I don't think it's an east coast / west coast thing, either. It's a generation issue just like my folks not appreciating "Purple People Eater." The torch has been passed to a new generation. Personally, I'd rather not have a pre-race concert, but it is done in the hope of getting fans to come out earlier and relieve some traffic congestion. That I understand.
I am so out of it and so not the demo NASCAR and the racetracks are targeting. When I read down the list of news releases from Fontana's Auto Club Speedway, I thought they'd added a new race for a bunch of drivers who couldn't get a ride. I thought that was a great idea.
Alas, turns out the "All-American Rejects" are a rock-n-roll group, not a bunch of unemployed drivers. I am definitely living in a different world than the target audience, lol.
The All-American Rejects to Perform Live at Auto Club Speedway March 25
3/8/2012
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. (March 8, 2012) Auto Club Speedway announced today that rock sensation The All-American Rejects will perform on the DiscoverIE FanZone Entertainment Stage prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 race on Sunday, March 25 at 10:15 a.m.
Y'all keep on texting, gals!!!
Woman falls off pier while texting
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WOOD) - A 45-year-old woman was rescued from Lake Michigan after she fell in while texting on her phone and walking on a pier, police said.
Bonnie Miller of Benton Harbor told 24 Hour News 8 she was with her husband and 15-year-old son when she lost her balance on the South Pier in St. Joseph. She was fully clothed and had trouble treading water due to the heavy current.
A passerby -- Rebecca Van Zant of Mishawaka, Ind. -- jumped into the water and was able to keep Miller afloat until rescue personnel arrived. A male clung onto a ladder on the side of pier to try and assist the women, police said.
St. Joseph police officers arrived on scene around 9:30 p.m. Monday and saw the people in the water.
Officer Chris Sysko threw a flotation device on a rope to the women. He was able to pull Miller back to the pier with the help of Van Zant and the rope.
Officers then pulled both women out of the water.
The St. Joseph Fire Department, Michigan State Police and United States Coast Guard assisted with the rescue effort.
Out with the old and in with the new continues to be the NASCAR theme. I don't text, I don't tweet, I don't own a smart phone. I am over age 34. Is a gray haired sophisticated redneck considered multicultural? Guess not.
Did I used to help fill those now empty grandstands? Sure I did. But I am no longer a target of NASCAR. Let's hope they can find somebody to fill those empty Bristol seats since they no longer need my generation.
Here is the new NASCAR plan courtesy of its latest new marketing guru. Wonder if she knows Richard won the 1964 Daytona 500 in a Plymouth, not a Dodge like Buz McKim and his folks at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and NASCAR Media Group think? Well, go for it honey and good luck.
NASCAR moves to reach new fans
Search is own to hire advertising agency to help it reach its goal
By Andrew Dunn
adunn@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2012
NASCAR is launching a nationwide search for an advertising agency to help coordinate its push to reach new fans, particularly young and multicultural audiences.
Its part of a larger undertaking that focuses on building drivers individual star power, engaging fans at the racetrack and at home, reaching young people, Hispanics and African Americans, and growing the sports digital and social media presences.
The full-service agency will help develop what the future of marketing looks like for NASCAR as it continues to grow the sport, said Kim Brink, director of brand and consumer marketing.
It might not be TV. It might be stunts. It might be integrating with our PR team, Brink said. Its definitely not the traditional model of TV, print, radio. Its who youre going after, understanding their nuances.
The new marketing campaign is scheduled to launch along with the Daytona 500 next February.
NASCAR is a private company based in Daytona Beach, Fla., but has a sizable office in Charlotte. It has been with its current advertising agency -- JUMP Co. since 2005. JUMP will join a handful of other ad agencies in competing for the account.
NASCAR does not release its advertising budget, but Brink said the new initiative will involve spending significantly more than it has in the past.
The new initiative comes only a few months after Brink joined NASCAR. She came to Charlotte in November after 20 years at General Motors overseeing marketing and promotion for the Chevrolet and Cadillac brands.
And it also comes as the sport seeks to regain its status as one of the countrys fastest-growing sports. In the early part of the decade, NASCAR boomed in popularity. But TV audiences and attendance began declining in 2006 as the housing market and economy began to stumble.
Some drivers already have latched on to the notion of social media marketing and building star power.
In recent weeks, driver Brad Keselowski has been making a name for himself through Twitter. He gained more than 100,000 followers after tweeting from the Daytona 500, and sent another message from Victory Lane at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday.
