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-   -   Where's Mr. Klepper? (https://www.indianaopenwheel.com/showthread.php?t=30903)

DonMoore10 4/18/10 7:12 PM

Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
???????

Charles Nungester 4/18/10 7:22 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
???????

Hes at Maid Rite

DonMoore10 4/18/10 7:28 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
UH... Uh.... What's Maid Rite? A cleaning service? LOL

Charles Nungester 4/18/10 7:33 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I think hes doing some WoO LM stuff. I know he was last year.

I do know a USAC race without Klepper is MISSING SOMETHING!

Sprint63122 4/18/10 7:38 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
This announcer is doing a great job appreciate it online live again tonight.

DonMoore10 4/18/10 7:42 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
Uh... Uh... Is that 200 miles or 48 hours from Kokomo? LOLOLOLOL

hoosierfan 4/18/10 7:50 PM

Mills said he was busy working on the Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour stuff.
Posted via Mobile Device

DonMoore10 4/18/10 7:59 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
In that case, Klepper looses all points toward the National Announcers championship.

Sprint63122 4/18/10 8:06 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by DonMoore10:
In that case, Klepper looses all points toward the National Announcers championship.

You can bet that they probably waived the penalty for not being there tonight

speed bump 4/18/10 8:23 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
We really want to thank both USAC and D. MILLS for putting these races on the internet.
We do need Klepper , but the guy tonight at Kokomo is doing OK .
Thank`s again for bringing this live to us....

AustinSprinter 4/18/10 9:08 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by Sprint63122:
You can bet that they probably waived the penalty for not being there tonight

The only thing bein waived is RK's salary!!....usually by the host facility!!.....when thats da case....he works elsewhere!!....Hez got bills just like da rest of us!!....just not da same without all his USAC "KNOWLEDGE" present!!....A shame they don't wana pay for it!!....
_______________
Brucer':32:

AlkyMadness 4/18/10 9:50 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I thought the announcer tonight did a great job. He was he?

Nothing against Klepper, appreciated hearing him at Hickory with the midgets, but want to give credit where credits due.

CRA91 4/18/10 10:12 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I saw him on t.v yesterday as a pit reporter on the Lucas Motorsports Hour show,it was showing an off road truck race.

Dustin Proffitt 4/18/10 10:24 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
Tonights announcer did a fine job. :6:

jawbone 4/18/10 11:40 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
USAC won't pay him I talked to him on facebook.

Seadog 4/19/10 8:06 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by hoosierfan:
Mills said he was busy working on the Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour stuff.
Posted via Mobile Device

Saw an off-road truck race on Speed yesterday and Klepper was in the pits interviewing guys.

DonMoore10 4/19/10 9:21 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
Mr. Klepper won't have any trouble finding work. He's very good at what he does. He's on his way up. He and his bro Clay are great people. He did a one on one interview with Mario Andretti on Speed Channel not too long ago and it got 4 stars in my book. It was about as good as it gets.

Don Moore

SprintLuvr 4/19/10 9:42 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by Dustin Proffitt:
Tonights announcer did a fine job. :6:

Yes, I would have to agree that it was a fine job, but who wants to be just fine. If someone tells me what I did was fine, I am pretty mad that I didn't do a better job. I went to Lawrenceburg and Kokomo and at both, the announcer was fluff, he stated the obvious, over an over and over again. He actually told the fans at Lawrenceburg that it's never good when parts come flying off of a car. Really? That's the best he had? I bet a first timer to a sprint show could deduce that himself! I believe he was fine for the novice in the stands but 99 percent of the fans going to the sprint races are more knowledgeable than that. The local announcer at Lawrenceburg kept breaking in to fill the fans in on what was going on and give them the inside look they weren't getting from the USAC announcer.

My other issue with him was that he kept calling Robert Ballou, Bobby B. I understand he was trying to jazz it up a bit but he just sounded like he didn't even know the racers he was announcing. It was like going to a funeral when the people speaking about the deceased never even knew him, it's painful! I asked Robert at Komomo if anyone ever calls him Bobby and he said no, other than this announcer guy who he didn't even know. I felt that it made him sound as if he knew nothing because if you can't get a drivers name right that you are announcing then what good are you to the fans. If Robert wanted to be called Bobby, he would put that on his entry and the the side of his race car.

I do enjoy Rob Klepper because he is intelligent, knows his racers and knows how to inform a crowd. I understand he cannot be at every race, but USAC needs to pay a traveling announcer to follow the series as Johnny Gibson does with the World of Outlaws. They need someone who knows the racers, knows what is going on with the teams and the organization, week in and week out, and in my opinion the person for that position is Rob Klepper.

