Kudos to the two clubs as well asStafford Speedway for the recent story in the Travel Section of the NY Times, that liberal bastion of journalism.  It’s not often that racing gets favorable and knowledgeble treatment in the mainstream media.

Here’s a link:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/travel/escapes/24super.html?dpc

I understand the importance of sponsorship to racing, but isn’t it getting a little out of hand?

Here are the first two sentences of the race report on the Formula Atlantic race at Lime Rock Park July 18, 09. Of course, as you’ll see, it ain’t “Formula Atlantic” anymore.

The italics are mine:

“2009 Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda points leader Simona De Silvestro became the winningest woman driver in the 36-year of the series with another dominating performance at Lime Rock Park.

“Driving the No. 78 Stargate Worlds/Maakoa/Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment/FireSky/Cardinal Technologies machine for Team Stargate Worlds, De Silvestro started from the pole position and led every lap en route to a 10.004-second victory over John Edwards.”

And all for exposure in a series that barely garners coverage in oval-crazed America.  Impressive job by Simona, though.

According to the Boston Globe, the group “Little People of America” has called for the Federal Communications Commission to ban the use of the word “midget” on broadcast TV.

Leaders of the group claim the word is as offensive as a racial slur.  Evidently the word was used during an episode of Celebrity Aprrentice, which, of course, is a TV show offensive to all people.

“Historically, the word ‘midget’ has been used to objectify people, like in the circus,” Clinton Brown III, co-chair of the National Conference of Little People of America, stated.  “We’re in the 21st century. We’re beyond that.”

“This is not just a complaint,” said the father of one little person, “but a kickoff to educate American that the ‘M-word’ is offensive to little people.”

It’s only a matter of time…