I’ve never met Gene, but I’ve heard he’s actually a really swell fella. But Gene, really - it’s time to say no to drugs.
The only people I’ve ever met who speak with this kind of detailed weirdness and these excessive hand gestures are people who are stoned out of their freaking gourds. If you’re going to be the poster boy for corporate rockstars then you might want to take a moment to clear your head before you start talking about nonsense like drivers choosing to drive in wind tunnels. (Say what!?!)
Then again, this does explain a lot about the Mindy Song. HEY!
This Could Be a Real Shot in the Arm
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Nowadays, whenever I discuss IndyCar marketing – I do so with caution.
After writing a post last summer that called into question some of the
marketing eff...
1 day ago
Dear Tony, et al:
Can we be done with this jackass now? Please?
Love,
MoneyCJ
Moron. How could they think anyone would be inspired by this dork-rock? Oh, maybe they felt it was family friendly or something. We just have to be family friendly.
Motochik, we have here a bored and aging rock star who, granted, has been VERY successful with the KISS brand, but has tried and failed at all sorts of non-KISS related business ventures over the years. One example: Simmons Records. This guy has been trying to get a record label off the ground for YEARS and has been an absolute failure. Simmons Books, Simmons whatever...the guy has simply not had business success outside of his band.
I could go on and on, but in the case of the IRL, here's what happened....he teamed up with the former Producer of 'Pee Wee's Playhouse' Richard Abramson and created 'Simmons-Abramson Marketing.' The two proceed to convince Tony G that they can save the series--for a price--they've been on payroll for two years now, and their biggest achievement as far as I can tell has been the CAR-Melo (that worked out awesomely, dudes! Props!).
Oh, and as part of the deal, Gene shows up at races to add the whole 'celebrity factor' (Maybe he can bring along some of the dudes from Night Ranger one day! Woo!)
This has been pissing me off for a long time now (Can you tell?). IRL should spend their money on proven motorsport-oriented marketing firms. And if the rock star loves the series so much, let him start up and help fund a team...invest in the league...a KISS car piloted by PJ Chesson would actually be pretty damn kick ass in my view.
As always, Jussayin.
Three points:
1) This would have made an excellent post on your blog, Money
2) Unlike Gene, Sammy Hagar has indeed provided partial funding for an Indy Pro ride this year
3) I thought you liked Night Ranger?
1) I will be writing more about this on Fastmachines...but you posted this clip and it put me over the edge, so I felt the need to vent here first.
2) Good point about Hagar (who is a total badass, btw, unlike Simmons). He is wealthy. He knows what he is good at and knows what he is not good at. He sees the potential in investing in the series and he has put up the cash. Unlike Gene and Dick, who are TAKING the cash. Bless you, Sammy!
3) Night Ranger Kicks ass. Apologies to Jack Blades & Co. I shoulda come up with a better example (The Osmonds? Yeah. The Osmonds...maybe Gene can get Donnie and Marie to show up at Iowa or something. Star Power Baby!)
I am furious. (And I am sure I am going to be really popular in the pits at Richmond. Ehhh).
Other than the Mindy campaign (ugh) and the occasional awkward public appearance, is there anything else that this marketing firm has done for the IRL? Bad or good, what have they done?
Money, I hope you understood my comment was sarcastic. I mean really, with his entourage of Bouncing Booblettes (their paychecks must be pretty robust, among other things, to put up with this idiot) and the fact that his doosh bam doosh beat boxing went out of fashion in the latter half of the 80's...