Racin' & Internet Stuff:

                                      By Tom Avenengo

                                         Volume # 66

                                           08/04/2011

 

First:

 

When one has a Pacemaker installed, one cannot drive for a couple of weeks – at least.  That’s driving me nuts right now!  I’m hoping to get the OK the day this column comes out – Thursday, August 4th.

 

With my not being able to drive, my daughter, Judy, was going to take me up to the Accord Speedway last Friday.  My son, tom, Jr. was coming down from the Watertown area, along with his wife, Penny and daughter, Marisa, and he was going to tag along.  Yup – “Mother Nature” screwed up those plans.  Funny, how a storm goes through, just enough to cancel the racing, that the sun comes out and we have beautiful weather afterwards?  Tom is hoping to get down again in a few weeks so he can hit a race with the old man.  It’s been quite a few years!

 

 

Second:

 

On more than one occasion, I’ve been critical about some of the tracks in my area.  OCFS, more than others.  I first started going to what is now OCFS way back in 1946, watching the midgets race on the small paved track that was in front of the covered grandstands.  Once I got my drivers license, I made trips to the fair to watch the midgets on the big track.  Later on, after I got out of the service, I hit a couple of stock car races.  It was in the mid to late 70’s when we started going quite regularly on Saturday nights – and if you didn’t get there early, you didn’t get a good seat.  When my son, Eric, and later on – grandson Brett, raced Karts on Saturday nights, OCFS was put on the back shelf, except for special shows.  Over these past few years, with no racing with my son and grandson, I’ve been to OCFS quite a bit.  And, I’m bothered by what I’ve seen, to be perfectly honest.  It seems that there’s been a rapid decline of the infrastructure at the old place.  Places that were open, are now closed.  One can get there as the races are starting now, and get a seat up on top of the ½ covered stands, with ease.  I imagine the same might apply to the full covered stands, as well?  Why am I saying this?  Simple.  Here is what was posted on the OCFS website for the Thursday night Sportsman race that was held during the fair:

“Message to race fans for the Thursday Sportsman 50 lap race at OCFS:

Attention fans, the Drive-In will not be open for spectators but please keep in mind that advance sale tickets that include the fair admission are available for purchase until Wednesday.”

OK, I really don’t know why the Drive-In was closed, but with parking at a premium at the fair now, I wonder why?  No, I didn’t inquire with OC about this because responses to my e-mails are few and far between.  Still…………………….

 

Third:

 

I tuned in to se the beginning of the Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis.  Reba Mcentire did an excellent job on a couple of patriotic songs.  Why she wasn’t used to do our National Anthem, I have no idea, but Rascal Flatts managed to screw up the National Anthem at the Brickyard 400.

 

Speaking of the Brickyard 400, was “crabbing” of the cars more noticeable during the race?  I thought so.

 

 

Fourth:

 

Hey, remember when two of our daughters, Sandy and Sarah, made the trip up north a while back?  Well, after they got to our house, Sarah emptied her oversized purse/bag, that was loaned to her from another party down in Florida.  Guess what she found?  A steak knife!  Damn – that bag went through the inspection line at the airport in Fort Myers not once, but TWICE.  Why am I telling you about this now?  Simple:

 

Man arrested at Fla. airport for knife in carry-on

http://news.yahoo.com/man-arrested-fla-airport-knife-carry-151727720.html

I can’t imagine what would have happened IF.

 

Fifth:

I can see this happening more and more, can you?

Xbox addict killed by blood clot

In part:

A post-mortem revealed that 20-year-old Chris Staniforth -- who was offered a place to study Game Design at Leicester University -- was killed by a pulmonary embolism, which can occur if someone sits in the same position for several hours.

Xbox 360 controller Deep vein thrombosis normally affects passengers on long-haul flights, but medical experts fear youngsters who spend hours glued to their consoles might also be at risk and have urged them to take regular breaks.”

http://blog.games.yahoo.com/blog/866-xbox-addict-dies-from-blood-clot/

 

Sixth:

Anyone reading this thinking of going to Pocono for the Cup race this coming Sunday?  Want tickets?  Check this out, from an e-mail I received:

Hello all ,
 
I have my personal  Pocono
Penn 500 seats up for sale for next weeks race as we cannot attend
 
2nd Row from Top  $85 face value  Aisle seats total of 5
Opposite the diamond vision and entrance to pits
 
Take one or all 5 and accepting all offers
 
Email or call me at
845 234 5323 if interested
 
 
PS  We will be returning to
Dover on Oct 2nd Motorcoach , Ticket , Hospitality Tent , all you can eat and drink , Driver Q and A and Trackside Tour
Let me know if  interested
 
Erwin " Benzee" Benz

 

Seventh:

An editorial in my local paper on Saturday, July 30th:

 

Full equality for gay couples yet to be achieved:

 

“Published: 2:00 AM - 07/30/11

The Buffalo News

There's a lawsuit that is itching to be filed this week and we hope one — or more — of the couples marrying under New York's new same-sex marriage statute will file it.

The problem is this. While gay and lesbian couples are now legally entitled to marry in New York, their rights under federal law will be significantly less than those accorded to heterosexual married couples. Because of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, for example, employer-paid health benefits are considered taxable income for gay couples, while they are not taxable for straight couples.

The cost to gay couples averages $1,069 a year, according to Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.

There's more. If a gay man or woman marries an immigrant of the same sex, there's no way to guarantee the immigrant spouse will be able to stay in this country legally.

A heterosexual couple has that guarantee.

Worst of all: If a spouse in a gay marriage dies, the survivor can't get Social Security survivor benefits and may have to pay a significant estate tax. Heterosexual couples don't have to pay that. In all, said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., there are more than 1,000 federal benefits that will be denied to married same-sex couples.

Marriage, according to the Defense of Marriage Act, is "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word "spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."

The law was passed specifically to deny to one disfavored group of people the rights enjoyed by the favored group.

We understand that many Americans hold strong beliefs about this issue, but civil rights are civil rights and the Constitution covers all Americans, not just those who are heterosexual or white or Christian or any subgroup.

But the 14th Amendment requires that states, and later interpreted to include the federal government, provide equal protection of the laws.

President Obama last week announced support for repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, and the Senate took up the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA.

While their support is welcome, repeal of DOMA is not going to happen anytime soon. The Republican House will never agree and the Senate's Republican minority would almost certainly filibuster any such attempt.

