Archive for the 'Versus Network' Category
Good times at SEMA 09
As you all know, SEMA is the “Super Bowl of Automotive” it’s the largest automotive display, party, business function and network’s paradise.
Normally, I’m there shooting an episode or two for a TV series, however, this year, I was there as the “official female spokesperson / TV personality” representing EBC Brakes.
When I arrived at the airport in Orange County, Ca I ran into my friend Bill O’Roake who is a long time employee of Mickey Thompson, to my surprise he was on my flight. The trip was off to a great start and I hadn’t even arrived in Las Vegas yet!
I landed and hitched a ride to my hotel with team Mickey Thompson. Before even reaching the hotel I started receiving text messages, tweets, IMs, emails, facebook notes, etc all regarding SEMA updates, unveiling’s, party invites and inquiries regarding whether or not I thought this years event was going to be a success or a ghost town (many individuals were extremely concerned about attendance, etc due to the economy.)
The EBC booth was exhibiting at the Las Vegas Convention Center and was located in the far right-hand corner of the south hall. Due to the location, none of us thought that we would see much foot traffic, till close to noon. However, that wasn’t the case at all! We were literally crazy busy from the time we reached the booth till closing every day! Personally, I feel that this is a nice sign for the automotive industry in 2010.
The other thing I really enjoyed about SEMA 09, was finally getting the chance to catch up with all of my long time friends. After all, SEMA is similar to a giant automotive family reunion – lol!
Special thanks to:
Team EB Brakes – I love working with you guys!
Dennis Gage (My Classic Car Host) and his crew for inviting me to join them at the SEMA banquet.
Steve Russo and Jon Van Buren (two of my newest team members) for all the SEMA still images.
Enjoy more images from SEMA here:
Behind the scenes videos on Qik shot with my N95.
CommentsGenevieve Chappell now on Wikipedia
Genevieve is now on Wikipedia! Take a look at the newly created page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevieve_Chappell) to learn more about Genevieve’s early career and how she arrived to where she is today.
And don’t forget to check back from time to time, as it will be updated!
CommentsFormula DRIFT Heads to Road Atlanta for Round 2: Proving Ground
Formula DRIFT Heads to Road Atlanta for Round 2: Proving Ground;
Professional and amateur drifting competitions showcased over the 2-day Drift Atlanta weekend
Long Beach, Calif. – May 5, 2009 – Formula DRIFT heads to Road Atlanta for Round 2: Proving Ground on Friday, May 8 and Saturday May 9 as part of the Drift Atlanta weekend. The 2-day event will be highlighted with both the Pro Am competition and the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship.
Formula DRIFT heads into Road Atlanta, the home of the Series’ inaugural event back in 2004. Friday, May 8 will serve as a preview day with both Pro Am and the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship practice and qualifying. Saturday, May 9 is the main event and will feature both the Pro Am Top 8 competition and Formula DRIFT Pro Championship Top 32 competition. The Top 32 format is new for the 2009 season and features more action and excitement than ever before at Road Atlanta.
The Pro Am competition will feature the top drifters from the region and those hopeful to become a Formula Drift professional driver. Registration is still open and drivers can still register for this competition. More information on registration can be found on www.formuladrift.com
Along with the on-track activities the vendor village and team pits will be open and fans can meet the drivers during the autograph session at 2:30 PM on Friday. 2009 Miss Formula DRIFT Miki Taka will be in attendance for the event as well. Additionally, the JTuned.com Auto Gallery car show will take place on Saturday and fans can see some of Atlanta’s hottest show cars.
Round 2: Proving Ground marks the first of three Tires.com Triple Crown events this season. The bonus prize was won last year by Rhys Millen and his victory at Road Atlanta helped lead him to his 2nd Tires.com Triple Crown trophy.
Tickets are still available for this event and start at $22 online and 2-day ticket packages are available. Tickets can be purchased via the Formula DRIFT website. Both Friday and Saturday event hours will be from 10 AM – 10 PM.
