Media Event
Ok... been pretty tied up lately. Finally getting around to post something.
So the specs and such are out, I'll just fill in a few details about my experience, including links to some media.
I arrived at SpaceX around 11:30am and security seemed pretty tight. There were several guards at the gate and as I pulled up, a somewhat abrasive one asked me if I was with the media. I of course replied yes since that was my role for the next few hours. He then asked to see my press credentials. ...uuuhhhhhh…
"Don’t you have press credentials?"
"Um..., I don't know."
"You don't know if you have press credentials or not?!" He wanted to see some kind of press badge. I showed him a print out of my media invite and my driver's license.
"My name is Doug King, I'm here representing EVcast..." Fortunately I had worn that ridiculous shirt. I was hoping he realized that amateur podcasters/bloggers aren't typically credentialed. "I'm supposed to be on some sort of list???"
"Well I don't see any Doug King on the list."
This went on a little bit longer... me stammering and the security guy incredulously questioning the veracity of my statements, looking at me like I had no business being there. Then, like an angel, another person from behind him (perhaps a Tesla employee??) said, "He's ok, let him through." It was like saying heal to an attack dog. There was an instant change in demeanor and the security fellow said, “Go right through, sir.” -- Relief.
I drove past the group of media personnel who were already lined up outside the curtained entrance of the huge building. There were a few curious stares since I rode up in a little blue convertible (poor-man’s) sports car rather than a news van. I purposefully parked near the back of the lot.
Out in front were VP24 (Arctic White) and VP28 (Very Orange with black power coated wheels and sport tires) and the growing crowd of media folks. Also on hand were a bunch of familiar Tesla employees as well as some notable customers who were invited to be on hand to talk to the media (hear them on NPR here:
Tesla Rolls Out Electric Sedan For Less Than $50K : NPR).
You could feel the anticipation building as we all waited to enter. After several reassurances that the finale touches were being put in place, we finally got to go in about 12:20pm. Media folks quickly set up around the two covered cars roped off in the center of the room, jockeying for position, particularly in front of the grill. Some friendly Tesla people tipped me off to the two ignored covered cars (at the side of the room) and the direction Elon would be facing when he came out.
The space they had curtained off for the event was quite large and was very nicely set up. Besides the four covered Model S (err…) models, there was the Smart EV with Tesla drive train, VP26, and the ‘extruded Al chassis with wheels’ that has been making the rounds in the auto show circuit. Looming above and behind the curtains were various rocket parts that you could sneak a better peak at on the way to the bathroom.
After a short while Elon came out and started talking about the Model S. (I haven’t been online much to read the news reports, but I think there should be video out.) Then Franz came out and without saying much of anything, he pulled the sheet off the car, and started to discuss the design. First impressions are that the car just looks great. Nice lines, modern looking without being overboard. (No Karma butter face here.) When Franz finished there was a bit of a free-for-all Q&A with Elon. (I have complete unedited audio of that
here (38:30, 8.9MB). Some parts are easier to hear than others.)
Rachel brought the Q&A to a close after an appropriate amount of time and announced that after 10 minutes Elon would drive the car around for pics and video. This was to let the press know they’d get plenty of time to set up and didn’t have to rush. But, of course, as soon as she said that, Elon and Franz immediately got in the drivable prototype and silently rode off. Everyone scrambled. =P
Chris Paine and his film crew were an interesting constant presence. Sometimes they blended in with the rest of the media (filming the car, doing interviews, etc), but other times they stood out quite a bit since they’d be in a position to
cover the
coverage.
After driving around for a bit, Elon and Franz came back and answered more questions in smaller groups. Here’s some unedited
audio of Franz (22:50, 5.3MB). I also recorded brief one-on-one interviews with
JB (7:00, 1.6MB) and
Diarmuid (3:18, 3.1MB).