In New York, opponents of gay marriage wasted no time going to court to challenge the measure. Their lawsuit claims the New York state Senate violated its own procedures and the state's open meetings law when it approved the bill last month.

This is an uneasy time for many in this country who don't understand or are simply hostile to their changing world, but, in the end, that is of no matter.

It was an uneasy time for many when women were allowed to vote and when African-Americans were allowed to ride in the front of buses and sit at lunch counters.

This is an advance whose time has come, and there should be no letup in the push for equality.”

Note:  I find it hard to believe that there are more than 1,000 federal benefits that a gay couple is denied.  I’d like to see the list.

 

Eighth:

Back in 1946, my father started taking me, along with my brother, to see some midget races at various tracks in our area.  We visited Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ, “Victory Speedway” which is now the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY, Danbury and Cherry Park Speedway in Avon, Ct.  We went to quite a lot of races while he and my mother were together.  It had to be somewhere in the 1947-1948 years when their marriage fell apart and they were divorced – I was either 10 or 11 years old then.  After their divorce, and up until I was able to get my own drivers license, there were quite a few times when I waited for my father to pick me up to go to some race, but he, at times, didn’t show.  At some of those times, my stepfather, John Clynes, would take me.  John really wasn’t much of a fan of racing, so he’d let me go into the tracks on my own, once we got there, and he’d wait in the car for me.  On occasion, he’d sneak a peek at the action, though.  There were a few times after the divorce when my father did take me, but to be honest, I really can’t recall the last few.  This past Tuesday, August 2nd, was the 21st anniversary of my fathers’ death.  Yes, I still miss him.  If it weren’t for him you would not be reading this stuff, today.

 

Ninth:

Any idea as to what these have in common?

 

Sears, Dillard's, OfficeMax, Office Depot, The Home Depot, Foot Locker, The Gap and J.C. Penney?

 

They are some of the Great American Stores Starving for Customers, believe it, or not.

 

As an example:

The Home Depot
Drop in sales: -16.6%
2005 sales: $81.5 billion
2010 sales: $68.0 billion
5 yr. change in stock price: +1%

The Home Depot is the world's largest retailer of building materials and home improvement products. The company has over 2,200 stores worldwide. The chain has been badly damaged by the housing crisis, which began in earnest in 2007. From 2007 to 2008, the company's stock fell from $35 to under $27. Home Depot's prospects were also hurt by the presence of Robert Nardelli, who operated the chain in the first half of the decade.

More can be found here:  http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/113232/great-american-stores-starving-customers

 

Tenth:

This is hard for me to say, but I suppose it has to be said.  I watched some of the Brickyard 400 last Sunday. B O R I N G!  Is it because of the cars,  tracks, tires and/or the rules that kind of makes it boring?  The same applies locally, too.  How many times do we read that driver so-and-so started on the front row and ran away with the race?   I’ve seen photos on Facebook from the track closest to me – OCFS – photos taken during the fair – on a race night, which showed a ton of empty seats, and when they had a Demolition Derby, and the place was full.  Has it gotten so bad that the “follow the car in front of me, hoping he messes up” has chased fans away?  Would an open tire rule help, or make things worse?  I also attend the track in Accord, and maybe it’s because of its size – it being a lot smaller than OCFS, that makes the racing more exciting?  Heck, at OC I’ve seen the flagger give the “move over” flag to tail end cars, but the leader could not catch up to them!  Does that tell us anything?

 

Eleventh:

On Tuesday, while reading about the President signing the Debt bill, on Yahoo! News, there were a lot of comments made by some of my fellow citizens – like these:

“1.Stop sending money and jobs overseas to other countries.
2.Send all illegals back to their own countries.
3.Bring all troops home to protect the borders if other countries need help then they can pay for services.
4.No more exclusive health care or pensions to lawmakers. They go on SS and Medicare like everyone else.
5.Term limits and staff reduction.
6.No more Lobbyist make it illegal.
Have the 10 best econimest in this country sit down and make a plan to get us out of this debt. Not politicians!!”

“The main thing all this did was to expose just how disfunctional the Washington family really is. It's a 3 ring circus and the clowns are in charge. On one side there's the Dems, on the other side there's the GOP and in the center ring there's the Tea Party sending vollies in both directions. Compromise was a foriegn language during all this mess and it will continue on until we get new people up there.”

“This was a massive failure. We cut spending, which was long over due, but we did not raise significant revenue. In fact, tax revenue will continue to decline as a result of further diminished consumer confidence.
For those in denial about the necessity for increasing taxes on the wealthy....increased revenues allow the government to pay off debt faster, avoid cutting the defense budget too heavily, and allow the country to upgrade infrastructure. Not too mention, the value of the dollar would increase with a healthier debt to income ratio! When you are looking at your personal financial situation, do you like to just cut expenses, or do you also look to increase your income?”

“This bill didn't cut any deficit spending, it only cut the amount the government plans to increase spending every year after year. All they did is kept the status quo in place. This article is propaganda. Here are some cuts that would not be painful for Americans. Cut all earmarks, easy. Cut waste and fraud (like Obama said he would for Obamacare), easy. Cut all foreign aid, easy. Cut welfare and SS benefits to illegal aliens who don't pay taxes, easy. Cut all the duplicate spending that Obama says he has identified, easy. Sell all government property that sits empty and apply to the debt, easy. Sell government owned land to private individuals who will pay for the upkeep and taxes on the property, easy. Eliminate all subsidies to businesses (but not the tax breaks), easy. Stop paying people $7,000 to buy a Chevy Volt. Stop giving money to bankrupt corporations. There's more, but that's a good start.”

 

Twelfth:

On Tuesday afternoon, I received an e-mail from

Report: Danica Patrick finalizing NASCAR deal with JR Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing

In part:

“Danica Patrick is finalizing a deal to run a full Nationwide Series schedule for JR Motorsports and a partial Cup schedule with Stewart-Haas Racing next season, according to The Associated Press.

JR Motorsports spokesman Mike Davis and Patrick agent Mark Dyer both declined to comment on the report.”

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/nationwideseries/Report_Danica_Patrick_finalizing_NASCAR_deal_with_JR_Motorsports_Stewart-Haas_Racing.html

UPDATE:

Danica Patrick could still run the Indianapolis 500 even if she makes a full-time move to NASCAR, The Associated Press has learned. Two people familiar with Patrick's 2012 plans said she is in the final stages of a deal to run a full-time Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports and limited Sprint Cup Series races with the team owned by two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart. The people spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because the deal won't be finished until she has secured a release from Andretti Autosport. The talks also include her continuing to run the Indianapolis 500, one person told AP.(ESPN)(8-2-2011)

 

Fourteenth:

Ryan Newman hoping to regain trust of Modified regulars

In part:

“Ryan Newman says he hopes to regain credibility among teams competing in NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Series after he was stripped of a victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Newman, making a rare appearance for team owner – and Sprint Cup Series crew chief – Kevin “Bono” Manion, was stripped of the July 16 victory for an illegal intake manifold.”

