Racin' & Internet Stuff:

By Tom Avenengo

Volume # 19

First:

Independence Day

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.^”

Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The myth had become so firmly established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe that they and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on the fourth.  Most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

Second:

I spent another two nights at racetracks this past weekend. Friday at Accord, and Saturday at OCFS. Further down in my column, check out the “Track News” section for a little info on both tracks. If all goes as planned and “Mother Nature” doesn’t interfere, I’ll be making those two tracks again this coming weekend. As of Wednesday evening, the weather looks GOOD!

Some of my thoughts:

Reading on the Internet, and in various racing publications, I can see I’m not alone in being worried about attendance at races. Oh, I’ve been to tracks this year that have somewhat “small” grandstands and they’ve been pretty full. I’ve also been to some that have some pretty big grandstands, and they haven’t been what you would say as being full.

I’m somewhat surprised that on the televised Indycar and NASCAR races, Truck, Nationwide and Cup, that, at times, the stands are shown, and most times, it isn’t a very pleasant sight with a lot of aluminum being shown.

NASCAR’s races are televised on major networks while Indycar is basically only on Versus, a channel that a lot of people can’t get. But even then, in most NASCAR Cup events, even viewer ship is down, too.

I would not be surprised that once the TV contract between those that carry the NASCAR events - and NASCAR runs out that due to such low ratings, they are not renewed, and the NASCAR races will end up being telecast only on SPEED.

And:

It seems to me that NASCAR just can’t get away from having only 45 entrants for their Cup races. Only 45 are entered for Daytona this week.

http://jayski.com/stats/2010/entries/18dis2010entry.htm

Going back, in time:

Note: Most of the following information was found here:

http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/history.html

Covering the days of June 25^th to June 30^th.

JUNE 25

1971

Jan Opperman won the Super Sprint Car race at the Williams Grove Speedway, Mechanicsburg, PA.

http://www.wheelsofspeed.com/report/6_25_71-1.html

1996

On June 25, 1996 my son, Eric, and I attended the races at the Accord Speedway. Funny, but I was also there on that date this year, too – last Friday! In ’96 I believe it was a Syracuse Qualifier and Danny Johnson was the winner.

Note: Check out June 28^th, below for additional info.

JUNE 26

1939

Dick Moroso ... Born ... Motorsports performance parts manufacture and racetrack operator.

1943

I hope I have the year correct, but I believe on June 26 in 1943, noted racing photographer Ralph Corwin was born.

1996

On June 26, 1996, I smoked my last cigarette. You’ll find out why a little further down.

JUNE 27

1963

Johnny Benson Jr. ... Born

1994

Sam Hanks ... Died ... He won his first championship in 1937 on the West Coast in the AMA. He barnstormed the country, racing on the board tracks at Soldier Field in Chicago and the Los Angeles Coliseum Motordome. Hanks reportedly won the first two board track races at Soldier Field in 1939. Hanks won the 1940 VFW Motor City Speedway championship. After World War II, he captured the 1946 URA Blue Circuit Championship. He won the 1947 Night before the 500 midget car race. He was the 1949 AAA National Midget champion. He won the 1956 Pacific Coast championship in the USAC Stock cars. He won the 1957 Indianapolis 500 at his thirteenth attempt at the race, the most tries of any Indy winner, and announced his retirement from racing in Victory Circle. Hanks was inducted in the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1984, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000. He drove the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 from 1958 to 1963.

JUNE 28
1931

Junior Johnson ... Born ... Junior was a legendary moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966. In the 1970s and 1980s he became a highly successful NASCAR racing team owner; he sponsored such NASCAR champions as Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip. He is credited with discovering drafting.

1996

On June 28, 1996 I had some surgery performed on me at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. Five arteries by-passed, was the surgery. Anesthesia can play tricks with our minds and with our memories, believe me! That day, and every day thereafter while I was hospitalized, my wife visited me. I never remembered that. I do recall visits by my children and grandchildren prior to the surgery, though. In fact, I was certain that I went into the hospital on the 26^th, operated on the 28^th, and back home on the 30^th. Well, I lost one whole week, that’s for sure!

When I was informed of the impending surgery, I just knew I would make it through. Why? Well, to be honest, I was never a fan of Danny Johnson, and I just knew that God would not let me see my last race being won by someone I wasn’t a fan of!!! Will agree, though, Danny does put on a show!

JUNE 29

1952

Tom Cherry won the 100 mile NASCAR / Champ Car race on the 1 Mile Dirt Oval Langhorne Speedway, Langhorne, PA. Steve Yanigan was second followed by Wally Campbell, Tony Bonadies and Tex Keene.

Note: See results of that race, below, in “More racin’ stuff.

JUNE 30

1930

Chuck Booth ... Born ... USAC driver from the 1960's.

1957

Sterling Marlin ... Born ... NASCAR driver.

1974

Eddie Johnson... Died ... AAA/USAC driver from the 1950's & 60's. Ran in 13 Indy 500's with a best finish of 6th in 1960.

Racing on TV - http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm

Thursday July 1^st:

4:00 PM to 5:30 PM on SPEED – Cup practice from Daytona

5:30 PM to 6:30 PM on ESPN2 – Nationwide final practice from Daytona

6:30 PM to 8:00 PM on SPEED – Cup final practice

Friday, July 2^nd:

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on ESPN2 – Nationwide qualifying

4:00 PM to 7:30 PM on SPEED – Cup qualifying

8:00 PM to 10:30 PM on ESPN – Nationwide race

Saturday, July 3^rd:

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on SPEED – Grand-Am Rolex race from Daytona

7:30 PM to 11:00 PM on TNT – Cup race

Sunday, July 4^th:

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM on SPEED – FIM Moto GP from Barcelona, Spain

3:30 PM to 6:00 PM on ABC – Indy car race from Watkins Glen

5:00 PM to 6:00 PM on SPEED – FIM Moto2 from Barcelona, Spain

Track news:

Accord:

From last week:

“Accord Speedway has an added class this coming Friday “Lightning Sprints”. Best I can figure out is that these are what I have known to be - Mini Sprints – with 1,000 cc or 1200 cc engines.”

Well, the “Lightning Sprints” will be back at Accord on July 9^th, then after July 16^th, they’ll be a weekly addition to the racing program. They’ll also be a part of the “King of the Catskills” racing weekend, replacing the 600 and 270 Micro Sprints.

When I inquired on DTD’s Forum about the engines in these “Lightning Sprints” (They are also called this out in California, too), I received this response:

“Tom, these are all 1000cc STOCK motors.No exceptions.The motors are available for $2000 or less. They run the 1000cc motors in the 600 chassis in PA, they call them sidewinders.At this time they are not permitted to race with us.They run our cars together in PA with the sidewinders but the sidewinders seem to have an advantage due to weight”

OCFS:

On THURSDAY, August 5^th, the “358 Hard Clay Challenge” will be held. From what I understand, Michael Sanchelli (Suitcase) started on this project at the beginning of the season, hitting tracks out in Pennsylvania in a rather successful attempt in getting some of the PA drivers to attend.

It will be only 40 laps for the feature and the winner will get $10,000.00. Yep, TEN GRAND! It’s $400.00 to take the green.

Some info: Tickets ordered in advance will run you $16.00 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free. If you get your tickets on race day, they’ll cost you a couple of dollars more - $18.00. If you’re the holder of OCFS Season tickets, they WILL be honored. Normal Drive-in prices will be in effect, too.

More info on this even can be seen If you go to www.orangecountyfairspeedway.net and click on “358 Hard clay Challenge”.

This coming Saturday night, there will be double features for the Modified class, with the rained out June 5^th feature being run. Also, on tap will be a Sportsman “Elimination” race featuring the top ten in points.

Top ten, point wise, per the OCFS website:

1) 3 Erik Holmgren 499
2) J73 Joe Conklin 498
3) 44 Brian Krummel 487
4) 29 Sammy Piazza 443
5) 27V Frank Venezia 420
6) 71D Frank Doty 409
7) 6 Darryl Ford 378
8) 88 Dion Naples 362
9) 2X Eddie Burgess 354
10) 35 Shane Jablonka 351

As long as all of those above are able, it would be # 10 against # 9, then the winner against # 8 and so on. The last time a similar event was run, with the Modifieds, the outside lane was best, by far, and with these races, the winner of the previous race has the option of starting outside.

Going out on a limb here and picking Sammy Piazza.

OVRP:

Both tracks at OVRP, the road course, and the Dirt Oval, are closed this coming weekend.

The History of the Sport:

More from Peter Kessler and what it was like – “Back in the day”:

I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00.’

'Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $1,000.00 will only buy a used one.

'If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.

'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter.

'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.

'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.

'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND. It seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

'I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.

'Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the president.

'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.

'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.

'It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.

'I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.

'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the government

takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government.

'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.

'There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend. It costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.

'No one can afford to be sick anymore. At $15.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood.'

'If they think I'll pay 30 cents for a haircut, forget it.'

If any of these are relevant to you, you’re old.

I was wandering through some old racing newspapers, and I found a few articles that may have been written around the same time as the quotes above. Thanks to Joel Murns, Sr. for these great old publications.

From the “Illustrated Speedway News,” September 22, 1959:

Malzahn – Jennings Victors

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – Sept. 20 – Bob Malzahn of Keensburgh, N.J. and Ivan Jennings of Maybrook were the winners in the Modified and Sedan Races on the “Fastest Half Mile Dirt Track” at the Orange County Fairgrounds here Saturday night.

Trailing Malzahn in close striking distance was Otto Harwi of Easton, Pa., with Sonny Strupp of South Plainfield, N.J. third. Carl Van Horn of Belvidere, N.J. fourth, George Horvath of Kearney, N.J. fifth, and Reggie Montrose of McAfee, N.J. in sixth.

Placing in the1st four positions of the Sedan Main event were Jennings, Ralph Mariano of West Nyack, Roger Terwilliger of Middletown, and Roy Knight of Branchville in that order.

Winners of the qualifying heat in the Sedan class were Jennings and Dave Turene of Hahopee.

Modified Stock heat winners were Harwi, Jim Delaney of Easton, Malzahn, and George Tet won the consolation race.

A regular card of Stock Car and Sedan Races will be run again next Saturday night starting at 8:15 P.M. and on Saturday night October 3^rd, promoter Eno Van Dam will wind up the 1959 season with a 100-lap HVARA New York State Championship Modified Stock Car Race. This championship race is scheduled to start at 8:30 P.M. with October 10 reserved for a rain date.

Former Dirt Oval (Oakland Valley Speedway) runners:

Note: In most cases, the names that appear in this section are names of those that have run at the Dirt Oval for an extended period of time. And, in some cases, maybe some only had occasional appearances at the Dirt Oval, too. And, yes, some I’m not even sure about!

Mike Mammana was 6^th in the Sportsman feature at Big Diamond.

Out in Selinsgrove, in the 358 Sprint Car feature, Davie Franek was 5^th.

Josh Pieniazek was 2^nd and Danny Hennessy 4^th, in the CRSA 305 Sprint Car feature at Utica/Rome.

At New Egypt, in the Modified feature, Johnny Guarino was 23^rd.

I believe that Cori Tufano had run on occasion at the Dirt Oval, and at Whip City she was 5^th in the 270 Micro Sprint Sportsman feature.

David Webb was 6^th in the SK Light Modified feature at Stafford.

Roger Coss had a 4^th place finish in the Modified feature at Wall Stadium.

At Bethel, Rich Coons was 4^th in the Dirt Sportsman feature.

Tiffany Wambold was 2^nd in the 270 Rookie Micro Sprint feature, and Kyle Rohner had a 3^rd in the make up feature and a 1^st in the night’s regular Stage One Modified feature at Borgers.

AJ Filbeck was 12^th in the Sportsman feature at Utica/Rome.

At Lebanon Valley, in the 358 Modified feature, Bobby Hackel, III was 6^th, and Kyle Armstrong 20^th. In the Sportsman feature, Kyle was 3^rd and Kolby Schroder 12^th.

At Accord, in the Modified feature, Danny Creeden was 4^th, Tom Hindley 8^th, Jimmy Johnson 16^th, Clinton Mills 17^th and Greg Hastie 22^nd.

In the Sportsman feature, Mike Ruggiero was 1^st, Brian Krummel 2^nd, Anthony Perrego 12^th and Brad Szulewski 13^th.

In the Spec Sportsman feature, Kyle Rohner was 2^nd, Jason Roe 9^th and Kayla Smykla 19^th. I should note here that Kayla led the first ten laps, then was in second place when she got punted into the 4^th turn wall, with some major damage being done to her car.

At OCFS, in the Modified feature, Billy VanInwegen was 8^th, Clinton Mills 9^th, Mike Ruggiero 10^th, Tim Hindley 20^th and Danny Creeden 23^rd.

Keith Still was 4^th, Brian Krummel 5^th, Joe Conklin 8^th, John Lodini 13^th, Matt Janiak 20^th and Matt Hitchcock 23^rd in the Sportsman feature. Bobby Hassenmayer was a DNQ. Matt Janiak was in 4^th place with a few laps remaining when he had mechanical problems and had to drop out.

