Hello! For anyone who still comes her looking for random blog posts from me...
you'll won't find them here anymore. I've given up on the mish-mash that is this blog and have started a new one. Any posts from here that I thought were worth reading were copied there (just in case you were wondering).
Here's the link: http://crinderknecht.wordpress.com/
I'll keep this site up a while yet, but I'll probably take it down in a month or so.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Through a Child's Eyes
I didn't want to do it. I get so sick of the hateful speech that goes on around forums about that uncomfortable era. And yet, I also feel like a lot of fans forget that young fans like me had a perspective then, too. The idea for this post originated when I read a blog post by respected blogger, George Phillips at Oilpressure.com on The Lost Years of the Indianapolis 500. As I read, while in complete agreement, I saw the need for a post on these years from my perspective and how the 500 brought us to our present state.
The first 500 I ever watched was in '98. I was a seven-year-old and just getting into open-wheel racing. At that time, though, I was much more concerned about the Coca Cola 600 that would be on that night. Also, watching a race back then meant that I also was probably messing around with legos or tinker toys at the same time and paying minimal attention. Needless to say, all I remember is that Eddie Cheever won. The 1999 race was different; I was excited. Still more of a Nascar fan than an open wheel one, the selling point for this race was that Tony Stewart was doing double duty that day. He finished 9th and 3 laps down in the 500 and 4th in the Coke 600. In 2000, the nearly unthinkable happened: Chip Ganassi's team qualified two cars for the 500. I didn't have a grasp for what that meant when I was a kid. Instead, I was excited that my favorite CART driver at that time was going to be racing: Juan Montoya. Not only did he race, he won. Needless to say, I was happy. 2001 was Helio Castroneves first 500 victory and the first time he climbed the fence.
By 2002, though, something was up. Penske was racing in the IRL. What??? I'd ask my dad questions because he understood the political climate of open-wheel racing. I think he honestly always preferred CART over IRL, but at the core, he was a race fan and would watch whatever went fast. One of my many questions was, "Why did they leave? They missed the 500, didn't they?" Yes, that was it. People could tell you otherwise, but the 500 is the the real deal. It's... the 500 (duh). I had it figured out as an eleven-year-old. The power and lure of the speedway did it. By 2004, most of the CART powerhouse teams were back at the speedway. I would watch races and think to myself, "this kinda looks like the old CART." After that, the rest is history.
To this day, I fail to see how adult people cannot see or comprehend what I did as a child. I wasn't and still am not that intelligent about IndyCar racing when compared to a lot of fans. My technical knowledge is all but non-existent and my memory is limited by my years. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to sort this out and maybe, that's why I could see. A child looks at things simply, sees them as they are, and responds simply. Perhaps that is what we need. The future of Indycar Nation are young adults like me. On forums, I see many of us crying for our predecessors to let go. I've even tried that! It doesn't work. And yet, the child-like perspective sees to the heart of the matter and looks in wonder. As I go forward and continue to grow-up, I hope I take in each and every race with the wonder of a child and see through the ever-present dissension with the clarity of a child's eyes.
______________________________
The first 500 I ever watched was in '98. I was a seven-year-old and just getting into open-wheel racing. At that time, though, I was much more concerned about the Coca Cola 600 that would be on that night. Also, watching a race back then meant that I also was probably messing around with legos or tinker toys at the same time and paying minimal attention. Needless to say, all I remember is that Eddie Cheever won. The 1999 race was different; I was excited. Still more of a Nascar fan than an open wheel one, the selling point for this race was that Tony Stewart was doing double duty that day. He finished 9th and 3 laps down in the 500 and 4th in the Coke 600. In 2000, the nearly unthinkable happened: Chip Ganassi's team qualified two cars for the 500. I didn't have a grasp for what that meant when I was a kid. Instead, I was excited that my favorite CART driver at that time was going to be racing: Juan Montoya. Not only did he race, he won. Needless to say, I was happy. 2001 was Helio Castroneves first 500 victory and the first time he climbed the fence.
By 2002, though, something was up. Penske was racing in the IRL. What??? I'd ask my dad questions because he understood the political climate of open-wheel racing. I think he honestly always preferred CART over IRL, but at the core, he was a race fan and would watch whatever went fast. One of my many questions was, "Why did they leave? They missed the 500, didn't they?" Yes, that was it. People could tell you otherwise, but the 500 is the the real deal. It's... the 500 (duh). I had it figured out as an eleven-year-old. The power and lure of the speedway did it. By 2004, most of the CART powerhouse teams were back at the speedway. I would watch races and think to myself, "this kinda looks like the old CART." After that, the rest is history.
To this day, I fail to see how adult people cannot see or comprehend what I did as a child. I wasn't and still am not that intelligent about IndyCar racing when compared to a lot of fans. My technical knowledge is all but non-existent and my memory is limited by my years. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to sort this out and maybe, that's why I could see. A child looks at things simply, sees them as they are, and responds simply. Perhaps that is what we need. The future of Indycar Nation are young adults like me. On forums, I see many of us crying for our predecessors to let go. I've even tried that! It doesn't work. And yet, the child-like perspective sees to the heart of the matter and looks in wonder. As I go forward and continue to grow-up, I hope I take in each and every race with the wonder of a child and see through the ever-present dissension with the clarity of a child's eyes.
