not a bad way to spend a Monday Can’t wait to see that car unleashed on track!

While I was poking around twitter earlier, I discovered a bunch of my peers also posted similar “recaps” (apparently we all came to the surface at the same time following last weeks “Deep Dive”)(*snort*) I haven’t read any yet so as not to alter my course or have anyone influence my own first response (I promise to read them all now)
So apologies if this is a rehash of someone else’s post or inadvertently comes across as a rebuttal of some sort (like last weeks weirdness) I am curious to see if we’re all on the same page, or if I’m charting my own weird course…
Anyway… read on.

So here we are, a week later. The deed is done.
There’s no turning back, and IndyCar can’t unbreak what it already broke.

So it’s time for them to get out the super glue (repair the relationship with the current fan base) or just buy new shit (find a new group of fans to market to who don’t know about or care about the history of the sport)

Oh before I forget, on the off chance that you’ve been living in a cave this week and missed it, the absolute BEST recap of all the shenanigans that have happened both last season and last week, a tip of the cap to the incomparable Marshall Pruett
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/pruett-the-firing-of-indycar-ceo-randy-bernard-part-1
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/pruett-the-firing-of-indycar-ceo-randy-bernard-part-2/

Judging by some of the comments and quotes floating about in there and elsewhere, it’s clear that some in the rank and file still just. don’t. get. it.

I would be remiss were I not to also share my pal Robin’s scathing reaction

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/miller-no-cure-for-indycars-stupidity/

Together, Marshall and Robin, as the Good Cop/Bad Cop of Speed’s coverage of the series, have provided information, humour, hubris, conversation, and a sounding board. We are lucky to have both of them working so hard on our behalf.

So, back to the topic at hand… Where do I stand at this point?

Well, like I said before, the ball’s IndyCar’s court now. Provided things don’t further sour, like, for example, should any other key players be shown the door, or should the WRONG person be put in a position of power (though I get the impression that Belskus has no expedient plans to fill the CEO seat with anything other than his own ass for the foreseeable future) I’m not going anywhere… yet.
I’m in wait and see mode. Judging by conversations I’ve had with friends, colleagues, fans and some folks associated with some sponsors, there are a lot of us sitting in the “wait and see” section.

Speaking of courts, or rather “courting”… As both a fan and as media, I want them to court me.
In fact, I need them to woo me.
Show me that they’re worthy of my reciprocal love and attention.
Convince me that they really love me. No placating me or patting my head and shooing me away so they can sweep this all under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen. (Nice try Mr. Belskus… that was a lovely collection of “words” and sound-bytes, but it really didn’t say much)

That’s right. I’m older, wiser, and have been made a fool of… again.
Once bitten, twice shy.
My “unconditional love” comes with some conditions moving forward.

Let me break it down for you.

Teams: You want my continued support and attention? You want me to concentrate on the racing? Then put the best drivers in the seats, with the best equipment under them. Don’t be dicks. Don’t be cheque cashers. Don’t squabble and plan coups in back hallways or darkened war rooms. Stop whining about everything. Put 100% of your time, money and effort into providing the best possible entertainment/product on track. I find it hilarious that the ones with the most means pissed and moaned the most this year. You know who didn’t whine, ONCE?! Simona DeSilvestro and HVM racing. They just went out there every week, against insurmountable odds, and gave 100%. Guess what? Fan’s love them and support them 100%. See how that works?

Drivers: So your nose is out of joint because we like Randy Bernard?
Think there was some “magic plan” behind it?
Nope. No magic.
Want to know the big secret? Here it is:
Get off your scooter. Step outside of your transporter. Get out from behind your wall of protective PR people. Take your fucking sunglasses off. Get off your phone. Stop for a minute and chat. (Not for an hour, just a minute or two) Really listen to what is being said to you. Look up and make eye contact when you sign an autograph. Take a millisecond to connect.
Some of you are really good at this.
Some of you… not so much.

Randy ran the fricken series, but he stopped, made eye contact, and genuinely connected EVERY time I saw him at the track or at an event. Hell, he greeted me by name. That is impressive.

You seem to have no problem being personable with media or sponsors. Well, guess what? Fans are both media and sponsors, just on a less obvious level.
They broadcast your message, promote you and the series, and every time they buy a piece of swag with your likeness, name or number on it, they are both promoting and sponsoring you. Something to keep in mind the next time you blow off the kid who stood at your transporter for an hour to get a glimpse of his hero to instead go give a big fake toothy grin in a photo op with a bunch of guys from company X who are only there because it’s a company write off. They won’t be at the track next year, but that kid will. Only next season, he’ll be outside of the transporter of the driver that said hello and signed his hero card.

