Pure Michigan

There’s Still Time to Enter the MI Pace Car Sweepstakes!

May 21, 2013

The MI Pace Car Sweepstakes kicked off last month, when we teamed up with Michigan International Speedway (MIS), Ford Racing and Quicken Loans to give someone the chance to win a Ford Fusion Energi. As part of the sweepstakes, one lucky fan’s name is being randomly drawn each month (from April through July) and entered as a finalist to win the Grand Prize at the Pure Michigan 400.

The first finalist – Mike Beecher of Kissimmee, Florida – was selected earlier this month and is looking forward to making the trip to MIS this August with his son Mikey. We had the chance to ask him a few questions about the upcoming trip and his passion for racing. Read his answers below, and don’t forget that there’s still time to enter the MI Pace Car Sweepstakes at www.mipacecar.com if you haven’t already!

MI Pace Car Sweepstakes finalist Mike Beecher with son Mikey

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A: Happily married to my wife Beatriz. We have two children, son Michael (Mikey), 12 and daughter Amber, 5. We currently live in Kissimmee, Florida, and lived in Durand, Michigan from 1999-2004. I work as a carpenter and enjoy fishing, BBQ, going to theme parks and NASCAR.

Q: What role does racing play in your life?

A: I’m a huge NASCAR fan!!! Been a fan since watching races with my father as a child. He was a huge Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan, as was I! I try hard to watch every race on TV and go to Daytona for all races. I’ve also been to Kansas Speedway. You can find out more about how much I like NASCAR if you follow me on Twitter @NASCARGatorMike.

Q: Do you have a favorite driver that you’ll be cheering for at MIS?

A: I really don’t have a favorite driver anymore since Daytona 500 2001; I’m more just a fan of NASCAR. I do pull for some drivers more so than others though!

Q: Have you ever been to Michigan International Speedway (MIS) before?

A: Yes, I have been to Michigan International Speedway. Funny story too!! In 2001, I entered a contest from a Flint radio station (B-95) where I drag raced (men in dresses and 4″ heels) all which was filmed by the local TV station. I had to make a pit stop (so my wife could put makeup on me), then coming to the checkered flag I bumped one guy (which he was wearing pumps, me true 4″ heels)… he fell, I won two tickets to the Spring MIS race! My wife was 9 months pregnant with Mikey at the time of race! So I guess you can say Mikey has been to MIS as well! We really enjoyed everything about our weekend at MIS.

Q: Who will be coming to the race in August with you?

A: I’m taking my son Mikey in August with me to Michigan. Two reasons… First, my sister-in-law is coming to visit my wife that week. Second, Mikey and I enjoy NASCAR together! I’ve been taking him to races since he was 5.

Q: Outside of the racing itself, what are you looking forward to doing while in Michigan?

A: We are looking forward to staying at the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids and sightseeing around the area. We are planning a road trip to Durand, where Mikey was born. We’ll also stop by Flint and visit old friends.

Q: If you win the pace car, where are you most looking forward to driving it?

A: If I win the pace car I’ll have to cancel return flight do to road trip back to Florida!

In addition to the chance to drive away in the car, Mike and the other three monthly winners will receive the following:

One month’s mortgage payment, courtesy of Quicken Loans
A Pure Michigan vacation with a four-night stay at one of the following hotels in Michigan: Holiday Inn and Suites in Ann Arbor, JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids, Shanty Creek Resort in Traverse City and Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
A MIS VIP Package – two passes to the Champions Club presented by CP Federal Credit Union, one MISCamping.com Graves Farm campsite, one MIScamping.com RV Rental, two cold garage passes and two pace car rides on August 17

A fifth finalist will be selected in prerace during the Pure Michigan 400.

See additional details on michigan.org, or visit www.mipacecar.com by July 31, 2013 to enter! Fans may also enter onsite at the Fan Plaza at any Michigan International Speedway NASCAR race.

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New Summer Gear in the Pure Michigan Store

May 20, 2013

in Link Roundup,Posts by Region

With many parts of the state already experiencing summer-like warm weather, it’s only a matter of time before summer will officially be here! Make sure you have the essentials to keep you feeling and looking cool in the heat.

From outdoor accessories to home goods, the Pure Michigan Store offers a variety of items to help prepare you for warmer months. Here are just a few of our favorites.