______________________________
Playlist for this post:
1. Ordinary (Rock Version)- Train
2. Handlebars- Flobots
3. Bad Romance- Lady Gaga
4. Lips of an Angel- Hinder
5. Indy 500 practice
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
It's May!!!
And 18 days after it begins, I finally get excited. Granted, I only had finals and my jury (ask if you want more info) before the semester was over, but it's hit me. Really hit me. I have never been this excited about the Indy 500 before. The first one I ever watched was in '98 so it's not like I'm exactly new at this. There's something in the air this year that has me and a lot of other fans buzzing. And I like it. To be honest, we have a lot to be excited about: car count is up, we have new blood among the powers that be, and some storylines are forming. It's great!
What really gives me the buzz, though, is reading firsthand accounts from people that are there. I take in every word knowing that someday, I have to go to a 500. Until that day, I'll just have to get my fill of IndyCars at Iowa which I realize cannot in any way, shape, or form compare to IMS. Anyway, I'm ready to see the potential that this year's race has and celebrate its journey and culmination on race day.
What really gives me the buzz, though, is reading firsthand accounts from people that are there. I take in every word knowing that someday, I have to go to a 500. Until that day, I'll just have to get my fill of IndyCars at Iowa which I realize cannot in any way, shape, or form compare to IMS. Anyway, I'm ready to see the potential that this year's race has and celebrate its journey and culmination on race day.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Common Sense
While perusing the IndyCar Nation fan forums, I came across one of the dime a dozen posts that the point is something like this, "The IRL is dying and not listening to fans. Ovals are what we need. This is an all oval series" and continues on, usually spiraling downward into the depths of incoherence. The one I read tonight was so different. And finally, something in me snapped- and I replied. As I typed, I realized I had to be careful because a forum is not the place for a rant, a blog is!
My answer to the complainers and their rants (that I would never direct at anyone specifically because it's too rude):
1. SHUT UP! After several topics of similar content every two months or so, nobody pays attention anymore. Deal with it. Also, people are less likely to agree with you.
2. Know your facts. If you're set on posting, express your ideas and facts with proper grammar. Misusing words while putting emphasis on them by typing in caps hurts your credibility. There's an edit button for a reason. By demonstrating your knowledge, people have a reason to seriously consider your position.
3. COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAST DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM! Direct quote of what I said on the forum:
My answer to the complainers and their rants (that I would never direct at anyone specifically because it's too rude):
1. SHUT UP! After several topics of similar content every two months or so, nobody pays attention anymore. Deal with it. Also, people are less likely to agree with you.
2. Know your facts. If you're set on posting, express your ideas and facts with proper grammar. Misusing words while putting emphasis on them by typing in caps hurts your credibility. There's an edit button for a reason. By demonstrating your knowledge, people have a reason to seriously consider your position.
3. COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAST DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM! Direct quote of what I said on the forum:
Let it go. Focus on the future, but respect the past. Fans that can't let their fascination with the past go hinder the growth of the future. Focusing on making this series something unique that drivers from all over the world should be the goal. Please, let the younger and new fans enjoy the direction this series is going without tainting it with bitterness... it's getting tiresome.Ever heard of common sense? Remember what worked and use it. Seriously, people.
Monday, March 15, 2010
'Tis the gift to be simple
I had the pleasure of hanging out with many people I hadn't seen in awhile this weekend. I got to spend some quality time with one person, especially, and my encounter with her made me think. A lot. You see, she got me a Christmas present and well, since I'm in college and she's back at high school, we don't see each other often. As a result, she hadn't been able to give it to me yet. Yeah, you're dying to know what is was, right? Okay, probably not. Anyway, it was a framed photograph of us from this fall with foam letters on the top of the frame that spelled "Lover" because that is our silly term of endearment for each other. The thing I learned from this is that the simplest gifts are often the best. No more heart and soul could have gone into that than any elaborate gift. Instead, it was just awesomeness.
So here's what I'm thinking... friendship isn't about all the loud declarations of adoration or taking a bajillion pictures. No, it's about the quiet moments of silence where words don't need to be said, just spending time together and staying that way no matter how far apart you may be.
So here's what I'm thinking... friendship isn't about all the loud declarations of adoration or taking a bajillion pictures. No, it's about the quiet moments of silence where words don't need to be said, just spending time together and staying that way no matter how far apart you may be.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Will It Really Be a New Beginning?
