tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post116178304351608559..comments2024-03-08T11:07:25.905-05:00Comments on The Godfather's Blog: COMMENTARY: Shooting The MessengerDave Moodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273464897477668872noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-1162231520014128352006-10-30T13:05:00.000-05:002006-10-30T13:05:00.000-05:00Sorry to be so long in responding, Dave. Your comm...Sorry to be so long in responding, Dave. Your comments are valid, and deserve to be addressed. <BR/><BR/>I do believe that you see the issues with Open Wheel racing; the devisiveness between IRL and Champ Car, the lack of top-notch American talent, and the inability of good young drivers to find a ride without a rich daddy or $3 million in corporate backing tp ay their way.<BR/><BR/>My "flippant" announcement (your word) on A.J. Allmendinger's move to NASCAR was in no way indicative of any pleasure I take in seeing Champ Car and/or IRL lose their drivers. It was a response to the many Open Wheel fans who gleefully told me I was "full of crap" when I predicted this, more than a month ago. Many Open Wheel fans believed that the prestige of the Vanderbilt Cup would be enough to counteract the offer of a multi-million dollar contract, and the total devotion of a well-funded team and manufacturer. I knew better, and took some pleasure in being prven correct. If that's a weakness on my part, so be it. But rest assured, it was not directed at you. <BR/><BR/>Your final paragraph is a most interesting one. I do agree that our show (and others like it) has some influence on public opinion. I like to think that we present a wide variety of viewpoints, and allow people to develop well thought-out positions of their own on the important issues of the day. <BR/><BR/>Over the last three years, I have often commented on how both Champ Car and IRL are capable of putting on races every bit as good as anything seen in NASCAR. I have also remarked on the great personalities in Open Wheel racing, urging listeners to give the series' a fair shot.<BR/><BR/>However, it is absolutely NOT my job to serve as a cheerleader for a pair of series' that are (IMO) quickly becoming less deserving of their ticket-buying dollar. <BR/><BR/>It's not my job to make things easier for Champ Car and IRL by ignoring their shortcomings and missteps, any more than it is my job to let NASCAR off the hook for its ludicrous qualifying procedure. My job is to report accurately on motorsports, and offer my opinions in an iinsightful and entertaining manner. <BR/><BR/>I hope that I accomplish that goal, most days. I appreciate you taking the time to write, and to listen. You don't have to agree with the host to be welcome around here.<BR/><BR/>All the best --<BR/><BR/>Dave Moody<BR/><BR/>P.S. -- To "Anonymous;" take a lesson from Dave Fothergill and realize that any position you're not willing to stand behind isn't much of an position. If you haven't got the backbone to sign your name, your opinion carries no weight hereDave Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14273464897477668872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-1162141665238989852006-10-29T12:07:00.000-05:002006-10-29T12:07:00.000-05:00Ken Squier wanna be doesn't know anything about op...Ken Squier wanna be doesn't know anything about open wheel racingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-1161841456487038712006-10-26T01:44:00.000-04:002006-10-26T01:44:00.000-04:00Hiya Dave,Before I sound off, let me be clear on a...Hiya Dave,<BR/>Before I sound off, let me be clear on a couple of things. First off, I love the show irrespective of our differences regarding this particular issue. Second, it really bites that we can’t call from Canada, because I would have much preferred to have been able to “defend” myself at the time, instead of having to do a slow burn for the afternoon and evening. But onto the meat of the debate.<BR/>Between the opening salvo on the show, and the subsequent web posting, you make a tremendous number of assumptions regarding my position and beliefs. Your assumptions are incorrect.<BR/>I’ve re-read my original post, and find nothing in it that indicates my state of mind as it relates to the current landscape of open-wheel racing in North America. You assume I’m blithely going on, oblivious to the problems associated with the current split, lack of corporate support and dwindling public perception of the once proud series.<BR/>Nothing could be further from the truth. I hate what has happened. Fracturing the series was, quite possibly, the death knell for open-wheeled racing on this continent, at least in the form of a major series. Will Champ Car and the IRL become feeder series’ – the possibility seems quite likely. It will certainly take someone smarter than I to repair the damage, and take many years of hard work to bring them back to something even remotely close to what they were prior to the split. But I do believe there is a strong enough core fan base that it *can* be accomplished. <BR/>Anyone who is paying attention knows the window for any type of recovery is closing fast. The “defection” of AJ Allmendinger is the latest in a series of events that should be serving as a wake up call to the “brain-trusts” in IRL and Champ car. Will it? Only time will tell.<BR/>I could sit here for two hours and nit-pick the little things in both your diatribe on air, and the web posting, but that really doesn’t accomplish anything. I understand the basic points you were trying to make, and (surprisingly perhaps to you) agree with most of them. <BR/>What I took issue with yesterday, and what prompted my comment was the flippant way the whole AJ Allmendinger issue was announced (including the giggling in studio regarding Champ Car’s reaction).<BR/>And this is the rub of my argument with you. Do you not agree that a national radio show (and perhaps I overestimate your position in the media – but I don’t think so) can have some influence on the masses? Do you not think your show has the ability to help form opinions, create interest and get people to take a more active role in situations? I think you (and the show) are capable of just that. But you’re also capable of convincing some that open-wheel racing isn’t worth the bother any more (and that appears to be the tack you have taken). And this is why I said you should probably just stick to NASCAR. Those of us that continue to lobby the people heading Champ Car and the IRL to get their stuff together have a tough enough battle as it is.<BR/>Thanks for the opportunity to respond.<BR/>Regards<BR/>Dave FothergillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-1161823465832231862006-10-25T20:44:00.000-04:002006-10-25T20:44:00.000-04:00"What are you missing" is the question posed to Mr..."What are you missing" is the question posed to Mr. Fothergill by Dave.<BR/><BR/>The obvious answer is reality.<BR/><BR/>NASCAR has always held a certain draw to open wheelers, witness the other and more famous A.J. - Foyt and Mario Andretti, but as the OW split has fractured its fan base. <BR/><BR/>NASCAR has been on the rise since the beginning of the "Jeff Gordon Era" (someone who in past times would have moved into Indy racing) while through mis-management and the two hard-headed egotists involved can hardly speak to each other let alone sit down and settle differences for the betterment of the sport as a whole and for themselves.<BR/><BR/>Dave I'm one of those kids that grew up drawing pictures of front engined Offy's yet relished Mario's first and only win in a rear engined car.<BR/><BR/>Thought Granatelli's tubines brought both needed publicity and a certain "spice" to Indy.<BR/><BR/>Today, why bother. IRL puts on some good action, but only between a couple of teams in a field size that can be counted on ten fingers and a couple toes.<BR/><BR/>Same can be said for CCWS.<BR/><BR/>Mr. Fothergill, get out of that forest you'd be better able to see the trees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24138427.post-1161802031684525942006-10-25T14:47:00.000-04:002006-10-25T14:47:00.000-04:00As a kid I grew up watching just as much open whee...As a kid I grew up watching just as much open wheel racing as I did NASCAR. I grew up a fan of Rick Mears and the Penski teams. Moody you are right it is in danger of becoming a feeder series if it already hasn't done so. I don't watch open wheel racing like I use too because of the path it has taken. As for the show I hear everything I want to hear and that is all forms of Racing. Yes NASCAR rules the majority but I hear Drag Racing and open wheel and all sorts of racing which is why I love the show. Open wheel racing has really done a poor job in the past decade not Sirius Speedway. Blame the guys who ruined Open Wheel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com