Pure Michigan State Shaped Ice Cube Trays

Stay hydrated this summer with Michigan shaped ice cubes. Put the Michigan winter wonderland away in your freezer and turn ordinary ice cubes into reminders of the state.

VAPUR Water Bottle

Conveniently hydrate with a Pure Michigan water bottle that collapses to fit inside your bag! Perfect for trips exploring the Sleeping Bear Dunes or boating on the Great Lakes.

Fire Pit

Bonfires are summer staple in Pure Michigan. Now you can emblazon the Pure Michigan logo and State of Michigan outline on a custom handcrafted fire pit complete with poker, spark screen and BBQ grill.

Neoprene Eyewear Retainer

Ensure that you are never without shades in the sun again with this Pure Michigan eyewear retainer.

Beach Towel

Beaches and lakes are all over Michigan. Bring your Pure Michigan pride to the beach with you this summer with this brand new beach towel.

Iceberg Cooler

Keep your drinks and snacks cool in this Pure Michigan cooler. It’s unique and durable, perfect for camping, picnics, and trips to the beach or cottage.

These are just some of the many Pure Michigan products available online. Visit the Pure Michigan Store at www.puremichiganstore.org to see the full line of clothing and accessories.

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Tips for Family Friendly Fishing in Michigan

May 17, 2013

in Fishing,Guest Blogger,Outdoors

With fresh water fish including trout, walleyes, salmon, perch, bass ready to bite, Michigan is home to the best catches a fishing trip can offer. And now with the Family Friendly Fishing Waters guide from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it’s the perfect time to plan a family fishing trip in Pure Michigan.

Learn more about the new site from Elyse Walter of the DNR below, or visit michigan.org to plan your next trip.

How many times have you wanted to go fishing, but weren’t quite sure where to go? As a result, you never ended up taking that trip and missed out on Michigan’s outstanding freshwater fishing.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources understands one of the biggest barriers to getting folks to go fishing is finding suitable places to go. Preferably places an inexperienced angler can find easily, have a high likelihood of catching a fish, and offers simple amenities that enhance the trip. To overcome that barrier, we recently launched a new section of our website: Family Friendly Fishing Waters.

The Family Friendly Fishing Waters section of the website can be found at www.michigan.gov/fishing, and will connect interested individuals with local fishing opportunities. The page features a map of Michigan that’s quite simple for visitors to use – just click on the county you are interested in fishing and check out the list of family-friendly locations to fish. Every single county in Michigan has one or more locations featured.

Nearly all of the locations featured on the Family Friendly Fishing Waters website were submitted by the public and are considered easy for new anglers to access and use.

Each water body’s online profile includes its geographic location, driving directions, parking information, hours of operation, species of fish available, typical bait used, and much more.

Don’t see a water body in the county you love to fish? The DNR will continue to accept potential locations for future inclusion as well. The Family Friendly Fishing Waters online submission form can be found at www.michigan.gov/fishing.

So as you consider what to do for fun this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, perhaps you’ll finally have the tools necessary to plan that long-awaited fishing trip!

Elyse Walter is a communication specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She specifically works with the DNR’s Fisheries Division to help educate and promote the state’s fishing opportunities and aquatic resources.

Is your family planning a fishing trip in Michigan this summer? Share with us below!

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Gear Up for the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

May 17, 2013

in Events,Guest Blogger,Sports

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix returns to the Motor City May 31-June 2, 2013 with three days of world-class auto racing, live music, interactive games and displays all on beautiful Belle Isle Park. Robert Stone, a public relations intern with the race, has gotten a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the making of the Grand Prix. Today, he shares his experience with us.

Read from him below and learn more about the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on michigan.org.

When I was growing up, sports were a huge part of my childhood – both playing them and getting to watch them. The love continued through college and my plan was always to somehow work in sports. Well, I’m getting my first chance this spring as the public relations intern with the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. I love that the job has given me the opportunity to be part of a very positive event in Detroit and the State of Michigan. With the race coming up May 31 – June 2 on Belle Isle, we’ve been doing a lot of media tours with race car drivers to promote the race and I’ve really had a chance to experience some cool things and kind of see Detroit and Michigan through the eyes of some world-class athletes.

I didn’t know a lot about cars and racing when I joined the Grand Prix team, but luckily having prior motorsports knowledge was not a requirement for this position. With a little research I was able to become slightly more knowledgeable than I was before coming on board. As the drivers started to come to Detroit to help us promote the race, I was initially more excited about the chance to visit our local radio and TV stations to see how everything worked. But the ability to sit and spend time with some of these amazing drivers was an unreal experience as they shared their thoughts on all sorts of topics.