So... Sao Paulo race weekend is next weekend. At this point, I (along with all of you) should be jumping for joy because we'll actually have something to talk about after spending months grasping at straws of conversational topics. There's one hitch in this scenario: I'm not jumping for joy. It's not because I don't have the energy. On the contrary, I rarely lack it. No, dear readers, a legitimate reason exists. As one who follows multiple racing blogs, hangs around on the IndyCar Nation forum, and keeps up with the twittersphere, I have kept tabs over the off-season. Here's my list of reasons to not be excited:
1. Graham Rahal doesn't have a ride. Before I get cyber rotten tomatoes thrown at me for mentioning this again, hear me out. As a fan, I'm incredibly disappointed that he doesn't have a ride. However, I refuse to jump on the bandwagon that blames teams for not picking him up. He did have an offer and decided it wasn't in his best interests. As much as I'd like to see him race, he knows his situation and the climate of the IICS better than we do. Remember, he's on the inside and we're not. Also, I won't join in with the crowd that deems him the savior of the IICS. He's not. I will, however, contend that he is the future because he is young and feasibly has a long racing career in front of him. At this point, I reside in the "let's wait and see what will happen" camp.
Now, for the most pronounced reason. 2. Fans won't let this be a new season. What, you may ask me? Have you lost your mind, Catie? That post-tonal analysis (music theory concept that I'm NOT a fan of) must be impairing your reasoning skills! Well, not quite. Here's the thing: season predictions are made and complaint after complaint about how things were last year surface. You know, the usual, "red cars will dominate again" and "it'll be between two teams again." To be honest, that's a terrible outlook. I don't care whether or not it's true; it's still terrible. Yes, with spec cars, everything is likely to be a repeat performance. If that's how you think, you might as well call this IICS 2009, part 2. Well, it's not. We have new drivers, different rides, many personnel changes, and while the overall outcome might not look too different, a whole new set up possibilities awaits. Consider all the positive announcements that were made over the off-season. Fresh faces are becoming involved in the series, whether as drivers or leadership. Changes like that are exciting. In spite of that, the way fans talk, the IICS is dead and we may as well give up hope that we'll ever be something special. The real problem is that the IndyCar Nation is a very skeptical core fan base. It's knowledgeable in the history of the sport and understands the role politics between owners and the sanctioning body has played in changing the course of the sport.
It's time to let each season grow to its best potential without piling the ghosts of past seasons on it. 2010 is its own season. Sure, the past has its influence and should. I can't say this well, but a quote from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" does. In a bit of advice given to Toula by her brother, Nick, he says, "Don't let the past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become." We have a rich history that should be celebrated (and usually is quite eloquently by George Philips at Oilpressure) and keep things in perspective (with a lot of help and humor courtesy of Roy Hobbson at The Silent Pagoda). At the same time, we need to let the future be itself. The past will continue to be a part of the IICS, but it needs to grow and change too. That's where the fans come in. We tend to hold on to the past so much that we hinder the progress of the future. So cut it out, will ya?
1. Graham Rahal doesn't have a ride. Before I get cyber rotten tomatoes thrown at me for mentioning this again, hear me out. As a fan, I'm incredibly disappointed that he doesn't have a ride. However, I refuse to jump on the bandwagon that blames teams for not picking him up. He did have an offer and decided it wasn't in his best interests. As much as I'd like to see him race, he knows his situation and the climate of the IICS better than we do. Remember, he's on the inside and we're not. Also, I won't join in with the crowd that deems him the savior of the IICS. He's not. I will, however, contend that he is the future because he is young and feasibly has a long racing career in front of him. At this point, I reside in the "let's wait and see what will happen" camp.
Now, for the most pronounced reason. 2. Fans won't let this be a new season. What, you may ask me? Have you lost your mind, Catie? That post-tonal analysis (music theory concept that I'm NOT a fan of) must be impairing your reasoning skills! Well, not quite. Here's the thing: season predictions are made and complaint after complaint about how things were last year surface. You know, the usual, "red cars will dominate again" and "it'll be between two teams again." To be honest, that's a terrible outlook. I don't care whether or not it's true; it's still terrible. Yes, with spec cars, everything is likely to be a repeat performance. If that's how you think, you might as well call this IICS 2009, part 2. Well, it's not. We have new drivers, different rides, many personnel changes, and while the overall outcome might not look too different, a whole new set up possibilities awaits. Consider all the positive announcements that were made over the off-season. Fresh faces are becoming involved in the series, whether as drivers or leadership. Changes like that are exciting. In spite of that, the way fans talk, the IICS is dead and we may as well give up hope that we'll ever be something special. The real problem is that the IndyCar Nation is a very skeptical core fan base. It's knowledgeable in the history of the sport and understands the role politics between owners and the sanctioning body has played in changing the course of the sport.
It's time to let each season grow to its best potential without piling the ghosts of past seasons on it. 2010 is its own season. Sure, the past has its influence and should. I can't say this well, but a quote from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" does. In a bit of advice given to Toula by her brother, Nick, he says, "Don't let the past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become." We have a rich history that should be celebrated (and usually is quite eloquently by George Philips at Oilpressure) and keep things in perspective (with a lot of help and humor courtesy of Roy Hobbson at The Silent Pagoda). At the same time, we need to let the future be itself. The past will continue to be a part of the IICS, but it needs to grow and change too. That's where the fans come in. We tend to hold on to the past so much that we hinder the progress of the future. So cut it out, will ya?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Silence!