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Ryan_Newman_hoping_to_regain_trust_of_Modified_regulars.html?utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=like

 

Fifthteenth:

Might this be another reason for failing attendance in racing, today – the enclosed trailers?  Really, when (and if) you were a young ‘un, didn’t you get a little excited when you saw a race car on an open trailer, going to a race track?  I know I did and so did my kids when we were on the road.  But who knows what’s in an enclosed trailer, today?

A rather interesting thread, with photos, can be seen on DTD’s Forum, if you go here:  http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/DTD/index.php?/topic/40327-open-haulersopen-trailers/

 

Sixteenth:

One thing that we, as race fans, team owners, team members and drivers never like to see is a notice being put up that a race track is curtailing some of it’s events or closing.  Not only are small tracks affected, but as you can see, below, some pretty good sized ones, too.

Nashville Superspeedway gives up on NASCAR, explores sale

In part:

Dover Motorsports announced today that it was exploring a sale of Nashville Superspeedway and will not pursue any NASCAR events for the track in 2012.”

 

“Nashville Superspeedway, which opened in 2001, was financed with $25.9 million in bonds issued by the Wilson County Sports Authority in 1999. $21 million worth of those bonds are outstanding.

Payments on the bonds will continue to be paid by property and sales taxes generated by the facility. If such revenue is insufficient, Dover Motorsports’ letter of credit will be drawn on to make up the difference, the company said.

Despite hosting NASCAR truck and Nationwide races, track ownership has been unable to secure a Sprint Cup race. The track was once featured on the Indy Racing LeagueIndy Racing LeagueSchedule, but was dropped after the 2008 season.”

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/08/03/nashville-superspeedway-gives-up-on.html?ana=twt

 

Seventeenth:

Please keep in mind that I’m not attempting to bash the Orange County Fair.  I’ve been to it many times, over the years – mainly to attend races there.  Therre was a time that you would pay to get into the fair, then get that money off on the price of your race tickets, if I’m not mistaken.  Parking, in the past, wasn’t all that bad when they had the big parking lot across the street from the fair property.  But that lot has disappeared a few years ago, so now one has to park quite a distance away, if front yards have been taken up.

I haven’t been there for these past few years, so it’s rather difficult for me to say anything personally.  However, I’ve read, and have seen photos, of this years fair and racing events.  Attendacne has been way down, so I’ve been told.  In years past, it was rain that hurt attendance.  This year it was the 100+ degree days that hurt – and maybe along with the closing on Monday and Tuesday.  Carrying the fair over three weekends had to also hurt attendance for the actural races, themselves, along with the Drive-In being closed on Thursday night when they had a 50 lap Sportsman race.

When there was a meeting about a dust problem, a few years ago, at the Wallkill Town Hall, it was said, by Mr. Gurda, that the fair needed the races to survive, and that the races needed the fair to survive.  Since then, the track has been DIRTcar sanctioned and then operated as an Independent.  Now, it’s back with DIRTcar.  One can only wonder – will the fair continue or have we seen its last days?  How about the racing itself – which was dependent on the fair to survive?  Even though there’s a three year contract between the track and DIRTcar (I believe that’s correct), contracts ain’t worth a damn, today, as we all have seen.  I suppose time will tell, right?

Now, another “Monkey Wrench” has been tossed into the deal – the place has been listed as being “For Sale”.  And, no, it does NOT have to be retained as a race track, folks.  So repairs have been kept to a minimum, and that surely doesn’t help.  In a way, I suppose one can’t blame those that own/run the place to be a little stingy with their monies.

Sorry to make this such a long section in the column, but some things have been said, on Facebook – both good, and bad, about the fair, and I thought I’d include them, this week.

Fair talk

 

“Orange County Fair getting smaller every yr , half of what it was ten yrs ago. Some observations - Quality music with Classic Rock group Third Degree East playing the tent tonite , no more Indian camp , less vendors , less rides . Still love the 4 H shack milkshakes and the Lions Club booth.”

 

“Would not surprise me to se it go bye-bye. In years past, it was rain that hurt attendance. This year it was the heat. Bet not many fannies in the stands tonight, while the Valley had another great crowd. Sad, isn't it?”

 

“Had the kids and nieces with us , no races just the fair but it did not looked crowded at all.”

 

“I know it's so sad. The things we remember as children, Indian Village, the animals, ( i remember yrs sgo they had a small horse track there) the sportsman show, all the trailers with the snake lady, or the tiny woman, the motorcycles in the big ball, all the free shows the older generation sat by so the young ones went on the rides, pig races, cows etc. So sad what has become of it. Pretty soon if not already kids will not know what a good old fashon fair is.”

 

“I remember going there as a kid and having a great time!”

 

       dutchess county fair is the one to go to now”

 

“We thought of going tonight..but we went a couple of years ago and thought we were at a fair in mexico.Very         sad..lots of great memories there from the past. Remember when they had first rate concerts..who is running this place? They are screwballs. Very sad”

 

also ulster county i heard is pop . we like the one up in honesdale pa too , 8 bucks and all the ridesc , admission and shows”

“Always remember it as a sh*thole”

too expensive”

over half the food vendors are now catering to the mexican and spanish clientele , could not enen find a salted pretzel in the entire place”

all local groups playing music , good but they dont draw in the big crowds like the national acts , no money being put into the place or race track , writing is on the wall”

ulster cty is the one to go to. H avent been there but i have heard for yrs its nice. H ate to say it but less trash also. Actually i really dont hate to say it. IT SUCKS. Just like everything else in this area is turning into. When i first moved here 4o some years ago it was a beautiful area. NO MORE. Time to move to another state. F**K N.Y”

“We all had a great time , just different than yrs ago , Kassie , Courtney , Chrissy , Joey and Nick were great”

“Sorry to hear the Indians are gone. They were always very nice to us. We have not gone since 1997, though.”

“Check out Honesdale Fair next week I think , $8 admission all the rides and shows included , nice drive and clientele”

“Hardly anyone there Thurs when we went to the races. And Keith did find a pretzel but it wasn't easy!”

