ImPRESSions©
The Official Newsletter Of The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association
June 2008 Vol. 41 No. 5
Winners Announced For The 2007 AARWBA Journalism Contest - Co-sponsored by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and The IndyCar Series
Straight Shooter Award
TAKE NOTICE! The 39th AARWBA All-America Team ceremony will be Saturday, January 10, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel in Ontario, Calif. (Just a few minutes from the airport.) President Dusty Brandel made the announcement at the annual Indy 500 breakfast. Members should plan ahead and try to arrive Friday night, the 9th. There will be a hospitality suite that evening with plans for some drivers to stop by. Plans are for a field trip, leaving the Hilton by charter bus, Saturday morning. Everyone will get back to the Hilton in plenty of time for the Phil Rider of DeKalb, IL was the recipient of the dinner. prestigious AARWBA "Straight Shooter" award. IMS Photo Director Ron McQueeney makes the More details will be announced in future presentation. Photo credit: John Mahoney newsletter. But make your plans now! ESPN already has renewed its In This Issue: sponsorship as a pre-dinner - Photos From Indy Breakfast - Page 2 reception co-host. - Journalism Contest Winners - Page 3 - Jenkins Wins Russo Award - Page 5 AARWBA thanks George McNeilly and - From The National VP - Page 6 Andy Hall of ESPN. - More Breakfast Photos - Page 7 - News & Notes - Page 10
American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” Photos From Indy And The Breakfast
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Jigger Sirois award winner Mario Dominguez (left) poses
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broadcasts of NHRA races looks on. Troxel was just one 9
of the many celebrities on hand for the annual AARWBA n
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 2 The Winners Of The 2007 AARWBA Journalism Contest - Co-sponsored by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series
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PHOTOGRAPHY - PRINT ACTION -
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3. Michael Knight, "Super Teams Rule Nextel Cup," 4
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1. Jan Wagner, "Historic Racing at its Best," East
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Arizona Republic 8
County Californian 1
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2. Jim Hatfield, "Porsche Parade," Road & Track
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ONLINE FEATURE WRITING 7
3. Glenn Smith, "Daytona 500 Photo Finish," At- 2
- lanta Journal-Constitution 1. Ron Hedger, "Rob Hart," Openwheelracers.com 5
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5 Honorable Mention: Bruce A. Bennett, 2. Michael Johnson, "Bob Huey," Motorsport.com 1 9
"Powerslide," Speedway Illustrated A
3. Nancy Knapp Schilke, "Reflections of Petit Le C
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Mans," Motorsport.com k
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Speed Sport News Schenectady Daily Gazette A
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2. Jan Wagner, "What Goes Up Must Come 1. Dick Berggren, "Prelude to a Dream," Speedway s
A Down," Automatters.net Illustrated
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2. Jan Wagner, "Emily Procter Experiencing the 1. Dick Mittman, "Rainy Roller Coaster at Indy,"
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Joy of Racing," Automatters.net Indy500.com i
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3. Kay Presto, "Injured John Force Hugs Robert 2. Allan Brewer, "New Champion Crowned at Sono- R
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Honorable Mention: Phil Rider, "Celebrating the 3. Nancy Knapp Schilke, "Audi Notches Eighth n
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Win," UMARA.com Sebring Win," Motorsport.com i
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MAGAZINE COLUMN WRITING e NEWSPAPER FEATURE WRITING h
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1. Travis Braun, "Laps from the Heart," Journal 1. Dave Argabright, "Saddest Day of the Year," ©
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2. Susan Wade, "Military Support Runs High," St. 2. Louise Ann Noeth, "The Mighty Molecule Mixers," n
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 3 Journalism Contest Winners Continued
3. Susan Wade, "Horsepower? Try Forcepow- 3. Travis Braun, "Data Workout," Racecar Engineering er," Race News Honorable Mention: Dick Berggren, "Sharing ONLINE TECHNICAL WRITING Texas With You," Speedway Illustrated 1. Kay Presto, "The COT," Carsandcompetition.com 2. Norm Froscher, "Gainesville Tower Gets the ONLINE COLUMN WRITING Wrecking Ball," Summitdragracecentral.com 5
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3. No award - CompetitionPlus.com 2
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2. Tony Johns, "Eulogy for 'The Unions,'" )
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1. Dave Argabright, "Marv Carman's Dream," , Miles," Geiger Media k National Speed Sport News n
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Lifetime," Middletown Journal e
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Speed Sport News
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MAGAZINE FEATURE WRITING 2
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RADIO FEATURE PROGRAM &