So, apparently the Silent Pagoda is getting flack from criticizing the DeltaWing. With all due respect to its creators, Hobbson makes a point, albeit a humorous and rather fantastical point. In typical fashion, Hobbson poked fun at the personalities of the IICS using the medium of the DeltaWing design that all but invites a bit of humor. Do your sense of humor and the Silent Pagoda a favor and leave a comment on the most recent entry. You can do so HERE!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The re-emergence of Danica Mania.
Let the Danica-mania ensue! Or not.
Twitter-sphere was alive and well since, of course, it is race day. Great comments all around from bloggers and fans.
Important news items:
1. Milka was true to form; she managed to race full speed into a smoke cloud, crash, and finish last.
2. Nelson Piquet Jr. will now know the wrath of Nascar nation; he got into Danica.
3. Danica finishes 6th.
4. DW is swooning over Danica.
So, what does all this mean? One thing that surprised me was the feistiness that Danica displayed while racing. I was also surprised by her car control. Do not glean from these comments that I thought poorly of her driving ability previously. You're wrong. Danica has displayed talent before, but never this aggressive style. She did seem to lack a little discipline, but that will be learned.
Steph (@99forever) from planet-IRL.com tweeted this, "Okay, kids.. the end of that was actually pretty good. And you gotta hand it to Danica. She looked good at the end. But what does that mean?" She has a point and a good one at that. There are a couple ways to interpret this. First, indycar skeptics can claim that she hasn't made a display like this in indycars. Point taken. The other point is more relevant, though. Danica achieved a top-10 finish in her first ARCA start. That, readers, is good work. The best thing I see is that she won't be the latest laughing-stock in the string of crossovers. Sure, she hasn't run a Busch, err, Nationwide Series race yet, but this result should shut up the Nascar skeptics for the first few races. Now, if we could get the over-zealous commentators to mention more IICS statistics.
The commentators annoyed the crap out of me. If you didn't know better, you'd think Danica had never driven a car before the way they talked. WRONG! That would be yet another reason I was glad to see that save of hers; DW freaked out because she controlled her car like an indycar driver. Hmm, that's probably because she is one. Who knew?
Recall the Piquet Jr. reference? I have a theory on this one. One indycar fan, Brandon (@bmnehls) had this to say, "Poor Piquet is going to be hated forever now..." He's got it right, you know. Danica is driving for JR, the beloved of Nascar Nation. Combine that with her popularity and plenty of fans will get on the Danica bandwagon. I pity the driver who wrecks her and arouses the wrath of Nascar Nation. Hey look, that former F1 driver, Piquet Jr, wrecked her. That should inspire a bit of fear. If not, just remember that Nascar Nation is much bigger than IndyCar Nation, tends to be much less illogical in its arguments and is just as unforgiving. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. Note to Piquet: Quit now before you piss off anyone else. Just do it.
That's all I've got for now. It hasn't been a surprising day for IndyCar Nation. The way I see it, we got some good publicity today. Thanks, Danica.
Oh wait, one last question: how long do we have to wait for an IndyCar race?
Twitter-sphere was alive and well since, of course, it is race day. Great comments all around from bloggers and fans.
Important news items:
1. Milka was true to form; she managed to race full speed into a smoke cloud, crash, and finish last.
2. Nelson Piquet Jr. will now know the wrath of Nascar nation; he got into Danica.
3. Danica finishes 6th.
4. DW is swooning over Danica.
So, what does all this mean? One thing that surprised me was the feistiness that Danica displayed while racing. I was also surprised by her car control. Do not glean from these comments that I thought poorly of her driving ability previously. You're wrong. Danica has displayed talent before, but never this aggressive style. She did seem to lack a little discipline, but that will be learned.
Steph (@99forever) from planet-IRL.com tweeted this, "Okay, kids.. the end of that was actually pretty good. And you gotta hand it to Danica. She looked good at the end. But what does that mean?" She has a point and a good one at that. There are a couple ways to interpret this. First, indycar skeptics can claim that she hasn't made a display like this in indycars. Point taken. The other point is more relevant, though. Danica achieved a top-10 finish in her first ARCA start. That, readers, is good work. The best thing I see is that she won't be the latest laughing-stock in the string of crossovers. Sure, she hasn't run a Busch, err, Nationwide Series race yet, but this result should shut up the Nascar skeptics for the first few races. Now, if we could get the over-zealous commentators to mention more IICS statistics.
The commentators annoyed the crap out of me. If you didn't know better, you'd think Danica had never driven a car before the way they talked. WRONG! That would be yet another reason I was glad to see that save of hers; DW freaked out because she controlled her car like an indycar driver. Hmm, that's probably because she is one. Who knew?
Recall the Piquet Jr. reference? I have a theory on this one. One indycar fan, Brandon (@bmnehls) had this to say, "Poor Piquet is going to be hated forever now..." He's got it right, you know. Danica is driving for JR, the beloved of Nascar Nation. Combine that with her popularity and plenty of fans will get on the Danica bandwagon. I pity the driver who wrecks her and arouses the wrath of Nascar Nation. Hey look, that former F1 driver, Piquet Jr, wrecked her. That should inspire a bit of fear. If not, just remember that Nascar Nation is much bigger than IndyCar Nation, tends to be much less illogical in its arguments and is just as unforgiving. I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. Note to Piquet: Quit now before you piss off anyone else. Just do it.
