How I helped Paul Newman become a Star …….

in his second career

Back in the day, when I was a kid, I fell in Hero Worship of Paul Newman. Many of the
movies he made in the 60’s were too adult for my scrambled eggs brain to totally
understand. I just liked the way he looked, moved, spoke, handled women and acted,
epitomized by “Cool Hand Luke”….which I saw, oh maybe….10 times?! Before “Butch
Cassidy” and the “Sting” confirmed his total Movie God Greatness, there was the movie,
“Winning”.

I grew up in the Chicago suburb’s loving auto racing, all forms and types of motorsports.
By my late teens, I had managed to get myself summer work at several Midwestern
sports car races as a Pit Steward, one of the many safety marshals seen at races
worldwide. Pit Stewards were officials whose job it was to ensure that no one was
endangering themselves or any one else working in the pit area, especially when race cars
came in for refueling or car problems. Needless to say, smoking around high octane
racing fuel was a big no-no….and in those times EVERYONE smoked.

My favorite race track was Elkhart Lake, located in upper northeastern Wisconsin. It is
still today one of the most scenic and lush locales ever used for tearing through the woods
at over 150 mph. It was also where I tasted my first bratwurst, a super charged, spicy,
juicy wiener if there ever was. That along with German style bock beer made the whole
scenario a little step closer to “Heaven on Earth” (Johnsonville Brats free plug).

The opening credits and first scenes in “Winning” were shot at the annual June Sprints, a
classic race only held at Elkhart Lake and starred one, P. L. Newman (as he wanted to be
called when he actually did start racing sports cars…and winning, at the august age of
47!). The film’s combination of majestic Elkhart Lake background combined with the
sensuous multi colored sights and ear splitting sounds of the beautiful Can Am styled
race cars was breathtaking for me. But when I realized that it REALLY was Paul
Newman roaring around the track and into the winners circle, I swooned. An honest to
god Movie Star was actually driving at what was certainly racing speeds without a stunt
driver! Incredible and unheard of….(Certainly unheard of by me)!

FLASH FORWARD to: New York City, 1976, I’m now an Advertising Sales staffer at
Rolling Stone magazine where I have just competed in the highly illegal, totally insane,
time of your life, Cannonball Sea to Shining Sea cross country road race, receiving
massive positive media coverage on me and my employer, that resulted in my bosses
promoting me to selling Automotive category advertising…because of my now
acknowledged “expertise”.

Paul Newman, in addition to making movies, was now racing very successfully all
through out the northeast in a Datsun (soon to be changed to Nissan) 501 sedan in Sports
Car Club of America events. I knew that he truly wanted “real” Racing Sponsorship, just
like other “real” racing drivers. I also knew that he would soon move to the more
powerful and flashier “Z” cars. My idea was to convince my bosses at Rolling Stone,
Publisher-Founder Jann Wenner and Associate Publisher-Advertising Director Joe
Armstrong, that we should “sponsor” Paul Newman and his race team. It made sense …
Rolling Stone was the top magazine for music and youth oriented info and entertainment
and Paul Newman was arguably the top male star in the movies with an appeal that
bridged all age generations. The biggest problem was that, as Bob Sharp, owner of Paul’s
racing team told me; Paul wanted $20,000 for one year of sponsorship. When I relayed
this “minor detail” to Jann, his reaction was typical. “Great idea Martini”, he said, “but if
we did sponsor Newman, we’d have to come up with $20,000. “Hey Joe”, he continued,
“that’s what we’re paying ‘Mr. Cannonball’ Martini….isn’t it?” (Remember, this was
1976….$20,000 was my base salary not counting commissions, which was a pretty good
sum at that time). “So”, he continued, “If we fire you, Martini, we can cover Paul’s tab!
Well Martini, what do you think?” Jann smiled his devilish grin and winked at Joe, who
was also smiling. Unfortunately I knew they were being semi-serious, so there went the
Rolling Stone Datsun, driven by P.L. Newman.

Another FLASH FORWARD to: Los Angeles, 1979, where I am a Brand Manager for
Pioneer Electronics, maker of the famed “Supertuner” FM stereo, the number 1 brand in
high fidelity for your car. Now THIS product and company makes sense for sponsoring a
top auto racing team. I was able to convince Pioneer’s president, Jack Doyle, into the
logic and star power of backing the now SCCA champion in his class, driving Nissan 280
Z’s nationwide, P.L. Newman. Unfortunately the Paul Newman sponsorship deal
happened after I left for my own big bucks….over $100,000 at B.E.S.
Engineering…..and that’s a whole ‘nother story!

The good news is that the Pioneer sponsorship of Paul and his racing Z cars was
spectacularly successful. He was always the man to beat in any event he entered. Over
the years he won many races, including finishing 2nd overall at the 1979 Lemans 24 Hour
race and later set a unique record when he and 2 co-drivers won their class at the 24
Hours of Daytona when he was age 70! His Newman-Haas Indy car racing team won a
combined 107 victories.