Thats a perfect example, Brink said. Thats letting their personalities come through.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/21/3115060/nascar-moves-to-reach-new-fans.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy
Charlottes Bachelorette Emily Maynard on high-flying date at Mint Museum
By Meghan Cooke
macooke@charlotteobserver.com
Emily Maynard, single mom and star of the next/upcoming season of ABC's filmed "The Bacherlorette," was uptown Tuesday night as part of a date with one of the male contestants. Robert Lahser - rlahser@charlotteobserver.com
Charlottes Emily Maynard took The Bachelorette to new heights Tuesday night, scaling the side of the Mint Museum Uptown on a date with a suitor.
The ABC reality TV show has been filming across the Queen City as Maynard, a 26-year-old single mom, looks for love among a batch of men vying for her affection.
Maynard and her date, an unidentified tall man with dark hair, arrived around 9 p.m. at the museum on South Tryon Street. They held hands and chatted as they strolled toward the museum with cameras closely following.
Police blocked Levine Avenue of the Arts as crews filmed the date, which attracted the attention of passersby and those dining at chef Emeril Lagasses restaurant E2, located next door.
Maynard wearing a white tank top, black leggings and brown boots and her date were strapped into harnesses and given helmets with small cameras attached.
Maynard could be heard saying that she was so excited before they began their ascent.
About halfway up the five-story building, the pair gave each other a high five. Her date waved to those below, prompting cheers.
We love you, Emily, a woman shouted.
Give him a rose, said one, referring to the shows rose ceremony where contestants learn whether theyll continue on the dating show.
It took them about 10 minutes to reach the top. Onlookers clapped as they climbed over the roofs edge.
Maynard was once engaged to NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick, the son of businessman and team owner Rick Hendrick who died in a 2004 plane crash while she was pregnant with their child.
Maynard won The Bachelor last year when Brad Womack proposed to her, but the couple split in June. In January, she was named the new Bachelorette.
The show is filming the forthcoming season in a six-bedroom, 8.5-bath European-style mansion in Charlotte rather than its usual California location because Maynard didnt want to uproot her 6-year-old daughter for the filming, according to reports.
Last week, Maynard and a date were reportedly scheduled to have dinner at the new Osso Restaurant & Lounge and then watch a concert by country-music band Gloriana at the N.C. Music Factory.
The Bachelorette will premiere on May 14.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/20/3114189/charlottes-bachelorette-on-high.html#storylink=cpy
Thoughtless of me not to include a link to this excellent article;
http://racersreunion.com/ninety-miles-an-hour-down-a-dead-end-street/
I hopewe-ill have some success making the access a little more apparent. We are all missing some very good stuff on the Home Page.
The title of this post comes from a new articleon the RacersReunion.com Home Page.
I won't spoil the article before you read it, but if you think NASCAR got a little too spiffed up, abandoned its longtime fans and has driven away advertisers, this is a must read piece.
Please take a look.
Harlow, I noticed that Robbie posted recently about identification problems on photos. Could that be a problem?
Just asking.
I need some help from all members with your photos.
Posted by Robbie Solesbee on January 28, 2012 at 1:17am in -ADMINISTRATIVE
Just a reminder when you post photos. PLEASE use captions instead of an image number. I don't care if you just use the drivers name or track the photo is from. Just please put something. Also please do not use the title as complete history of the photo. It sometimes blocks out my key to feature the photo in our vintage section. There are alot of great photos I've had to leave out of the vintage section because of this.
Most of you don't do this, and the problems have not been an issue lately, but please do not lift photos from someone else's page and post them as your own. I've gotten e-mails and even phone calls when this happens. We all have postcards we have collected over the years and it many of us have the same ones in our collections. I encourage posting these, as since we have over 50,000 photos here. Keeping it fresh by posting some of the oldies but goodies is a good thing. Also please pay attention to the criteria. 1990 and earlier and please do not dump 50 photos of the same car at once. It had not been a problem for a while, but I always give this reminder because I had some guy when this site started some guy dumped over 100 photos of his street stock, as to share every dent and tire mark, in close up detail with us. In the four years since Jeff assigned me with this task I've been able to see some great photos and it's safe to say I've seen, approved. and featured tens of thousands of photos on this site. We have come along way since the days of when the admin staff consisted of Jeff, Dustin, and myself. And in case you are wondering, I do not get paid for this. I have believed in the mission of this site from the beginning. It's been a labor of love and I've made many close friends here. This post is not intended to be critical but constructive so that we can all work together to make this site more informative and enjoyable for our members.And, it's my yearly address and plea. I appreciate each and everyone of you and the contributions you make. Working as a team, we all can make this site bigger and better. If you have any questions or suggestions just drop me a line. Anywho, gotta get back to work on my scheme for world domination.-Robbie
Looks like we shall all have to work extra hard to get the media to use the word "Historic" as part of the venue's correct title.
