Judy Stropus added to Posey Gala Panel

Contact:  Jim Letts or Holly Hulfish @ 518-587-1935

STROPUS ADDED TO PANEL FOR SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM GALA HONORING “RENAISSANCE MAN” SAM POSEY

Saratoga Springs, NY                 Noted public relations specialist, race scorer and driver Judy Stropus will participate in the panel recalling the highlights of Sam Posey’s career during the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s annual gala on Friday, June 24, 2016.  Stropus will highlight Posey’s career as a race driver, TV broadcaster, architect, author and artist, focus of the upcoming exhibit, “Posey: Shifting Through The Creative Life of Sam Posey,” set to open to the public on June 11. 

Posey’s interests and talents have taken him from Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park road course to Indianapolis and on to an Emmy winning broadcasting career ranging from motorsports to the Olympics to Alaska’s famed Iditarod sled dog race. Reservations for the gala can be made in person at the museum during normal business hours or online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

CELEBRITY PANEL TO HONOR SAM POSEY AT SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM’S JUNE GALA

Saratoga Springs, NY The June opening of the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s new Golub Gallery exhibit, “POSEY: Shifting Through the Creative Life of Sam Posey,” will be highlighted by a celebrity panel’s discussion of his multi-faceted career during the Museum’s annual gala, set for Friday, June 24 at the museum.

Posey will be on hand along with a distinguished panel slated to honor their longtime friend, famed racer, author, broadcaster, architect, and painter. The panel will include Frank Stella, iconic figure of Post-War American art, Skip Barber, renowned former racer and Lime Rock Park owner, Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the famed Amelia Island Concours, Luigi Chinetti Jr., scion of the oldest Ferrari importer in America, and Archie Urciuoli, a longtime sports car racer, author of children’s books and former chairman of Merrill Lynch International.

A resident of nearby Sharon, CT, Posey has had a fabulous and varied career that took him from entry level racing at Lime Rock Park to driving Formula One in the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of LeMans. Following his retirement from competition, Posey returned to Indianapolis as a broadcaster for ABC, a career that would later bring him an Emmy for Best Writing in recognition of his observations on a number of events, including Alaska’s iconic Iditarod sled dog race.

In recent years, Posey has become equally as well known for his architectural designs, his paintings and his devotion to model trains, which resulted in a very popular book on the subject.

"Anyone who has read Sam's wonderful book "The Mudge Pond Express" knows the key role a slot car racing set played in the awakening of a shy, admittedly nonathletic kid whose whole world changed when he discovered something he was not only fascinated by, but very good at,” summed up Bob Varsha, veteran TV personality and longtime friend . “That talent and confidence led to a driving career at tracks from his beloved Lime Rock Park to Indianapolis and Le Mans. Away from the circuits his intelligence and sense of style was on display in his prolific work as an artist and architect, while his communication skills gave birth to yet another career as a writer and broadcaster, a small corner of his amazing life I was lucky enough to share. Sam is simply one of the most accomplished people I have ever met, and I look forward to sharing him with the audience at the Saratoga Auto Museum in June."  

RONALD McDONALD CARE MOBILE ADDED TO SAM’S SPRING AUTO SHOW AND FAMILY FUN DAY

Visitors to the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Spring Auto Show and Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 14 will find more than automobiles, trucks and motorcycles on the huge Saratoga Spa State Park show field.

Chief among the family oriented attractions will be the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a huge mobile dental facility. Staffed by the St. Peter’s Hospital Dental Center staff, the Care Mobile will be available for dental screenings and a relaxed introduction to dental care for children highlighted by the appearance of Ronald McDonald.

Other family oriented attractions at the annual fund raiser for the museum’s educational program will include representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension presenting demonstrations on proper car seat installation, Saratoga County Sheriffs with a display of Patrol Car technology and representatives of the regional Ford Model T Club with the Model T Experience, a great look at automotive history.

Pre-registrations at $10 each are now being taken online for the Auto Show, which will have Ford Model T’s, Ford Model A’s, street rods and muscle cars as the featured marques for 2016. But all makes and models are welcome for the huge “Cruise-in” style event that traditionally fills the vast Saratoga Spa State Park lawn and reflecting pool area with vehicles and enthusiasts.

