SEE ME, FEEL ME: Speedway Motorsports (SMI) and
Atlanta-based Immersion Entertainment have joined to offer
race fans head-mounted displays that enable them to see and
hear what the driver sees and hears during a NASCAR race.
The system, called "The Insider," allows users to switch to
different drivers during the race. "The Insider" will
initially be available in private suites at SMI's tracks,
beginning August 28 at Bristol (SMI). The new technology is
profiled by Dan Morse of the WALL STREET JOURNAL, who writes
it allows "fans to feel as if they have stepped into the
body of a race-car driver." Sheer Asset Management Analyst
Tim Connolly, who tried out the system: "It was, really,
pretty cool" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/19).
NOTES: About 140,000 Reebok Classic Leather Zip
sneakers are "being recalled because part of the shoe may
come off and pose a choking hazard to young children"
(Mult., 7/17)....McDonald's franchise owner David Mullins
has given one of his Jacksonville-area stores a "Jaguars
theme," with the inside decor featuring the team's colors of
teal, gold and black and team memorabilia. The team "does
not have a stake in the restaurant" (FL TIMES-UNION,
7/17)....Home Depot "plans to boost to 100 the number of
Olympic athletes and hopefuls on its payroll" around the
U.S. The company already has 66 athletes, who are "required
to work 1,040 hours a year" (AP, 7/18)....In AZ, Russ Wiles
examined sports marketing efforts of mutual funds, noting
American Century's deal with NBC Sports and Sun America's
deal with the Yankees. Wiles: "The vast majority of sports-
oriented advertising is based on brand recognition rather
than, say, product details. It may take a long-time before
you see a fund's performance numbers or its Morningstar
rating light up the scoreboard" (AZ REPUBLIC, 7/18).
