Since there’s more to life than Mickey Mouse alone … This past weekend, I thought that I’d sneak away to the Poconos for a little NASCAR action.
Photo by Jeff Lange
And — to be honest — it was a pretty exciting time. By that I mean: I got to watch 25-year-old Carl Edwards edge out 21-year-old Brian Vickers to win the Poconos 500. Not to mention getting to see NASCAR legends like Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett and Dale Eanhardt, Jr. in action.
So — all in all — it was fun to be in a Disney-free zone for a while. Or — at least — I thought that the Poconos Raceway would be a Disney-free zone. Until I saw this sign.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Herbie is here?! Really?
Well, I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised. After all, a lot of the movie studios are now using NASCAR cars & events to help promote their pictures. Take — for example — this photo of Car No. 18. Which — in addition to being sponsored by Interstate Battery — prominently features Marty the Zebra. The character that comedian Chris Rock voices in Dreamworks’ latest animated feature, “Madagascar.”
Photo by Jeff Lange
So — figuring that Jim would kill me if I didn’t find out what sort of on-site promotion Walt Disney Pictures was doing for “Herbie: Fully Loaded” — I hiked on over to the Nextel Experience building at the raceway …
Photo by Jeff Lange
Only to find a large number of race fans already in line …
Photo by Jeff Lange
Eager to get a free souvenir photo …
Photo by Jeff Lange
Which — via blue screen technology — would insert these folks into a photo right alongside of the Love Bug.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Me personally? I thought that it was kind of a gyp for Nextel to promote what they were doing at the Poconos Raceway as a “Free Picture with Herbie.” When — truth be told — it was actually a “Free Picture of You Standing in Front of a Picture of Herbie.”
But — that said — Nextel is doing an awful lot to make people aware of this upcoming Walt Disney Pictures release. Everything from offering its customers free downloads of special “Herbie: Fully Loaded” ringtones or access to an on-line Herbie racing game. Even a contest that will win some lucky individual a family trip to Orlando, FL. You can learn about all of these “Herbie” -related goodies by following this link.
But — to be honest — I guess I more enjoyed getting the chance to see this mechanics work their magic on this car upclose …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… Than I did getting this cheesy bluescreen photo of me and Herbie “together.”
Photo by Jeff Lange
Ah, the things I do for JimHillMedia.com …