0409 AARWBA Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ImPRESSions© The Official Newsletter Of The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association April 2009 Vol. 42 No. 4 Annual AARWBA Indy 500 Breakfast May 23rd, the day before the Need A Room For The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Indy 500? Brickyard Crossing Contact: Golf Resort & Inn - Pavilion Dawne Smith - General Manager Sleep Inn Airport West Driver interviews - Jigger and Angelo Angelopolous Awards - P: 317-247-4100 Writing, Broadcast and Photography or at 317-487-9800. Contest Winners -Door prizes E-mail: gm.in091@choicehotels,com Hotel Guests Receive: Reservations required. Members may email to: [email protected] * Free shuttle service to and from the Speed- way throughout the entire event Tickets from Dusty in the Media Center * Guest Appreciation Party the night before the or at the door race * Early breakfast on race day In This Issue: * Nicely appointed guestrooms - Aflac / AMS Journalism Award Page 2 * Deluxe Continental Breakfast - Tuskegee Airmen Honored At Indy Page 3 * Free WIFI in all guestrooms and public areas - AARWBA Ombudsman Page 4 - Have You Been To Indy? Page 5 * 24-hour complimentary airport transportation - News & Notes Page 7 * Use of the indoor pool w/whirlpool and exer- cise facility at the Comfort Inn & Suites next - Gil Bouffard On USF1 Page 8 store - John Fitch’s Plight Continues Page 9 - About The Straight Shooter Award Page 10 American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” An award application appearsatthe application award An Speedway. The 2008awardswillbe pioneer ofmoto coverageofmotors distinguished recognize to journalists since1985, awards, theMotorsports company willtakeoversponso Earlier this year, at American Auto Racing Writers &Br Racing Writers American Auto AFLAC SPONSORS JOURNALISM AWARD AFLAC SPONSORSJOURNALISM This month’s issueofImPR This month’s rsports media. “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage OfMotorSports” MediaCoverage “Dedicated To Increasing Atlanta MotorSpee the awards, administeredby Lowe's announced attheCoca Journalism Awardof rship of one of auto racing's auto ofone rship end ofthisissu oadcasters Association, Association, Inc. oadcasters dway, Aflacofficials announ 2 Excellence. An annual annual An Excellence. ESSSions issponsoredby ports journalismandto -Cola 600weekendin e ofImPRESSions. Motor Speedway, were developed developed were Speedway, Motor mostprestigious independent (www.aarwba.org) ced thattheinsurance tradition formotorsports tradition honor Russ Catlin,a May at Lowe'sMotor at May All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 the sponsorship there'llattempting tomakethe500."we need, beaRedTailracecar close toofficiallyentering therace.scheme onourcars,"explained Matthews."We'revery Ifweget "We've formeda Top Cover team, Racing, whichpays tribute tothe airmen witha RedTailpaint we're happytobe event,and partofthis great we'rebehindwhatJunious is tryingto do." an honor.Soopened isquite itsarmstous, "That, and the waythe Speedway has spirit oftheTuskegee Airmen,"saidWatson. he's"The wayweseeit, carryingonin the honor. in their a"Red Tail"carintheIndianapolisenter 500 and racer African-American to whoisstriving supporting Junious Matthews, a longtime are ready totake ononemoremission - At 92yearsofage,Watsoncomrades andhis Distinguished FlyingCrosses. garneringaircraft, 744 medals, including 150 ited withdamaging ordestroying409enemy all theTuskegeeAirmenwere sixties. In cred- for the civil rights movement of the fifties and recordplete 1,578combatmissions,compilingthebestbomberescort ofthe warand paving theway Squadrons and known as the"RedTails"fortheirai The 332nd FighterGroup,composedof TuskegeeAirmen's 99th,100th,301st and302nd Fighter pre-race festivitiesonrace daymorning, Sunday, May24. Airmen willbeamongAmerica'sservicemenhonored infestivitiesleadinguptotherace,including the anapolistheMemorial DayweekendThis 500over eachMay.yearagroup oforiginal Tuskegee The Indianapolis MotorSpeedway hasalongtraditionof visit inthe garage area at theIndianapolis Motor Speedway prior to Colonel Spann Watson,Andrew Prendeville and Weyman Watson From left to right, Junious Matthews, retired Air Force Lieutenant last May'sFreedom 100 Firestone IndyLightsrace. American Auto Racing Writers &Br Racing Writers American Auto (Photo by Vicki Kilmer-Rinker) Vicki by (Photo “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage OfMotorSports” MediaCoverage “Dedicated To Increasing Tuskegee Airmen To Be Honored At Indy BeHonored Airmen To Tuskegee 'Red Tail' Race Car Project Underway Submitted By Linda Mansfield By Submitted oadcasters Association, Association, Inc. oadcasters 