Trouble in Turn2

If you have spent any time on NASCAR blogs, then you are familiar with the Diecast Dude, Jerry Wilson. That’s what first sparked my interest in NASCAR blogging. He is always well spoken, funny and most importantly, he sees the big picture. Traits that are all evident if you keep reading.

How long have you blogged?
I started The Diecast Dude’s (Mostly) NASCAR Blah Blah Blog in August of 2003. It became, or if you prefer I moved to, Restrictor Plate This in April of 2007.

What made you start blogging?
Two-part question, two-part answer. The second one first. I started blogging for a couple of reasons. First, when I started the blogosphere was taking off . There had been a few moments of it gaining attention before, mostly in the political realm, but at that time it was beginning to seep into the general consciousness in a big way. I wanted to be part of it. I needed an outlet for writing, and this was the perfect venue.

Also coming into play was how for several years before then I’d been active on different message boards, mostly of the diecast collecting variety (surprise). During those years, as an unapologetic Jeff Gordon fan I had endured more than a few run-ins with Dale Earnhardt worshipers. Not fans, mind you. Worshipers, the people who made up for their own inability to have a life by vicariously living through him. I’d had enough of that and wanted a forum where I could say my piece without the constant battles. Blogging was perfect for this.

Why do you blog?
The reasons have to a large degree shifted since I started. It’s now primarily for the joy of community. Being able to share with people, enjoying the camaraderie of this ragtag army of cyberspace merry pranksters which I’m honored to be part of, is a genuine honor. It’s a far better reason than enabling myself to shoot off my mouth! Also coming into play is my love of entertaining people. And there’s still the element of needing a creative outlet. I’d go batcrap crazy without that.

How many blogs do you currently maintain?
Three. For SportsBlog Nation I do Restrictor Plate This, which is about NASCAR and to a degree IRL along with NHRA, plus Fear The Fin which is about the San Jose Sharks. And I have Goldfish And Clowns, which is my personal blog.

How are you able to do this without going crazy?
I haven’t heard very many people say I’m not crazy…

Seriously, sometimes it is a strain. The biggest hassle is RPT because of the news elements; press releases and such. If I get behind by so little as a day in posting those, I’m staring at hours of time doing nothing but playing catch-up. In many ways FTF is the easiest of the three, because it’s breezy fan talk. GAC can be tough sometimes. Over the years I’ve become less enamored with myself as a topic for conversation. It’s all right when I’m talking about something else, like the new book. But other than that it’s a constant struggle of how much I’m willing to reveal. Or if I have anything to talk about worthy of public attention.

What do you enjoy about your blog and the NASCAR blogging community?
With the blog, as I mentioned earlier having a venue for entertaining and informing. And again, the circle of crazies I’m part of and partner with is a lot of fun.

Another aspect is being able to encourage other to blog. Everyone once in a while I hear “you’re a leader; you’re an inspiration.” The former I find highly amusing. I’m just me. No big deal. That said, if I can use where I am to encourage good writers, so much the better. We’re all equals in cyberspace. Hit totals don’t matter. I have yet to see a Sitemeter link on a tombstone. Only quality matters. To have a helping hand in getting good stuff out there… that’s sweet.

Is there anything you don’t enjoy about blogging, or the NASCAR online community?

As far as blogging itself, the only downside is the pressure I put on myself to be on it every time I post. Which is impossible, but still I try. That, and not having enough time to do everything I’d like blogging-wise.

As far as the NASCAR online community… hmm. Too many people saying look at me instead of come watch the race with me. Too much obsessing over trivia. The story at Las Vegas this past weekend wasn’t whether Jamie Little badgered Kyle Busch after his wreck in the Nationwide race. It was Jeff Gordon thankfully not being seriously injured or worse when he hit the inside wall. It was how there was less on-track action than there had been at Fontana. These things matter. Posing as the savior of NASCAR broadcasting doesn’t. The broadcast is secondary. It’s the sport that matters.

Also, who’s allegedly dating who as a main topic. Come on. It’s not you, is it? And it never will be you, now will it. So why care? No one in NASCAR is asking about my love life. Why should I ask about theirs?

How much time per day do you spend blogging?
On average, probably a couple of hours. Some of that is writing, some of that is posting things, some of that is checking out what’s going on to see if there’s something worth mentioning.

Is there one thing that was key to your blog’s success?
No. Certainly I’ve had help along the way. There were people at AOL, back when it was an actual online community instead of just another Web portal, who helped promote the site. I’ve had the occasional mention in traditional media. Being with SportsBlog Nation has helped a lot in terms of making it apparent I’m in this for the long haul and I’m serious about blogging as a new media venue. But there’s no one thing. It’s been a process with different steps at different times.

Can you explain your blogging evangel for people that aren’t familiar with it?
The blogging evangel is something that came about as a reaction on my part to how so many of the leading political blogs incessantly rail against traditional media for being elitists who speak to no one and answer to no one. The problem is, if you try to approach said bloggers on a peer level, you get the exact same treatment from them they accuse traditional media of handing out. You won’t get linked. You won’t get credit. You won’t get mentioned. And forget about them getting back to you. Hence the keystone tenet of the blogging evangel: “Never become what you profess to oppose.”

The other tenets in no particular order are: “The ability to broadcast your opinion neither elevates nor validates your opinion” — something far too few heed; “If you want to get paid, do porn” — while it’s okay to make money at it, blogging has to primarily be motivated by and come from the heart; “E-mail. Reply. Period” — Never put yourself above others.

Blogging is beginning to wield greater power in the media. Do you think this is a good thing?
It’s neither here nor there. Quality is quality regardless of the medium; garbage is garbage regardless of the medium. I’m not looking for power. I’m looking for respect and acceptance as a legitimate writer. It’s good to have increased acceptance, for along with that comes accessibility to the actual news sources. But power? The world has enough sportswriters and bloggers who think they’re the story. That’s not me.

Name something cool that has come as a result of your blog.
Other than the occasional cold shoulder? I got an autographed Jimmie Johnson poster once. And a dear friend of mine mentioned how a couple of years ago he was at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas seeing what there was to see and getting autographs. He was also getting some for me from different drivers that were there and asking them to write “To Diecast Dude” on them. Cruz Pedregon — he drives a funny car in NHRA — was there, and when my friend said what he wanted on the autograph card replied, “He’s the guy that writes that blog! I like him. He writes some funny stuff.” That was very cool to hear.

Do you have any strange or funny stories about your blog?
Back when the blog was on AOL, I’d occasionally get e-mails from people asking how I got my job in NASCAR. And once a woman wrote me thinking I was Jeff Gordon. No, but I wouldn’t mind trading paychecks.

Do you exchange Christmas cards with Jayski?
I would, but I keep running out of stamps due to my constant exchange of fan mail with Pamela Britton.

Dude, how many diecasts do you own?
I honestly don’t know. It’s in the hundreds.

Have you ever blogged in your basement?
I live in California. What’s a basement?

What is something your readers wouldn’t otherwise know about you or your blog?
I don’t like broccoli unless it’s smothered in cheese.

You run several blogs, produce a weekly podcast and have written a book. What’s the next frontier for RPT? Maybe a screenplay or rock opera?
I want to rewrite the book; it didn’t come out to my satisfaction. Maybe this year after I finish God’s Not Dead (And Neither Are We). It’s far more important. Far more important than any of the blogs, too.