That's all I've got for now. It hasn't been a surprising day for IndyCar Nation. The way I see it, we got some good publicity today. Thanks, Danica.
Oh wait, one last question: how long do we have to wait for an IndyCar race?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Change is a good thing.
With a title like that, one would think I was a really bad Lutheran. Ha. :)
The IICS Series world has been turned on its ear since I last blogged. Here's a recap:
1. Tony George stepped down from his remaining official positions. Like him or hate him, this was and will be a big deal. He was a force in the American Open Wheel Racing and had a tremendous impact on it. I don't care where that infamous event from 14 years past hit you... that's a moot point now. He served as a figure-head and has become the scape-goat for the division that deprived young fans like me of growing up with a strong open-wheel racing series of which I could be proud. No, this is not a stab at TG. Rather, think of it as a blunt delivery of uncomfortable facts.
2. Vision Racing suspends operations due to lack of sponsorship. I'll probably catch hell for this, but I wasn't ever a fan of Vision Racing. That being said, I'm saddened that the team and its employees are in this position. You know all those posts and tweets about the letter-writing campaign? Go do it.
3. The IICS has a new CEO. You know, arguing about whether or not he's qualified is rather senseless at this point: he hasn't had time to get anything going yet. Let's do ourselves a favor and pass judgment after he has time to set things in motion. His resume looks good. Besides, the IICS is looking for the casual fan; it seems to me that a CEO that is currently in that category would best understand that fan's mindset.
4. Silly season keeps getting sillier and sillier. Justin Wilson to D&R Racing, Coyne to field two cars, NHL possibly down to one car (with Hideki driving)? What is the world coming to? We don't have long to wait for answers; they'll come with the the season opener. With all these announcements, I have my concerns especially given the fact that I'm a Rahal fan. Let's hang tight, though, until we have our answers.
5. The Dallara concepts are posted. Let the debate ensue. I advocate waiting until we see all options before forming an opinion. Why? I'm not an engineer-y type and as such, I don't know what is best. I'll be cheering anyway.
As I look at this list, there are some big happenings. We've had quite a bit of drama over the course of the offseason. Honestly, I can't wait for the real buzz to begin. All the change has given birth to a heightened sense of anticipation in me. Let's get this party started!
The IICS Series world has been turned on its ear since I last blogged. Here's a recap:
1. Tony George stepped down from his remaining official positions. Like him or hate him, this was and will be a big deal. He was a force in the American Open Wheel Racing and had a tremendous impact on it. I don't care where that infamous event from 14 years past hit you... that's a moot point now. He served as a figure-head and has become the scape-goat for the division that deprived young fans like me of growing up with a strong open-wheel racing series of which I could be proud. No, this is not a stab at TG. Rather, think of it as a blunt delivery of uncomfortable facts.
2. Vision Racing suspends operations due to lack of sponsorship. I'll probably catch hell for this, but I wasn't ever a fan of Vision Racing. That being said, I'm saddened that the team and its employees are in this position. You know all those posts and tweets about the letter-writing campaign? Go do it.
3. The IICS has a new CEO. You know, arguing about whether or not he's qualified is rather senseless at this point: he hasn't had time to get anything going yet. Let's do ourselves a favor and pass judgment after he has time to set things in motion. His resume looks good. Besides, the IICS is looking for the casual fan; it seems to me that a CEO that is currently in that category would best understand that fan's mindset.
4. Silly season keeps getting sillier and sillier. Justin Wilson to D&R Racing, Coyne to field two cars, NHL possibly down to one car (with Hideki driving)? What is the world coming to? We don't have long to wait for answers; they'll come with the the season opener. With all these announcements, I have my concerns especially given the fact that I'm a Rahal fan. Let's hang tight, though, until we have our answers.
5. The Dallara concepts are posted. Let the debate ensue. I advocate waiting until we see all options before forming an opinion. Why? I'm not an engineer-y type and as such, I don't know what is best. I'll be cheering anyway.
As I look at this list, there are some big happenings. We've had quite a bit of drama over the course of the offseason. Honestly, I can't wait for the real buzz to begin. All the change has given birth to a heightened sense of anticipation in me. Let's get this party started!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Not again...
Scott did it AGAIN! This time, the line was, "you are the caretaker of the music." Damn it, Scott, why did you have to make me think RIGHT NOW?!?!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Affects of social media on fan perception of drivers
As I was pondering what to write about, I started listing off the possibilities in my head. My train of thought went like this:
1) favorite drivers
2) what about them
a) skills
b) how they conduct themselves
3) why do I care about how they conduct themselves
4) effects of social media on fan's perception of drivers
5) wow, that could be a blog entry possibly worth reading
6) my list looks like a rough outline for a paper.
I feel that it's safe to make the assumption that most fans have a favorite or few favorite drivers they cheer for. (If this is not the case, I EXPECT a crap-ton of comments telling me that so I won't make a faulty generalization about that again.) My favorite happens to be Graham Rahal. I can't tell you how that started, although I think it had something to do with him being young and showing some promise. What can I say, I was a 17 year-old girl. :) However, I didn't really toss all my "fan-eggs," to coin a new term, into his basket until the Indy 500 last year. Since then, I've been hooked. I've watched his progress and, thanks to the internet, gobbled up every bit of info about him that I can. Before anyone informs me that I am slightly obsessive, I'd like to pose this question: isn't that what being a fan is about? Think about it.
