The BIG event vibe was back…. free Friday boosted it of course, but despite what some crepe-hangers will tell you, the attendance was up over last year all 3 days…

The weather was better! We cooked Friday, thank God there was a breeze, but Saturday was nicer and Sunday was perfect: sunshine, low humidity and temps in the 70′s for ideal racing weather…

Our FAN 590/Raceline Radio broadcast center on Gasoline alley was the best location I have ever worked from at this event! Steps away from the paddock, all the cars and stars had to go by us on their way to and from the track, and fans galore… tech director Mike Gaid said we’d love the location and he was right! Reserve the same spot for us for next year Michael…

All guests requested showed, with only one re-scheduling: IRL CEO Randy Bernard missed his Friday window because of a sales meeting time change, but the make-good Saturday at noon worked fine. He’s a bright guy and is handling the league like a veteran as it passes through some critical phases with a new car and engine coming for 2012…

Guests we enjoyed having on the air, and the fans mobbed the front of the broadcast center for when they heard the voices on the PA system: Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani, Will Power, Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Micheal and Marco Andretti, Justin Wilson, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Andrew Ranger, James Hinchcliffe, Charlie Johnstone and Jim Tario…

David Alter was a splendid co-host. Dave’s a young gearhead who knows his stuff and has earned a place on The Raceline team. Nice work D.A….

Hi-lights? Danica could not have been more cooperative and charming… Helio and Will together in the same interview was stand up comedy and mayhem at its best, and may be the best Raceline interview of the last 5 years. The first 6 minutes was Will and Helio trading insults and barbs all in good fun. We did eventually get around to talking racing. This one goes into the Raceline interview Hall of Fame…

Had some media relations person from Quebec try and force her driver on us for an interview, and she was not going to take no for an answer. Her driver is just starting his NASCAR Canada career and he will have his air time, but not until he’s newsworthy.  I told her that if I had some space ( or he won the race ), I would call her. But she showed up with her driver anyway, just as we were about to go on the air with a properly arranged and pre-booked interview. I was not happy and let her know it. I asked her to play by the rules as everybody does. Perhaps I was a little short with her, but I was pulled through the same knot hole when I was learning the ropes, so she should chalk it up to a learning experience on how these things work…

We were collecting comments from fans about the improvements made from last year’s adjustment. Not enough variety of food and priced too high was common. One fella complained they don’t make it easy to find your seats. Seems to me most were able to find their pews just fine, and with site maps on the Honda Indy website, navigation wasn’t a wide spread problem…

Tammy and Fred at APX Racewear came by with our new Raceline crew shirts. Best we’ve ever had to be honest, and handled by two lovely people and old friends. Every race team in Canada should use APX. Fast, thorough, creative, pro all the way. Thanks guys!

And finally, thanks to Honda for all the great hospitality, and getting me involved with their downtown pit stop competition! Richard Jacobs and Arch Wilcox are straight-up folks.

To our partners and friends at Subaru for the loan of the gorgeous 2011 Legacy for the weekend in Honda’s back yard. Thanks Jen!

To Charlie Johnstone and Kevin Savoree for coming through with a marketing thrust that put us back on site broadcasting again, and to FAN 590′s Don Kollins and Doug Farraway for getting the coverage on. Don especially is a gearhead I’ve worked with for a long time. Nice to work with PD’s who give our sport a solid standing beside all the rest…

It was a long, tiring weekend, but I love every second of the biggest motorsport show in our biggest market.

That will never change!  That’s 24 Indy’s under our belt… here’s to 24 more!

Good to see all of you at the Honda Indy Toronto. We will do it all again next year, for the 25th anniversary!

ET

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