Show admission will once again include admission to the adjacent automobile museum, where visitors can enjoy the soon to end “Real Steel: Stories of Automotive Archaeology” exhibit along with the Made in New York and Racing in New York exhibit. The vintage race cars of the Atlantic Cost Old Timers will also be on display at the museum along with representatives of the Mo-Hud Region of the Sports Car Club of America.

Registration for the auto show or the annual collector’s tour drive that precedes the auto show can be accessed at www.saratogaautomuseum.org. Information on the museum’s distracted driving program, the Tire Rack Street Survival driving school on 4/23/16 and SAM’s exciting summer lawn show program that traditionally highlights summer in Saratoga can also be found there.

WHAT I LEARNED AT LIME ROCK PARK

BEN STEPANIAN

Thanks to a number of people at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, I recently spent a day participating in the “Survive The Drive” program at the Lime Rock Park road course in Sharon, CT. It turned out to be a great learning experience but also a lot of fun. For sure, it was nothing like my courses at Saratoga High School.

I learned in-depth skills I needed to become a better winter driver and a better driver overall. It was impressed on me that as a teen and a fairly new driver, I have to expect and be ready for anything and everything whenever I’m on the road, whether it be the other drivers or the elements.

Just like every other driver out there, I’m now aware that we need to hope for the best but expect and be prepared for the worst. In this case, the worst was driving in the snow on the “Survive The Drive” course. I was able to experience real life situations within the class and learned how to handle traction loss and where I should be looking when the car starts to lose its grip.

Race car driver Mark Hamilton Peters taught me how to drift in the snow without losing control and another experienced race car driver, Bob Green, taught me when it is and when it isn't ok to use the brake in a potential slide out. That was scary at first but a lot of fun once I got the hang of it.

I strongly recommend the driving school to any new driver (or adult) so they can know what to do to prevent accidents. It is important for every driver to know what it is like to lose control of a car and how to handle it.

The class was very enjoyable. It was exciting to see kids with their permits get out of their comfort zone and to have a race car driver teach you how to drift an Audi S3!

I’d like to thank Bob Green and the “Survive The Drive” organization along with staff members Seth Warden and Brandon Salls from the Saratoga Auto Museum and museum trustee Kevin Biebel, who sponsored my tuition for the course. It was the thrill of my young life and the opportunity to pick up driving skills that most people have to get the hard way, by crashing.

YOUTH JUDGING PROGRAM A BIG PART OF MAY AUTO SHOW

For Immediate Release

Contact: Seth Warden at 518-587-1935

YOUTH JUDGING PROGRAM A BIG PART OF MAY AUTO SHOW

Saratoga Springs, NY         When the gates swing open for the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s highly anticipated May Auto Show and Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 14th, 2016, not one but two groups of students will be ready to help with the judging.

One group will represent the “Adirondack A’s” Model A Ford club, which has a strong youth education program that provides “hands on” learning experiences for area teens through a yearly vehicle rebuilding project. For the 2016 Auto Show, the students and their mentors will be on hand with their current project, a 1931 Model A deluxe roadster that is being totally restored. A select group of these teenagers will take time out from discussing the project with show visitors to work with the judges of the show’s four marque classes.

The second group of student judges will have a short session with an experienced museum volunteer to learn about what judges look for as they review show entries and will then work together to pick one of the show’s winning vehicles. Registration information for interested students is available online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

The youth judging programs are just part of an ever growing event that traditionally marks the opening of the Capital District auto show season. Held on the huge green space in the center of the Saratoga Spa State Park, the show has two major components.

The front portion of the field will hold the traditional “cruise in” style show, with entry open to all. The adjacent reflecting pond area of the show field will hold entries in this year’s featured marque classes: Model T Fords, Model A Fords, Pre-1972 Muscle Cars and Pre-1949 Street Rods.

Judges will select winners in the four marque classes while 20 SAM’s Choice awards will be presented to the top “cruise in” entrants. Other awards up for grabs include the highly competitive People’ Choice trophy, the Kid’s Choice award from the student judges and the prestigious Best in Show trophy.

Pre-registrations are now being accepted online through the museum website for $10, with “day of” registrations going for $15. Each registration includes admission for the driver and one passenger, with the admission good for both the auto show and the museum. Registration for the annual Collection Tour Drive, set for Friday, May 13th, can also done online. This year’s tour will feature a visit to the renowned Rolling Bones hot rod shop in Greenfield Center, NY.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Spring Auto Show is the museum’s major fund-raiser of the year for its many educational programs, including its nationally acclaimed distracted driving simulator program.

Survive the Drive, Lime Rock Park

SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM SENDS AREA STUDENT TO “SURVIVE THE DRIVE” CLASS AT LIME ROCK PARK

Saratoga Springs, NY     Seth Warden, Education Director at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, has announced that the museum sent Saratoga High School student Ben Stepanian of Wilton to the February 15, 2016 “Survive the Drive” program at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT. The popular program is designed to “improve crash prevention awareness” for drivers of all ages.

            “Ben has volunteered at the museum for a number of years and has contributed his time and effort to both regular museum activities and special events like our May auto show,” said Warden. “But beyond that, he is keenly interested in anything automotive and especially driving. He has extensive experience with our distracted driving simulators and is ready for the next step in his driving experience.”

            Stepanian’s tuition for “Survive the Drive” was sponsored by SAM trustee Kevin Biebel of New Milford, CT, a longtime proponent of youth education.

            The driving program is held on Lime Rock’s infield driving instruction course, rain or shine, with snow and ice welcome additions to the layout. Students receive “hands on” instruction in capabilities and limitations of braking, turning and maneuvering using LRP’s fleet of Audi school cars with a focus on skid prevention and recovery. Additionally, they receive instruction in tire technology, electronic driver aids and driver behaviors that contribute to crashes.

            Since its founding in 1996, over 130,000 participants of all ages have enjoyed instruction through the “Survive the Drive” program.

            Stepanian will be producing a story describing his experiences for an upcoming issue of the auto museum’s Horsepower magazine.

Posey: Shifting through the creative life of Sam Posey

For Immediate Release

Contact: Art Director Brandon Salls at 518-587-1935

SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM’S SUMMER EXHIBIT TO FOCUS ON “RENAISSANCE MAN” SAM POSEY

Saratoga Springs, NY     A series of eye-catching TV advertisements for Dos Equis beer have featured a man touted as “the most interesting man in the world” without telling you who he is. A strong argument could be made that auto racing and broadcasting icon Sam Posey, subject of the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Summer 2016 featured exhibit, is more than deserving of that title.

“POSEY: Shifting Through the Creative Life of Sam Posey,” will be subtitled “A journey through racing, art, broadcasting, writing, design and more.” But even a title of that length cannot do justice to the multi-faceted career, interests and skills of the Sharon, Connecticut resident.

An amateur sports car racer whose career blossomed at nearby Lime Rock Park, Posey soon graduated to the professional Can AM and Trans AM series, where he wheeled one of Roger Penske’s Sunoco Camaros as a teammate to the legendary Mark Donohue. From there, Posey’s career path included the USAC Championship Car series, where he made 13 career starts including the Indianapolis 500, and endurance racing, highlighted by five top-10 finishes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in ten starts.

Posey’s second career began when he joined ABC Sports, serving as analyst for a variety of auto racing broadcasts. Best known for his work in the broadcast booth at the Indianapolis 500 and ongoing coverage of the CART/PPG Indy Car Series, Sam delighted the audience when he sparred repeatedly with fellow analyst Bobby Unser. His association with ABC Sports also found Posey the lead broadcaster on coverage of the Tour de France and luge events at the winter Olympics, among other assignments.

Posey’s proudest moment with ABC Sports came when he was honored with an Emmy for Writing for the network’s coverage of Alaska’s famed Iditarod sled dog race.

