Less than 10 questions with Rich O'Connor

So, after watching the re-air of the Sao Paulo Indy 300 (yes not only do I help put it on TV, I watch it all again, happily), I have found out that during the race there were 95 passes! Just throwing that out there...

Anyways, without any further ado, I have another installment of Less Than 10 Questions, this time with our qualifying and pre-race producer Rich O'Connor. Rich has produced everything from martial arts to the olympics (in fact he was in Vancouver this year just before the IZOD IndyCar season started). Please enjoy.

1. What is the most difficult part of producing a race from Brazil but being in Indy?

From a technical side, it’s just the communication – not being together as a single production team. It’s also difficult not being there. I miss getting to the track and seeing the cars, being around the drivers and teams… watching the fans arrive on race day.

2. What is one thing you think the IZOD IndyCar series needs?

I’d like to see some of the races outside of the Indy 500 somehow take on greater meaning. Certain events carry more tradition (Long Beach, Texas), but I’d like for some events to almost become Indy’s “majors” or “Grand Slams”.

3. You’ve produced a litany events both in range of material covered, and scale, what makes IndyCar special?

No event I’ve covered matches the speed of IndyCar. Nothing moves like one of our races. There’s no time out, scheduled tv break, etc. It’s special to keep up with it’s pace. And the fans are so passionate.

4. What would you say your favorite part of being a producer is?

I like developing a story. I love when we set up something in the pre-race show and then it really takes shape in the race itself. I don’t like to think of our selves as making predictions in the pre-race, but I do like to create characters you can choose to root for or against. And believe it or not, I also like when something happens and we have to throw the whole format out the widow. You hate to see all that preparation go away, but sometimes it’s fun just to go into a show and react to what’s happening.

5. In your career, the most random event you have produced was?

Hmm, the most random event? About 20 years ago, I was thrown into “American Gladiators”. I hated the idea at first because I didn’t think of it as a sports show, but I came to realize that to the 40 contestants a season I dealt with. AG was their Indy 500, their SuperBowl. And they had their own stories to tell.

6. When you were little, what was your dream job?

I was one of those kids who turned the sound off on NY Mets games and did my own play by play into a tape recorder. By the time I got to college, I knew the line to be in front of the camera was way longer than the line to be behind the camera, so I got into production. I still think it would be cool to do play by play for a minor league baseball or hockey team.

7. If I weren’t a TV producer, I would be a _______________.

I really don’t know. I’d hate to think about it. I know I enjoyed being a radio dj in college. I did a Top 40 show some days and a Hard Rock show the others, so it was cool being different characters. And now that I have young children, I realize how much I like to be around them… even neighborhood kids and kids my little ones meet at the park or beach. In that regard, I might like to be a teacher and coach.

8. The most interesting part of TV is _____________.

The people you meet. I’ve been doing this for 25+ years and I always meet great people. And I always learn something from every group I work with.

9. The last time I got lost in a city for a production was in ________________.

I don’t really get lost? I’ve been to so many cities so many times that I know my way around them pretty well. Some people will ride with me on trips and ask why I never use a map or gps. I just remember trips. I don’t know if it’s the last time, but the worst time was in the early 90’s and I was travelling to St Andrew’s in Scotland for the British Open. I did an event the Sunday before and took a red-eye over to Edinburgh. By the time I got into my rental car, I was fried and now I had to drive on the other side of the road. It was all small, country roads that I didn’t know. There were a dozen or so roundabouts. At more than one, I circled it 10 or more times before I decided which way to exit. I’m here today, so I guess I found my way

Brasil!

So, the Versus crew has gotten into Indianapolis yesterday and we are starting prep for the season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil! I must admit, that this is not my first rodeo when it comes to broadcasting international events, but believe me, the stress never changes. So many things become an integral part of the broadcast, and things that on the surface, don't necessarily seem like a big deal, can become huge! For one, please know, that while most of us are here in Indy to put the show together, there is also a group of us in Brazil. This brings in a huge logistics issue as we now, basically, have to be working off of Brazilian time which is +2 hours from Indy. You can almost hear the excitement in my voice when we have to be at work at 6 a.m... I know, you feel terrible for us. Having to cover racing and work at 6a.m.! Say it ain't so! I digress.

So as of right now, we're having issues talking to our crew that is in place in Brazil. Wahoo. Although late last night, a crew member down in Brazil thought it would be glorious to send me a text of the night life of Brazil. Suffice it to say, Indy in early March doesn't really compare to Sao Paulo... So a huge thanks for rubbing it in. At least the text communication is making it from Brazil. Our main mode of communication for our production meetings has been skype. Not trying to throw a plug, but if you need international video conferencing for free, skype is the way to go...as long as you have a decent internet connection...in both places...at the same time... Now we know the odds of that happening right now are pulling off at 1:28. Don't have a line yet on it from Vegas, but I'll keep you posted.

Despite the communication issues, I must admit the crew is completely upbeat, and we are all just chomping at the bit to get this season underway. There is a palpable hue of energy and excitement that you can feel around the crew, and it's definitely nice. It's like a family reunion that you're excited to go to. And the best part is, it's going to be happening all summer and fall! But honestly, we are like a family, and if you spent as much time in the back end of a semi traipsing across the country as we do, you'd be family too.

After watching the first two practice sessions, it looks like someone decided to pave the front stretch with ice and forgot to tell anyone about the decision. Although, there is a silver lining. It seems that Kanaan has gotten a boost and is sitting third, and Simona De Silvestro is the fastest of the rookies, and hasn't yet had a meeting with the wall. So it looks like we'll have some very entertaining story lines to bring you, as if starting the season in Brazil wasn't enough! So, settle down and get ready to watch qualifying with us today!

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