“Don't know which was more of a freakshow, the O C Fair or Playtogs. Think Walmart beats em both...”

not even open in the daytime ..uuuugh what about catering to the camps and younger kids that used to go ?”

“Went to the fair when we first moved up here in 1987...never again...redneck city!”

Sussex county farm and horse show in Sparta NJ is still pretty awesome. I wont even go close to the orange county fair”

“I think the last time I went to OC Fair was probably 1987. And even then, the kids loved it, but it was all a money racket. Me, my wife & 3 kids cost me over $125. I agree with Rob Johns... and that's what I said in 1994 and packed up & moved to N.C. - LOL. The Burke county fair was $1.00 when I moved here in 1994, and I thought it was bad when they raised it to $3.00 in 2005! LOL”.

“The NYS Fair in Syracuse is awesome - same admission price (and finding discount tickets is easy), and you get all sorts of great shows and stuff to do for that. So much to do, in fact, its worth it to make an overnight trip to do two days there. Buildings FULL of cows, pigs, chcikens - real farm stuff! Have ALWAYS called the carny show in Middletown. the Orange County UN-Fair......”

“Gonna check Wayne County , Ulster County , Sussex County , Dutchess and NYS i think”

And, copying one of the things said, above, one has to wonder – is the writing on the wall?

all local groups playing music , good but they dont draw in the big crowds like the national acts , no money being put into the place or race track , writing is on the wall”

 

Eighteenth:

The 36th annual Eastern Motorsports Museum of Motor Racing/Williams Grove Old Timers Convention is being held at the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds – August 19th to the 21st.

314 Latimore Valley RoadYork Springs, PA

http://www.emmr.org/

http://www.emmr.org/schedule.htm

Museum address:  100 Baltimore RoadYork Springs, PA

 

Coming up:

 

Accord:

Friday, August 5th:

Sponsored by:  Royal King Dry Cleaners

Camera & Autograph Night!!

Modifieds $2000 to win, Sportsman, Spec Sportsman & Pro Stocks-Pure Stocks:

Note:  No mention of Legends as per the schedule.

Mid Week Madness – 08/10/11

 

 

 

OCFS:

August 6th:  M&H Tractor Supply Co. - Kids Club - M/SP/PRO/SS/4 Cylinder

Note:  I would not count on seeing any 4 Cylinders there on 8/6

August 13th:  Goldenarea Furniture - The Beer Store - Modified Elimination Race by Martine Service Center - Northeast Vintage Modifieds - M/SP/PRO/SS/V

 

 

Lebanon Valley:

 

Aug. 6 - Sheldon Oil Presents NYSSCA Night & The Bulldog Concrete Prostock Elimination Race, Weekly Divisions & Budget Sportsman

Aug. 13 - Saxton Signs Presents Biker Night &“King Of The Catskills” Modified Qualifier, Weekly Divisions, 358 Modifieds & Prostock ECHO Series

Aug. 25:  CARQUEST Auto Parts & General Tire Present
$17,500 TO WIN “MR. DIRT Track U.S.A.” 100-Lap Modified DIRTcar Series Race Plus Budget Sportsman, Gates Open @ 5pm | Racing @ 6pm

Bethel:

This coming Saturday, August 6th, Bethel Motor Speedway will play host to LegendStock 2011, touted as the most exciting and highest paying Legends race in the Northeast. The 50-lap event is a qualifier for the INEX Asphalt Nationals, and is sure to draw in talent from across the Northeast and beyond. Entries have already been received from as far away as Virginia, North Carolina, and Minnesota. The Bandoleros are also a part of the LegendStock event, traditionally providing a showcase for some of the best young talent around. Also on the schedule for the night are the Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions. Grandstand gates open at 1 pm for spectators and early pit registration. The concession stand is open for lunch, enabling fans and drivers to relax until the pit gates open at 3 pm. Hot laps take to the track at 5 pm, with racing slated to begin at 7 pm. More information and online registration for LegendStock can be found at www.legendstockshootout.com. For more information about Bethel Motor Speedway, visit www.bethelmotorspeedway.com, or call (845) 319-7908.

http://www.bethelmotorspeedway.com/BethelMotorSpeedway/Home_Page.html

 

 

Found on Jayski’s website:

 

Update on Shane Hmiel:

Former NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel doesn't know if he will walk again. He doesn't know exactly how he will be involved in racing again. He doesn't even know why he's alive. There's one thing Shane Hmiel believes, though: He's lucky, despite an Oct. 9 accident in a Silver Crown car that damaged his brain and spinal cord. He might not know for another four or five years how much he will need the wheelchair he currently has to use, but the 31-year-old Hmiel has an incredibly upbeat attitude about his life. See full article at SceneDaily and a video from a NASCAR Race Hub episode at SPEED.(7-30-2011)

Note:  In case you never saw his accident, here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm8vv25-jY0

 

Travis Pastrana to make NASCAR National Series Debut UPDATE injured in Xgames:

After back-flipping his way through the ESPN X Games, Travis Pastrana will catch a red-eye flight to Indianapolis to make his first ever start in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend at Lucas Oil Raceway. The long awaited arrival of the action sports star is finally here. Pastrana has 16 X Games gold medals in addition to multiple titles in supercross, motocross and rally cars. He'll make his series debut for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing #99 Boost Mobile Toyota. Pastrana got a taste of NASCAR racing, having run a combination of five NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West races this year including his best finish of sixth in his NASCAR debut in January at the Toyota All-Star Showdown. His other NASCAR K&N Pro Series races were Phoenix (25th), Richmond (33rd), Iowa (22nd) and Loudon (22nd).(NASCAR)(7-27-2011)

 

UPDATE:

Action sports star Travis Pastrana crashed on back-to-back "TP Roll" attempts Thursday night in X Games 17 Moto X Best Trick, ending the Pastranathon during its first event. Pastrana, who was taken off on a stretcher and transported to a hospital for X-rays, broke his right foot and ankle, according to medical officials working with ESPN. He was discharged from the hospital Thursday night. The injury will require surgery at a later date, Pastrana's planned NASCAR debut on Saturday will be put on hold. He is also out of the X Games. "I am sorry this happened and will be back in action as soon as I can. I look forward to Pastranathon 2012 at X Games 18," Pastrana told ESPN following his release from the hospital. Going into the X Games, Pastrana had planned to compete in Best Trick and Freestyle on Thursday and Friday, fly to Indianapolis to make his NASCAR Nationwide debut Saturday, then return to Los Angeles to compete in RallyCross on Sunday. X Games 17 will be the first X event since 2002 that Pastrana has been out of medal contention. Pastrana crashed while attempting the corked 720 that had made him a gold medal favorite in Best Trick. Riders usually get one shot each round at throwing tricks, but Pastrana tried the 720 twice after under-rotating the first time. His second attempt ended in identical fashion and he immediately grabbed his lower leg as medical staff rushed to his side on the landing ramp.(ESPN)(7-29-2011)