Other major accomplishments of “Renaissance Man” Posey include acclaim as an artist and painter and credit for his endeavors as an architect, including the Control Tower at Lime Rock Park and numerous homes and commercial buildings in the area. He also holds a place of honor in the model railroading community, where his tome “Playing With Trains” is held in extremely high regard, as is the world class train layout at his Connecticut home.

The Posey exhibit, which will occupy the auto museum’s Golub Gallery, will include three cars from his personal collection, including his Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, a vintage Formula Ford and his 1967 Caldwell D7. A number of other significant cars marking various stages of his career will be announced at a later date.

The highly anticipated exhibit will open to the public on June 11th, with the annual Saratoga Automobile Museum Gala, honoring Sam Posey, set for Friday, June 24th. The following day, Saturday, June 25th, a members only opening at 9:00 AM.

More information on gala attendance, the Posey exhibit and the museum’s wide-ranging activities and educational programs can be found online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

FOUR ENTHUSIASTS JOIN SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Saratoga Springs, NY           The Board of Trustees of the Saratoga Automobile Museum has been greatly enhanced in recent months by the addition of four very successful businessmen who are also automobile enthusiasts sharing a wide variety of interests.

Saratoga Springs, NY resident Wally Allerdice, who heads a local business group that includes Allerdice ACE Hardware, Allerdice Rent-All, Allerdice Building Supply and Allerdice Glass and Mirror, among others, has already been instrumental in managing updates to the museum building, located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park.

An enthusiast since his teen years, Allerdice often relates that the best part of owning his 1971 Corvette convertible, 2003 “50th Anniversary” Corvette, 1917 Ford delivery truck and 1935 Chevrolet coupe is that he “learned how to fix them and still loves doing it today.”

David Collins of Greenfield, NY, owner of the DA Collins Construction Co. in Wilton, is the 2016 Chairman Elect of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of a number of other groups, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Empire State Highway Contractors Assoc. and the Associated General Contractors. A sports car and driving enthusiast, Collins belongs to the Monticello Motor Club and has taken an active role in the auto museum’s exhibit committee.

Floridian Gary Brown began his business career as an executive of Amsterdam Printing and Litho Co., then became head of Kole Industries in Miami before founding BrownCor. Brown has also established, built and then sold gNeil Companies and Centis Inc. along with Motorcar Portfolio and Classic Motorcar Auctions. He currently serves on the board of a number of corporations while providing venture capital to a variety of businesses.

An avid motorcycle enthusiast, Brown has led group trips on four different continents. He now spends his summers at the Great Sacandaga Lake while maintaining his involvement in a number of Amsterdam charities in memory of his late parents.

Kevin Biebel of New Milford, CT is the owner of Art Metal Industries, which specializes in high end stainless steel fabrication. His firm does work across the nation but specializes in the New York City market, where it is best known for fabricating the stainless steel fixtures seen in the new Yankee Stadium.

The multi-talented Biebel, who at one time was among the nation’s premier restorers of Mercedes-Benz automobiles, now devotes his energy to his own 40-car collection, which is dominated by early Fords and turn of the century automobiles. A number of these cars, including a 1908 Sears originally available through the Sears-Roebuck catalogue, are currently on display in the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Golub Gallery exhibit “Real Steel – Stories of Automotive Archaeology.”

Biebel is now serving on both the exhibits committee and the executive committee of the museum while overseeing and sponsoring the latest SAM’s Garage “hands on” youth education project, the restoration of a pair of vintage quarter-midget cars he donated to SAM.

“We very pleased to welcome these distinguished gentlemen to our board of trustees,” summed up board chairman Anthony Ianniello. “Their business success is indicative of their drive, energy and dedication to meeting goals. They bring all that to the board along with great enthusiasm for anything automotive and a desire to support our mission of education in general and pointing out the perils of distracted driving in particular. I look forward to working with them and the other trustees as we continue to enhance the museum and its many educational programs.”

