WST, I assume you are taking notes? Sounds like Miles wrote the book on
"tireless selfpromotion. Have you made him a Team Thicko member yet?
GJB
-----Original Message-----
From: MHKitchen <MHKitchen@aol.com>
To: tshirley@VoyagerOnline.net <tshirley@VoyagerOnline.net>;
vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net <vintage-race@Autox.Team.Net>
Date: Friday, January 02, 1998 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: Promotion, Coverage
>In a message dated 98-01-01 21:17:45 EST, you write:
>
><< Seems that the magazines only cover that group too! And usually the high
> dollar entries as well >>
>
>As someone who sometimes contributes to Victory Lane magazine, and also
gets
>coverage on myself, let me shed some light on how this works.
>
>Those who get covered are often the ones that either the writers/reporters
>know about, or those who make some effort to get coverage. This is often
>those with high visibility. That could be because of finishing position,
or
>personal wealth, but not always. Many events include a driver bio form,
which
>most drivers ignore. If the announcer and/or the press covering an event
>don't know about you, how do you think you'll get mentioned? Will they
come
>search you out??? Not likely...
>
>If you want coverage (and some people don't), then I'd advise you create a
>"media package" to provide to the track announcer(s) and a few extra copies
in
>case ESPN shows up (or at least whoever's there covering the event for the
>club newsletter, magazines, or whatever). Include a backgrounder on
yourself
>and your car, and include any particularly interesting stuff on either.
Also,
>including an INTERESTING photo helps get you into the program, if one is
>provided for the event. I know many of you have seen my "Air Cortina" (2
>wheels in the air) photo from the top of the Cyclone at Thunderhill. It
gets
>published often, because a) people like to see action, and b) I hand out
lots
>of copies. I always try to have some media packages with me at every
event,
>just in case. I make it a point to give one to the track announcer, even
if
>they know me, as I often add new info to keep it interesting.
>
>For event coverage and articles, the people who write up the races
generally
>just listen to the track announcer, and take notes during the race since
they
>can't see the whole track in most places anyway. Then, later on, their
notes
>are combined with the official results forms, the program info, event
photos,
>and any other available info (media packages!), and written up into an
>article. So, the more you do to get coverage, even if you're not in a
podium
>position, is to your advantage.
>
>Some final tips, combine the most pertinent and interesting info on a 3 X 5
>card for the track announcer. That way they don't have to search for info
on
>you. Have your run group and car number in large type at the top. And,
>between races, if you have time to kill, wander into the announce
>booth....they usually are hurting for material to help kill the time too,
and
>may consider interviewing you about your car, or your race. All of the
above
>will help you get noticed more, if that's what you'd like.
>
>That's how you get covered....
>
>Myles H. Kitchen
>1965 Lotus (incognito?) Cortina Mk1 #128
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