When I pause to think about why I'm a fan of Graham, I come up with a few reasons.
As I look over this list, the definitive things are 2 and 3. A thought occurred to me: since when has all this other crap become important? I mean, why am I even considering something other than skill? Why do I care how a driver conducts himself/herself? Dear possibly non-existent readers, I believe social media has brought about this change. Before youtube, facebook, twitter, or fan forums existed, fans had to either rely on word of mouth, driver interviews, or meet a driver in order to know what they were like. Social media has altered our perceptions of drivers. Without all of this media at my fingertips, I wouldn't have reason 3 on my list. Also, reason 2 would be far more limited.
Due to social media, fandom is changing just as our perception of drivers is changing. Greedily, fans search for whatever they can find out about their drivers. Why? For me, it's so I can gain a better understanding of who they are as people. I want to know that the guys and gals who drive those cars are real; I want to know that they're just like me. In the age of social media, we do know these things. These drivers aren't just drivers; they're real people too! When they're perceived as people, they are judged as people as well.
Since we have access to drivers' lives due to social media, it opens the door for criticism or praise of how they conduct themselves. This concept is clearly seen in fan forums. On the Indycar Nation forum, Marco Andretti is NOT a favorite. If you search for Marco, I guarantee you will find more negative posts about him than positive ones. Searching more carefully, you'll find that some negative posts come from people who used to be his fans but are now put off by his attitude (I fit in this category). Now tell me that social media hasn't changed driver perceptions...
Note: I hope this opens up some discussion. Probably won't since nobody comments this, but I can dream, right?
1) favorite drivers
2) what about them
a) skills
b) how they conduct themselves
3) why do I care about how they conduct themselves
4) effects of social media on fan's perception of drivers
5) wow, that could be a blog entry possibly worth reading
6) my list looks like a rough outline for a paper.
I feel that it's safe to make the assumption that most fans have a favorite or few favorite drivers they cheer for. (If this is not the case, I EXPECT a crap-ton of comments telling me that so I won't make a faulty generalization about that again.) My favorite happens to be Graham Rahal. I can't tell you how that started, although I think it had something to do with him being young and showing some promise. What can I say, I was a 17 year-old girl. :) However, I didn't really toss all my "fan-eggs," to coin a new term, into his basket until the Indy 500 last year. Since then, I've been hooked. I've watched his progress and, thanks to the internet, gobbled up every bit of info about him that I can. Before anyone informs me that I am slightly obsessive, I'd like to pose this question: isn't that what being a fan is about? Think about it.
When I pause to think about why I'm a fan of Graham, I come up with a few reasons.
- He has the skill. As evidenced by his improvement on ovals and overall consistency, he is honing his craft.
- He makes you want to cheer for him because he's not Marco. He's not a whiny brat who relies on daddy to give him a ride. Also, he takes responsibility for his actions.
- Watch this, especially 3-4 minute mark. When I saw this, my respect was gained.
As I look over this list, the definitive things are 2 and 3. A thought occurred to me: since when has all this other crap become important? I mean, why am I even considering something other than skill? Why do I care how a driver conducts himself/herself? Dear possibly non-existent readers, I believe social media has brought about this change. Before youtube, facebook, twitter, or fan forums existed, fans had to either rely on word of mouth, driver interviews, or meet a driver in order to know what they were like. Social media has altered our perceptions of drivers. Without all of this media at my fingertips, I wouldn't have reason 3 on my list. Also, reason 2 would be far more limited.
Due to social media, fandom is changing just as our perception of drivers is changing. Greedily, fans search for whatever they can find out about their drivers. Why? For me, it's so I can gain a better understanding of who they are as people. I want to know that the guys and gals who drive those cars are real; I want to know that they're just like me. In the age of social media, we do know these things. These drivers aren't just drivers; they're real people too! When they're perceived as people, they are judged as people as well.
Since we have access to drivers' lives due to social media, it opens the door for criticism or praise of how they conduct themselves. This concept is clearly seen in fan forums. On the Indycar Nation forum, Marco Andretti is NOT a favorite. If you search for Marco, I guarantee you will find more negative posts about him than positive ones. Searching more carefully, you'll find that some negative posts come from people who used to be his fans but are now put off by his attitude (I fit in this category). Now tell me that social media hasn't changed driver perceptions...
Note: I hope this opens up some discussion. Probably won't since nobody comments this, but I can dream, right?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
IICS Fans and Dichotomous Thought
Hey soon to be readers. This will be my first of many rants. For those unfamiliar with me when I rant (which will be nearly all of you), I tend to come up with irrational ideas and then rationally argue against them while still clinging to the irrational. This amuses my boyfriend to no end. Hopefully this one doesn't end up like that. Here goes.