More racin’ stuff:

The results of that NASCAR 100-mile race for cars similar to the day’s Indy cars, is below. How many names might you recognize?

Langhorne 100
Langhorne Speedway
1 Mile Dirt Oval
100 Laps/100 Miles
June 29, 1952

Finish	Start	Driver	Car #	Sponsor/Name	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Status	Points
1	1	Tom Cherry	38	Cherry	X	Mercury	100	1:08:43 87.315	300
2	6	Steve Yanigan	X	X	X	Mercury	99	Flagged	288
3	2	Wally Campbell	1	Campbell	X	Ford	98	Flagged	276
4	20	Tony Bonadies	10	Red Crise	X	Chrysler	97	Flagged	264
5	13	Tex Keene	75	Al Wheatley	X	Mercury	94	Flagged	252
6	8	Bob Halston	12	X	X	Nash	93	Flagged	240
7	15	Gene Darragh	X	Leland Colvin	X	Ford	90	Flagged	228
8	10	Mike Magill	X	X	X	GMC	88	Flagged
9	4	Buck Baker	87	Penny Mullis	X	Cadillac	87	Flagged	204
10	3	Lyle Scott	77	Scott	X	DeSoto	80	Flagged	192
11	9	Charlie Miller	X	X	X	Ford	74	Flagged
12	5	Pete Peterson	X	X	X	Olds	73	Flagged
13	18	Mickey Fenn	27	Bob Colvin	X	Mercury	72	Flagged	156
14	12	Budd Olson	X	X	X	Olds	62	Overheated	144
15	17	Frankie Schneider	5	Ike Kiser	X	Ford	61	Radiator	132
16	7	Al Keller	88	W.W. Burroughs	X	Cadillac	60	Oil line	120
17	19	Dutch Schaefer	X	X	X	Ford	59	Rear end
18	11	Bob Johnson	X	Arch Yates	X	Kaiser	43	Spark plugs	96
19	21	Sam Waldrop	X	X	X	Ford	54	Overheated	84
20	16	Steve McGrath	33	Johnny Tadlock	X	DeSoto	37	Spark plugs	72
21	14	Jiggs Peters	52	Edwin Darnell	X	Ford	26	Radiator	60
22	22	Len Brown	X	X	X	Kaiser	5	Overheated	48
--	--	Bill Miller	7	Raymond Parks	X	Olds	--	Burned piston practice

Other forums/message boards and websites:

Track Forum: - http://www.trackforum.com/forums/

New Hampshire Support Races? An interesting thread about just what might run next year on July 30^th and 31^st at Loudon with the Indycar event.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?139209-New-Hampshire-Support-Races

NASCAR New Hampshire Race Demonstrates How Easy Indy Car Has Become (Is driving skill not so necessary, today?)

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?139188-NASCAR-New-Hampshire-Race-Demonstrates-How-Easy-Indy-Car-Has-Become

Richmond, we hardly knew ye – another interesting thread about some possible reasons as to why Indycar doesn’t race at Richmond, anymore. Some thoughts/reasons might surprise you. I’ve attended a couple of IRL weekends at Richmond, and I have to agree with Eddie Cheever’s thoughts on it – “Like flying jet fighters in a gymnasium”.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php?139123-Richmond-we-hardly-knew-ye

Frontstretch.com: http://www.frontstretch.com/

Five Points to Ponder: Drive For Five Alive, NHMS>AMS, And Earnhardt's Thrill Over For the No. 3?

ONE: The No. 48 Team Is Back… Like It Was Ever Gone, TWO: Weekend Attendance Should Get NHMS Off the Bubble, THREE: It Takes Two…Start and Park Cars These Days, FOUR: Junior’s Not So Thrilled to Drive the No. 3? And FIVE: Cup Racing is a Job…This is Fun?

The above can be seen and read if you go here: http://www.frontstretch.com/bkeith/30077/

Jayski: - http://www.jayski.com/

A Message from Bill Simpson, Truex accepts Gordon apology, but – and, Dale Jr. doesn't plan to drive #3 after Daytona NNS race – can all be seen, here: http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#impact

And:

25 Nominee's for Hall of Fame to be announced, Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2010 Lenox Industrial Tools 301, Bliss to drive for TRG at Daytona, Dodge President Says Challenger Could Race In Cup, Crew Member Suspended Due To Violation Of Substance Abuse Policy, Reutimann signs contract extension and more can be seen if you go here:

http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#news00wed

Video time:

How about some “Lightning Sprint” (Mini Sprint?) racing action from the Accord Speedway?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuGzmoYsIas

Is this true?:

Remember this, from last week?