Christian Fittipaldi was one of the first drivers to come to Detroit this year to help us promote the event. He is a former CART and NASCAR driver who now drives for the Action Express Racing team in the GRAND-AM Rolex Series, and his uncle is racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi. The Fittipaldi last name was familiar to me, but I was still learning about the GRAND-AM series and the high-tech sports cars they drive. As the day went on we started talking racing and Christian mentioned that he could close his eyes and basically drive the Belle Isle track in his mind, even more than 10 years after he last did it in person, and that was incredible to me. Every time I try and close my eyes to picture a drive the thoughts go so slowly, but he was able to drive the course at race speed in his mind. Just being able to spend time with a guy who has been in some of the biggest races in the world and share his thoughts on what it was like was incredible.

The next week we had the pleasure of welcoming IndyCar fan-favorite James Hinchcliffe to town. The “Mayor of Hinchtown,” as he likes to call himself, replaced Danica Patrick in the GoDaddy.com Chevrolet IndyCar for Andretti Autosport. Hinchcliffe didn’t have the best experience at Belle Isle last year as he was the driver claimed by the track before they stopped the race to fix the surface. To show that he didn’t have any hard feelings towards the event and to help showcase all of the work that has been done on Belle Isle to make it a premiere race course, Hinchcliffe spent the morning moving tires in a forklift to help us prepare for the event. It was a great way to demonstrate how he had moved on from the incident and that the Grand Prix is ready to host an incredible race weekend in just a few weeks. Getting to spend the day with “Hinch” proved that his fun loving, joking nature isn’t an act or for show but it’s the type of guy he is. It was also cool to watch him on TV win on the streets of Brazil just a few days after leaving Detroit.

JR Hildebrand, who drives the National Guard Chevy IndyCar for Panther Racing, came to town the next week and he threw out the first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game, which allowed the staff access to the field as well. I’ve been to a Tigers game early before to watch batting practice, but being able to stand on the field and watch these guys hitting the ball was an unbelievable experience. Then getting to jump with JR from the radio broadcast booth to an interview with Fox Sports Detroit gave me the chance to experience the behind-the-scenes areas of Comerica Park that very few people have seen. The next day we went to the GM Heritage Center, which is packed with classic cars showing the lineage of the GM brand from the 1920s to today. As I said, I am not really a car guy, but it was hard not to be in awe at the Heritage Center with so many amazing vehicles. It had all of the history of the GM brand in one room, from a replica of one of the first racecars to GM’s first electric car and an SUV that could drive itself. One of the cars had less than 50 miles on it, which is amazing because I drive farther than that to get to work every day! I could have spent hours in that place just trying to soak up everything that the Heritage Center had to offer.

Being able to be a part of these once-in-a-lifetime experiences was way more than I ever thought I’d experience working in my position. Just the opportunity to be around these drivers and watch them do normal things like talk to people on Twitter or relate to current events and issues made me realize that they are just normal, good guys. Guys that happen to drive really fast for a living with a lot of guts and a lot of skill. Working for the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix has been an unbelievable experience so far, and it is just getting revved up.

There is going to be so much going on race weekend at Belle Isle, it is going to be an incredible experience for fans and I’m just really excited that I will get to be a part of bringing this great event to life. If you want to learn more about the Grand Prix please check out www.DetroitGP.com and follow us on Twitter @DetroitGP.

Robert Stone is the public relations intern with the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. He is currently working towards his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration at Central Michigan University. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his girlfriend Jenn, dog Jake and cats Cleo, Oreo and Professor Fuzzy Boots.

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See Michigan’s Northern Lights in “North Country Dreamland”

May 16, 2013

in Events,Guest Blogger

Photographer Shawn Malone’s time lapse video of Michigan’s northern lights has been making its way around the web over the last week or so. The video compilation features aurora borealis (commonly called “northern lights”) and other rare night sky events from Northern Michigan. If you haven’t seen it, check it out below.

Music: David Helpling/Jon Jenkins

This video is Shawn’s first time lapse compilation, which she cut down to over 10,000 photo frames that equal 33 scenes of various night sky events in Northern Michigan. The shots were taken throughout 2012 on both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Below is a gallery of photos that Shawn shared with us from her adventures.