A Quick Hello!

My goodness, where does the time go? I swear I try to schedule time to update this thing, but scheduling my brain to produce something interesting on demand is not always the best course of action! *trust me you should be thankful*

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!

Travel Channel Seeks Enthusiastic Indy 500 Fans for New Show…

Are you who they’re looking for? I was approached this week about this, but alas, as much as I would like to participate, (mostly to meet Adam Richman who is one of my food/travel channel crushes) I hardly fall into the Indy 500 Superfan category. In fact, as you are all aware, I’m more of an ‘anti’ superfan when it comes to the “greatest spectacle in racing”.

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!

The Tipping Point…

I have a folder on my desktop, it has the icon of a bucket, and in it I toss “sheets of paper” (rtf files) with story ideas, and random thoughts, and clips, and quotes, and rants, and links… I reach into said bucket when I need an idea or when I have some free time to do a little writing, or as was the case recently, when I’m spring cleaning my computer and discover all of the great stories I didn’t write last year… *sigh*

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

Canadian Motorsports Expo Update

So they’re really pulling out all the stops and hyping the crap out of the NASCAR driver appearances this weekend. (don’t remember them creating quite the same frenzy for Tracy, Villeneuve, Hinch or Franchitti)
Anyway, this dropped into my inbox earlier today.

“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!

Next Stop: Canadian Motorsports Expo!

With the first thrilling racing event of the season, the Rolex 24, under our belt now, it’s the perfect time to reach out and connect with racing fans of all ilks and build on that momentum as we all prepare for the 2013 racing season ahead. If you’re in Ontario, or even in the surrounding US border towns, you will want to block off February 8, 9, & 10th, and head into the GTA for the 7th Annual Canadian Motorsports Expo.

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!

Shakes dust off the keyboard…

Well helloooooooo out there. How’s everybody doing?
My media credential for CIAS arrived last week.
It was like being handed the relay torch for the new season of auto racing before us. I had been feeling rather blasé about racing over the winter to be honest, but once I opened that package, BAM! I was in race mode overdrive.

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?

Let the 2013 scheduling begin…

I just got finished registering for the 2013 Canadian International Auto Show, which takes place next February.

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: