–Bobijean Neher, born December 28, 1948 as Bobijean Cesnik, in Indianapolis, IN, is a female who has blazed trails in both Television Broadcasting and Charter Airline Service. Ms. Neher was one of the first females to interview Auto Racing Personalities in a field setting and helped design an aircraft scheduling system for charter service at American Trans Air, Indianapolis, IN, when she returned to the company in 1981. Ms Neher also represented Amercan Trans Air at the Air Transports Association's, Airline Scheduling Committee Meetings, a committee that determined which airlines could serve cities such as Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. Ms. Neher was successful in gaining operating slots for American Trans Air at all three cities.

Ms. Neher, a female, grew up in the town of Speedway, IN, on Winton Avenue with her parents and one brother; Rudy L. Cesnik, father; Iris N. Cesnik, mother; James D. Cesnik; brother. Her home was just four blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speeday. She began attending Qualifications circa age 3. She attended her first 500 Mile Race in 1966, viewing the event from the infield. Ms. Neher began writing poetry about auto racing in 1975 with her first poem being The Final Lap.

:::::::::A thousand times I've watched them round,<br />
:::::::::Those 'tranced men -- the wheels they love;<br />
:::::::::They thrill upon that dinful sound<br />
:::::::::Which takes them on beyond the shove.<br />
:::::::::To see opponets far ahead<br />
:::::::::And know, so sure, that soon behind,<br />
:::::::::Who once the field had farthest led<br />
:::::::::Would soon be past and far resigned.<br />
:::::::::Oh yes, the master sped along<br />
:::::::::And turn by turn his foes did pass,<br />
:::::::::Now soon they'd play his victory song<br />
:::::::::And soon he'd kiss that lovely lass.<br />
:::::::::Yes, close he came unto that goal,<br />
:::::::::But oh, his palm, The Master stole.<br />
::::::::<small>© 1993, from Pit Passages, by “BJ" Bobijean Cesnik-Neher<small/>

Neher earned an Associates Degree in General Studies from Indiana University in 1992. She enjoyed a short career in television broadcasting 1978-1981. Neher joined WISH-TV, Channel 8, Indianapolis, IN, in 1978 and served in various capacities including Producer, Indy Today, and Producer/Talent for Community. She also produced one free-lance television documentary, 800 Miles To Indy. In 1980 Neher joined WTHI-TV, Channel 10, Terre Haute, IN, as the first Producer of PM Magazine. She held that position for about 6 months. Ms. Neher has been published in minor poetry anthologies, but continues to write poetry and is currently working on two unpublished manuscripts, The "22" Factor - Da Capo al Fine" and The Secrets of God from the Book of Job.

Neher was married, in 1967, to Joseph Allen Neher. Divorced 1976. She has one son, Eric S. Neher and remains single. She moved to Arkansas in 2006 in search of warmer weather than can be found in Indiana.

800 Miles to Indy

In 1979 the newly established CART organization (Championship Auto Racing Teams), began operation in the sport auto racing. CART ran its own schedule of races before and after the Indy 500 in 1979, but had to go to court to gain permission to race in the 63rd running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

Ms. Neher captered the events of this high-speed dual by attending and documenting both CART and USAC (United States Auto Club) races run before the 1979 500 Mile Race. She financed, produced, wrote, and conducted field interviews for this one-of-a-kind program. In producing this sports documentary, Neher employed the use of "music-under, voice-over" to improve the pacing of the documentary.

May 1979, 800 Miles to Indy aired on Channel 8, WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN, and Channel 10, WTHI-TV, Terre Haute, IN. For it's Saturday airing in Indianapolis, this documentary earned an 8 Rating, 32 Share in Neilsen, beating all shows aired in the same time-slot by competing stations. The Abritron numbers for this same airing earned Neher a 6 Rating, 25 share, a close second to Wide World of Sports (7 Rating, 25 share). 800 Miles to Indy was the first and only free-lance television production that Ms. Neher attempted and/or completed.

External Links

BJ's Cyberworld Home