Formula DRIFT Round 2: Proving Ground Driver’s List as of May 5, 2009
(by current standings)
1. Tuerck, RyanGardella Racing / Mobil 1102 Points
2. Hubinete, SamuelNuFormz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper 90 Points
3. Foust, TannerRockstar / Scion Racing tC 84 Points
4. Nishida, RobbieHankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 72 Points
5. Aono, TakaTechnosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 65 Points
6. Brakohiapa, TonyCooper Tire Ford Mustang 62 Points
6. Forsberg, ChrisNOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Tire Nissan 350Z 62 Points
6. Gittin, VaughnFalken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 62 Points
6. Verdier, StephanCooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 62 Points
10. McNamara, DarrenFalken Tire / Sears Saturn Sky 61 Points
11. Pawlak, JustinMazda USA / Cooper 58 Points
15. Jeff JonesComp. Turbo / K&N Filters Nissan S13 54.50 Points
18. Yoshihara, DaijiroFalken / Discount Tire Lexus IS35050 Points
19. Maeng, JoonMaxxis / LS Auto Nissan S13.5 48.50 Points
19. McQuarrie, TylerFalken Nissan 350Z 48.50 Points
19. Millen, RhysRed Bull / RMR Hyundai Genesis Coupe 48.50 Points
19. Mohan, KyleMazda USA / Cooper Mazda RX-8 48.50 Points
19. Petty, RossGarage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 48.50 Points
19. Wan, CalvinFalken Nissan S15 48.50 Points
26. Canul, CasperARK Performance Nissan S14.5 48.25 Points
26. Mordaunt, PatrickPM Racing / Brian Crower Nissan 240SX 48.25 Points
26. O’Sullivan, EricRockstar Energy Drink / Hankook Subaru STI 48.25 Points
26. Rydquist, CarlCity Tire Nissan 350Z 48.25 Points
26. Takatori, MichihiroBridges Racing / Toyo Nissan S13 48.25 Points
26. Canul, CasperARK Performance Nissan S14.5 48.25 Points
26. Canul, CasperARK Performance Nissan S14.5 48.25 Points
26. Waldin, MattTuner Icons / Import Intelligence Nissan 350Z 48.25 Points
34. Essa, MichaelTech Trix Motorsports / DTC Performance Mazda RX-7 0 Points
34. Ewerth, RonBF Goodrich / Eneos Infiniti G35 0 Points
34. Gushi, KenScion Racing / RS*R Scion TC 0 Points
34. Kregorian, ChrisMilano Motorsports / AIT Nissan 350Z 0 Points
34. Lang, GarySpec Clutch / Hinson Nissan S13.4 0 Points
34. LeJeune, JodinBF Goodrich / Eneos Infiniti G35 0 Points
34. Miki, RyujiAPEXi / Hankook Mazda RX-7 0 Points
34. Sherman, BillRetaks / JVC Nissan S13.50 Points
34. Suell, TommyToyo Tires / Allegiant Air Toyota AE86 Corolla 0 Points
34. VanDenBrink, DougPrivateer – Ford Mustang 0 Points
34. Wagner, JohnMA Motorsports / Maxxis Nissan 240SX0 Points
34. Wilkerson, BrianMA Motorsports / Maxxis Nissan S13 0 Points
34. Yamanaka, KenjiMaziora / Signal Auto Nissan S15 Silvia 0 Points
*Subject to change
Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com
CommentsLucas Oil Offroad Racing Series (Season Opener)
This was my first shoot with the Lucas Production team, and was the very first event of the Lucas Oil Off Road Series, held at the Motorsports Complex track (at the state line, behind Buffalo Bills) in Primm, Nev. – so I didn’t know exactly what to expect!
What no one expected was the wind that came on Friday. It was strong enough to shut down our production for the day, and meant no practice for the racers. But there were still people there in the grandstands, bundled up with jackets, hoods and blankets. If they were there on that windy Friday, you just knew there would be lots of people there the rest of the weekend.
One other thing that jumped out at me was that everyone – racers, teams, crew members – were really thankful to be racing and grateful that Lucas Oil got the series moving. That was the theme of the day, on and off the camera.
I spent the first half of Saturday meeting racers and doing some features, and had a great time talking with former motocross and Indycar star Jeff Ward, Rodrigo Ampudia (whose father is one of the nicest people in the series), and Carl Renezeder. I am working stricting for Versus, and it was great to be able to introduce the viewers to some of the veterans, and some of the new faces.
I was close to the track again, and spent most of Saturday getting covered by rocks and dirt. I have to laugh when people who don’t know about television production tell me it must be fun to work in such a glamorous job – because it really isn’t glamorous when it is hot and windy and it feels like someone has just jumped a bucket of dirt on your hair and clothes. It’s still really fun, though!