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1. Anne Proffit, "Milk and Alcohol," Race En-
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 4 BOB JENKINS NAMED RECIPIENT OF AARWBA 2008 BOB RUSSO FOUNDERS AWARD Henry T. McLemore Motorsports Press Award, which recognizes outstanding motorsports jour- nalism in the field of writing, broadcasting or pho- tography. A permanent plaque with his likeness is
in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in
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Talladega, Ala. He also received the "Sagamore 0
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by the state of Indiana, in recognition of his work 8
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in many civic and charitable efforts. Now serving 8
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staff, he is the only person ever to anchor the 0
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broadcast of all three major events at IMS, the 2 -
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Indianapolis 500, the AllState 400 at the Brickyard 0
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"Bob's integrity in our sport is unquestioned," says
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Bill Marvel, a co-founder and former executive n
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Bob Jenkins (left) accepts the Bob Russo Founders b
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Award from Bill Marvel. u the Founders Award Committee. "He has served B
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Internationally renowned broadcaster and respect of our entire fraternity. He is the most de- v
A auto racing historian Bob Jenkins of Fishers, serving recipient and we salute his dedication and
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In., has been named the recipient of the 2008 commitment or a
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Bob Russo Founders Award presented by the excellence." h
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American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcast- o
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Bob Russo, for ers (AARWBA). The award was presented at 2 whom the award 2
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The award, sponsored by Colleen and Gary most historians o
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t tireless efforts and undying dedication to auto earned a niche s
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racing, as exemplified by Bob Russo through- in the sport as a d
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out his lifelong career in motorsports. reporter for r
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Jenkins has over 30 years experience in auto
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race broadcasting. He was one of the first an- e
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i nouncers hired by ESPN when the all-sports States Auto Club (USAC). In 1955 he founded r
W AARWBA and his expertise soon became a valu- cable network went on the air in 1979 and has g
n able asset to racing facilities and teams. As a i subsequently served as host and play-by-play c public relations director in the 1970's he served a
R announcer for the Indy Racing League tele-
o Ontario Motor Speedway in California, then in t casts including the Indianapolis 500 and an- u
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1985 he orchestrated publicity for Danny Sullivan, chored ESPN and ABC's coverage of n who won that year's Indianapolis 500. He also a
c NASCAR Winston Cup telecasts from 1982 to i
r 2000 which received 17 Sports Emmy served stints as publicist for the National Hot Rod e
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Association (NHRA) and Mickey Thompson Enter- A Awards.
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Jenkins follows Michael Knight (2005), Wally
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Club Hall of Fame and their "Tony Hulman t
fourth recipient of the AARWBA Founders Award. n Award," the United States Auto Club's "Roger o
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 5 FROM THE NATIONAL TAKE NOTICE! VICE-PRESIDENT The 39th AARWBA All-America Team ceremony will be Saturday, January 10, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel in Ontario, Mike Hollander Calif. (Just a few minutes from the airport.) President Dusty Brandel made the announcement at the Just back from the Indy 500 annual Indy 500 breakfast. Members should plan ahead where I spent a great week- and try to arrive Friday night, the 9th. There will be a end. Thanks to Fred Nation, hospitality suite that evening with plans for some drivers Ron Green and their staffs to stop by. Plans are for a field trip, leaving the Hilton by
for all the assistance in mak- charter bus, Saturday morning. Everyone will get back to 5
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the Hilton in plenty of time for the dinner. 0 ing our coverage even bet- 7
- ter this year than before. I More details will be announced in future 2 4
8 newsletters. But make your plans now! must have run out of )
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"Toyota"s after the Toyota 1
ESPN already has renewed its sponsorship as a 8
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Grand Prix of Long Beach, pre-dinnerreception co-host.
