I have spent the last seven years as a fan of the Team Demolition Association (TDA) and the last two writing about it. In 2010, I followed Reckoning throughout their season for a year-in-the-life book, The Year of Reckoning, that I am current pitching to publishers. In 2011, interested in staying involved with the league, I wrote a column for teamdemos.com called TrackSide. For 2012, I am again upping the ante, and launching a new website, Behind the Destruction. It is aimed at providing all the stories, interviews, commentary and TDA insight that anyone could possibly want. In addition to the new material I’ve been writing, my previous columns will all be available, as will excerpts and deleted scenes from the book, research interviews I did, as well the episodes of the podcast that I am doing with Steve Gursky Jr. (more on the podcast in a minute). And that’s just to start.
Yes, to start.
Behind the Destruction is going to feature a unique two-staged launch.
The first, on November 29th, is a bare bones launch. That’s what you see here. It features a host of columns and other articles as well as the Behind the Destruction podcast.
The second, tentatively aimed for April 3, 2012, will be a far more comprehensive launch featuring the addition of numerous interactive elements to the site, videos that are specially produced for Behind the Destruction, as well as a host of other features, forums and games.
It should be noted that Behind the Destruction is not in any way affiliated with the TDA, Sherri Heckenhast or any other demolition derby leagues in existence. While we certainly hope to be involved in cross-promotional efforts and talk to and with Heckenhast and the heads of other leagues, Behind the Destruction is a completely free-standing media entity that has a twofold of goals:
1) To continue sharing the wonderful stories that take place in and around the demos while also offering (hopefully) insightful commentary on the sport, and
2) To be as truthful and accurate in our reporting as is possible.
I enjoyed writing for the teamdemos.com site, but think that this new endeavor will allow me and all of Behind the Destruction’s other contributors an element of freedom and timeliness that wasn’t present—or even really possible—before.
When I wrote for teamdemos.com, there was often a multiple day (or in some cases a multiple week) delay between the time that I submitted an article to Jason Twite and the time it went online. Given the enormity of material that Twite has on his plate, it was to his credit–and frankly rather amazing–that this delay was only a couple of days.
With this new site, there will be no waiting. Period. We’ll be able to have articles and columns about the Saturday night demos available by Sunday morning. Next season, we will also be able to offer live reports and information during the demos themselves. Just check the site on your phone from the stands (or pits) and you’ll get on-the-spot, by-the-minute reports on the races.
The first episode of the Behind the Destruction podcast, sponsored by HMP Diesel of Rockdale, will be available for download on November 29. Gursky Jr. and I will chat with Orange Crush’s runner extraordinaire, Ryan Bleuer.
I am incredibly exited about this new venture and the avenues it will open for both contributors and viewers. If you’re interested in becoming involved in the site, as either a contributor or as a sponsor, don’t hesitate to contact me at 310.498.1680.
Welcome to Behind the Destruction.