Another thing that I noticed was that the crowd was different than I expected. There were a lot of pretty girls there, tons of families, and lots of kids. LOORS has attracted quite a family crowd. The crowd on Sunday was up a bit from Saturday, but both days had great sized crowds. A neat thing about Sunday was following up with Jeff Ward. He didn’t have a great race on Saturday, so he and his crew had some serious game faces on Sunday. I saw them studying portions of the course, and it obviously paid off as he had a very good race on Sunday.
This was my first production with the Lucas Oil Production staff, and it was very impressive to see how the whole team works together. Everyone clearly wants to see the series succeed and I’m thrilled that I am along for the ride!
View fun pics from the two day event
The next LOORS event is May 2-3 at the Speedworld Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona.
I hope to see all of you there!
Two Wheel Superstars Flock to Short Course Off Road Racing
Throttle pinned, stay on top of the whoops set up for the big wide open corner and then hit the massive table top. Fly through the air 150 feet and then with barely enough time to set up for the next turn you’re looking at the next set of doubles. This is the view from the inside of an 850HP Unlimited 2 Wheel Drive high octane beast as seen from the driver’s seat of the newest crossover moto athlete to try his hand with four wheels in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Hart&Huntington Racing’s Carey Hart.
Hart is one of a handful of superstar athletes including Supercross Champ Jeff Ward and the Metal Mulisha’s Brian Deegan who will be taking the green flag in their respective classes at the inaugural weekend of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) April 4th and 5th in Primm Nevada. Following the trail blazed by Supercross legends Ricky Johnson and Jeremy McGrath, Hart represents a new generation of crossover moto stars taking on the challenge in a very competitive Unlimited 2 Class. Catching up with him at a recent test session, Hart was asked what drove him to the class and the Lucas Off Road Racing Series. “The cage,” was his first reply with a bit of a snicker. Understandable, considering Hart has broken something like 68 bones during his career on a bike. “There is something that happens when you put on the suit and the helmet, climb into the truck, pull your belts tight and step on that throttle. The horsepower, the adrenaline, the jumps, the whoops; this (stuff) is amazing. I have immense respect for guys like RJ (Johnson) and MC (McGrath) who have gotten into these trucks and have really competed with guys that have been doing this for years. Seeing those guys come in here, put in their laps and figure out how to win has really driven me. I’m not just doing this for fun. We will get on the box! ”
Hart, who’s had several hundred laps testing in the truck under his belt is looking to be a contender as a rookie in what is arguably the most competitive class in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. Joining him will be multi-time Supercross and Supermoto Champion Jeff Ward. Ward, also an IRL open wheel racing veteran who’s taken a second and a third at the Indy 500, is expected to be a quick study in his Speed Technogies Unlimited 2. In the Unlimited Lite (Lite Truck) Class, Brian Deegan will be shedding his rookie yellow tape and with the experience gained last year we can be sure he’s increased his expectations.
Carey Hart, Jeff Ward and Brian Deegan will be in Primm Nevada for the Lucas Off Road Racing Series Season opener at the Primm Valley Motorsports Complex, April 4th &5th. For Tickets, Schedule and information please visit lucasoiloffroad.com.
CommentsMetal Mulisha Freestyle Motocross Show Set to Invade Primm
Major air
“This is all part of our plan to step it up and bring a high level of entertainment for our fans,” said LOORRS’ Tony Vanillo. “The crowd that comes out to our events is going to see it all; hard core short course off road racing and some of the best freestyle motocross riders in the country. We couldn’t be more thrilled in having the Metal Mulisha riders as part of our event. I can’t wait to see these guys in action.”
Founded in 1996, the Metal Mulisha was formed by Supercross racers Brian Deegan and Larry Linkogle. The Metal Mulisha, free of the rules and regulations of Supercross racing has been a driving force in the freestyle motocross movement. They maintain a close knit group of some of the best athletes in the sport while dominating the freestyle motocross scene.
The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Presented by Geico Powersports was formed in 2009. Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is based in Corona, California and is a short course racing sanctioning body. The series was born from a style of racing which began in the early 70’s and hit mainstream in 2006. Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series brings intense, adrenaline, action-packed racing to spectators and television viewers.
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