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View Full Version : Microsoft pulls a fast one on me



WickerBill
06-03-03, 11:25 PM
So, you're wondering, what is this doing in the ChampCar forum?

You'll see.


I'm at this Microsoft technical conference in Dallas this week. And as per usual, they have a "vendor expo", where various geeky companies peddle their wares and also peddle various knick-knacks. So I'm travelling through, grabbing pens and frisbees and the like. Suddenly I'm at the end of the row and something smacks me in the face: I hear Tommy Kendall. He's calling the Long Beach race. I look up, and what do I see... RHR's showcar and a *huge* ChampCar-Microsoft collaboration booth/tent set up. Very cool! So I go to take pictures and provide the car answer man with some much-needed intelligent conversation about the car he's guarding (to this point, he tells me, the most intelligent question he's heard goes like this: "is that the gear shifter thingy?").

I decide to post this, but decided to go back today to get some pictures to add to the post. Here's what happened:

The left end of the booth:
http://www.offcamber.net/images/cc1.jpg

Walked down to the other end to photograph the show car:
http://www.offcamber.net/images/cc2.jpg

The driving suits on display: Ryan's and Danica's (note the sign says "Who's got the advantage?" heh heh):
http://www.offcamber.net/images/cc3.jpg

Inside, components of the Pi system (that actually uses Microsoft code, yikes!):
http://www.offcamber.net/images/cc4.jpg

Decided to back out and snap this picture of the trailer which has a nice picture of Danica on it, and I notice something/someone at the table that wasn't there just a second ago when I went inside:
http://www.offcamber.net/images/cc5.jpg

It's Ryan himself.
http://www.offcamber.net/images/cc6.jpg


Long story short, I talked with him for a good 15 minutes, he was horribly bored and nobody wanted his autographed picture. He was happy to talk shop with someone (even me) and told me how much he was looking forward to night racing at Cleveland after going through Milwaukee.

So anyway, there's my story, for what it's worth.

Ziggy
06-03-03, 11:27 PM
Cool, keep up the good work!

Ziggy

nrc
06-03-03, 11:51 PM
Microsoft? CART is clearly doomed. http://www.brainaideddesign.co.uk/phpBB/smiles/borgsmile.gif

What was the registration for? Did you suggest to Ryan that he should stop crying about the Reynard and focus on being the fastest Reynard? Or at least the fastest, non-Walker Reynard?

chop456
06-03-03, 11:54 PM
So how about MS throwing a little sponsorship bone American Spirit's way?

Just a (unrealistic) thought.

RaceGrrl
06-04-03, 12:07 AM
Very cool, WB. I kinda feel sorry for RHR that nobody wanted his autograph. He looks pleased in the pic though. You made his day. :)

Hink
06-04-03, 12:12 AM
Originally posted by nrc
Microsoft? CART is clearly doomed. http://www.brainaideddesign.co.uk/phpBB/smiles/borgsmile.gif

Hey!

Joelski
06-04-03, 12:17 AM
That's cool WB. Nice little surprise. I'm sure you made Ryan's day by rescuing him from the boredom!

Chief
06-04-03, 12:29 AM
WB, did you quiz him on the "used up" tubs rumor, that he doesn't have any left?? Great job buddy, their trying!!! Some how it's got to be worth it.:)

nrc
06-04-03, 02:03 AM
Originally posted by Hink
Hey!

Sorry, Unix geek reflex action. :) Now that they've licensed Unix IP I'm sure everything will be fine. ;)

Hink
06-04-03, 03:40 AM
No worries - just kidding around. My guess is that it's one of those "CE shows up in strange places" things.

cart7
06-04-03, 06:23 AM
originally posted by Chief
WB, did you quiz him on the "used up" tubs rumor, that he doesn't have any left??
Well, I see at least one left. ;)

cart7
06-04-03, 06:26 AM
originally posted by the boss
Inside, components of the Pi system (that actually uses Microsoft code, yikes!):
I wonder if they make changes to the mapping or telemetry of the car during a race weekend, they have to hook the car up to the internet and register those changes with MS? :laugh:

RaceChic
06-04-03, 08:02 AM
That was a cool illustrated story. :thumbup:
Just concerned that at a Microsoft technical conference that more people weren't interested in those beautiful cars and made bonehead statements like. "Aren't those the gear shifter thingies?" :shakehead
And yes, at first I did wonder why this was in the CART section. I thought you had gotten lost in your own forum. :D

Warlock!
06-04-03, 08:08 AM
Looks like Ryan is thankin' Christ for the video blackjack on his cell phone. Either that or he's pluggin' Danica's number into it...

Warlock!

Napoleon
06-04-03, 08:12 AM
Nice Story 'bill.

Turn7
06-04-03, 08:41 AM
Cool story WB....

How long before some other site posts, "Our seceret sources tell us that RHR has the inside track to a Microsoft sponsored Busch Series car now that he is out of tubs in CART. And as always, remember that you heard it hear first!"

FTG
06-04-03, 09:42 AM
In the picture, RHR is the good looking one, right?
;)

WickerBill
06-04-03, 09:45 AM
RHR is the one who would fit in a ChampCar. :P

Anyway, he's standing on a little platform (maybe 2-3 inches) but he's still quite tall for a racer. Probably something like 6f2i.

racer2c
06-04-03, 10:20 AM
Thanks for the pics WB, very cool.

MS should throw some Xbox logos on some cars.

JoeBob
06-04-03, 12:51 PM
I knew I should have gone to Tech-Ed this year!