Oh, and further to that, where the hell are you? Most of you have dropped off the planet. Yes, it’s the off season, and yes, you probably had some sort of “keep silent” marching orders from your team with everything going on (I DON’T agree with that in the least fwiw… If you agreed with the decision, say so. If you didn’t, say so. I’ll respect you more for having an opinion of your own, even if it vastly differs from mine, than if you just hide meekly in the shadows and let everyone else carry out your dirty work)

All that said, guess what? We’re still out here! Don’t want us belly-aching about the bullshit, or talking about Randy? Well, engage with us then! Give us something else to talk about. You don’t need to fill us in on the minute details of your daily routine, but hey, check in once a week on twitter and reply to some fans. Write a blog once a month and post on your team website. What are you doing during the off season to prepare for next year? What did you think of 2012? What are your goals for 2013? Why should I be in the stands in St. Petersburg in March of 2013? More importantly, why should I cheer for you over someone else?
Convince me!

Tracks: Give me bang for my buck! Give me a reason to throw my shit in a suitcase, rent a car or buy a plane ticket, rent a hotel room for a weekend or longer, and come to your event. It’s easy to get the hometown crowd out to your event (or at least it should be, but that’s clearly a work in progress at a lot of places) But the goal for EVERY venue should be to entice people from out of town to your event. Work with the locals. Work with the tourism board. Work with the hotels. Work with the sponsors (series & teams) Strike deals. Pass them on to us. The trick isn’t to bilk us out of our hard earned money by jacking the prices of everything for the week the race is in your city (we pick up on this ya know, and then we stop coming. *cough* Edmonton *cough* ) Want us to come to the track when the gates open and stay till they close? Make it easy for us to get there. Make sure that the on-track action is varied and non-stop. Make sure that there are plenty of food and drink options (at reasonable prices) Want us to play along with your social media initiatives at the track? Provide complimentary internet access within the grounds and then engage with the actual fans on site (and off site) Some tracks do all of this and it’s fabulous.
Some tracks don’t, and those events pale in comparison.
(Detroit GP scores an A++ from me both from a fan standpoint and a media standpoint)

Sidebar: IndyCar you need to find the best event out there that provides all of the above, then use that as the example to bring all of the events up to that basic minimum standard, and then allow them to improve upon that every year.

Sponsors: ACTIVATE! We want to support you. We want to use, find, buy, and promote your product to thank you for supporting the series/drivers. So… ACTIVATE. Don’t just stick a logo on a car and call it a day. Get on twitter with us. Hire someone to actually follow the series and your sponsored driver on your behalf for the season. Highlight the driver in your ad’s, on your Facebook page, on your website. Make your customers aware of your driver/team. Set up at the track and sell/promote your wares. I remember getting packets of Simple Green samples at the track in the Champ Car years, hell I even bought a Simple Green diecast (again at the track at the Simple Green stand) They activated. I jumped on board. No brainer.

IndyCar: *sigh*… so many things… it’s hard to know where to start.
First of all, stop treating us like were sheep. Stop assuming that we’re just gonna forgive and forget and move forward like nothing happened because “we always do”.
Cause guess what we DON’T always show up again.
That assumption will come back to bite everyone, yourselves included, in the ass eventually.

With every subsequent misstep the number of “lifelong” fans diminishes. If this is not important to you, then continue to chart your confusing course. If this is important to you, then take your heads out of … the sand.

Yes, without a doubt the on track action this year was fabulous. Not one person has disputed that. But a lot of us had to go to a lot of effort and expense to enjoy it. We did this because we were confident the series was finally, after years of stagnation, moving in the right direction, so we were willing to jump through some extra hoops and put up with a little BS, because someone was working very hard on our behalf.

Well, you got rid of that someone, so as of right now, we’re balancing precariously on the fence between giving a fuck, or giving up completely, and we could easily jump off on either side, depending on your next move.

So please, have a little respect for us, and stop telling us to “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”, cause that curtain was pulled back, and the weak little man has been revealed in all his glory.

Stop telling us that it doesn’t matter what happens off track and that “politics can’t spoil IndyCar” (really Mario? Really?? Newsflash: They can spoil IndyCar. How do we know that? BECAUSE THEY ALREADY DID! Been there, done that, bought the really expensive t-shirt for all the teams and events that don’t exist anymore!)

Stop telling us what to think, how to feel and to “just move on” and be appreciative of all you offer us.
Think of it this way. We, you and me, have just gone through an ugly break up. Allow me a bit of time to get a little drunk, do a little retail therapy, have a rebound relationship, and maybe, if you’re lucky, realize after a cooling off period that you’re “the one” and come back to you.

Most importantly, stop trying to blame US (fans/media) for your shortfalls.

You want us to talk positively about the series, drivers, teams, tracks, racing?
Simple. Give us something positive to talk about.

