Michael got things started this afternoon at his 2nd Annual Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race. I have the start of it on video for you. (If it doesn’t play for you then check back in a few minutes since it’s stil processing on YouTube)
In the video you’ll see the tractor that all the contestants will sign after they race. It’s showing the course to demonstrate for everyone so they can see what they need to do.
Dont forget to check out the photo album.
I don’t know what the temperature is out here today at the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race but it hasn’t killed the enthusiasm of this crowd. They are into this event.
We’re just having a great time watching these celebrities compete. It’s all for a good cause as this year’s tractor that they’re all signing will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to FFA and the charity of the winner’s choice.
I’ve got video and audio to edit and post for you later on today but out here at the race just isn’t the best place to try to do it.
The first driver in the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race was Lee Brice. He set a pretty high standard.
His time however has been beat and the current leader is A. J. Clark with a time of 53.8 seconds.
I don’t think we’ll have a crowd count but it looks to me like we’ve got twice as many people out here today as last year. If this thing gets any bigger we might have to move to L.P. Field next year!
I guess we’ll have to call it the Mike and Mike show here today. Both Mike’s will be on the microphone announcing and talking with the celebrities as they stop by for their turn at racing a New Holland Boomer.
Here’s Mike Adams (left) and Michael Peterson studying the list of contestants and making sure they’re ready for things.
Besides a crowd it looks like we’ve got a number of media representatives out this year covering the event. It’ll be interesting to see where all this shows up.
We’re live on the scene here for the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race.
Here’s our announcer, Mike Adams, AgriTalk, interviewing Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board prior to the activities. We don’t start until 1pm but there’s already a crowd gathered on the bleachers in the sun. It’s a hot one and the tractor racing action is going to be even hotter.
I’ll try to put some posts up during the afternoon as time allows.
While I was on stage this morning when Michael Peterson performed I got a short video clip. It’s only 30 seconds long because that’s all we’re allowed to use from any performance due to CMA media rules.
I just thought you might want to get a feel for the performance and the crowd and this is a way to do that pretty easily. The song Michael is performing here with his band is one of the new ones that will be coming out later this year.
It’s about time to take a break for the day here at the CMA Music Festival. Tomorrow I’ll be covering (pictures and interviews) at the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race. My hope is to have my posts done by tomorrow night before I head out of here early on Monday.
The race starts at 1pm and will take quite a while since I think Michaels said he’s got 34 contestants this year. I know Tanya Tucker is back and she’s hungry for victory.
Jay Leno wanted a jet engine of a car and he got one. It’s called the EcoJet and it runs on 100% biodiesel and cranks out 650 horsepower showing that this alternative fuel is high performance.
I interviewed Steve Reich about the car. He works for Jay Leno doing logistics which includes traveling around with this car lately. The EcoJet was designed by Jay working with General Motors. Steve says that the car is very light weight and should be able to hit about 220 mph. I’m guessing that when Jay drives it to the studio to do his show he’ll be doing the speed limit. Right?
Having the car on display here at the New Holland tent came about after Gene Hemphill, New Holland Public Affairs Director, met with Steve and Jay in Burbank when Jay decided to get a New Holland Boomer to move cars around in his garage. Here’s my interview with Steve: cma-07-reich.mp3
In the Chevy Sports Zone you’ll find the New Holland tent and it’s a busy place. It looks out over where the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race will take place tomorrow afternoon.
People who stop by the booth can enter a drawing to win one of five $100 Cabela’s gift cards. That’s a nice prize and one that they’re getting lots of entries for. Also on display is the New Holland Boomer compact tractor that all the celebrities will be signing who compete in the tractor race. This year’s tractor will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to the FFA and the charity of the winner’s choice.
Last year’s tractor is still up for auction until midnight tonight. Don’t forget to place your bid if you’re interested. You can find the auction here.
After Michael Peterson’s performance this morning on the Riverfront Stage he was interviewed by the Great American Country channel.
Here he’s being interviewed by Suzanne Alexander. Suzanne has her own blog on the GAC site called Music Row Ramblings. I just kind of tagged along to see how it went. The GAC has a nice studio like setup for interviews with the Riverfront Stage as a backdrop. You can see video of interviews they do with the stars on the website.
