Making It Great in 2008!!

I'm going to leave some of the 'history' of ROTW below for new viewers but I'd like to explain what we have on tap for 2008. We are looking to break ground with a new look in a different manner as well. Those of you that have a decently strong Internet connection will be able to sign up for what we think is a truly unique manner of delivery of local racing. At this point in time, it is my intention to provide everyone with broadband watching the Crystal Motor Speedway events the over head camera view at no charge. This view will provide you most of the racing you would normally see on your average live web stream. We will have a producer sitting in a booth, switching between three cameras to give you a view that will keep you tuning in on the nights you can’t make it to the track. Other tracks may be joining in very soon.

We think you’ll be very happy with that view… but…. we will also have a Pay Per View (PPV) version that will absolutely make you flip. Picture in your mind four simultaneous views on the same page, each with its own volume control and a link to bring any one view to near full page. The main view of course will be the same as the free version. Two of the other views will be action in each of the corners while the fourth camera will be used for ‘special’ things. Instead of watching cars go around the track under caution, PPV viewers might be watching previously recorded interviews with a driver or crew member or a live interview with some one at the track… a heat or feature winner, some one who just had ‘the race of their career’, or some ‘unsung hero.’ It should be interesting.

In the year or so I have been 'away,' we have accomplished a lot. Probably my biggest joy has been the creation of StreamNet Radio. With gas prices soaring, many families could either not attend or couldn't attend as a family. StreamNet Radio filled the gap for those people and accidently became a part of literally thousands of others across the country and the world as we broadcast live audio of events at numerous tracks across Michigan. We got emails across the country and places like Brisbane Australia, Japan, and many military personnel in the Global War on Terror. Our last night of broadcasting at Crystal Motor Speedway had a season high of 3200 listeners.

And Then Came Live Video... -
It didn't take long to get ten plus tracks on board to critical acclaim and I began to finish what I intended to do way back in 1998.... live video of the races. We started an entirely different website to handle that task, a sister station so to speak, known as StreamNet Video. It was an auspicious start to say the least. Our Internet connection at the track was far worse than I had planned and our broadcast was tiny and grainy... but it was live and it was viewed by 300 viewers. By season's end, we had resolved that problem and will have a different provider at Crystal Motor Speedway allowing us to broadcast a much better and consistant product.

I fully intended to use StreamNet Video (SNV) as the home of our racing events but it then occurred to me that racing video needed to return to ROTW. This is where I always dreamed of doing it from and this is where you'll find live race video in 2008. In the background, we are rebuilding the site to handle the work we will be asking of it. Picture an array of monitors that have Video on Demand (VOD) of previous races and links to where you can watch the live stuff on Friday and Saturday nights. Check out my "Editor's Page" column for more details.

Who can you watch live? Well... let me see. Due to my link to and with Crystal Motor Speedway and Ron Flinn, count on some good dirt race action from one of the best dirt tracks in Michigan. We think we have Steve Brown and M-40 Speedway on board as well. Steve has been an adamant supporter and we thank him for that. We are working with a couple other tracks to broadcast live. You have to understand that promoters are understandably leery of losing 'cheeks in the seats' with live video broadcasting. If you are a promoter who would like some information of how live broadcasting might actually HELP you, email me HERE

We are also working with a number of videographers across the country to supply us with videos to play as a VOD service. If you are a videographer or know one and you might be interested in getting your work on line with us, use the email link above and let me know what you have available. We are looking for videos from the currect season and videos from 'way back when.' We'll give you video credit and a link to sell your videos to our viewers. This will get to be interesting!

And Speaking of Which.... -
I began to do a search across the Internet to find where ROTW was mentioned and found that links to our archival videos from back in 2003 and 2004 have been reproduced or relinked in at least 32 sites that I could find! Problem with that is we began to move some of them around and the links are no longer valid. I am working on the archive page for those "Golden Oldies" that have the proper links. I have over 30 videos linked right now and am working on others. If you know of a site that has linked our videos, drop them a note and the updated URL when I get it posted. Tell them all we ask is they give us credit for the work! I've found sites that have downloaded our videos and have reloaded them to their sites and never mentioned who had done them. It is just a courtesy... give us the mention please?