Susannah Stapp

DonMoore10 4/19/10 9:55 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I was thrown off everytime that announcer said Bobby B. Hmm.. Who is that?? Let's see... Bobby B./// Could be Bobby E. (Bobby East). OR..

Could be the 60's singer ( who is a great singer).. Bobby Vee! LOLOLOLOLOL I don't think he drove sprint cars or does. hahahaha

smallguy 4/19/10 11:28 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by SprintLuvr:
Yes, I would have to agree that it was a fine job, but who wants to be just fine. If someone tells me what I did was fine, I am pretty mad that I didn't do a better job. I went to Lawrenceburg and Kokomo and at both, the announcer was fluff, he stated the obvious, over an over and over again. He actually told the fans at Lawrenceburg that it's never good when parts come flying off of a car. Really? That's the best he had? I bet a first timer to a sprint show could deduce that himself! I believe he was fine for the novice in the stands but 99 percent of the fans going to the sprint races are more knowledgeable than that. The local announcer at Lawrenceburg kept breaking in to fill the fans in on what was going on and give them the inside look they weren't getting from the USAC announcer.

My other issue with him was that he kept calling Robert Ballou, Bobby B. I understand he was trying to jazz it up a bit but he just sounded like he didn't even know the racers he was announcing. It was like going to a funeral when the people speaking about the deceased never even knew him, it's painful! I asked Robert at Komomo if anyone ever calls him Bobby and he said no, other than this announcer guy who he didn't even know. I felt that it made him sound as if he knew nothing because if you can't get a drivers name right that you are announcing then what good are you to the fans. If Robert wanted to be called Bobby, he would put that on his entry and the the side of his race car.

I do enjoy Rob Klepper because he is intelligent, knows his racers and knows how to inform a crowd. I understand he cannot be at every race, but USAC needs to pay a traveling announcer to follow the series as Johnny Gibson does with the World of Outlaws. They need someone who knows the racers, knows what is going on with the teams and the organization, week in and week out, and in my opinion the person for that position is Rob Klepper.

Susannah Stapp

Susannah,

I'm glad that you signed your name to your post, which shows a lot of integrity, and thanks for the feedback...I was wondering what, if anything, would be said by anyone about how I did with this weekend's stuff.

Just to give you a little background, I've been calling races for 24 years now, starting with the DIRT circuit in the northeast (as both a PA guy and TV pit reporter) and now branching out to doing some USAC events when Klepper's not available.

I'm sorry if I came off sounding 'novice'...this was the first real weekend swing I've done with the AMSOIL Sprint Car Series (I usually do the Mopar .25 Midgets) and I'm just getting to know the drivers and teams.

You are right that 'Bobby B' was my own creation to jazz it up a bit...and if Robert would prefer I not use it, I'm fine with that, too...(Robert, if you read these boards and want to comment, don't hesitate to send me a PM)...

If anyone else has feedback, good or bad, I'd love to hear it...you can't improve or give people what they want unless they tell you!

Thanks everyone!
Paul Szmal

cmakin 4/19/10 11:28 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I always thought that Bobalooo would be a great nickname. But I guess not so many folks would get the Ricky Ricardo tie in. . . . .

cowboyhar69 4/19/10 11:43 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I have to give credit to Paul Szmal for responding on this board. A lot of people don't take criticism well. Hats off to you. I am sure being an announcer is not as easy as it seems....and we all have heard some really lousy ones over the years.

Tim Wolffrum aka Cowboy

smallguy 4/19/10 11:47 AM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
Thanks Tim, hopefully I'm not one of those really lousy ones (LOL)...like I said, IMO you can't get better at what you do without some feedback from the fans...so have at it, all...positive and negative criticisms welcome!

Paul

Chris Nunn 4/19/10 12:04 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I wouldnt put the curse on being an announcer on my worst enemy. Its fun sometimes, but then at other times, you definitely cant please everybody.

Danny Burton 4/19/10 12:16 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by cmakin:
I always thought that Bobalooo would be a great nickname. But I guess not so many folks would get the Ricky Ricardo tie in. . . . .

Only those of a certain age or those who love I Love Lucy reruns.

I recall seeing Paul on TV a few years back when DIRT Modifieds were on TNN, I think it was.

Give him time. He will learn.

apexonephoto 4/19/10 12:47 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I enjoyed reading both Susannah's thread and Paul's reply.

My name is James, that's how I introduce myself, that's what is on my birth certificate, and people love to call me Jim.... Not sure where all the abbreviations came from.

