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Old 21 Dec 2009, 22:18 (Ref:2603427)   #1
mountainstar
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Excellent G. Kirby interview with Tony Cicale

http://gordonkirby.com/categories/co..._is_no215.html

Nice long interview with Tony Cicale.

A few excerpts:

"It doesn't even come close today," Cicale remarks. "I try to watch the IRL races and I can't. They're just so terrible. I watched the races this year, but I can't think of one that stood out as an even acceptable race. It has very little meaning to me, which is sad. From the start I thought the whole IRL business was ridiculous and it's very sad to see the results of all that power squabbling and politics. It was a dreadful period for racing."

George's failures were brought into sharp focus in 2009 as only five Americans raced Indy cars on a regular basis this past year--Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Ed Carpenter. And for the first time in the sport's hundred-year history not a single American driver won an Indy car race!

"It's sad for the people who've been through it," Cicale observes. "It's sad for me because you look back and you always think there is some importance in what you do. There probably isn't anywhere near as much importance as you would like there to be. But ultimately, you would like to say, I was part of that and it was important at the time. Had it grown to something that was good and sustainable then you would have felt that the time and effort that you put in was of importance and had value, that you weren't just wasting your time for ten, fifteen or twenty years doing this thing that just benefitted you and nobody else.

"If it had continued on and grown and been important to a large number of people and become a big part of the economy, what you did ten and fifteen and twenty years ago would hold a little more reverance. But because it turned out the way it has, I almost feel it was a waste of time to get involved in it."


Kind of echos a lot of my feelings, ones of sadness and disappointment and disillusionment.
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Old 22 Dec 2009, 02:51 (Ref:2603505)   #2
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Cicale could see the air. I got a glimpse of some of his work as he honed the VDS cars, and saw the development techniques he had employed when I worked on the ex-Brabham Lola. Way over my head, but I have company.

What became of his F1 forray?

Kirby is one of the few writers who gets the firsthand info and knows how to use it. Pruett is good, and there was a guy writing occasionally for HRD named Dan _____ who also uses actual fact to form well-reasoned positions. The rest are schoolyard blabbers.

Nice to read Mario's thoughts on the missed opportunity of the Izod announcement: ICS had one big chance to make a big splash during the off-season, and they squandered it. The suggestions I wrote a month in advance to maximize the publicity were dismissed by a PR industry professional as "stupid". I guess that puts me on the fringe of Mario's company once again.

If this deal is going to get straightened out, it's going to be done by people who have previously not had a public voice. Cicale is one example of a Godfather who could make this mob work.
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Old 22 Dec 2009, 04:10 (Ref:2603518)   #3
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If this deal is going to get straightened out, it's going to be done by people who have previously not had a public voice. Cicale is one example of a Godfather who could make this mob work.
I think as people move on and disillusionment turns to disinterest, as it appears to have with Cicale, then you have less and less of a chance of anyone trying to make a difference.

Probably it has reached a point it has to die completely to live again.
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Old 22 Dec 2009, 05:57 (Ref:2603541)   #4
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I actually agree with you Moutainstar. I think that the Indycar brand is so damaged right not that it needs to die and for something to be launched with a lot of fanfare and glitter...even if it is the same teams, tracks and drivers.

It was a great article - Kirby is certainly one of the best writers out there
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Old 23 Dec 2009, 01:18 (Ref:2603971)   #5
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Nice to read Mario's thoughts on the missed opportunity of the Izod announcement: ICS had one big chance to make a big splash during the off-season, and they squandered it. The suggestions I wrote a month in advance to maximize the publicity were dismissed by a PR industry professional as "stupid". I guess that puts me on the fringe of Mario's company once again.
Exactly where does Mario say in there that they should have;

1. Announced the new Andretti Autosport
2. Announced a new contract with Danica
3. Announced IZOD as the Title Sponsor
4. Announced the Sao Paolo race to open the season
5. etc.
6. etc.
7. etc.

All at one event...

The story in that cluster bombing of the media would have been
"Danica signed with Andretti, But What about NASCAR?"

and everything else would have fallen into a black hole.

The JR Motorsports partial deal was announced after her AA signing...

Ask Kevin Kalkhoven...They did 8 "major" announcements at Laguna Seca in "Spring Training" with the "New DP01" in the hands of their teams and the Headline on the AP wire story was:

"Graham Rahal Still Not Signed By Newman-Haas, But Lanigan Kicks into the Kitty"

Vanna White needs to sell you a clue...sorry..That's attacking the poster...and I'm a mod..But it is true...

Let me rephrase...

IZOD would have gotten little, if anything from the multiple announcement...maybe a sentence...at least they got some items of significance on motorsports racing sites where people care about racing

Mazda got hosed in a major commitment to Champ Car in that "Media Event," when they ponied up millions...a phrase at the end of the AP story...not even a sentence.

My beef with the IZOD announcement was that they should have given estimated or real $$$ amounts...If the deal is 6 years at $10-$15 million per year, that is a headline

"IZOD spends up to $105 Million to become Title Sponsor of IndyCar"

That would at least hit the business pages...

That's my take on it, and my experience backs it up...

You have ideas, but no background in what I do...

Hang onto your thoughts...Thinking outside of the box is not a bad thing...except for in what you suggested in that particular instance, because it would have failed.

I've seen others do it...and the result has always been the same...

Other ideas you have presented are good ones...Keep them coming...

FWIW
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Old 23 Dec 2009, 03:37 (Ref:2604004)   #6
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And that is the problem with all the fringe motorsports - ie anything outside of F1, Nascar or MotoGP. No one in broadcast media or printed media, who is not a specialised outlet cares? And why would they - there is plenty to take up their space as it is.

