Trouble in Turn2

This week we travel to Colorado to catch up with Jim Grady, better known as Rev’ Jim.

How long have you blogged?
Three years and one month.

Why do you blog? What made you start blogging?
I blog mostly to keep my creative juices flowing and to express my feelings about events that happen in NASCAR and racing in general, for whatever my opinion is worth. I started blogging because it felt as if I was being stifled and limited in expressing myself in the various forums to which I belong.

Where do you blog from?
Mostly from home, but since I live in an apartment that is part of a motel operation, I do not have my own phone line, the times at which the Web is available to me is limited. Therefore, I often use the public computers at the public library.

How long have you been a NASCAR fan?
Since the age of eleven, in 1964.

Do you attend races, and which ones?
Until Pike’s Peak International Raceway closed, I was a regular at every Busch (Nationwide) Series race there, from 1998 until 2005. I also went to the CTS races, while we had them.

Since travel is difficult for me, my attendance at Cup races has been infrequent and sporadic, though I have been to races at Dover, TMS and Las Vegas.

What do you enjoy about your blog and the NASCAR blogging community?
The freedom of expression the blog affords, and the community itself. I enjoy reading other bloggers on the same subjects, and being able to exchange ideas and information, without the interference we so often find on the forums.

Is there anything you don’t enjoy about blogging, or the NASCAR online community?
If there is anything I don’t enjoy, it’s not being able to post as often as I would like to, but that is my own fault. There is nothing I don’t enjoy about the NASCAR online community. Every entry, and every comment–on my own blog or on someone else’s–is as interesting and enjoyable to me as opening Christmas presents was to me as a child.

Which do you enjoy more, blogging or forums?
Blogging, by far, for the reasons I have stated previously. I still participate in forums, which are still useful in finding subjects on which to write, especially for some of the satirical entries that have been posted on my blog. The conspiracy theorists and the forum members who are over-the-line fanatical about their favorite driver always provide good satirical subject matter.

You also started a NASCAR group at Blogcatalog. What is your hope for this group?
One of the things I intended was to introduce NASCAR bloggers to each other, and that purpose has been fulfilled pretty well. Another was to try to get a newsletter for the group members, but I did not get the feedback I needed for that project. Since the group was formed, Blogcatalog has developed new features that have pretty much made the site itself a bloggers’ newsletter. Ballhype has also picked up many NASCAR bloggers recently, so the idea of the group newsletter has been put on the back burner for now. I am still open to suggestions concerning a newsletter or group blog, however.

I still hope to see more active participation in the group as far as exchanging ideas for exposure, constructive criticism on the various blogs, and general discussion. The main idea is to increase exposure for the NASCAR bloggers and to find ways to do so. There are reportedly seventy million NASCAR fans out there, yet none of the NASCAR blogs rank as high as the number of potential readers would suggest. I would like to see more discussion in the group as to what we can do to reach those fans.

I am always searching for new NASCAR blogs and inviting new bloggers to the group. I think Blogcatalog itself has been instrumental in helping new bloggers gain readership.

Do you have a favorite driver?

I appreciate the skill and devotion to the sport of every racecar driver in every series, but I do have a favorite in Tony Stewart. I feel he has many of the same qualities as the drivers “back in the day” who attracted me to the sport in the first place.

Is there one thing that was key to your blog’s success?
I would say that active participation within the on-line community has been the one thing that would be the most important factor in the success of Rev’ Jim’s RantsnRaves.

Name something cool that has come as a result of your blog.
Honestly, and with no intention of brown-nosing, I would say the coolest thing is being interviewed for Trouble in Turn 2.

Do you have any strange or funny stories about your blog (funny or outrageous comments or emails from people, etc.)?
A Dale Earnhardt, Jr over the line fanatic and conspiracy theorist once left an anonymous comment that suggested that Tony Eury, Jr was going to HMS so he could continue to sabotage Jr’s efforts, and that Eury’s intentions were “not in Jr’s best interest.” I found that quite outrageous, funny, and a good topic for a blog entry.

Name something people wouldn’t otherwise know about you.
I am challenged in my writing by the constant presence of a pushy and stubborn cat in my lap while I’m writing. Her “help” with my typing, often causes me to backtrack to fix her mistakes, and often changes the tone of my writing. I appreciate her help, because it keeps things interesting for me, and contributes to the spontaneity of my writing style.