Dreams do (sort of) come true...

It's 1976. My neighbor Dave is the coolest kid I know. He's 9, plays drums, has a cooler bike, and gets to go to the KISS concert while my parents tell me I am too young to go. My bond with KISS grows stronger as I begin to wear disguises around town to hide my shame. Someday I shall make it to a KISS concert.


Years go by and I still have yet to attend a KISS concert. I am more mature now and, like KISS, no longer rely on masks. It is 1999 and I actually get to meet Gene Simmons - sort of. It's really this guy named Joe who is part of Dressed to Kill - a KISS tribute band.


Well here it is 10 years later and I am back behind the mask! I still haven't made it to my first KISS concert, but I do get to design KISS trading cards!!! Thanks Press Pass!!

Eric

Sonic Boom and KISS Tour Edition!

So by now most everyone knows that Kiss’ new album “Sonic Boom” releases on October 6 and will be sold exclusively through Wal-Mart. What you may not know is that Press Pass has a companion product that will be sold alongside the CD/DVD…

Kiss “Tour Edition” is a 33-card set with lots of bonus goodies (three collectible boxes and posters!) culled from 35 years of Kiss tours. Full of vintage photography as well as set lists and insider info from the tours, this exclusive set is one retrospective every Kiss fan will want. Attractively priced at $10 it will be a nice compliment to “Sonic Boom.”

The Kiss boys announced their U.S. tour plans this week. All stops were voted on by loyal members of the Kiss Army. They will be near our office on October 17th and we’ll be in the house!

And can you believe that Gene Simmons just turned 60?! Wow….

The Top Three's

With me being in sales during my 7+ year tenure at Press Pass Inc, my position has required me to travel across the U.S. to meet with existing customers, search for new business and to attend various tradeshows. Like anything there are pluses and minuses to traveling. On the plus side, I have been lucky enough to experience many different cities, restaurants and sporting events. On the downside, I have spent time away from my wife and my kids.

Let’s concentrate on the positive side and with that, I thought it might be interesting to share some of my favorite things from the road. Since everybody usually loves lists, I have compiled various “Top Three” lists ranging from favorite places to random thoughts.

Top Three BBQ Joints

1. Arthur Bryant’s-Kansas City: could eat there all day, be careful going at night

2. Charles Vergos’ Rendevous-Memphis: best dry ribs, don’t go on Monday

3. Fiorella’s Jack Stack-Kansas City: great burnt ends and brisket

Top Three Burger Places

1. In-N-Out Burger-West Coast-nothing comes close
2. Whataburger-South (but not in NC): please come to NC
3. Five Guys-East Coast: share an order of fries

Top Three Places I Want to Go

1. San Francisco-airport doesn’t count: great food in the airport though
2. Denver-see San Francisco
3. Milwaukee-just because

Top Three Underrated Places

1. Kansas City: obviously great BBQ, casinos, fountains, NFL, MLB and NASCAR, + two states
2. Columbus, OH: great arena and happening downtown area
3. Anywhere in West Virginia: Wild & Wonderful

Top Three (Four) Annoying Airline Passengers

1. The passenger that sits behind you and tells a stranger his/her life story so loud that even your IPOD can’t block out the conversation.
2. The passenger that snores (although sometimes that person is me).
3. The passenger that insists his/her carry-on will fit in the overhead compartment.
4. The passenger that chooses the Bloody Mary mix to drink, without the alcohol.

Top Three Random Airline Thoughts

1. The only time I drink Ginger Ale is on a plane.
2. The few times that I attempt to work the crossword puzzle in the complimentary airline magazine; it’s always completed by a previous passenger.
3. I never sit in row 13.

I’m off again in September to exotic places such as Indiana, Arkansas and Minnesota. Thanks for reading and for putting up with my drivel.

Kevin

Press Pass Goes Nuts With Dale Jr.

Just how close can Press Pass bring you to Dale Jr.? Very few things are as vital to getting the #88 around the racetrack as a lug nut. At 200 mph it clings tightly to make sure the wheels don’t fly off. So, when it comes to bringing you a piece of the action, lug nuts are about as close as you can get!

In the highly anticipated inaugural release of Wheels Main Event, Press Pass is excited to announce the inclusion of a limited number of Dale Earnhardt Jr. lug nut cards. Joining an already stellar Stop & Go Swatches memorabilia roster that includes the first-ever pit wall banner, pit stacker, and wheel cover cards, these Stop & Go Swatches Lug Nut cards are the ultimate way for Dale Jr collectors to get a piece of the action.

Wheels Main Event is Press Pass’ first poker-themed NASCAR set. Each 20-pack hobby box will contain one authentic NASCAR autograph and two memorabilia cards. As a bonus, also look for randomly inserted autographs from professional poker stars. Wheels Main Event releases September 30, 2009.

These smiles are what collecting is all about

Meet Eric and Nicole.