Post diatribe add-on:

The reason I’m even considering “taking you back” right now ?
All of the hard work this man —> @RBINDYCAR , put in

Yesterday (Saturday) Randy did what Randy does best.
He reached out to us.
On our level.
No pretense, no condescension. No excuses. No grand gesture.
He simply booted up his twitter account to let us know he was still out there and that he wasn’t going anywhere. He thanked us for our support and kind words over the last couple of days, and then, in a truly classy move, he did the other thing he’s really good at, he rallied the troops.

Not in a “sucking up because I was told to” way.
Not in a “Let’s make them feel guilty and stupid” way.
Just in that genuine Randy way.
No doubt about it, he is a fan.
He came in green, but he grew to love the sport and it’s players, and it’s venues and it’s fans.
One conversation with the man told you all of that.
One look through the stream of responses tells you all you need to know about his impact on the sport and why.

https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=RBIndyCar&src=typd

It wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular. It’s just that I’ve seen myself, my friends, my colleagues and my fellow fans being chastised and belittled virtually, for the last 24hrs in particular, for expressing their opinions and venting their anger/sadness over the mess that is IndyCar right now, and well, it really pisses me off. Here’s why:

A bunch of suits in a boardroom make a ridiculous move, and the victims, as always, are the fans.

So they take to whatever platform they are comfortable with (blogs, twitter, forums, etc..) and vent. Then as if on cue, something that I think is unique to IndyCar due to the circumstances of the history of the sport (i.e. the Split), the victims (fans) begin to cannibalize each other; this is followed by the staff, crew, PR, drivers, media… all jumping in, pointing fingers, choosing sides, flinging mud; all blaming each other for what happened in the past and what could potentially happen in the future while goading each other to “just leave then”, seemingly losing sight of the fact that we are ALL the victims here, and are all, in fact, on the SAME SIDE!

If everyone just stood back, took a breath, and listened for a millisecond, they would see that both reactions (positive and negative) are actually fear based.

#teamPositive remains stiff upper lipped and overly peppy out of fear of losing what they love most.

#teamNegative lashes out with “you’ve hurt me for the last time” vitriol out of, yup, you guessed it, fear of losing what they love most.

SAME SIDE PEOPLE!

Neither reaction is right or wrong, and admonishing anyone on either side of the argument is like telling someone how to grieve. Everyone has to process their grief in their own way.

Let’s for example say we are all at a funeral for someone who has died of, oh I don’t know… cancer.

Look around. There are the wailing ladies clad in black, tears a flowing. There are the “well, she’s in a better place” shoulder rubbers. There are the Uncle Jokey’s, drink in hand, laughing, some might say, inappropriately. And then there are the quiet, shell shocked mourners, quietly processing and taking it all in.

Now, imagine if you will being at that funeral and an all out brouhaha breaks out, with everyone screaming, blaming each other for grieving improperly! Would that happen? NO.

Everyone would allow their neighbour their space, and if anything, loudly and silently stand together saying “Fuck Cancer!”

Well, kids, IndyCar is sick. And right now, we are all at a loss for how to cure it.

Battling each other ain’t gonna find a cure. Instead of yelling at each other, we need to band together and demand a proper diagnosis and a cure from the doctor!

Believe me, it would be very easy to press the unfollow/block button and make all the detractors or people of differing opinions to mine just “go away”… (I know this because I’ve had my finger hovering on the button all day)

But to what end? What would it accomplish in the long run.

We’re family. Families disagree.

Try to keep in mind that the guy/gal who is pissing you off today, was the same guy/gal who high-fived you a few months ago when your favourite driver crossed the finish line, or who clinked glasses with you later as you recounted what a fantastic weekend you just experienced… together.

So please, lets keep this in mind over the next couple of weeks while we all process this and whatever else comes down the pipe. (cause you just know this latest crap is a two flusher)

If it helps, picture the internet as a giant local watering hole where we all gather to unwind and or recharge. Some days you’re gonna be the belligerent drunk at the bar, some days you’re gonna be the sober dude just chillin’ and observing, some days, you’re just gonna walk on by and do something else. But some day, soon again hopefully, you’ll the one laughing and partying with your friends.

And now, to the title of this post…

This is just an aside to those of you in positions of power (like any of y’all read this dreck) or on the “this is my livelihood” side of the fence, who arrogantly think the “fans” need to just chill and tow the party line in order that they may be “part of the solution not the problem” (curious that you think those fans voicing their opinions are somehow the problem)

Here is the Catch 22 to fandom, and it’s something you should all keep in mind…

The thing that makes fans the most reviled people when things go wrong (like right now for example) is also the very thing that makes us the most revered people when things are going right.

It’s called Passion.

and unfortunately it’s a package deal

So if you want us supporting you and cheering for you in victory circle, then you’ll just have to put up with a little jeering elsewhere when it’s warranted.

and right now, it’s most certainly warranted.

Stay safe tonight everyone… Sally’s being a bit of bitch right now