Backmarker Blog
Backmarker Blog
Moving on after Randy Bernard
I copied the below from an exchange that I was involved in on trackforum.com
SilverCrown wrote: Maybe the next CEO, after Belskus, should do away with driver autograph sessions and bring out 26 executives. Reading TF the last few days can only make one think the suits are a bigger draw than the drivers.
I wrote:
I'm with you. I was a fan of Randy Bernard and was excited about many of his ideas. I was upset on Sunday evening when I found out the news. But after having a few days to digest it, I am realizing that the sky is not falling. I am also realizing after reading Marshall Pruett's articles that frankly there is probably some blame to point both ways on what lead to this and how it went down.
Anyhow, I am a fan of the drivers and the on-track action. That is what I go to to tracks for. I can look at starting grids from past races for hours. However I get no pleasure from studying organizational charts. I actually agreed with Jeff Belskus's open letter to the fans.
From Belskus:
"We watch the racing for the racing. We do not want it to be about off-track politics. It is my job and the job of teams, drivers, owners and others in the INDYCAR community to use our energies to get the focus on our racing.
We watch racing because of our drivers and the on-track action, and this year the action and excitement were plentiful."
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I am a long time fan and I attended my first race 30 years ago as a 12 year old. I've been hooked ever since. I was a teenager during the glory years in the 1980's. I could tell you everything about Al Unser Sr and Jr, Rick Mears, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Rahal and Tom Sneva, but I had no clue who was the CEO of CART and/or USAC (well until the split after the 1995 season)
Based on people's reactions to what has happened now, I must have been going about my fanhood wrong in the 80's. I should have been studying organizational charts and marketing plans instead of wasting my time looking through the fences trying to catch a glimpse of my racing heroes.
Indycar is a passion and hobby of mine. I'll focus on the drivers and on-track action. Right now, I'm pleased with both. The other stuff reminds me too much of my job, and I use Indycar to take my mind off work not remind me of it.
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That ends the exchange on trackforum, but I thought I’d expand on it a little more on the blog.
Now I understand that as fans, we have seen and experienced the damage that the split did to our beloved sport. I think as hardcore fans, we are hypersensitive and desire to see Indycar return to it’s glory days. We want strong car counts, healthy attendance, a good TV contract, a growing fan base, a balanced schedule, more ovals, road courses with passing zones, sponsors that activate, and world class drivers (including some American heroes racing against the best from the world). We get excited when we hear about a sponsor coming on board or a track signing a race title deal since it is good for the health and growth of the sport, but do we really care who the CEO of the sport is?
I understand the angst that change causes and that many fans are worried that the momentum they felt was building due to Bernard’s leadership may be lost.
Since I don’t think Indycar is going to ask me to serve on the CEO search committee, I’m going to refrain from analyzing organizational charts and worrying about front office moves. Instead, I am reminding myself to keep the focus on the drivers, cars, engines, and tracks. The 2013 schedule was already set before Randy’s departure and/or firing. So his departure does not affect the races that I was already planning on watching and attending.
Now, I’m still hoping to see a race slot in during that September gap, but I’m going to refrain from joining the gnashing of teeth over who sits in the CEO chair.
I’m more interested in who will get pole position at St. Pete. The day job gives me more then enough office politics, I don’t want or need it from my hobby/sports interests as well.
I think the Bernard situation was poorly handled and poorly communicated, but my fanhood remains focused on the drivers not the suits in the office. I think Indycar realizes what is at stake and I’ll leave it to them to worrying about the future of the sport. You can definitely argue that their track history isn’t the best when staffing the front office, but I’m focused on the upcoming season (five months until St Pete).
Friday, November 2, 2012