Props to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway--one of the sporting world's oldest institutions embracing something as newfangled as the Social Media Garage.
What the hell is it? Why, I'm glad you asked. Full deets can be found on the official Social Media Garage web page, but here's the gist: Located just south of the IMS Pagoda, in the Formula 1 garages, it's a place for fans (read: you) to connect with other like-minded peeps; participate in interactive Facebook, Twitter, and SMS contests; get exclusive access to driver interviews; and much, much more.
Hey, one other note: it's FREE--and an absolute must if you're on the IMS grounds virtually anytime during the qualifying and race weekends. Look at it this way. No need to wait for a tweetup to pop up--there's always one happening in the Social Media Garage!
By the way: If it's an enticement, we'll be there! Along with a gaggle of other fine gents that blog it up for the love of the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Shout-out to them here: Eric Hall (@Erock_in_Indy anotherindycarblog.com)...Zachary Houghton (@indycaradvocate indycaradvocate.com)...Mike Knapp (@15daysinmay 15daysinmay.com)...Mark Wilkinson (@NewTrackRecord newtrackrecord.com).
Special thanks to IMS and the SMG Crew for the invite to participate--a surprise and sincere honor.
Right. What to do next: Hit up the SMG link at the top of our homepage, tune up the smartphone, and head out to the greatest race course on the planet, early and often.
See you in the Social Media Garage!
--Chris
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
I'm not who you think I am!
I'll make this short. I've been living a lie. A lie in name only, I suppose, but a lie, nonetheless.
See, when I dove blindly into the Twitter/blog thing, I fancied the idea of using a pseudonym to keep my identity concealed from my current and any future employers.
Call it old school, but I just didn't want The Man judging me on something I might say outside my cozy cube, so "Johnny Montona" was born.
Ruh-roh, problem. Fact is, I NEVER expected to meet anyone, non-digitally, as a result of being on the blog or Twitter—but I did. Even though I would give them my actual first name, it just felt awkward. And the more peeps I interacted with, the goofier it got.
Time to come clean. And, BTW, it's not like I just drew a name out of a hat—I actually thought about it. "Johnny" was my grandfather's moniker—he, along with my father, took me to Indy "Time Trials" for the very first time—and "Montona" just happens to be the hometown of one Mario Andretti. I digress.
I'm still not comfortable coughing up my whole identity, so all you're going to get is my first name. Ready? Are you sure? Super sure? Okay-----------> "Chris."
A little disappointing, maybe, that it's not something exotic like "Eduardo," but it is what it is.
K. It's done. Movin' on. And, BTW, if any of you feel "cheated," first of all you can SUCK IT. Second, you're entitled to a full refund! :P
Glad we could have this time together, friends.
—Chris
See, when I dove blindly into the Twitter/blog thing, I fancied the idea of using a pseudonym to keep my identity concealed from my current and any future employers.
Call it old school, but I just didn't want The Man judging me on something I might say outside my cozy cube, so "Johnny Montona" was born.
Ruh-roh, problem. Fact is, I NEVER expected to meet anyone, non-digitally, as a result of being on the blog or Twitter—but I did. Even though I would give them my actual first name, it just felt awkward. And the more peeps I interacted with, the goofier it got.
Time to come clean. And, BTW, it's not like I just drew a name out of a hat—I actually thought about it. "Johnny" was my grandfather's moniker—he, along with my father, took me to Indy "Time Trials" for the very first time—and "Montona" just happens to be the hometown of one Mario Andretti. I digress.
I'm still not comfortable coughing up my whole identity, so all you're going to get is my first name. Ready? Are you sure? Super sure? Okay-----------> "Chris."
A little disappointing, maybe, that it's not something exotic like "Eduardo," but it is what it is.
K. It's done. Movin' on. And, BTW, if any of you feel "cheated," first of all you can SUCK IT. Second, you're entitled to a full refund! :P
Glad we could have this time together, friends.
—Chris
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Graham Gives Back
Graham Rahal loves IndyCar. A statement of the obvious? Maybe, but he goes out of his way to show it. Take this little bus trip to The Milwaukee Mile he and his main squeeze (my words), the lovely and talented Laken Kurtz (@LakenKurtz), helped organize, for example.
He didn't have to do it, but he loves American open-wheel racing and The Mile, so why not? Take issue with what Graham (@GrahamRahal) does on the track or for his preference of caffeinated beverage, but you can't knock him for the good he does in his spare time. Did I mention he has a foundation that benefits children (www.grahamrahalfoundation.org and @GR_Foundation, for those keeping score)?
Check the deets, below, for the bus trip and, BTW: Communing with your fellow fans not your thing? Milwaukee IndyFest has lots of other ridiculously awesome (and inexpensive, relatively speaking) ways to attend. Get the complete skinny here.
—JM
[Milwaukee IndyFest press release]
Graham Rahal Offers Bus Trips to Milwaukee IndyFest
-- Fans Can Now Order Marcus Club Passes --
|
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
No, it's not May yet, but...
...there's a little somethin'-somethin' going on tomorrow that may just help satisfy that fevah.
What was originally scheduled to be a manufacturers-only test has transformed into a (semi-) full-on assault on the IMS oval.
Nine teams/drivers and two manufacturers (let's not go there) are scheduled to lap the world's greatest race course. Breakin' it down: Marco (Andretti/Chevy), Carpenter (ECR/Chevy), Helio (Penske/Chevy), Conway (Foyt/Honda), Dixie (TCGR/Honda), Hildebrand (Panther/Chevy), Kanaan (KV/Chevy), Sato (RLL/Honda), Wilson (Coyne/Honda).
By the way, rookies: NO IMS TESTING FOR YOU. Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden will be testing, separately, at Texas Motor Speedway, this week.
The IndyCar Twitter account popped this out, earlier today, so it's not like you don't have an official invite.
Hang on... "Yellow for moisture!" A few question marks about the weather, so if it's a concern to you, you can check it here.
Testing is from 9–5, with an hour lunch break at noon. Tell The Man to SUCK IT, and get there, if you can.
—JM
What was originally scheduled to be a manufacturers-only test has transformed into a (semi-) full-on assault on the IMS oval.
Nine teams/drivers and two manufacturers (let's not go there) are scheduled to lap the world's greatest race course. Breakin' it down: Marco (Andretti/Chevy), Carpenter (ECR/Chevy), Helio (Penske/Chevy), Conway (Foyt/Honda), Dixie (TCGR/Honda), Hildebrand (Panther/Chevy), Kanaan (KV/Chevy), Sato (RLL/Honda), Wilson (Coyne/Honda).
By the way, rookies: NO IMS TESTING FOR YOU. Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden will be testing, separately, at Texas Motor Speedway, this week.
The IndyCar Twitter account popped this out, earlier today, so it's not like you don't have an official invite.
Hang on... "Yellow for moisture!" A few question marks about the weather, so if it's a concern to you, you can check it here.
Testing is from 9–5, with an hour lunch break at noon. Tell The Man to SUCK IT, and get there, if you can.
—JM
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