An American President's Christmas Message From America To All

An American President's Christmas Message From America To All

It may amaze one to ponder that only 30 years ago (December 23, 1981), a President of the United States felt it was his leadership duty to speak directly about the reason for the season and assure all, whether they believed in Christianity or not, that our country and its citizens were protected here as one, under "Faith and Freedom" ... regardless of belief or circumstance.

May God bless the memory of Ronald Reagan. A message as poignant and timeless in 1981 as it is here in 2011.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

MAZDASPEED Motorsports Starts To Crown 2011 Supported Series Season Champions

Driving the Juncos Racing TrueCar sponsored Star Mazda, the Californian rookie, 16-year-old Gustavo Menezes participated in what was probably the best on-track battle of the day at the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear race during the recently held Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma (more). Image Credit: juncosracing.com/MAZDASPEED Motorsports


MAZDASPEED Motorsports Starts To Crown 2011 Supported Series Season Champions

The inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix kicks off six straight weeks of season finales for over 200 Mazda racers ranging from SCCA and NASA club racers to professional teams in Grand-Am and ALMS. There will be over 50 individual races at nine different tracks at ten different events.

As the seasons conclude, Mazda is leading the manufacturers’ points championships in ALMS LMP1, Grand-Am GT, and Continental Tire ST. Mazda racers are leading the ALMS drivers championship, and within reach of the Grand-Am GT drivers championship.

As a part of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Ladder and the Mazda Road to Indy, Mazda will be crowning champions in the Star Mazda Championship, USF2000 Championship, Skip Barber Nationals, and Playboy MX-5 Cup. These drivers will be promoted to the next level in 2012 with Mazda support.

Club racing is the heart and soul of Mazda, and the two biggest annual events for club racers takes place at two of the classic tracks – The NASA Championship at Mid-Ohio and the SCCA Runoffs at Road America.

John Doonan, Motorsports Director, Mazda North American Operations, noted that “The 2011 season has been non-stop since January with the Rolex 24 at Daytona, but September will bring out the best in our racers as they aim to finish on a high note. The fact that we have the potential to score three manufacturers championships is a testament to the amazing teamwork and dedication of all of our teams, drivers, and partners. Going head-to-head with some of the top brands in the world shows that Mazda can produce world class cars for both the racetrack and the street.”

September 2-4 Baltimore Grand Prix

American Le Mans Series Presented by Patron

Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda – FINALE

Also:

SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup @ Brainerd International Raceway

September 10-11 NASA National Championships @ Mid-Ohio

400+ club racers in over two dozen classes

Also:

BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda @ Autobahn Country Club

September 16-18 ModSpace American Le Mans Monterey @ Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

American Le Mans Series Presented by Patron

Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear – FINALE

September 16-17 Grand-Am & Continental Tire FINALES @ Mid-Ohio

September 23-25 48th Annual SCCA Runoffs @ Road America

600+ club racers in over two dozen classes

Sept 28 – Oct 1 Petit Le Mans @ Road Atlanta

American Le Mans Series Presented by Patron – FINALE

SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup – FINALE

Pirelli World Challenge - FINALE

October 6-8 BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda FINALE @ Lime Rock

October 7-8 Formula D – FINALE @ Toyota Speedway

... notes from The EDJE

[Article first published as MAZDASPEED Motorsports Starts to Crown 2011 Supported Series Season Champions on Technorati]

And It Begins - The 61st Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The Tour is a drive and show, car show that takes place from The Lodge at Pebble Beach to downtown Carmel so that fans can get a hint of what will be on display along the 18th Green at Pebble Beach. The Tour starts Thursday morning of Auto Week on the Monterey Peninsula and officially begins the first activity at Pebble Beach for the Concours d'Elegance.

Over 20 Ferrari 250 GTOs will be exhibited on Sunday. Ferraris are revered the world over for being among the finest, fastest and most exotic sports cars ever conceived, and the Ferrari 250 GTO is considered by many to be the greatest Ferrari ever manufactured.



The display of Ferrari 250 GTOs on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the birth of this model, more than twenty of these exclusive sports racing cars will take to the 18th fairway show field of the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, August 21.