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because I note that last 0
7 month's column seemed to AARWBA thanks George McNeilly 2 -
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be missing at least some. I want to express spe- and Andy Hall of ESPN. 0
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sports staff for their assistance at the Long Beach A
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circuit. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach so- ,
Correction: We inadvertently omitted a few lines from Kay Presto’s k briquet flows automatically from my hands during n
tribute to Eric Medlen. The full poem appears below. a
b public writing and if it didn't in my column here, With apologies to all concerned. r
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that was an oversight and nothing more. I still B
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have the mug that the Toyota Grand Prix of Long u
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Beach issued to each writer during the early years e
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of their media center sponsorship. It's a beautiful
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a The sun is at its brightest, and bluest is the sky i
For those of you that don't remember, or weren't c
And there is Eric Medlen, that famed twinkle in his eye o alive back then, Toyota stepped up to sponsor the s Roaming around in his new Heaven, meeting everybody new s
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Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach at a time when
Shaking hands and smiling, saying "I am so glad to meet you," s the mood of the country was very much against r
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t auto racing. They were there at the beginning, He's roped and raced his way through life, a mark he's left behind s
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Because he was so special he's on everybody's mind c with an official pace car sponsorship and their in- d
He had a certain kind of laugh that made your heart feel good a volvement continued to grow until they took over o And brought a ray of sunshine in every way he could r
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cause of the way they treated the Grand Prix As- He learned to speak some Japanese so to them he'd relate s
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And taught his roping skills to all and told them they were great e sociation. So again, thanks to Toyota. t
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Because he made reporters feel so happy and sublime
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How much is a word worth? At Indy, it could be And now his soul’s in Heaven, but his spirit's still at home, c
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quite a lot. Honda renewed its position as "an" offi- Because he was so happy here that he would never roam R
o cial engine supplier for the Indy Car Series. Like Yes, he is all around us, we can almost feel his touch t Because we all loved him a lot, and he loved us all so much u
A most great, competitive companies, Honda likes to
n compete - and not just against itself. This renewal But he has buddies now in Heaven, Darrell Russell and some more a
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i opens the door to other suppliers for the series. If And when they saw him coming, they swung open Heaven’s door r
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Honda had said "the" instead of "an," that door And took him in to welcome him, in a land where there’s no pain m
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But only love and happiness, and sunshine, but no rain would have remained closed. I wonder how many e
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T of my fellow reporters thought carefully about what He’s in a special place right now, a full smile on his face
© was said that day at the Speedway. ‘Cause he still races every day, and he wins every race!
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Because he’s smiling down on us, and sending us his love! t
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 6 Photos From The Indy Breakfast All photos on next three pages courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Kay Nichols
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interviews Indy 500 pole-sitter Scott Dixon at the Speedway, expresses his thanks to AARWBA members for their 9
annual breakfast coverage of the events at the track, which begins the A
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Centennial Era celebrations in 2009. ,
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Motor Speedway to let them know of AARWBA's thanks Page was the master of ceremonies for the breakfast on a rare s
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AARWBA President Dusty Brandel ex- Al Speyer, Firestone's manager of Bill Marvel, the last living Charter t presses her thanks to our sponsors for motorsports, expresses his thanks to Member of AARWBA, prepares to n
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l of racing events. Award, this year given to Bob Jenkins. l
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 7 Photos From The Indy Breakfast
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Phil Rider (right) accepts the Straight Shooters Award, in 0 NHRA Funny Car Drivers Tommy Johnson, Jr., and his wife 5
memory of Art Flores and Ron Hussey, from selection 1
9 Melanie Troxel, at the breakfast committee chairman Ron McQueeney. The award comes with a $500 prize from Lowe's Fernandez Racing. A
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Fred Nation, Vice President, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fred Nation, Vice President, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, o
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Anne Proffit with Fred Nation by five years. A American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 8 Photos From The Indy Breakfast
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i Jigger Sirois (L) and Tyker Tadevik of Pacific Coast Jigger Sirois (L) Tyler Tadevik, along with Dick t
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Michael Knight (L) receives congratulations for his win- o
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ning blog entry from Fred Nation, Vice-President l Fred Nation and Michael Johnson l of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 9 News & Notes Rob Geiger Starts New Website Al Pearce F1 Helmet Project Update www.go2geiger.com Dear Friends/Colleagues: You're getting this latest F-1 Friends and colleagues, champions' helmet update because
My new Web site, www.go2geiger.com, is 1) you've expressed great interest in this project in the
5 up and operational. We made it through our past, 0
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7 first week and everyone is still alive! Please 2) you seemed remotely interested the last time we -
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spoke of it, or 4 give it a look and let me know what you 8
3) simply because I enjoy sending stuff you don't nec- ) think. 8
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essarily care about. In any case: 8
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Here's a quick overview 0
They can now put on my headstone: "He Made It To 7
2 of what we're trying to do. Monte Carlo For A Grand Prix." They can also add, -
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"But He Never Saw A Car Or Heard An Engine." 5
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Our Mission: To provide Blame that on the French railroad, which picked the 9
unbiased drag racing Thursday and Friday of Grand Prix weekend to go on A
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news coverage. strike and disrupt my travel plans (and lots of others, to k
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be sure). a
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Our Process: Our staff u
B Here's the short version: I drove from Newport News will adhere to the highest e to Newark last Monday, flew overnight to Paris and took u
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journalist standards at all e
a great high-speed train to Nice. I spent Wednesday in v
times. Each story will be A
Monte Carlo, where F-1 writer Dan Knutson (my new s carefully thought out, researched, verified, s best friend) got autographs from reigning World Driving a
P and written to an exacting style to inform and
Champion Kimi Raikkonen and retired champions Mika h
t educate the reader on a wide variety of drag r Haikkonen and Keke Rosberg. (He had access, I o
N racing topics. We will not be swayed by didn't).