Having just attended the 2009 National Sports Collector’s Convention, we were fortunate enough to see tons of these smiles. It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to meet some of our collectors – to have those face-to-face discussions and really get to know our collectors.

Collecting is a hobby that millions of people are so passionate about and when I see a family collecting together like Eric and Nicole, or those families I met at the National, I smile just as big as Nicole pulling her Kyle Busch triple memorabilia card. It’s amazing to watch a hobby that began in the 1800’s being passed down and continue to the next generation of children today.

First Ever VIP Logo Edition Cards!

Check out a sneak peak of the Get A Grip and Lead Foot Logo Edition memorabilia cards that are included in the August release of VIP 2009. Each driver on the roster has an oversized glove or shoe patch featuring the manufacturer logo. All Logo Edition cards are sequentially numbered to five.

Lead Foot Logo Edition
Carl Edwards (Simpson logo)
Jimmie Johnson (Alpinestars logo)
Kevin Harvick (Puma logo)
Kyle Busch (Alpinestars logo)
Joey Logano (Sparco logo)

Get A Grip Logo Edition
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Adidas logo)
Jimmie Johnson (Alpinestars logo)
Kevin Harvick (Puma logo)
Kyle Busch (Alpinestars logo)
Kasey Kahne (Allstate logo)

Confessions of a Suddenly Lost DEI Fan

Last Tuesday, Martin Truex Jr., along with Michael Waltrip Racing, announced that the current EGR driver now has plans to drive for the 2-time Daytona 500 winner’s team next season. EGR, as you know, is the result of the Dale Earnhardt, Inc/Ganassi Racing partnership that occurred earlier this year. As far as the other EGR driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, his contract with Ganassi Racing (this did not change when the partnership took place) takes him to at least 2011 with the team. Do you see where I am going here?

So, the question that I pose to you, faithful DEI fans, is this: Who do we cheer for now?

When a racing team is wiped from existence due to economic downturn, the suspicious mixing of 2 prescription drugs, the loss of manufacturer support, not being able to race enough to even come close to the top 35 in owners points (and any other of the countless reasons why teams in 2009 have had to call it quits) — it becomes a sad time for all of those mourning their losses. Sad for DEI fans, especially. With all of the loss that this team has encountered over the past 8 years, it is a wonder that I have stuck around long enough to see it all progress to this. The moment for me is a difficult one, since I have been a DEI fan mainly because of association (yes, a large part to why I am a fan is in part that I have a family member who has worked there for many years). As I have watched this sport change over the years, I have come to realize that it is very tough to be a “true” fan of one specific driver for very long. The reasons will need to be listed, since it could get quite confusing:

Reasons why it is tough to be a “true” fan of one specific driver (for very long):

1. Good today, unpredictable tomorrow – Jeff, Carl, Kasey... Where did you guys go?!
2. Constant change of sponsorship — The days of a steady sponsorship deal are just about numbered (for all of you with the #8 Bud car tattooed on your tush...)
3. Lost in the shuffle of a new number — Poor Clint Bowyer fans, I bet you though he would be carrying your favorite Jack forever! I am sure that 07 CB hat has a nice dust bunny family living on it now...
4. He got married...had a kid...and gained 30lbs — For the ladies out there who were hung-up on their dreamboat of a driver... “He ain’t what he used to be”
5. They’ve gone over to the “dark side” -- Dale Jr fans, need I say more?
6. The mugshot isn’t as cool as the in-car camera — The “Do you know who I am?!” behavior has caused not only embarrassment for the team owner, but for the fans, too. (We can only make so many excuses for your off-track performance...)
7. The Retired or The Lost – Whether you were a Rusty Wallace fan or a Dale Earnhardt fan, you miss cheering their names.
8. Slap Fights – During a race, your favorite driver was spun out by their teammate – after the race, that favorite driver of yours decides to throw a “made you blink” air punch at his teammate – leaving you wondering why you cheered for him in the first place.
9. Team changed manufacturers – For the Chevy lovers…a Toyota just isn’t the same.
10. They just can’t win – Plain and simple.


As I have racked my brain for a full week, I cannot shake the thought that I will follow into a new season of racing, and not have a favorite. Can a fan just watch a race without the expectations of their favorite winning? As I type this, I am remembering the last few years of my life where I have watched (and listened – thanks to TrackPass scanner) every weekend and been disappointed with the outcome of many races…too many. The most interesting and exciting races have been those where some crazy things have happened and have lead to first wins, streak breakers, and championships won. As I look at the list above, I can’t help but think that these are the things that most fans love to see and hear about. It is like reality TV…most people deny that they watch it, but are secretly addicted to it.

If you can stick with “your driver” for a period of time (as every driver has their bad days…and their REALLY bad years), then I commend you – for this sport is full of unexpected turns…regardless if they are always turning the wheel to the left.

So, DEI fans, who will you be cheering for next year? Will you stick with Truex Jr. and follow him to MWR? Fall back on Dale Jr? Or will you be waiting for another young Earnhardt from the Nationwide Series…?

Kristen