What I wonder is how a racetrack or a sanctioning body using a price increase passed on to the consumer to have a certain announcer call races would fly?

I am a little different then the fan who sits in the stands, as I probably haven't been up front at a racetrack in 5-6 years. I'm either in the pits or in the infield and never hear the announcer.

Not to say that announcing isn't important, and that hearing a certain familiar voice, who is knowledgeable about the drivers isn't relavent, but are we splitting hairs here? If it's USAC's responsibility to bring an announcer I would address it with them or the track holding a race.

Three nights of USAC sprint cars and this is one of the important topics? I am sure Rob Klepper had to start somewhere as we all do at our respective jobs.

short track scott 4/19/10 12:52 PM

Paul Szmal is the real deal. See 'Rush Hour on DIRT' to check his cred.

For some reason "Cowboy" Paul Szmal rings a history bell. Did you have that nickname in the 90s?

As for the knocks on your call, at least you know you were being heard, right?

Rob does a great job. He has the insight, rapport and experience to be a vital but at the very same time unnoticed element of the show. Not much ever said, good or bad, about his work until someone fills in. And that's ok-most announcers (except the egomaniacs) approach the job with a focus on complementing the action but not distracting from it. Filling in feels A LOT like walking through a cow pasture blindfolded. You have to get through it somehow, you can smell it, but you can't tell if you stepped in it until you do!

Definitely NOT a slam to Paul, but once again with Rob being an asset to the show, let USAC know!

I'd be willing to bet Rob's help on the off-road tv gig was more valuable than his being with the sprints in essentially their backyard with knowledgeable fans.

Sorry this got so wordy, gang.
Fire when ready
Posted via Mobile Device

Mud Packer 4/19/10 1:21 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I travel to a lot of different race tracks and see a number of different series race. Announcers come in a lot of different packages. I particularly don't care for the "homers". They to me are only there to shill for that track and the racers there. Seldom do they offer any information that a "outsider" like me would care to hear.

I also don't like the ones who rely on someone else to do their homework. If you are too lazy to hit the pits and gather your own information, do us all a favor and quit. Don't start out by telling all of us that you are waiting for the sheet to come upstairs from the pits with the drivers names and numbers.

Then you have the ones that have so much information they don't know when to stop. They give you tidbits of information that add nothing to that evenings racing program. They talk to hear themselves talk.

With that being said, Paul isn't like any of them. I thought he provided the necessary information to keep fans informed. He has a pleasant voice, a good delivery and he doesn't yell. I feel for him because he has "huge" shoes to fill when subbing for Rob Klepper. All I can say is Paul, hang in there as the board can be extremely brutal at times. Keep up the good work.

One quick question. Who was the USAC announcer before Rob Klepper?

wildthing1h 4/19/10 1:28 PM

I will have to agree rob knows what he's doing. Same goes for the flagman in the stand. I feel that USAC has one of the best around. Nobody is as good as he is. I've seen guys who need to be more like tom. I know usac has used a few others and they weren't as home as tom. Just my opinion so same goes for the announcer but give them time and they'll be just as good as rob.
Posted via Mobile Device

smallguy 4/19/10 1:28 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by short track scott:
Paul Szmal is the real deal. See 'Rush Hour on DIRT' to check his cred.

For some reason "Cowboy" Paul Szmal rings a history bell. Did you have that nickname in the 90s?


Posted via Mobile Device

Funny you should mention that...yeah, the "Cowboy" comes from me wearing a cowboy hat on the air during the 'Rush Hour on DIRT' broadcasts...kinda funny that people still remember that, since I did my last 'Rush Hour' back in 1999...

The USAC people refer to me as "Cowboy" as well, which I get a chuckle out of...

quicktime3 4/19/10 1:42 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I thought Paul did a fantastic job, especially for jumping in for a weekend out of nowhere...

cmakin 4/19/10 2:29 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by cowboyhar69:
I have to give credit to Paul Szmal for responding on this board. A lot of people don't take criticism well. Hats off to you. I am sure being an announcer is not as easy as it seems....and we all have heard some really lousy ones over the years.

Tim Wolffrum aka Cowboy

Didn't Paul do the Dirt Rush Hour, or something like that? As I recall, it was the weekly DIRT modified race report on the Fox sports channels.

---------- Post added at 01:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

Originally Posted by smallguy:
Funny you should mention that...yeah, the "Cowboy" comes from me wearing a cowboy hat on the air during the 'Rush Hour on DIRT' broadcasts...kinda funny that people still remember that, since I did my last 'Rush Hour' back in 1999...

The USAC people refer to me as "Cowboy" as well, which I get a chuckle out of...

