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Auto Museum Announces Racing Related Events

December 11, 2006

For Immediate Release
Saratoga Springs, NY
Contact: Ron Hedger at 518-885-7481 or
Alan Edstrom at 518-587-1935

The Saratoga Automobile Museum has scheduled a variety of auto racing related events in the Racing in New York gallery for early 2007.

The series will kick off with the opening of the revamped New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame display at noon on Saturday, January 20th. The totally new display, with a modern look and increased lighting, will move to a more prominent position in the second-floor racing gallery. The unveiling will be part of the annual ceremony honoring the newest Hall of Fame members, with newly elected drivers Chuck Akulis and Jim Langenback and flagger John Tallini, along with past inductees, on hand to meet the public.

A program especially tailored to youth is scheduled for March 10th at 2 pm, with Race Cars for Kids and New Fans the featured presentation. Topics will range from go-karts to the classes at local speedways and on to road racing, Indy car and the various NASCAR divisions, including a look at the Car of Tomorrow, set to debut in the Nextel Cup series during 2007.

Saturday, March 31st will find Keith Herbst discussing his extremely popular new book on midget racing, "Daredevils of the Frontier" at 2 pm. Herbst will be joined by Bobby Hart, who raced midgets in the post-war era so vividly recalled by Herbst, and the Hillegass midget he drove.

Watkins Glen becomes the focal point on Saturday, April 7th, with Watkins Glen historian Bill Green set to speak on the unparalleled Finger Lakes venue known to road race fans around the world as "The Glen." His illustrated talk is set for 2 pm.

Sunday, April 15th will be Lost Speedways Day at the Auto Museum, with a variety of speakers and former participants set to relive the glory days of area speedways that are no longer active. Such hallowed sites as White's Beach Speedway, the Pine Bowl, Empire Raceway, Victoria Speedway, Cairo Speedway and Mid-State Speedway, among others, will be remembered beginning at 1 pm. Those with photos, programs and other memorabilia from these speedways are urged to bring them to the program to help bring memories to life once again.

Still to be scheduled is Mini-Stock Madness, a look at mini-stock racing through the eyes of division superstar Bob Hackel and other participants. The centerpiece of the discussion will be the recently restored #97 VW station wagon with which Hackel won scores of events from New York to Florida.

Information on racing related events is available through gallery coordinator Ron Hedger at 518-885-7481. Museum information is available on-line at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

The mission of the Saratoga Automobile Museum is to display significant cars, trucks, and vehicles that not only represent the automotive heritage of New York State but the entire world of motorized transportation. In addition to a permanent collection of vehicles, the Museum is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York Department of Education and hosts a variety of workshops, interactive displays, lectures, and outdoor shows.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located on the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park at 110 Avenue of the Pines.