 

UPDATE 2:

Pastrana Waltrip Racing announced Friday it will withdraw the #99 Boost Mobile Toyota from Saturday's race at Lucas Oil Raceway where action sports star Travis Pastrana planned to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut. Pastrana broke his right foot and ankle after back-to-back crashes during the Moto X Best Trick competition at the X Games in Los Angeles Thursday. "Like fans everywhere we were so excited about Travis' debut Saturday night," said team owner Michael Waltrip. "We have a long term vision with Travis which includes lots of NASCAR. We can't wait to get him healed and in our race cars. We talked to our sponsor Boost Mobile and agreed to withdraw from Indy and delay our debut. We've waited a long time for someone like Travis Pastrana. I guess we'll just have to wait a little bit longer." Pastrana had planned to compete in Best Trick and Freestyle on Thursday and Friday, fly to Indianapolis to make his NASCAR Nationwide debut Saturday, then return to Los Angeles to compete in RallyCross on Sunday.(Pastrana Waltrip Racing)(7-29-2011)

 

 

More on Edwards - Ford steps in:

Ford Racing has gone to what officials call unprecedented measures to help Roush Fenway Racing keep #99-Carl Edwards from going to the Toyota team of Joe Gibbs Racing. "We've helped out with an offer we have never done before for another driver,'' said Kevin Kennedy, the director of Ford Racing communication, before Saturday's qualifying for the Brickyard 400. "It was important enough for us that we were trying to make it unprecedented.'' Kennedy would not give specifics into what Ford has offered other than to say top executives in the organization have been closely involved with RFR in negotiations. "If he's around, it's something that will help him in terms of continuing to promote Ford products,'' Kennedy said of Edwards, who has become the face of Ford Racing. "We've been in racing for 110 years and I don't think we've ever done this before.'' Steve Newmark, the president of RFR, acknowledged that Ford has gone above and beyond to help keep Edwards in the fold. Newmark added that the total package offered to this year's top free agent shows just how important officials believe he is to the future of the organization and manufacturer. "I hope everybody understands Roush Fenway is very intent on signing Carl,'' Newmark said. "We understand he is trying to make a decision that is best for his future.'' Edwards declined on Friday to say whether he has made a decision amidst speculation he is headed for JGR to drive the #20 currently occupied by Joey Logano with Home Depot and Aflac as his sponsors. Newmark and Kennedy said Edwards has told them no decision has been made. Newmark added that no ultimatum or deadline for a decision will be made even though RFR wants it done sooner rather than later to prepare for next year. Sources said Edwards could earn more than $40 million over three years. Newmark said money hasn't been a major factor in RFR's negotiations. Should Edwards leave, Newmark said the replacement likely would come from in house with developmental drivers Trevor Bayne or Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He said no driver outside the organization has been contacted.(ESPN)(7-30-2011)
DONE DEAL?

Edwards says the only contract he's signed was his last one with Jack Roush three years ago. Whether there's a current contract or not, the latest scuttlebutt has Edwards driving the #20 Home Depot Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012 for a staggering amount of money -- $8 million as a base, plus a $10 million signing bonus.(FoxSports)(7-31-2011)

 

 

Former Oakland Valley Speedway (Dirt Oval) runners:

At Kutztown, on July 27th, Molly Chambers was a DNQ in the 600 Micros.

At Accord, also on the 27th, Tyler Dippel was 2nd in the Slingshot feature, while Tyler Pirone dropped out of his heat and didn’t make a return to action.  Joe Kata won the 600 Micro Sprint feature.

The ARDC ran at Mercer Speedway last Saturday and Justin Grosz was 7th in the feature.

Kyle Armstrong was 13th in the Modified feature and Kolby Schroder 2nd in the Sportsman feature at Lebanon Valley.

Mike Mammana was 8thin the Sportsman feature at New Egypt.

At OCFS on Thursday, the 28th, in the 50 lap Sportsman feature, Brian Krummel was the winner, followed by Matt Hitchcock in 3rd, Tyler Boniface in 14th, John Lodidni 15th, RJ Smykla 19th, Anthomy Perrego 22nd and Matt Janiak 23rd.

At OCFS, on Saturday, in the 358 Modified feature, Mike Ruggiero was 6th.  In the Sportsman feature Tyler Boniface won with John Lodini 8th, Brian Krummel 9th, Matt Hitchcock 10th, Keith Still 13th, RJ Smykla 14th and Jason Roe 17th.  IN the CRSA 305 Sprint Car feature, Josh Pieniazek was the winner, with John Virgilio 10th, Chuck Alessi (Dan Hennessy?) 14th, Billy VanInwegen 15th and Brittany Tresch 16th.  BK Rizzo and Emily VanInwegen were DNQ’s.

At Five Mile, Danny Creeden was 8th in the Modified feature while Anthony Perrego was 3rd in the Slingshot feature.

Nick Pecko had an 11th place finish in the Modified class at Mountain Speedway.

Rich Coons was 14th at Bethel in the Sportsman feature.

At Utica/Rome, AJ Filbeck was 2nd in the Sportsman feature.

The NEMA Lights (Mostly Ford Focus powered) ran at Waterford, and Kenney Johnson, although breaking a wheel, is listed as finishing 12th.

Justin Grosz ventured out to the Kokomo, IN track to run in the USAC D1 Midget race – (no idea as to what the D1 stands for).  I was rather shocked to see only 10 Midgets entered, with nine taking the green flag.  Justin is shown as ending up 9th.  So, what’s with USAC?  Are those “Big buck – high horsepower” engines finally taking their toll on entrants?

Molly Chambers was 12th in the 600 Micro Sprint feature at Wyalusing.