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sanctioning bodies, race officials, advertis- 9
My plan was to return to n ers, or sponsors. o
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Our Goal: To capitalize on founder and pub- s
and maybe a paddock s lisher Rob Geiger's reputation as a fair and A
pass from Ferrari. But s
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dedicated reporter of the facts within the e the wildcat strike t
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drag racing community. To this end, Geiger a
changed that. Not only c has hired some of the best writers in d was Nice-to-Monte Car- a
o motorsports so all of the pertinent stories can lo train service unreli- r
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be told in a timely fashion. News of top able, nobody at the &
s NHRA professionals will be complemented Nice station could say r
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n would run as sched- i abroad. c uled. a
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I hope you enjoy the site. If you're a PR per- u Michael Schumacher signs for Al That, in turn, would
A son, keep those press releases coming. If jeopardize my Friday afternoon flight to Newark and my n
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c you're a driver, stay in touch and always let i
subsequent overnight drive to Concord for Humpy's r me know if we can help you in any way. Ev- last Dog-and-Pony Show. e
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A eryone else, tell your friends!
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So I took the railroad man's advice: I hung around the h
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Thanks, Nice station all day Thursday, not darling to leave (via ©
s local bus) for Monte Carlo. And even though my ticket t
Rob Geiger n
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wasn't valid on that train, they put me on a 4:30 bullet t
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l ...Continued on next page l
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 10 News & Notes Pearce F1 Helmet Continued Bob Jenkins Says Thanks train to Paris, on what they called "maybe the last Bob Jenkins, our 2008 Russo Award winner, train for a few days." recently sent this note of appreciation to Dusty.
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(Thankfully, I didn't have to invoke Humpy's name Dear Dusty, 0
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to get it done). I arrived very late in Paris, finally got 7 I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate and am -
2 a local train to Charles de Gaulle Airport and honored to receive the Bob Russo Founders award. To 4
8
camped there (with "John Adams" by David Mc- )
join the list of prestigious and outstanding former winners 8
Cullough) for 12 hours. I arrived in Newark at 4:30 1
is very humbling. I am very sorry that I was unable to 8
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p.m. and Newport News at 2:00 a.m. Saturday. By
attend the breakfast at which the honor was bestowed. 3 the time you get this, I will be at Lowe's or well on 0
Doing the 500 Festival Parade for ESPN2, unfortunately, 7
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the way Saturday afternoon. -
required an early start in downtown Indianapolis. 5
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The award is even more special in that it is named for a person I knew only briefly, but admired greatly. He was A
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the public relations director at Ontario Motor Speedway k
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when I first met him. However, I was aware of his contri- a
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bution and status in motorsports journalism prior to that. u
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AARWBA is very special to me. The older I get the more n
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I realize that such an organization is necessary to not v
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only maintain journalism integrity and excellence, but to s
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also provide a platform to maintain friendships made a
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through the years. h
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N My sincere thanks to you and everyone responsible for
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this award. It ranks very high on my list of accomplish- 9
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ments. o
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Niki Lauda and Al Pearce c Keep up the good work that you tirelessly perform. o
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A The total is now 16 of the 19 living F-1 champions Bob s
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on the helmet that'll evetually be auctioned or sold e
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for the Kyle Petty Charity Ride and Victory Junction a
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Gang Camp. They are (in order of getting them) A Photo Contest Winner Puts His d
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Phil Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Emerson Fittipaldi, r
Prize To Good Use B Mario Andretti, Damon Hill, John Surtees, Sir Jack-
&
ie Stewart, Alain Prost, Fernando Alonso, Jody s
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I would like to thank the Indianapolis Motor Speedway e
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Scheckter, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Niki i and the Indy Racing Series, sponsors of the AARWBA r
Lauda, Kimi Raikkonen, Keke Rosberg and Mika W
media contest. And the selection committee for award- g
Haikkonen. n
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ing me the second place prize in Photography-Print c
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People competition. R II lack only Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet Sr. (a
o t last-minute no-show in Monte Carlo) and Austra- u
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I would like to add that I put the prize money to good
lians Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones to complete n
use. Hours after Sunday's race I returned to my car a this project. Piquet Sr. might require a quick trip to c i
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Brasilia, but FedEx has offered to help with Brab- only to find that I had a flat tire. I replaced the tire, a e
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ham and Jones. Firestone Firehawk GT, the next day, at the Firestone A
dealer on Crawfordsville Road. e h
T You'll next hear from me when I'm done -- 19 of 19.
