OWRS hires WHO???

[Dov]

From Champweb... http://www.champweb.net/headline.php?t=h&id=26144

The Champ Car World Series today announced the hiring of former Wisconsin State Fair Park-Milwaukee Mile CEO Joe Chrnelich to the position of Executive Vice President of Development, Government Affairs and Planning, effective August, 2004.

In his new position, Chrnelich will be responsible for managing Champ Car relationships with race promoters, identifying and investigating prospective race venues and completing the 2005 Champ Car World Series schedule. The former two-time captain of the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team has many years of experience dealing with racing organizations from the promoter's side, as part of his duties with the Wisconsin State Fair Park.

[SPRacer]

Sounds like a nice guy. Maybe now he'll ask for a Lola to putz around town in...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/feb03/118215.asp

[SPRacer]

Well, link may not work. Here is a copy of the article I was trying to post...

With the State Fair grappling with a $1.4 million deficit, what would you guess is a top concern for its boss, Joe Chrnelich?

Try, getting a free set of wheels.

A series of memos dating back to September show that figuring out how to get a car at no charge is weighing heavily on the mind of Chrnelich, who makes $143,000 in salary and bennies each year.

But, to hear him explain it, certain perks are God-given rights to important executives like himself.

Chrnelich is so sure his board will give him the car that he won't even pursue buying a new one on his own until the issue is resolved. Instead, he's putzing around West Allis in a 1982 Chrysler that had been his father's.

"Put yourself in my shoes, guys," Chrnelich said Thursday. "If you're the chief executive for any other company or even a state agency, you get a car. And I'm sitting here - 'Should I reinvest in a new car right now when this is still out there?'

"Well, I'll give it a little more time to see if the board is willing to address it. If they won't, yeah, I'll go out and lease a new car, buy a new car."

We can't vouch for every top exec in the country, but we do know that very few of the suits running the state get full-time use of a state vehicle.

"Ooooh no, definitely not," said Susan Goodwin, Gov. Jim Doyle's chief of staff, who was interviewed while driving her own car Thursday evening. "Nobody has a car, except the governor."

Chrnelich, who's been the fair chief for about 11/2 years, started finagling for a free ride last fall, just when the lease on his family van was expiring.

Since the board couldn't mess with his request ASAP, Chrnelich cut a deal with the company that operates the Milwaukee Mile track on the state fair grounds. While some may raise eyebrows over his asking a vendor for a favor, Chrnelich was sure he was covered because he paid $50 a week to lease a Ford Taurus for about 21/2 months.

"I think it is best for the moment that I pay a nominal rental fee for use of your spare vehicle," Chrnelich wrote to the track manager on Sept. 23.

Board Chairman Bill Drew sees things a little differently, however. He said Chicagoland promoter Carl Haas, owner of the firm that runs the Milwaukee Mile, wouldn't give away anything without expecting something in return.

"We're not on the same team as he is," Drew said. "We have a business deal with Carl Haas. Carl is a very good businessman. Carl does not leave anything on the table. Carl is not a charitable organization."

Most amazing of all, however, Chrnelich argued that he was not looking for a cut-rate deal when he asked to rent the car at a "nominal" rate. He told us - apparently with a straight face - that he thought nominal meant "customary fee."

"Just remember, guys," the one-time UW basketball star said, "you're dealing with a former jock."

[racinthestreets]

Nice post SP Racer - No Lotus, but maybe a used Reynard could be found for the poor wheeless Executive Vice President of Development, Government Affairs and Planning

[Dov]

This guy sounds like a real character which i'm not sure is a good or bad thing.

[macdaddy]

When he's at the track, maybe somebody can lend him a scooter?

[Kicking-back]

Well, looks like he needs somewhere to carry the baggage...

[Brian W Keske]

Good. Now hopefully PG gets to 'sit on the back burner' when these issues arise, or made public.

They needed a new 'front man'. Bad.

[blaarg]

The administration and management side of Champcar is really starting to grow.

It's refreshing to see the business model take shape, as we rarely see things mentioned on this front.

[luke]

I agree.