 

 

 

 

 

Going back, in time – in racing history:

Note:  Most of the following information was found here: 

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

 

Covering the days from August 5th to August 11th:

 

August 5

1936

Gordon Johncock ... Born ... Gordon Johncock was one of the premier drivers of Indy Cars for nearly three decades, winning the 1976 USAC National Championship, and claiming two wins in the Indy 500. A native of Hastings, Michigan, "Gordy" Johncock began his racing career in Midwestern modifieds and USAC sprint cars. While he was highly successful in the modifieds, he was something special in the sprint cars. Johncock set a world half-mile record at Winchester, Indiana in 1964, the same year he made his USAC Championship Trail debut on the one-mile dirt track in Springfield. Johncock ran Indy the first time in 1965, finishing fifth. His first major championship win came later that year at Milwaukee as he out-dueled A.J. Foyt for the victory. Johncock was fourth at Indy in 1966, and also finished fourth in the championship points. In an accident-marred, rain-shortened 1973 race, Johncock got his first Indianapolis 500 victory. With new sponsorship from STP, he also won at Phoenix and Trenton. The following year, he was third in the points, with wins at Milwaukee and Phoenix. Following a huge disappointment at Indy in 1975, in which he qualified 2nd and finished 31st, Johncock rebounded in 1976 to grab third place in the Indy 500, a race that propelled him to his first USAC national championship. Beginning in 1978, Johncock had a string of five consecutive Top Ten finishes that culminated with his second Indianapolis 500 victory in 1982. This time he beat Rick Mears by 16/100ths of a second, the closest finish ever at Indy at that time. After winning the 1983 season opener in Atlanta, Johncock suffered season-ending injuries in a crash at Michigan. 1984 was his last full season, and he announced his retirement in 1985. Missing it more than he had anticipated, Johncock came out of retirement briefly in 1987, but raced only twice in 1988 and three times in 1989, retiring for good in 1992. During his career, Johncock competed in 261 races, winning 25 times and earning 20 poles. His winnings amounted to well over $3 million.

1963

Craig Breedlove drove the "Spirit of America" on the Bonneville Salt Flats to a new Land Speed Record of 407.45 mph.

Andy Granatelli became president of Studebaker's chemical compound division. Their principal product is STP - motor oil and gasoline additives.

1969

Kenny Irwin, Jr. ... Born ... He was a NASCAR stock car driver. He had driven in all three major of forms of NASCAR and had two total victories. Before that, he raced in the United States Auto Club against Tony Stewart who was one of his fiercest rivals. He died as a result of injuries suffered in a crash during a practice session at New Hampshire International Speedway.

1968

Not racing related, but it was on this date that we lost Luther Perkins.  Luther played guitar for Johnny Cash.  A video with him in it will follow in “Video time”

 

 

 

AUGUST 6

2002

Jim Crawford... Died ... USAC/CART driver 1984 to 1995. Ran the Indy 500 eight times with a best finish of 6th in 1988.

 

 

AUGUST 7

1962

Don Davis ... Died ... USAC driver from the late 1950's to the early 1960's. He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1960-1962 seasons with 15 starts, including the 1961 and 1962 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 8 times, with his two best finishes in 3rd at Trenton and in 4th at Indianapolis, both in 1962. He died in a sprint car crash in New Breman, OH.

1965

Another not racing related – singer Raul Malo was born.  He, too, will have a video in “Video time”, below.

 

 

AUGUST 8

1929

Jimmy Davies... Born ... AAA / USAC driver from the 1940's - 1960's. He was the second man to win three USAC National Midget Championships. When Davies won the 100 mile AAA Championship race at Del Mar, California on November 6, 1949 - aged 20 years, 2 months, 29 days, he became the youngest driver to win a race in a major U.S. open wheel series, a record not broken until Marco Andretti won the IRL race at Sonoma, California in 2006. Davies raced AAA on a false birth certificate showing him older, (as did Troy Ruttman and Jim Rathmann), and was racing illegally. He ran the Indy 500 5 times with a best finish of 3rd in 1955. He died on June 11, 1966 aged 36 from injuries suffered in a midget crash at Santa Fe Speedway in Chicago. He was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1984

1953

Nigel Mansell... Born ... A British racing driver from England who won both the Formula One World Championship (1992) and CART World Series (1993). He is the only person in history to hold both titles simultaneously, and was the first person to win the CART title in his debut season.

 

 

AUGUST 9

1917

Barney Oldfield drove a streamlined Miller with fully enclosed cockpit, called the "Golden Sub", to new one mile (80 mph), five mile (77.2 mph), 25 mile (75.4 mph), and 50 mile (73.5 mph) speed records.

1925

Len Sutton... Born ... Sutton became involved in auto racing after serving in the Navy during World War II. He spun out in the first corner on his first lap at a dirt track. Sutton won Oregon Racing Association championships in 1949, 1950, 1954, and 1955. He flipped his car to avoid cattle during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana road race (now Baja 1000). He was in a body cast for 4 months. He also won midget car racing championships in Portland before he headed east to become a national touring driver. He raced in the AAA and USAC Championship Car series from 1955 to 1965, with 76 career starts, 43 top ten finishes, and 3 victories. Sutton completed his rookie test for the Indianapolis 500 in 1956. He flipped his car while attempting 140 miles per hour for the 1957 Indianapolis 500. He slide upside down with his helmet scraping the asphalt for nearly 1000 feet. A report in the following day's Indianapolis News said "Sutton was at first believed dead by observers on the scene." His injuries included broken shoulder, serious abrasions on his back, and a fractured skull. He returned to Indianapolis the the following year and made his first start in the event. That year he finished 32nd after being eliminated in a multi-car accident during the first lap. He competed in the 500 six more times and had his best result in 1962. After starting the race 4th, he led 9 laps and finished second behind his teammate Rodger Ward. The next year, he set an unofficial Indianapolis Motor Speedway record when he went over 155 miles per hour during a tire test. Known for his versatility as a driver, Sutton also competed in roadsters, midgets, sprint cars, and stock cars. He finished 31st in the 1963 Daytona 500. Sutton decided to retire from driving during a 1965 race at Langhorne Speedway. Fellow competitor Mel Kenyon was severely burned in the race. After retiring from driving, Sutton went into broadcasting and was a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for many years. Sutton died at his home in Portland at age 81 after a long battle with cancer.

1963

Not racing related, but our second child, another daughter; Sandra Lucienne Avenengo, was born in the William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso, Texas, while I was in the service.  Man, but it’s been a fast 48 years.

1975

Mark Donohue set an American closed-course speed record of 221.120 MPH at Talledega, Alabama, in a Porsche 917/30.