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Until then... safe travels and thanks for your support Thanks Again. s
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and interest in this worthwhile charity project. e
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Don Figler: o
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 11 News & Notes
Newsletter Sermon It was difficult taking your own notes, finding drivers or promoters and keeping out of hams way. From Johnny McDonald Writers today don't know they have it so good. But, I commend Mike Hollander for his favorable com- then, those promoting events performed so much ments re: Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix's media better.
center. 5
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In the primitive days it was a matter of catch as 7
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2 catch can. I remember covering a Phoenix race in AARWBA Members: 4
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1966 from an open rooftop facility behind the pits )
This is YOUR newsletter. 8 and spinning around to watch the Indy cars roar on 1
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the mile oval.
Your editor, Andy Hartwell, would love to hear 3
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Afterward, you were informed driver interviews from you. Write in and let him know what you are 7
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- could be done on the track while he was being up to in the world of motorsports. We need good 5
0 swarmed by well wishers. Then you rushed back to news content from professionals like you that we 5
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9 a hotel room to dictate a story. can share with all the other professionals in the
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AARWBA. And this newsletter is a great vehicle
Road racing was a challenge. If there was an acci- ,
k dent on a circuit, like La Jolla's Torrey Pines, you for announcing your recent successes to your n
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b interviewed the fans who were eye witnesses. peers! r
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Then you'd have the office check with the hospital B
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before racing back to do the story. And you can even have your company or u
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organization sponsor an issue! e And I remember those early Baja off-road races v
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where Deke Houlgate and I stood by, listening to Send your words and photos to s
s radio reports from check points, to keep tabs of ac- a
tivity. Then you'd update the office from Ensenada h
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r with phone connections that were poor. o
For issue sponsorship information N
I can recall Indy superintendent Clarence Cagle 2 contact: 2
9 ordering crews to dynamite the hard wintry ground Michael Knight n
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to prepare a foundation of the first media center t
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at [email protected] i
there next to Gasoline Alley. Prior to that you had c
o to search for an accommodating RV from which to s
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A work. The tiny media center at the time was just big or our President, Dusty Brandel,
s enough for the Indianapolis writers that was under- r
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at [email protected]. t neath the grandstands. Filing stories meant going s
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down to the Western Union Office at the other end d
a of infield stands. If it was closed that meant you o
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WAR STORIES WANTED! B had to drive to the downtown office.
& No, not stories of your bravery under fire
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Negative news was hard to pry loose, particularly r
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in a combat zone, stories from your early i from the sports car clubs who were concerned r
W about unfavorable publicity and insurance costs. At days as a professional media journalist or
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n their urging, one year I grabbed a photographer photographer! i
c and we covered a club's autocross. While there, a a
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car went out of control and hit the scoring stand, o
Tell us about some of the hardships you t spilling people all over the place. Fortunately no u
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endured to get the story. Or tell us about the one was injured. n bare-bones facilities you had to work out of. a
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i The photog got the shot and club members wanted r
e the film, they didn't want the picture printed. The m
We don’t always realize how good support A
request, obviously, was denied. The San Diego e
for media personnel is today, compared to h
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Union put the picture on page one and it was
what it once was. Please take us down © picked up by the Associated Press. It won a picture
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t of the year award. memory lane with your recollections! n
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Send your war stories to n
We let the club deal with its sanctioning SCCA o
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[email protected] body and the insurance company. l
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American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. (www.aarwba.org) “Dedicated To Increasing Media Coverage Of Motor Sports” 12