At this point you may be asking, after all of this work, did you ever meet Paul Newman?
Thanks to my job (and salary) at B.E. S. I got to travel a lot, which I still love and enjoy
to this day. One of my “business” trips took me to Northern California at a time that
magically coincided with a major SCCA race at Sears Point Raceway (now Infineon
Raceway) in Sonoma wine country. That’s combining 2 of my favorite pleasures……
Wine & Racing.

I was determined to meet and speak with Paul Newman, who I knew was racing and
under Pioneer sponsorship. So after securing my appropriate racing passes I approached
the Pioneer Electronics section of the Sponsors paddock where one of my former Pioneer
buds recognized me and (foolishly) invited me into the entry “by special credentials
only” area. As casually as possible, I enquired if the large motorhome with Pioneer logos
all over it was the Pioneer motorhome (without mentioning Newman’s name). I walked
over and proceeded to tell the Pioneer motorhome security “guard” about all of exploits
in helping get Pioneer and Paul Newman together. The “guard” was totally sucked into
my scenario. “Then you know Mr. Newman”, he inquired. “Yes, I do”, I replied without
a trace of wool being pulled over a guard’s eyes. “Is Paul in the motorhome now?”, I
casually yet nervously sputtered. His guard-like reply was “Yessir…..He asked not to be
bothered until 10 minutes before race prep”. I saw from glancing at my non-Rolex that
that would be around 20 minutes from now. With that the motorhome door swept open
and a man with the bluest eyes I have ever seen poked his head out and said “Can you get
me some ice?” Our eyes met….P.L. & me; eyeball to eyeball…….Butch and
Dumbdance…..mano e mano. He winced, then smiled and said, “Oh sorry”. Before he
could close the door I knew it was time to leap into verbal action. I leapt.........
“Mr.NEWMANI’mJeffryMartini,I’mtheguywhohelpedgetyousponsoredbyPioneer.
IconvincedJackDoyletowritethecheck.”, I stumbled and blurted out.
That stream of consciousness tumbled out of my mouth in less than 7 seconds. P. L.
looked at me as if I was a Loon. Then, semi composing myself I said, “I’m also the guy
who tried to get you and Bob Sharp sponsorship from Rolling Stone magazine back in
your early days of racing.” Newman then appreciably brightened and said with an impish
smile “Are you a beer drinker?” I melted…..and then nodded a yes. With a twinkle in his
magical eyes, he did a regal bow and with a flourish of his arm did a “come on in”
gesture. I’M IN!! He gestured for me to sit down and opened the motorhome’s fridge,
where he reached in and pulled out a Coors beer. “Wanna glass?”, he asked. I said no
trying to be as cool and macho as I could in the presence of Hollywood Royalty. He
looked smaller than I had imagined, yet was obviously in very good, and very slim shape.
I on the other had…….we don’t want to go there…….

He popped open the beer and handed it to me said he couldn’t join me because of the
race, and sat down across from me on the motorhome’s couch. Before he could say
anything, in what could be an awkward moment, I told him of how I had tried to get him
sponsored over the years. He seemed interested, but remote. He thanked me for my
having “opened the door for him”. He asked me questions about me…I told him about
my having raced in several Cannonball cross country races, whereupon he got excited,
moved to the edge of the couch and said that he would love to race in one, but felt his
“name and familiarity” would probably be a bad idea that neither his “advisors” nor his
family would like. He loved the idea behind the Cannonball….Civil outrage over the then
55 mph national speed limit.

I then committed “Mistake with a Celebrity 101”….when a celebrity starts to feel

comfortable with you and in effect starts to let down their guard, you do not do one of the
two following things:
1) You do not expect or even worse, ask for them to “Pick up the Check”.
2) You do not ask for an “Autograph”.

Guess which one I did? You are absolutely correct….I then asked for his autograph. He
appeared startled, stood up (not a good sign) and started to talk as he began to pace
around the cramped space that motorhome’s call the “Living Room’. “I don’t give out
autographs….don’t think its fair. If you give one to someone, you should give them to
everyone. So I don’t give them out”. I understood his position, but dammit (!) we were in
a closed motorhome with no one to see him give me one. With that, there was a knock on
the door….”Your ice Mr. Newman”….it was the “guard” who also informed him that it
was 10 minutes to race preparation. P.L. opened the door took the ice bag and put it in the
fridge’s freezer. I gulped down the last of my beer, as Paul looked at me and said, “Gotta
Go”. Probably to save what could have been a very awkward end point to our discussion,
he graciously invited me to walk with him to the Pits. We talked racing small talk and
again about my being in the Cannonball and his interest. When we got to the Pioneer
Racing Pits, he offered his hand and said, “Thank you Jeffry for helping my racing career
take off” He smiled and his legendary blue eyes twinkled as he squeezed my hand. He
turned, climbed over the Pit railing and I never saw him again…..except on…..the Silver
Screen.