I was perusing the IndyCar Nation forum today as I do every day and read the new posts on the topics that interest me. One topic, that was originally was about car numbers, has been hijacked into a driver vs. team slugfest. You can read the whole thing here (page 1 is irrelevant unless you really do want to read about car numbers).
For awhile, this was rather relevant: car numbers are an easy way to recognize drivers and since drivers change teams often, this can produce a problem regarding recognition and fan-gear (I think that's another blog, though). However, when the "casual" fan vs. "hardcore" fan was brought into the mix, it made me pause a moment. Based on one poster's definition, I am only a "casual" fan because I think of drivers more than the teams. Wait, what?
Here's the problem with that theory: it is dichotomous in nature. The concept of a "fan" is not dichotomous. I offer myself as an example; I'm pretty sure I don't fit the mold of a "casual" fan.
1. I've actually been to more than one race and more than one track.
2. I post on the forum frequently.
3. Check out my blogroll. There are many racing blogs there: I read them and sometimes comment.
4. I've been watching races on TV or online since '98(first CART, then CART/IRL, then IRL, then ICS, finally IICS) when I was just a kid.
5. When I go to any kind of car race, I take lap times on my cell phone.
6. I'm blogging about it (!!!).
Where do people like me fit into this picture? I know I'm not a gearhead or anything like that, but I can tell you who drives what for whom and in some cases, who drivers have driven for in the past. Ex: Before driving for AGR (now AA), Tony Kanaan drove for Mo Nunn Racing and Tasman Racing. The "casual" fan just gave me a crazy look and said, "Who cares?" That's my point, though; a "casual" fan wouldn't understand why that is important.
I'm willing to wager that I'm not the only fan that has followed open-wheel racing for awhile that fits into this middle-of-the-road category. So, open up your minds a bit and break out of this dichotomy. Figure out where you fit in the mix. If you care to, leave a comment with where you think you fit.
I was perusing the IndyCar Nation forum today as I do every day and read the new posts on the topics that interest me. One topic, that was originally was about car numbers, has been hijacked into a driver vs. team slugfest. You can read the whole thing here (page 1 is irrelevant unless you really do want to read about car numbers).
For awhile, this was rather relevant: car numbers are an easy way to recognize drivers and since drivers change teams often, this can produce a problem regarding recognition and fan-gear (I think that's another blog, though). However, when the "casual" fan vs. "hardcore" fan was brought into the mix, it made me pause a moment. Based on one poster's definition, I am only a "casual" fan because I think of drivers more than the teams. Wait, what?
Here's the problem with that theory: it is dichotomous in nature. The concept of a "fan" is not dichotomous. I offer myself as an example; I'm pretty sure I don't fit the mold of a "casual" fan.
1. I've actually been to more than one race and more than one track.
2. I post on the forum frequently.
3. Check out my blogroll. There are many racing blogs there: I read them and sometimes comment.
4. I've been watching races on TV or online since '98(first CART, then CART/IRL, then IRL, then ICS, finally IICS) when I was just a kid.
5. When I go to any kind of car race, I take lap times on my cell phone.
6. I'm blogging about it (!!!).
Where do people like me fit into this picture? I know I'm not a gearhead or anything like that, but I can tell you who drives what for whom and in some cases, who drivers have driven for in the past. Ex: Before driving for AGR (now AA), Tony Kanaan drove for Mo Nunn Racing and Tasman Racing. The "casual" fan just gave me a crazy look and said, "Who cares?" That's my point, though; a "casual" fan wouldn't understand why that is important.
I'm willing to wager that I'm not the only fan that has followed open-wheel racing for awhile that fits into this middle-of-the-road category. So, open up your minds a bit and break out of this dichotomy. Figure out where you fit in the mix. If you care to, leave a comment with where you think you fit.
A thought (or two)
Just like the title indicates, I've been toying with a few ideas. First, I don't really get too personal (exact location, minute by minute account of my day, etc.) on here because
1) that's rather ridiculous
2) I don't want to be stalked
3) I think Jenni's the only one who reads this and she can call me if she really wants the whole story
4) I keep a journal. You know, that book with the blank pages in it where you write stuff.
5) There's probably something else that I can think of later...
Basically, I'm fishing for ideas about stuff to write because I like the idea of expressing myself, but want to shy away from becoming stalker material. What to do? Here's my thought: write about things that interest me. I've established that I'm a music nerd and into indy car racing. (Lost yet? No? Good.) It occurred to me that I could blog about a bunch of indy car and/or music related crap. Thing is, regarding indy car crap, I don't have much to say that isn't said by any other of the many fantastic indy car bloggers. I suppose I have a unique perspective because I'm a female college student, but there are female bloggers out there. Not so unique, I guess. Would anybody actually read my ramblings?
Hmm... musically, I could go crazy and come up with things to write about easily. Music has always been my passion and I am versed in it to write about it well enough.
So, what do you think? Yes? No? Maybe so? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks!
1) that's rather ridiculous
2) I don't want to be stalked
3) I think Jenni's the only one who reads this and she can call me if she really wants the whole story
4) I keep a journal. You know, that book with the blank pages in it where you write stuff.
5) There's probably something else that I can think of later...