And, what if this is true – your employer contributes monies to your health care benefits, which is good – or is it? What if what he contributes gets added to your 2010 or 2011 as taxable income? Since it’s supposed to start in 2011, I have to figure it MIGHT be for the 2010 taxable year? Not so good, maybe?

From an e-mail I received:

Subject: Be informed, this starts next year...

And here we go...aren't those people that thought this would be "FREE", going to be surprised.

---

   You really need to read this……starts next year

This is supposed to be part of the new Health Care Bill.

   I contacted my Congressman about House bill HR3590 the health care bill
that passed. I asked for a summary of changes.
The aid directed me to go to www: thomas.gov ; enter HR3590 in the search
Box and look for summaries.  

 Starting in 2011 (next year folks) your W 2 tax form sent by your employer will be increased to show the value of what ever health insurance you are given by the company. It does not matter if that's a private concern or governmental body of some sort. If you're retired ? So what; your gross will go up by the amount of insurance you get. 

The dollar value (cost of what the company pays for your insurance) will be considered income
and added to your gross pay. You will be taxed on the total
You will be required to pay taxes on a large sum of money that you have
Never seen. 

Take your tax form you just finished and see what $15,000 or $20,000
Additional gross does to your tax debt. That's what you'll pay next year.
For many it also puts you into a new higher bracket so it's even worse.

This is how the government is going to buy insurance for 15 % that don't
Have insurance and it's only part of the tax increases.

Not believing this I researched the summaries and here's what I'm reading:

On page 25 of 29 :

TITLE IX REVENUE PROVISIONS- SUBTITLE A: REVENUE OFFSET PROVISIONS-(sec .
9001 , as modified by sec. 10901)
Sec.9002.  "requires employers to include in the W-2 form of each employee
The aggregate cost of applicable employer sponsored group health coverage
That is excludable from the employees gross income." 
Joan Pryde is the senior tax editor for the Kiplinger letters. Go to
Kiplingers and read about 13 tax changes that could affect you. Number 3 is
What I just told you about.

Why am I sending you this ?. The same reason I hope you forward this to
Every single person in your address book. 

Well guess what? I’m glad I had it in “Is this true?” I forwarded that e-mail to quite a few people and I had a response from one that it was sent to saying that it was FALSE, according to “Snopes”. Still, to be honest, I can see something like this happening, for sure.

Then I received a response from a very close relative of mine, and in it this is what was said:

“According to everything that I've read, your employer must include the amount on your W-2 beginning in 2011 and you must report it on your tax return.  However, you will not be taxed on the amount until 2018 if the amount is over a certain amount.  Unfortunately, where I work these benefits will indeed be taxable and since the plan is a self insured plan, my employer can claim that the premiums are whatever amount they so choose, so, come 2018, I think ***** and I are screwed royally!  Better luck to everyone else out there.”

Note: Interesting, to say the least, huh?

Other (non racing) news:

I found this, below, on Facebook, about Electric cars:

“About 1,500 charging stations are being installed across the country this year”

What I’m curious about is: That’s only a shade over 31 charging stations per 48 states – not counting in Alaska and Hawaii. Will ALL Electric cars utilize the exact same plugs? Will these charging stations be able to handle more than one car at a time, and if so, how any? How long will it take to charge the cars – will there be “Fast” and “Slow” charging options? How much will it cost to charge your Electric car, and how would you pay? What if “vandals” destroy the charging station or stations? Will there be signage up telling you where these charging stations are? Will road service, with charging capabilities, be available? Will it ever be possible to generate electricty to charge the batteries while driving – thus maybe eliminating these charging stations, in the future?

Closing with these:

These are actual comments made on students report cards by teachers in the New York City public school system. All teachers were reprimanded (but, boy, are these funny!)

1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.

2. I would not allow this student to breed.

3. Your child has delusions of adequacy.

4. Your son is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.

5. Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.

6. The student has a 'full six-pack' but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.

7. This child has been working with glue too much.

8. When your daughter's IQ reaches 50, she should sell.

9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.

10. If this student were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week.

11. It is impossible to believe the sperm that created this child beat out 1,000,000 others.

12. The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.

May “Guardian Angels” sit on the shoulders of all of our race drivers and race fans, and guide them safely around the tracks!

Drive safe!

As usual, you can reach me at: ygordad@yahoo.com