3 America isabetterplacebecauseit." of down, sowepersevered andexcelled, and black America down,andwecouldn'tlet America "Wecouldn'tlet pilots togooverseasandfight. Colonel Spann Watson,oneof thefirst Tuskegee choice wehad," said retired AirForceLieutenant because wewantedto,butbecauseitwastheonly air andgotowarasaseparate corps,train, fly not "People havetounderstand wewereforced to tenacity, perseverance and patriotism. segregationracial inthe militarythrough courage, they helpedAmericawinWorldWarIIandend name. Despite great odds andoutrightprejudice, base atTuskegee, Ala., fromwhencetheygot their July 1941, itsmembers trained at a segregated tion unit in the United St avia-The Tuskegeeall-black Airmenwerethefirst rcrafts' distinctivepaintscheme,wentontocom- honoring America'sarmed forces atthe Indi- (www.aarwba.org) ates military. Formed in Formed military. ates All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 [email protected] Knight, Michael Member: Committee Ombudsman [email protected] Peters, George Dr. Secretary-Treasurer: [email protected] Proffitt, Anne President: Vice Western [email protected] Lemasters, Ron President: Vice Midwest Southern Vice President: [email protected] Franck, Lewis President: Vice Eastern [email protected] Wade, Susan President: Vice National [email protected] Brandel, Dusty President: public. make to any, if information, what on decision final the have will Board The newsletter. AARWBA the via membership full nicateits final report toinvolved all parties.Committee The w The Committee,6. uponcompletion ofitswork,report will Board. AARWBA the and parties immediate Committee’son-going work activitieswill be considered“confidential” andnot forthe knowledge ofanyone beyond the replacement. The process. the throughout developments of informed member the keep VPwill regional appropriate The 5. tainable resolution. a The4. Committee have will complete authorityattemptto to bringfrom AARWBA the member’sconcern to the best ob- appoint for any reason,isdeemed If, d) it inappropriate concern; ofthe Committee. member serve as a permanent will industry, motorsports the of side PR and media the both on experience has who Knight, Michael c) persons: three of consist will Committee The Committee. Ombudsman of the area in, expertise of, or knowledge may special who have the President, by b) appointed A person, 3. The VPwill report back to the AARWBABoard. If nece Committee; the lead will who matter, the reviewed first VP who The a) settlement. reasonable a achieve or issue the resolve quickly to attempt VP will the so, If Statement. Mission budsman ThePresident2. Vice will review the situation andwill have event. the at attendance in President Vice a or President, Vice regional appropriate his/her contact will member The 1. Ombudsmanwill follow thisprocess: Process: tempt to resolve those concerns.” sources), whichaffect their ability to performtheir work assignments,an intermediary through whichaddressto and at- media other and personnel organization sanctioning and track officials, owners, by drivers, treatment and access, tials, Statement: Mission AARWBA Ombudsman Contacts: American Auto Racing Writers &Br Racing Writers American Auto An AARWBA member who believes he/she has a legitimate concern to bring to the AARWBA tobring to the concern alegitimate has he/she who believes member An AARWBA “To provide AARWBA members who have legitimate concerns (regarding issues such as creden- as such issues (regarding concerns legitimate have who members AARWBA provide “To The AARWBA Ombudsman The AARWBA “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage OfMotorSports” MediaCoverage “Dedicated To Increasing Mike Harris, How toGetHelpResolvingWorkConcerns [email protected] oadcasters Association, Association, Inc. oadcasters 4 for any Committee memberserve, to the President will AARWBA Once Again Thanks Once AARWBA back to the AARWBA Board. The Committee will then commu- ssary, the VPmayrequest the President toactivate the full full discretion todeterminethe matter if falls underOm- the ill recommendBoardto the if anything, what, to reportthe to Valvoline forRenewingIts Valvoline Founding Sponsorship Ombudsman Program Of the (www.aarwba.org) All Contents © The American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association 922 North Pass Avenue Burbank, CA 91505-2703 (818) 842-7005 time ago. time ago. long a glass in framed was it that today, even poster, Bobby were 'okay' substitutes. Iam so fond of that as Markwasra for sure day my made Indy '72 the winning MarkDonohue of my poster on autograph Allison's Bobby and Sneva's up growing Mark Donohuewasmy hero Since laboratories. and offices their of designs the Sun Oil Co. overseeing