Basically, I'm fishing for ideas about stuff to write because I like the idea of expressing myself, but want to shy away from becoming stalker material. What to do? Here's my thought: write about things that interest me. I've established that I'm a music nerd and into indy car racing. (Lost yet? No? Good.) It occurred to me that I could blog about a bunch of indy car and/or music related crap. Thing is, regarding indy car crap, I don't have much to say that isn't said by any other of the many fantastic indy car bloggers. I suppose I have a unique perspective because I'm a female college student, but there are female bloggers out there. Not so unique, I guess. Would anybody actually read my ramblings?
Hmm... musically, I could go crazy and come up with things to write about easily. Music has always been my passion and I am versed in it to write about it well enough.
So, what do you think? Yes? No? Maybe so? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
MLIA
Some especially funny ones I read.
A while ago, I went to see a play based on Monty Python. There was a very intense, suspenseful moment in it. I sneezed. One of the actors turned to me, said, "Bless you", and continued on as if nothing had happened. I now have tickets for their next show, too. MLIA
Today I couldn't remember a word but I knew the definition. I wish there was a backwards dictionary. MLIA
Today, My mom was making a breastplate for her sunday school class to show the "armour of God" She had been looking for about 5 minutes for her armour when she finally gets frustrated and yells: "Where's my breastplate." without hesitating, my brother answers: "I think you call that a bra mom." I love my brother. MLIA
Today, I was driving and I saw a sign that said "DON'T TURN LEFT!". Feeling like a rebel I decided to turn left. There were people dressed as ninja's on the road. I completely regretted disregarding that sign. MLIA
courtesy of mylifeisaverage.com
A while ago, I went to see a play based on Monty Python. There was a very intense, suspenseful moment in it. I sneezed. One of the actors turned to me, said, "Bless you", and continued on as if nothing had happened. I now have tickets for their next show, too. MLIA
Today I couldn't remember a word but I knew the definition. I wish there was a backwards dictionary. MLIA
Today, My mom was making a breastplate for her sunday school class to show the "armour of God" She had been looking for about 5 minutes for her armour when she finally gets frustrated and yells: "Where's my breastplate." without hesitating, my brother answers: "I think you call that a bra mom." I love my brother. MLIA
Today, I was driving and I saw a sign that said "DON'T TURN LEFT!". Feeling like a rebel I decided to turn left. There were people dressed as ninja's on the road. I completely regretted disregarding that sign. MLIA
courtesy of mylifeisaverage.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Nostalgia at its finest.
Nostalgia- noun, wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.
I have realized that I am prone to nostalgia and have embraced that fact many times over. However, it is becoming more apparent to me as break continues.
Here's why:
1. I love classic movies
2. I'm swooning over dead attractive actors (Jimmy Stewart, Fred MacMurray, Guy Williams, etc)
3. I found episodes of Disney's "Zorro" on youtube- which I watched reruns of as a child.
4. I've hung out with friends I've known since preschool and we've had so much fun reminiscing about our sleepovers we had about 5-6 years ago.
I should be disturbed by this. Really, it's almost as if I'm clinging to my past when life was simpler. But, I'm not (disturbed by, that is). Our past is so important because it has so much power over our lives. I see this every day in my actions.
So, I'll close with this quote from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"- " Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become." That is my prayer today and always.
Here's why:
1. I love classic movies
2. I'm swooning over dead attractive actors (Jimmy Stewart, Fred MacMurray, Guy Williams, etc)
3. I found episodes of Disney's "Zorro" on youtube- which I watched reruns of as a child.
4. I've hung out with friends I've known since preschool and we've had so much fun reminiscing about our sleepovers we had about 5-6 years ago.
I should be disturbed by this. Really, it's almost as if I'm clinging to my past when life was simpler. But, I'm not (disturbed by, that is). Our past is so important because it has so much power over our lives. I see this every day in my actions.
So, I'll close with this quote from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"- " Don't let your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become." That is my prayer today and always.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year
It's been awhile since I've had something blog-worthy to write (type) here. I wrote in my journal to bring in the New Year. An hour or so of soul-searching later, I was asleep. So, not that I'm back... did you miss me? Ha. :)
I miss being at school. I miss the freedom of only needing to answer to myself. I miss lots of things like that.
I might have more later.
I miss being at school. I miss the freedom of only needing to answer to myself. I miss lots of things like that.
I might have more later.
Friday, December 11, 2009
My mood...
And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
'Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
And you bleed just to know you're alive
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
(break and solo)
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
Crying
I'm this close to crying... and all I want to do is play Bach and to be in "heaven on earth."
It's not happening...
And I'm fighting it again. I'm holding back these stupid tears. Sometimes, I'm an idiot...
It's not happening...
And I'm fighting it again. I'm holding back these stupid tears. Sometimes, I'm an idiot...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
My Favorite Things...
I just realized how much I'm craving puppy chow. It's rather odd, I know. However, it also amuses me. I guess it's the combination of chocolate and peanut butter in something other than a Peanut Butter Cup. Hmm. Yum.
Once again, I ramble about something unimportant. Well... I have to someplace... right?
Once again, I ramble about something unimportant. Well... I have to someplace... right?
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