2000

Herb Thomas... Died ... A NASCAR pioneer who won the Grand National Racing (now Winston Cup) championship in 1951 and 1953; ranks 12th on the career victory list with 48 wins in 230 starts; won Southern 500 three times in the 1950s; inducted in International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994.

 

AUGUST 10

1946

Bill Holland won the AAA Eastern Sprint Car sanctioned Batavia Race on the .5 Mile Dirt Oval Batavia Fairgrounds in Batavia, New York. Ted Horn finished second followed by Tommy Hinnershitz, Earl Horne and Earl Johns.

Ted Horn , driving the Horn #5, won the AAA Eastern Sprint Car race at the Bedford Speedway in Bedford, PA.

 

AUGUST 11

1926

Frankie Schneider ... Born ... Schneider was a stock car, modified, midget, and sprint car racer. He had one NASCAR Grand National victory at Old Dominion Speedway in 1958. He also won the 1952 NASCAR modified title, where he may have scored at least 100 wins. Schneider began his career in 1947 by winning $70 for driving his street car to a seventh place at Flemington Speedway. Schneider is believed to have won at least 750 races in the next thirty years. He routinely raced eight races per week (in several classes). He reportedly scored at least 100 wins in 1958. Schneider won the Langhorne National Open, the country's most noted event for Sportsman and Modified racers, in 1954 and again in 1962. He scored his last feature win in 1977 at the 1/2-mile dirt track Nazareth Speedway.

1991

Ernie Irvan won the NASCAR Winston Cup Bud at the Glen over Ricky Rudd at the Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY.

J. D. (John Delphus) McDuffie ... Died ... A NASCAR Series driver. He made his debut in 1963 at Myrtle Beach Speedway, finishing 12th out of 18 drivers. He went on to finish in the top ten in points twice in his career and won the pole position for the 1978 Delaware 500. He fielded his own team for most of his career. His underfunded efforts made him a fan favorite, especially as his career ran down and he only ran selected races. McDuffie was involved in an accident in the opening laps of the 1991 Bud at the Glen race at Watkins Glen International Raceway. Turning into turn 5, a brake failure resulted in the loss the right rear wheel on his car, at perhaps the worst place in racing to have such a failure. Unable to slow the car at all, and with an absence of a gravel trap, McDuffie skidded across the grass and slammed with tremendous velocity into the tire barrier outside the high speed right-hander. The force of the impact flipped the car and kept it airborne as Jimmy Means, also collected in the accident, crashed underneath him. Means was able to slow his car substantially before crashing and avoid injury, but the sheer violence of the J.D.'s impact with the tires made the impact unsurvivable for McDuffie. McDuffie's fatal wreck, and a serious injury to Tom Kendall six weeks earlier in the Camel Continental VIII, led to a new bus stop chicane shortly before Turn 5 to slow down cars entering the turn.

 

 

 

News from the AARN:

 

From their July 26th edition:

 

Ernie Saxton, in his column, was touching base on the possibility of having heat races rather than time trials for NASCAR Cup race.  He had some valid points.  He was also wondering why race tracks have all their grandstands open when qualifying is being held.  Both he and I would like to know why people go out and spend money for seats at a major racing event, then stand up through most of it?

 

There will be over $80,000.00 being paid out at Selinsgrove for the 11th annual Mach 1 Chassis National Open for 358 & 360 Sprint Cars on 9/3, and for the Jim Nace Memorial – the 29th annual National Open for 410’s on 9/17.

 

In most every issue of the AARN, there are notices of those from the racing world that have left us.  Those listed in this issue were Ed Pratt, a driver from the 60’s & 70’s, Robert Hendrickson, a driver from the 7-‘s & 80’s and Joe Inglin, Jr. a Late Model driver that ran Flemington.

 

When the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars raced at Lebanon Valley, the 50/50 hit $6,536.00.  No, that wasn’t the biggest pay of for a 50/50 there.  (I guess it pays to have a bunch of good looking young ladies selling the tickets, huh?)

 

Brett Hearn inched closer to the 800 feature win column when he won the 358 Modified feature the night the WoO was at the Valley.  That win gives him a guaranteed starting spot for the 359 Modified race at OCFS for Eastern States Weekend.

 

Looking through the midget race results for this area, I see that the ARDC had 27 cars at Big Diamond and NEMA had 17 cars at Seekonk.

 

Ted Christopher, well know race winner in asphalt Modifieds, has also done pretty well lately in Super Modifieds.

 

Every week there’s an ad in the AARN for the Xcel 600 Modifieds.  They sell – basically race ready, for $9,995.00.  Their phone number is 610-681-2689, and their website is:  www.xcelchassis.com

 

On August 9th, at Penn Can, in their “Shot Summer Night” race for both Big Block and Small Block Modifieds, the winner will get at least $5,000.00 to win the 60 lap race.

 

The American  Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model All Star Challenge at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, 8/12 and Saturday, 8/13, pays $172,000.00.  So far there are over 70 entrants.  That race is part of the IZOD Indycar Series weekend.  NASCAR Modifieds are also in action that weekend.

 

Race chaser Guy Smith has now been to 1,385 different tracks.

 

On the back page of the AARN is an ad for G. Stone – Commercial Division, which sells most everything, especially Toter homes, trailers and other big “toys”.

An example:  A United Specialties Toter home/S&S race trailer combo – 61,000 miles, CAT Diesel power, Diesel Generator, 52’ S&S race trailer with Factory Living Quarters, Power Side Out, AC, Full bath, Dinette, Range, Fridge, TV, Stereo, sleeps 4 – trailer cost over $100,000.00 originally,  Full price:  $96,900.00. (Is that a good deal – I don’t know, but sounds good to me).

Cell:  802-349-5020  Office:  802-388-9599

Website:  GstoneEquipment.com and GstoneMotors.com

 

 

 

More racin’ stuff:

 

Matt McLaughlin’s Thinking Out Loud:  Brickyard 400 Race Recap:

 

In part:

 

*The Key Moment *– With three laps to go Paul Menard had saved enough fuel he could relight the afterburners and hold off a hard-charging Jeff Gordon for the final few laps.

 

The Nationwide drivers were almost universal in expressing their disappointment next year’s event will be held at the Brickyard rather than the short track. Most went on to add they hoped eventually they’d be back to the old IRP. Based on what I saw this weekend, maybe it’s time to move the Cup cars to the short track, too.”

