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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Gentleman, don't start your engines". Mother Nature really has it out for the Utica-Rome Speedway. Friday's heavy rain has caused the track to postpone its season opener yet again, this time to Sunday May 29.
It may not make a critics all-time best list but as an audience favorite "Smokey and the Bandit" would certainly rank near the top. The classic Burt Reynolds-Jackie Gleason comedy was released on this date, May 19, 1977. Bootlegging, Coors beer, fast cars, an unforgettable cast of characters and a great country music soundtrack helped it score big with working class audiences who made it the second highest grossing film of the year.
Mother Nature must not be a race fan. The Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon has had to postpone its season opener for a third time due to the relentless rains. The season opener is now scheduled for Sunday May 22nd with a regular show of Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and a Thunder Modified Series event with a $5000 winners purse.
Keep your fingers crossed race fans. After several weather related delays the Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon is set to begin its racing season this Sunday, May 15 with a full slate of Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Pro Stocks and a Race of Champions Sportsman Series. The National Weather Service is calling for partly sunny skies with a slight chance of showers (NO!) and a high of 65.
Mother Nature has once again pulled the plug on the Utica-Rome Speedways season opener. The track was scheduled to open with a Mother's Day special this Sunday but the relentless rainfall has made the track unsuitable for racing.
Just call it another casualty of this spring's wet weather. The Utica-Rome Speedway will now open for the season on Sunday May 8. The annual Mother's day special will include a full program of Pro and Pure Stocks, Sportsman and a 50-lap modified feature.
My wife and I just bought a new car. Our primary consideration was mileage, not bells and whistles or styling. With gas pricesat or above $4 in the Utica-Rome area we realized we had to reconfigure our budget and our driving habits. Fortunately I live close to the radio station so I can bike to work on mild spring and summer mornings. We also are planning short getaways close to home rather than long vacation road trips. There are a number of ways to save money on gas.