... notes from The EDJE

Dan Wheldon ... Championship Winning Driver, 2-Time Indy 500 Winner, Motorsports Color Commentator, Ambassador to American Open Wheel Racing

Dan Wheldon when he was riding his wave of popularity at the beginning of the 2006 season (photo of 2006 Indy Downforce fan club promo, with signature - similar to the 2003 trade show handout). The previous year he had won the Indy 5oo and the 2005 IndyCar Series Championship over Tony Kanaan, Sam Hornish, Jr., Dario Franchitti, and Scott Sharp. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)


Dan Wheldon ... Championship Winning Driver, 2-Time Indy 500 Winner, Motorsports Color Commentator, Ambassador to American Open Wheel Racing

There was a time, not long ago, that Dan Wheldon was just like any other aspiring driver with some talent, lucky to be associated with a young, but experienced racing team, stood in an exhibition hall, next to a nicely painted Jim Beam logoed car, to sign autographs on images of himself standing next to a race car printed on light cardboard. This image of Dan Wheldon happened at a trade show in Las Vegas a few years back (2003) before he became the championship winning driver, 2-time Indy 500 winner, motorsports color commentator, and ambassador to American open wheel racing Dan Weldon people have become familiar with over the last half decade or so.

Dan was working a promotional appearance at the Las Vegas Convention Center highlighting the fact that he had just became a member of the Andretti Green Racing organization (replacing Michael Andretti as a driver) in the Indianapolis Racing League (now named IndyCar Series) and there he stood next to his Jim Beam Special Dallara happy to meet and greet people as he shook hands and handed out signed promotional printed images of himself in a similar pose. Being a race car driver isn't all "rockstar" glory ... it requires a lot of hard work.

This year has seen a growth in the stature of the gentle, and unassuming British character (the public, promotional persona), who has not only won the 2011 Greatest Spectacle in Racing, but has taken to working races behind the microphone.

Last weekend, the IndyCar Series (ICS) visited the cornfields of Iowa to run the 9th race in a 18 race season. The Iowa Corn 250 is run on a very tight, banked turn, .875-mile oval that, at race speed, takes only about 19 seconds to lap, and through this very fast lap action, Dan Wheldon proved himself as capable an announcer as he is an accomplished driver.

To those who watched the broadcast, carried by VERSUS cable channel for a unique Saturday night-time presentation, Dan Wheldon embraced the fast paced, event-filled three hours as if he'd been doing this microphone stuff for years. The broadcast pre-race featured a Formula 1 style pit lane interview walk with famed auto-writer Robin Miller and Dan, each taking a row of the two-row staging of the cars along pit lane. On the broadcast, first Robin, and then Dan (back and forth) would walk up to drivers, car owners, and engineers and create a quick one or two question interview that proved to be extremely entertaining. It's always fun to be able to catch a Ganassi or Penske off guard, especially since they rarely ever are, but this was the feel and pace of the segment - fairly smooth and spontaneous. Dan was really in the commentator zone when he was interviewing Dario Franchitti, when he said "This is my job" ... Dario graciously retorted "Oh no its not. Ahhh, you know where your job is ... [on the track]!" It makes one ask, just who was caught off-guard now?

During the race, however, is where Dan Wheldon really shined. Even though the cars were going around the oval at under 19 seconds a lap, Dan had the uncanny knack of having the broadcast presence of almost slowing down the action at moments so that the viewer felt as though they were in the cockpit and had the control of the car while it circled the track. The action did not slow down on the screen, Dan did not talk slowly, but the explanation and engagement with the viewing audience in Dan's style, translated itself to a kinda' audio slower (not slow) motion.

Forces have a funny way of working their way into situations. The fact that Dan Wheldon isn't driving for another ICS season championship in 2011 is a tragedy and all American open wheel racing fans see this. Until this situation is rectified, the same American open wheel racing fans may at least be able to have more color commentary from Dan Wheldon in future ICS races this season.

... notes from The EDJE

(Article first published as Dan Wheldon ... Championship Winning Driver, 2-Time Indy 500 Winner, Motorsports Color Commentator, Ambassador to American Open Wheel Racing on Technorati)

ALMS 2011 Broadcast Agreement Embraces New Media In The Mix

Turn 11 and the beginning of the front straightaway along Shoreline Drive at the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix event in Long Beach, California. Here the American Le Mans Series #16 Mazda Dyson Racing car begins another lap while hugging the wall that defines the outside of the track. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

ALMS 2011 Broadcast Agreement Embraces New Media In The Mix

The American Le Mans Series presented by Taquila Patron (ALMS) in announcing its new multi-year broadcast media deal with ABC/ESPN and its overall content portals affirmed its intention to remain at the technological leading edge and intersection of presentation and fan communications interaction.

The original announcement released on January 3, 2010 while somewhat complete, needed a little more than a press release to fully expose what plans for the 2011 season and the future of event broadcast and communications the ALMS plans to roll out to the potential consuming public - from the casually interested all the way through the fan ladder to the fully immersed.

The agreement and schedule released in the original announcement gave hints at a whole new way the ALMS is wishing to approach racing series event broadcasts, fan interaction and sponsor timeshare access to a specific target market.