Oh, look. I read down and find the answer. I spent a couple of years a long time ago announcing, out west at the then Hangtown Speedway. It is an easy gig to do poorly and a tough job to do well. I think that I fell somewhere in the middle. I was young (in high school) but would spend the first two hours I was at the track in the pits, getting as much information as I possibly could. I was lucky enough to have a couple of good teachers that were local broadcasters, though.

Tony Barhorst 4/19/10 2:51 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
Paul is a very good announcer in his own right. He just has not been around to build up a fan base as long as Rob Klepper has. Many people know Rob personally.

Paul has good experience and has worked huge events in other motorsport venues.

Tony Barhorst
rumbleseries.com

SprintLuvr 4/19/10 3:58 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I don't believe that USAC had an "in house" announcer before Klepper. I believe they used Pat Sullivan, Brad Dickison, maybe Kimb Stewart and the actual track announcers before, and I think in an organization of this caliber they should have a Voice on hand who knows how to promote USAC on the PA as well as the USAC drivers and teams who are what the fans come out to see. I would think that would be higher on the list of priorities. I personally think Rob Klepper does a fantastic job of both knowing his audience and knowing his topics of discussion and I feel that he is a great asset to USAC. Regardless of who is that "Voice of USAC" I do believe they should have one.


Paul, I appreciate your job and I don't want to do it, but I do want whoever is doing it to do it well. It's always easier to be the critic! I understand that it was your first USAC big weekend and again you did fine and you do have a strong voice. I do feel if given the chance you could get to know the racers and deliver the information that we want to hear. I do enjoy Rob Klepper, again, because I love his intelligence of the sport (truth be know his little buddy Chuckie...not my favorite so there are pros and cons of everyone!) but my point is if you get out and and learn about the USAC teams and drivers and deliver pertinent information, I will enjoy you too. I still also believe that sprint car racing has some of the smartest fans out there and those fans should hold you to a higher standard and expect to get knowledgeable information and not just "talk" out of the microphone. Now, on the Bobby B part, maybe we could work on it! Lol. It did come across as you not knowing him and assuming that if his name is Robert he must go by Bobby. Whether that was the case or not, it is how I perceived it as well as some others around me in the pit stands, as several of us did discuss it. Knowing Robert the way I do and feeling that Bobby just does not fit him, I didn't like it but again it is just my opinion. I do think it is better to promote them as they are known, as their name is their keystone in this business. I wish you good luck and I will be listening with an open mind (ear!)

Susannah Stapp

Danny Burton 4/19/10 4:55 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
Susannah, huge 10-4 on Chuckie. Wish he and NA$CAR's Digger could simply go away.

Miss Rob as well, but enjoy hearing and seeing him when I record the mudcabs on TV, along with the good DA, Mr. Argabright.

And my memory is jarred by the mention of Paul's cowboy hat, much bigger than mine.:18:

AustinSprinter 4/19/10 5:00 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by jawbone:
USAC won't pay him I talked to him on facebook.

Why isn't he paid outa da upfront,USAC sanction fee,promoters are charged to get a race on USAC's schedule??....or is that for the purpose of Purse's/Pts.funds only??........anybody seen it in a rule book??........
_____________
Brucer':32:

CRA91 4/19/10 6:54 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by AustinSprinter:
Why isn't he paid outa da upfront,USAC sanction fee,promoters are charged to get a race on USAC's schedule??....or is that for the purpose of Purse's/Pts.funds only??........anybody seen it in a rule book??........
_____________
Brucer':32:

Because it cuts into the USAC officals Buffet Fund:5::5::5:

Topless77 4/19/10 7:29 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 

Originally Posted by CRA91:
Because it cuts into the USAC officals Buffet Fund:5::5::5:

Nice:5:

LvnRacn 4/20/10 2:31 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
I attended all three nights of sprint racing in Indiana. I thought the announcer had a nice presentation and a great voice for the PA. My only complaint would be that I like to write down time trials and lineups for all the races. He tended not to give the car number until after all the sponsors, etc., and sometimes not at all. I would prefer he give the car number first. Then he can say whatever he wants about the driver and sponsors. I also would like it if he would repeat at least 2-3 times each lap time. When the cars are on the track you can't always hear the times. That would give me more opportunity to catch the times. Obviously, ideally, it would be great if he could give the line-up before the cars come out on the track. Thanks for your time.

Linda Bredeson
Vice President
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association Fan Club

a tall Short fan 36 4/20/10 5:00 PM

Re: Where's Mr. Klepper?
 
nobody says jerry coooooooooooonnnnnnnnnssssss jr. like klepper ....NOBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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