I hope they have a solid strategic communications plan over the next five years to build on the IZOD and Versus $$$ - or at the end of their deals, no one will care again. Plus lets hope that some companies (ie IZOD) start cashing in on their association with some real promotion outside the sponsorship - like 10 years ago, when the sport was big.

I don't know how you do it - get in cosy with the big media moguls I suppose - but that is easier said then done.
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Old 23 Dec 2009, 04:53 (Ref:2604014)   #7
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And that is the problem with all the fringe motorsports - ie anything outside of F1, Nascar or MotoGP. No one in broadcast media or printed media, who is not a specialised outlet cares? And why would they - there is plenty to take up their space as it is.

I hope they have a solid strategic communications plan over the next five years to build on the IZOD and Versus $$$ - or at the end of their deals, no one will care again. Plus lets hope that some companies (ie IZOD) start cashing in on their association with some real promotion outside the sponsorship - like 10 years ago, when the sport was big.

I don't know how you do it - get in cosy with the big media moguls I suppose - but that is easier said then done.
I remember in business school learning about "the downward spiral", in that you would lose ground here, there, little bit here and eventually it all contributed to a fall to the bottom, one which was tough to get out of. The irl is pretty much there.

There are almost no journalists left covering the irl and almost no one watching, so no one does care.

I was watching an old Mclaren Formula 1 documentary last night and I have never seen such self important people in my life, not the mechanics but the PR people. I don't think 99.5% of people care about all the minutae about some widget that failed on lap 32 or what Senna thought about the mid range power on the Cosworth. And that's Formula 1. Imagine the irl and with that almost no one in the general public even knows what indycar racing is anymore, much less name a driver other than danica.

What it comes down to is the product and the product sucks big time. Right now it's a matter of turd polishing, which never works well.
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Old 23 Dec 2009, 05:02 (Ref:2604015)   #8
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Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt View Post

The story in that cluster bombing of the media would have been
"Danica signed with Andretti, But What about NASCAR?"

and everything else would have fallen into a black hole.

The JR Motorsports partial deal was announced after her AA signing...

Ask Kevin Kalkhoven...They did 8 "major" announcements at Laguna Seca in "Spring Training" with the "New DP01" in the hands of their teams and the Headline on the AP wire story was:

"Graham Rahal Still Not Signed By Newman-Haas, But Lanigan Kicks into the Kitty"

Vanna White needs to sell you a clue...sorry..That's attacking the poster...and I'm a mod..But it is true...

Let me rephrase...

IZOD would have gotten little, if anything from the multiple announcement...maybe a sentence...at least they got some items of significance on motorsports racing sites where people care about racing

Mazda got hosed in a major commitment to Champ Car in that "Media Event," when they ponied up millions...a phrase at the end of the AP story...not even a sentence.

My beef with the IZOD announcement was that they should have given estimated or real $$$ amounts...If the deal is 6 years at $10-$15 million per year, that is a headline

"IZOD spends up to $105 Million to become Title Sponsor of IndyCar"

That would at least hit the business pages...
Tim, I am disappointed with you attacking the poster and not the post.

For starters when it came down to it, it was Izod's moment and if I was in PR I wouldn't be letting all these other clowns in to make all their announcements.

There was no "spends up to $105 mil" remark because I don't believe the deal is anywhere near that and from what I heard what money will be spent, quite a bit of it is a big buy of tv commercials on irl broadcasts at discounted rates. Much the same it was with Mazda and Champcar, mostly just a buy of tv time with some added fluff and puff.
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Old 23 Dec 2009, 16:19 (Ref:2604271)   #9
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From what I understood of the deal, it is 6 years with an option to extend one year ad is in the range of $10-$15 million per year.

I used the $105 million by including the one year option, since that would qualify as "up to"
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Old 31 Dec 2009, 18:30 (Ref:2606873)   #10
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That's an exellent article, reiterating what may people have been saying about US open wheel racing here on this forum; how it was and how it is now and at least it comes from someone with Gordon Kirby's authority. I hope Tony George has taken notice.
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Old 4 Jan 2010, 20:43 (Ref:2608143)   #11
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Cicale should feel sad about it. Indycar is dead, IMS and USAC killed it. It really needs to die and be reborn.
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Old 5 Jan 2010, 11:44 (Ref:2608375)   #12
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This new car would have to be something very special indeed for anyone to pay attention to open wheel racing in the US again. I think they should can the whole series and focus on the Indy 500. At least it gets decent TV figures and crowds.
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Old 6 Jan 2010, 16:20 (Ref:2608962)   #13
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I'll just say it straight up. One race a year is NOT enough for me to get my American Open Wheel fix, and no, I'm just not that big into the dirt-trackers, sorry.

Besides, it is UNACCEPTABLE for the only major series that runs at Watkins Glen or Sears Point to be NASCAR. And while we're at it, get Lannigan busy on Cleveland and some going on Elkhart Lake.

If as many people as you say have forgotten about Indy Car, then it's only a damaged brand within this small fraternity, which means presenting a good product now could reintroduce a lot of people as if it was new. That seems like a pretty good opportunity right there.
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Old 12 Jan 2010, 13:15 (Ref:2612155)   #14
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Nothing will ever improve if they insist on introducing a single spec chassis.
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Old 12 Jan 2010, 15:47 (Ref:2612229)   #15
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Nothing will ever improve if they insist on introducing a single spec chassis.
I totally agree and in that respect it is a shame Panoz didn't make a bit more effort and make their car more competative, the IRL might not have been so quick to designate the Dallara as the official chassis.
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