The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NASCAR 'Slim Jim' Race to be Cybercast with Live Video

5 July 1997


Complete Flag to Flag Video & Audio Coverage 
Breaks New Internet Ground

For Immediate Release

        LOUISVILLE, KY & SACRAMENTO, CA; July 3, 1997 -- The first-ever live
streaming video cybercast of any NASCAR race will originate from Louisville
Motor Speedway on Friday, July 11, 1997 at 8pm EDT.  The event is the
'Porter Cable Professional Power Tools 300', part of the NASCAR sanctioned
Slim Jim All Pro Series.  A special feed from the speedway's closed circuit
television system will be transmitted to the internet through The Auto Channel.

        As with all of The Auto Channel's live event presentations, the
video cybercast will be free of charge to all internet users.  The cybercast
project is a result of a joint effort between Andy Vertrees, Promoter and
General Manager of Louisville Motor Speedway and Bob Gordon, President of
The Auto Channel, to introduce a very popular regional race series to the
world.  Vertrees was voted "Auto Racing Promoter of the Year" by his peers
in 1995.

        Frank Scott, Vice President and track announcer of Louisville Motor
Speedway will be the play-by-play announcer.  With 12 years experience
hosting a television show at the speedway, Frank has a thorough knowledge of
the Slim Jim series and it's race teams.  "I think it's a technological
breakthrough and a real honor to have been selected to participate in the
cybercast.  We can someday tell our children that this is where it all
started. ", Scott said.  Carl Blanton, the speedway's official photographer
will act as Director of Videography.
	
        The technology used by The Auto Channel to cybercast the video
coverage is VXtreme.  VXtreme is a proprietary "real time video streaming"
technology developed by VXtreme, Inc., of Sunnyvale, California.  VXtreme
allows internet users to watch live and pre-recorded video in real-time,
without the frustrating wait of excessive download times.  Although there
are other real-time video products on the market for use on the web,
VXtreme's enhanced resolution and increased frame rate, even over a 28.8 kbs
modem, provides internet users with the closest "TV like" experience.  Over
a 28.8 modem, typical frame rates average between 8 and 10 frames per
second, and with a 56 kbs ISDN or X2 connection, frame rates average 12 to
15 frames per second.

        Internet users who wish to watch this history making coverage will
need the VXtreme player software, which is available free and can be
downloaded from the VXtreme website at "http://www.microsoft.com/netshow/vxtreme/software.htm".
Installation is completed quickly and easily into both Netscape and Explorer
browsers.  

        The Auto Channel is sponsored by Pennzoil Products Company, Allstate
Insurance, and the United States Army. 


Company Contact:
Marc Rauch
(502) 584-4100
(916) 852-1956
email: mjrauch@theautochannel.com