RENE CHARLAND #888 NASCAR SPORTSMAN COUPE NOW ON DISPLAY IN “RACING IN NEW YORK” GALLERY

For Immediate Release

Contact:   Ron Hedger at 518-885-7481

RENE CHARLAND #888 NASCAR SPORTSMAN COUPE NOW ON DISPLAY IN “RACING IN NEW YORK” GALLERY

Vintage race car collector Phil Elliston of Southhampton, NY recently made the trek from his Long Island home to the Saratoga Automobile Museum with a fascinating piece of area stock car racing history, the #888 three-window coupe once wheeled at the nearby Albany-Saratoga and Fonda Speedways by the legendary Rene Charland.

Built in Massachusetts in 1966 for competition at Riverside Park’s 1/5-mile asphalt bullring, this 1936 Buick coupe was one of a pair fielded by car owner Dick Czepiel. At the time, ace fabricator Freddy Rosner was building lightweight cars for teams around the northeast and most were instant winners, leading the Czepiel crew to construct what looked at first glance to be a Rosner original.

The car was first wheeled by Riverside legend Danny Gallulo, who drove it to multiple feature wins and the 1966 track championship. Then four-time NASCAR National Sportsman champion Rene Charland took over the “Triple Eight,” racing it at speedways ranging from the tiny Riverside oval to the high-speed Trenton, NJ mile.

During his two-season tenure in the Czepial car, Charland competed on both the NASCAR circuit and with the mid-week All-Star League. Here in New York’s Capital District, Charland scored multiple wins at both the asphalt Albany-Saratoga Speedway and on the dirt at the Fonda Speedway, where the car’s light weight and Charland’s earlier experience on New England dirt were an impressive combination.

In 1969, Czepiel sold this #888 to Springfield’s Jack Mocchio, who put future Riverside Park legend S.J. Evonsion in the seat. The team would go on to claim nearly 50 wins in the next three years, among them the final Riverside Park 500, the last race ever run at the old Westboro Speedway and the inaugural race on Riverside Park’s expanded quarter-mile configuration.

“I put Rene’s four National Championship trophies alongside the car along with his All-Star helmet, so visitors will definitely have their memories jogged when they look at everything,” said SAM racing curator Ron Hedger. “The only negative is that Phil took the other car he had loaned us, the Bobby Judkins 2X that Eddie Flemke wheeled to dozens of wins, home with him. We were all sad to see it go, as it led visitors to recall the exploits of Flemke and others who drove the car over the years. But I’m sure the Charland stories will be great as well.”

SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM AWARDED GRANTS FOR PAIR OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

For Immediate Release

Contact: Educational Director Seth Warden at 518-587-1935

Saratoga Springs, NY            

The Saratoga Automobile Museum has been awarded grants from two highly respected supporters of regional educational programs, with each grant dedicated to ongoing programs at the museum.

The grant provided by the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund will enhance the Museum's ability to provide educational programming to children in our community.  Under the direction of SAM Education Director Seth Warden, SAM's Garage provides “hands on” learning experiences for area students.

Past programs have included rebuilding the running gear of the museum’s famed Cretor Popcorn Wagon and construction of a Model A Huckster vehicle, with the students mentored by members of the regional Model T and Model A Clubs, respectively. The latter group is again involved in the current SAM’s Garage project, which will involve restoring a pair of vintage Quarter midget racers donated by SAM trustee Kevin Biebel of New Milford, CT.

The Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund’s mission is to promote and perpetuate philanthropic giving in the Saratoga Springs region, and it is hoped that their support of the SAM’s Garage program will encourage others to become involved as well.

The second grant, announced on December 15, 2015, was from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust. It was earmarked for the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s national acclaimed Distracted Driving Initiative Program with the intention of allowing SAM to make the program mobile, taking the museum’s new driving simulators to appropriate sites around the region.

Since the program was initiated in August, 2015, deputies from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, area educators and countless museum visitors have used the state of the art simulators to learn how a few seconds of distraction can lead to tragedy and result in injury to yourself and others.

“This program shows not only how easy it is to be distracted, but the penalties and expense a driver who texts, uses their cellphone or is distracted by any number of things may face,” offered SAM educational director Seth Warden. “It is suitable for everyone from those just getting their learner’s permit to senior citizens, and our mission is to educate everyone to the dangers they face each and every time they get behind the wheel. This grant will allow us to educate these diverse audiences without them having to travel to the museum.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund and the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust for both their financial support of our educational program and the trust they have placed in the Saratoga Automobile Museum,” summed up Anthony Ianniello, Chairman of the Saratoga Automobile Museum board of trustees. “Education is our primary mission and area residents of all ages will benefit from their support of these two programs.”

