Automobile

Imagine being given a free car to drive.  Sounds nice right?  The 2012 Passat is my new car for the next week thanks to Volkswagon of Rome. 

I've never driven a Passat.  I've never even driven a Volkwagon, so this will be an experience.  All I know about the VW Passat is it was the car in the SuperBowl Darth Vadar commercial.  You remember, the one with the kid dressed in a Vadar suit, moving things with his mind.  So cute. 

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There is nothing more frustrating than being pulled over while taking a road trip on unfamiliar highways because a speed limit has just changed from 55 to 30. We generally call these transition zones "speed traps" as they are usually patrolled around the clock by local law enforcement hoping to catch the unsuspecting traveler not paying attention. According to the National Motorist Association Livonia, Michigan has the most notorious speed traps but there are several others cities close behind.

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The Utica Rome Speedway will celebrate its 50th anniversary tomorrow night, August 17, with a rare mid-week program of exciting events and races.  The speedway opened in 1961 and has hosted a number of legendary drivers over the years including the late Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, Geoff Bodine, Lou Lazzaro and Dale Planck among others. The August 17th bash will feature a number of highlights.

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The cry of "Gentlemen, start your engines" will echo through Watkins Glen this weekend as NASCAR's  Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips At the Glen road race takes place Sunday at Watkins Glen International. Last years winner Juan Pablo Montoya will be back to defend his title against a field that includes 5-time winner Tony Stewart and 4-time winner Jeff Gordon.

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You  may remember the Kris Kristofferson song "Help Me Make It Through The Night". You've heard me play the Sammi Smith version on our Big Frog 104 "Country Classic Double". Now, I say "Help me make it through the lights...red lights on Genesee Street".

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Pastor Joe Nelms of Nashville's Family Baptist Church was asked to give the prayer before NASCAR's Saturday night Nationwide Federated Auto Parts 300 something that is a regular part of the racing circuits program. What the drivers and spectators got was anything but "regular". According to The Sporting News Pastor Joe had the crowd in stitches with his humorous invocation.

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What annoys you most about other drivers? How about tailgating? What about not using a turn signal? Well, the Canadian Automobile Association has compiled a list of some of the most aggravating things drivers do while behind the wheel.

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A sure sign of the Frog Days of Summer is the return of the Munson Williams Proctors Arts Institute's (MWPI) Arts Festival. It all begins today at continues through July 6th at the museum grounds on Genesee Street in downtown Utica.

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The late Richie Evans of Rome has been named one of the five inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2012.  Joining Evans will be Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, owner-driver Glen Wood and crew chief Dale Inman. According to the NASCAR website "Rapid Richie" as he was called was known as the King of the Modifieds and was named the number one all-time Modified competitor in 2003.

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He may be a senior and eligible for Social Security but apparently you don't mess with NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. According to USA Today NASCAR has fined Childress $150 thousand dollars and placed him on probation for the rest of the year after he alledgedly placed Kyle Busch in a headlock and punched him a number of times after Saturday's Truck Series Event at Kansas Speedway.

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The results are in. In a recent survey of over 600 drivers 85% of men said they were while 57% of women said they were. Big surprise. However when it came to who had a better sense of direction 81% of men said they were and 55% of women agreed with them. So much for guys needing to ask for directions. The poll conducted by telenav.com had a number of other interesting results.

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It's been a battle with Mother Nature all spring for the Utica-Rome Speedway but--hopefully--this weekend will mark the long anticipated start of the 2011 racing season. And what a weekend it promises to be with "Victoria 200 Weekend" racing both Sunday and Memorial Day on Monday. Check out this "in-car" video of Matt Janczuk taking you on the track for a practice run.

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