This is one of the areas where the partnership of the ALMS with Intersport, an award-winning media and marketing agency, begins to pay dividends. The innovative deal put together by this partnership involves televising the world’s premier sports car series over several ABC/ESPN programming and media platforms, including ABC, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. The event content for each platform or communications portal will be tailored to appeal to the attention and interest level in each potential fan and consumer ... and potentially on an international basis as well. The feeling going into this agreement was always to be able to have an integrated media approach, where the ALMS, in concert with the extensive production capabilities of the 25 year old Intersport, in order to get the most out of, arguably, the most extensive yet integrated sports media broadcast and media properties organization available on the scene today.

Television broadcasts, either through tailored production packages and/or live transmission, will always be the medium where one reaches the core fan due to ease of access and availability of audience. For example, ABC TV national broadcasts for sporting events reach an audience of about 115.9 million. Unfortunately, this portal can be characterized as one that has little patience for events that, by definition, last longer than 2-3 hours, or about the content size of other major sporting events. When ABC is not available, ESPN2 will take over the tailored production broadcast duties and be able to reach an estimated 99.7 million sets.

The 100% live broadcast duties will be handled by the relatively new, New Media portal on the web, ESPN3.com which has a broadband broadcast potential reach equal to that of the more well known cable broadcast outlet, SPEED Channel (confirmed in a conversation between Intersport and SPEED) at about 65 million users. The additional beauty of having a web portal for content delivery is the added benefit of content on demand. If one cannot be available for the live broadcast of the race or event, one can run the file on demand in order to experience the whole event.

Further, there will be opportunities to develop and expand the communicative reach through the connection of social media platforms found throughout the web. Corvette, Audi, BMW, Porsche, and other car enthusiast forums will soon have the opportunity to directly interface (possibly through RSS and other New Media digital broadcast feed concepts) upon which to share timely information.

MPG's Dean Batchelor Award - Since 1995, Motor Press Guild’s annual Dean Batchelor Award has recognized “the journalist judged to have produced the single piece of work which best represents the professional standards and excellence demanded by Dean Batchelor during his life as an editor, writer, and chronicler of the automotive industry.” In more recent years, the “DBA” has expanded to single out awards in four disciplines: Articles, Audio-Visual, Books and Photography. The winner of each receives the MPG Best of the Year award in that category, while one of those winners is chosen for the overall Dean Batchelor Award. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Another nuanced capability of this partnership and agreement will have the 2011 ESPN telecast package include a two-hour documentary-style broadcast from the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix in September - a race through the city’s inner harbor area streets - produced by Intersport’s Emmy-award winning production team (a recent honored production includes the 2009 Motor Press Guild's Dean Batchelor Award winning documentary - Keith Cossrow and Bennett Viseltear, "Truth in 24"). ALMS’ association with Intersport began in the 2010 season. Intersport previously produced two docudrama-style race broadcasts which told the story of the Series’ events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio, and highlighted its many storylines and colorful personalities.

One can listen to Wednesday`s media call (where The EDJE asked questions related to social media and new media content broadcast sharing schemes) with executives from the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron and Intersport, along with representative sponsor executives, team owners and drivers. A transcript is also available for reading.

The 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will open at the 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida on Saturday, March 19. Visit the American Le Mans Series’ online schedule for information on tickets and area accommodations.

ALMS race start at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca where the cars run for six hours, starting in the afternoon and ending to the flaring lights of fireworks launched over the track into the night-time sky at the bridge near the start/finish line. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)

American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón 2011 broadcast Schedule
(All TV times reflect the Eastern Time Zone)

Sebring
Friday, March 18 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, March 19 ESPN3.com 10:15 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 ABC 12:30-2 p.m.

Long Beach
Friday, April 15 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, April 16 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, April 17 ESPN2 5-7 p.m.

Lime Rock
Friday, July 8 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, July 9 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, July 10 ESPN2 1-3 p.m.

Mosport
Saturday, July 23 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Sunday, July 24 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, July 24 ESPN2 10 p.m.-12 a.m.

Mid-Ohio
Friday, August 5 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, August 6 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, August 7 ESPN2 10 p.m.-12 a.m.

Baltimore
Friday, August 19 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, August 20 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, August 21 ABC 4:30-6 p.m.

Baltimore
Friday, September 2 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, September 3 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, September 11 ABC 4-6 p.m.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Friday, September 16 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, September 17 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, September 18 ESPN2 1-3 p.m.

Road Atlanta
Friday, September 30 ESPN3.com Live Qualifying
Saturday, October 1 ESPN3.com Live Race Coverage
Sunday, October 2 ABC 4-6 p.m.

... notes from The EDJE

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