Apple Computer helping us get the NASCAR fans!

[benburch]

Looks like Apple is now providing video podcasting services to NASCAR.

Why is this significant?

The reason is that we on the the Left are very good at making our voices heard via new media like podcasting.

What we need to do is come up with a few NASCAR-related podcasts with a subtle but pro-Liberal slant, and get them listed in Apple's podcasting directory.

The rest will happen automatically as NASCAR fans buy iPods.

Who wants to produce this? I'll serve it from my server farm.

Comments Welcome.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. What exactly do NASCAR fans like

and can relate to? I am not interested in any kind of sport, especialy one that expends petroleum. Would something about that Republican suing Bush because he was wiretapped by mistake be the type of thing you think would fly, or would it have to relate more directly to cars and racing?

[benburch]

2. It would have to relate directly to racing...

and should regularly touch on hybrids, and biofuels, and high tech lubricants that extend fuel economy...

And the political issues should be very subtle.

This is the "catching flies with milk, not vinegar" approach.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Well, then, there's one thing I know

racing engines on some vehicles (I don't think NASCAR,though) have for years relied on alcohol for fuel. There could be something about how we already have the technology to build engines that run on alcohol, which can be produced from renewable resources-this could segue into other things. (The reason I know about alcohol fuel is that my husband is a mechanic, and he and I have talked about alternative fuels for cars)

[OhioBlue]

7. yeah - i think you can run cars on moonshine

At least that's what a guy down the road said. He said back in the '70s he and a buddy made moonshine and ran their cars on it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Dragsters use alcohol fuel

I just asked my husband. To quote him: " It works well at a much higher compression ratio, which gets more power out of the engine than gasoline if the engine is designed for alcohol fuel. It's not easy to change a gasoline burning engine to an alcohol burning engine, it's a major modification to an engine, but it can be done." I would think dragsters would be close enough to NASCAR to get this into a podcast.

[northzax]

8. NASCAR runs on regular ol' gasoline

or, will starting in 2008. Right now it uses regular old early-70's vintage leaded gas, save that whole 112 octane bit.

[Roland99]

18. I like NASCAR, so does my nephew and a friend of his.

None of us care for this administration.

Just be careful pigeonholing the intended audience as redneck. While the majority may be, there's a great number that aren't.

[johnaries]

19. Any idea what issues most Repub-voting NASCAR fans

would care about that could tip them over to the Dem side if we spread the truth?
Job's? Outsourcing? Free Trade? Gas prices? Other?

I'm sure there are a lot of Dem NASCAR fans, but we need to reach more of the "NASCAR Dad's" demographic.

[Roland99]

20. You have to speak, mainly, to one thing: How does it affect their wallet?

Saving the earth for their children's children from global warming won't get through.

Saving jobs from going overseas won't get through until it's their job that goes over. But, delving into the land of generalities and stereotypes, if their jobs are typically blue-collar, I don't see that being outsourced much. How can you outsource a job for a mechanic, electrician, construction supervisor, small business owner, truck driver, etc.?


You have to hit them through fear. It's time for equating our economy to the 1920s with a Great Depression just on the horizon. Find ways to explain how MEW (Mortgage Equity Withdrawal) is fueling the economy and once the housing bubble bursts, the economy is going to go BOOM!

[johnaries]

21. Excellent points! Thank you! n/y

[benburch]

23. But mostly, talk about racing.

The other stuff should be 10% or so of the whole package as I see it.

[benburch]

22. I grew up with dirt track racers...

And I know ALL types of racing fans. :-)

[Roland99]

24. A friend of mine in Toronto is a track marshal

She does the Molson Indy series(?) She gets to Mid-Ohio every year and I have an open invite to hang around the pits and crew and stuff this year. That'll be sweet!

And, btw, she shakes her head every time we talk as to how the chimp-in-chief got re-elected down here.

[benburch]

25. I think we will see gasoline prices be the most important factor.

It will change the minds of a lot of racing fans.

Especially once you tell them that Carter's ERDA had plans to make sure that the liquid fuel supply was secure into the 23rd century!

[OhioBlue]

3. no

I don't think wire tapping would be the way to go. Talk about jobs.

[benburch]

4. And gasoline prices. nt

[johnaries]

6. YES! Jobs and outsourcing. Fair Trade instead of Free Trade.

Also security, especially port security.

[benburch]

9. But never as a topic.

These things ought to be comments worked in around what is being discussed.

[OhioBlue]

11. good point

you could discuss an issue that would be of interest to the NASCAR crowd - give a bio of an early NASCAR legend, talk about how they used to run moonshine - comment on how you can make fuel from renewable sources much like grain alcohol... in a matter of fact, common sense way talk about how it would be better for the US than petroleum based fuels.... help the farmers, bring down prices when you consider the subsidy cost of petroleum.... etc.

Or, talk about safety issues/innovations ie the HANS device, roof flaps, etc. and how they are now mandatory and how it is a good thing - roof flaps prevent the car from flipping. mention, it isn't much different from having safety regulations in the work place. Putting safety first is always a good idea....

[yellowdogmi]

13. I like the safety angle.

We could highlight the safety features of the current cars then subtley hammer *'s administration for rolling back osha protections. Good plan Ben!

[frylock]

15. auto manufacturer layoffs..

didn't FoMoCo just layoff a grip of workers?

[GrpCaptMandrake]

10. Great idea, Ben.

Somebody get hold of the boys from www.dubyad40.com, the original NASCAR liberals. Come to think of it, I'll get hold of 'em.

This could be an excellent opportunity!

[The Doctor.]

14. Congrats on GP.

Great idea.

[HooptieWagon]

16. Some good ideas above

But be careful you don't sound too "libral". NASCAR fans are pretty much the Jaysus Baptist crowd, although the stereotypical southern redneck is gradually being replaced with lower and middle class white-collar types who have abandoned the "traditional" sports (baseball, basketball, and football) due to the constant barrage of drug, rape, and murder scandals. Basically, they want to view a "clean and god-fearin'" sport with their families. Most have no interest in other forms of auto-racing.

Best bet is to stick to Jobs, Health Care, Education, Security, and rapidly rising costs of living vis a vis stagnant wages.

BTW, alchohol burning motorsports (Indy cars, Sprint cars, and some drag and Bonneville classes) burn METHANOL, which is an entirely different fuel than ETHANOL (moonshine). I doubt that NASCAR fans would give a shit, if they even knew the difference.

[benburch]

17. Excellent points.

And that's my concept exactly.

[mtnester]

26. Noticed during Daytona that Sprint/Nextel is already after a different

target audience

Fergie from Black Eye Peas doing the anthem, Bon Jovi playing...nary a country music star to be found.

Hubby and I commented all through the race that we felt the target marketing has changed, even the commercials seemed to follow suit.