 

More of his thoughts can be found if you go here:  http://www.frontstretch.com/mmclaughlin/34759/

 

 

 

Racing and television:

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

 

Some non-racing stuff:

Bulldoze: The New Way To Foreclose

In part:

“There are nearly 1.7 million homes in the U.S. in some state of foreclosure. Banks already own some of these homes and will soon have repossessed many more. Many housing economists worry that near constant stream of home sales from banks could keep housing prices down for years to come. But what if some of those homes never hit the market.

Increasingly, it appears banks are turning to demolition teams instead of realtors to rid them of their least valuable repossessed homes. Last month, Bank of America announced plans to demolish 100 foreclosed homes in the Cleveland area. The land is then going to be donated back to the local government authorities. BofA says the recent donations in Cleveland are part of a larger plan to rid itself of its least saleable properties, many of which, according to a company spokesperson, are worth less than $10,000. BofA has already donated 100 homes in Detroit and 150 in Chicago, and may add as many as nine more cities by the end of the year.”

 http://news.yahoo.com/bulldoze-way-foreclose-102000063.html

 

From an e-mail I received last Saturday:

 

EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ
 
The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish writer
Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez and published in a Spanish newspaper on Jan..
15 2008.  It doesn't take much imagination to extrapolate the message
to the rest of Europe - and possibly to the rest of the world.
 
 
IT WAS IN A SPANISH PAPER
Date: Tue.  15 January 2008 14:30
EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ
By Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez
 
I walked down the street in Barcelona , and suddenly discovered a
terrible truth - Europe died in Auschwitz ...  We killed six million
Jews and replaced them with 20 million Muslims.  In Auschwitz we
burned a culture, thought, creativity, talent.  We destroyed the
chosen people, truly chosen, because they produced great and wonderful
people who changed the world.
 
The contribution of this people is felt in all areas of life: science,
art, international trade, and above all, as the conscience of the
world. These are the people we burned.

And under the pretense of tolerance, and because we wanted to prove to
ourselves that we were cured of the disease of racism, we opened our
gates to 20 million Muslims, who brought us stupidity and ignorance,
religious extremism and lack of tolerance, crime and poverty, due to
an unwillingness to work and support their families with pride.
 
They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful Spanish cities
into the third world, drowning in filth and crime.
 
Shut up in the apartments they receive free from the government, they
plan the murder and destruction of their naive hosts.
 
And thus, in our misery, we have exchanged culture for fanatical
hatred, creative skill for destructive skill, intelligence for
backwardness and superstition.
 
We have exchanged the pursuit of peace of the Jews of Europe and their
talent for a better future for their children, their determined
clinging to life because life is holy, for those who pursue death, for
people consumed by the desire for death for themselves and others, for
our children and theirs.
 
What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe ..
 
A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they
imagine America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to
themselves.

Recently, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its
school curriculum because it 'offends' the Muslim population which
claims it never occurred.
  It is not removed as yet.  However, this is
a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how
easily each country is giving into it.
 
It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended.
This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, 6
million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900
Catholic priests who were 'murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten,
experimented on and humiliated' Now, more than ever, with Iran, among
others, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to
make sure the world never forgets.
 
This e-mail is intended to reach 400 million people.  Be a link in the
memorial chain and help distribute this around the world.
 
How many years will it be before the attack on the World Trade Center
'NEVER HAPPENED' because it offends some Muslim in the United States ?
 
Do not just delete this message; it will take only a minute to pass
this along.  Wake up America before it's too late!

 

 

Can we expect to see a lot more like this, in the near future?

Cash-strapped RI city files for bankruptcy

In part:

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (AP) -- The state-appointed receiver overseeing Rhode Island's cash-strapped Central Falls on Monday filed for bankruptcy on the city's behalf in an effort to solve its fiscal crisis.

Receiver Robert G. Flanders described the step as one of last resort after city taxes had been raised and services cut "to the bone," and after municipal retirees and current workers failed to agree on deep -- but voluntary -- cuts to their pensions and benefits.”

More can be found, here:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cashstrapped-RI-city-files-apf-1809896377.html?x=0

A little about Central Falls, RI, that I found on a Google search:

Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 19,376 at the 2010 census. With an area of only 1.29 square miles (3.3 km2), it is the smallest[3] and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the thirty-second most densely populated incorporated place in the United States. Central Falls takes its name from a waterfall on the nearby Blackstone River. In May 2010, Central Falls went into receivership[4] then filed for bankruptcy August 1 2011. As it is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, one of the options under discussion is municipal merger.

 



Is this true?:

"If we took away the minimum wage -- if conceivably it was gone -- we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level”

Any idea as to who it was that said that?  You might be surprised.  Look for the answer at the end of this weeks column.

 

 

Video time:

 

You might want to skip this if you’re not a fan of Johnny Cash and his guitar player, the late Luther Perkins or singer Raul Malo.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYUDJ2Dc-Vc&feature=related

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo7QEAXZbpM&feature=related

 

And here’s Raul Malo:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSZuMouUnlE&feature=related

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu8e01M6gwY&feature=related

 

 

 

 

 

Closing with this:

 

Not jokes, this week, but some helpful, to some, tips on saving dollars for us “older” folks:  This is Part 1 of a few parts over these next few weeks.

 

108 Stores with Senior Discounts

Gone are the days of your grandmother’s “early bird special” at the local diner. As our baby boomers reach retirement age, hundreds of retailers are featuring new and improved discounts exclusively for the 60 and older crowd. We have composed a list of senior savings that will help you keep more cash in your pocket. Whoever said getting older was a bad thing, obviously didn’t know about these fantastic senior discounts! This list is not all inclusive. Whataburger gives Seniors over 55 a free drink. I added this to the list. If you don't ask, you won't get it.

 

Restaurants

  • Applebee’s: 15% off  with Golden Apple Card (60+)
  • Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
  • Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
  • Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
  • Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
  • Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
  • Burger King: 10% off (60+)
  • Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
  • Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
  • Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
  • CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
  • Culver’s: 10% off (60+)
  • Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
  • Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
  • Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
  • Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
  • Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
  • Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
  • Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday  (65+)
  • IHOP: 10% off (55+)
  • Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
  • KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
  • Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
  • Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
  • McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
  • Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
  • Shoney’s: 10% off
  • Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
  • Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
  • Subway: 10% off (60+)
  • Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
  • Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
  • TCBY: 10% off (55+)
  • Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
  • Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
  • Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
  • Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)
  • Whataburger: free beverage for seniors (55+)
  • White Castle: 10% off (62+)
  •  

 

 

Who said it:

Michele Bachmann, Jan. 2005 – and she is wanting to run for President????

 

 

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