More information on SAM’s Garage, the Distracted Driving program and other museum programs and activities can be found online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust

RICHARD PETTY PONTIAC ADDED TO “RACING IN NEW YORK” GALLERY AT SARATOGA AUTO MUSEUM

Thanks to longtime NASCAR modified racer Roger Griffith of New Hartford, NY, a 1985 Curb Racing/STP Pontiac wheeled by NASCAR superstar Richard Petty is now on display in the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s “Racing in New York” gallery.

After retiring from modified competition, Griffith purchased the former Petty car for competition in vintage events. He repainted it and numbered it to match his modifieds, but when he retired from vintage action, Griffith returned it to its original livery. The freshly repainted #43 made its debut in SAM’s wildly popular Golub Gallery NASCAR exhibit in 2012.

“Roger called one day to say he had been thinking of selling it to make room in his business,” recalled SAM auto racing curator Ron Hedger. “Then he surprised me by adding that he’d decided it belonged in the museum where race fans could view and appreciate both the car and the fabulous career that Richard Petty had. We are extremely grateful for his donation.”

Richard Petty left his career-long home at Petty Enterprises from 1984-86 to drive for Mike Curb, a very successful record industry executive and former Lt. Governor of California. He won his 200th and final race, Daytona’s Firecracker 400, in a Curb Pontiac in 1984. In 1985, when the car Griffith purchased saw action, Petty notched 13 top ten finishes and finished the season 14th in the point standings.

The car greatly resembles regular passenger cars of the day and provides an interesting contrast to the cutaway Penske Racing #2 “Car of Tomorrow” once wheeled by Kurt Busch exhibited next to it in the “Racing in New York” gallery.

LOST SPEEDWAYS PARTICIPANTS READY FOR THE GREEN FLAG - AND LUNCH

Contact: Ron Hedger at 518-885-7481 or rjhmedia@juno.com

Saratoga Springs, NY    

The Saratoga Automobile Museum's wildly popular "Lost Speedways" auto racing program, long a "Saturday after Thanksgiving" tradition for area fans and racers, is set to "go green" once again. And for the 2015 edition, on Saturday, November 28th, a common complaint has been addressed.           

"The only complaint I ever get is that people get hungry," said organizer Ron Hedger. "They come to the museum when we open at mid-morning, peruse the memorabilia displays, look at the exhibits in all the galleries and then enjoy the afternoon presentations, all without lunch. To address this issue, we have engaged the good people at Bravo's Catering to provide a light buffet menu of pizza, pasta, bread and soft drinks."

The "Lost Speedways 2015" program will include Mark Supley's look at board track motorcycle racing, Ken Perrotte's memories of the Fulton Speedway when it was known as the MilRay Speedway, and Greg Rickes' tales of sports cars racing in the streets of Alexandria Bay. John Snyder will relate the story of the Orange County Fairgrounds early years, when it was known as Victory Speedway, while Bill Ladabouche will recall the days when New Yorkers like Pete Corey and Kenny Shoemaker dominated Vermont's Otter Creek Speedway. And to close out the program, DIRT modified star Kenny Tremont and Oswego supermodified star Otto Sitterly will discuss their outstanding careers and recent developments in their areas of racing during Ron Hedger's traditional interview session.          

Museum visitors will also enjoy viewing additions to the Racing in New York Gallery, including a Jaguar driven by sports car legend John Fitch and a Richard Petty Pontiac recently donated to SAM by longtime racer Roger Griffith, as well as the newly opened "Real Steel - Stories of Automotive Archeology" exhibit in the Golub Gallery.        

The Saratoga Automobile Museum opens at 10 am, with the Lost Speedways memorabilia display set for 11:30 and the presentations scheduled to begin at 12:45.

LOOKING BACK THROUGH THE LENS OF JOHN GRADY

An elementary school teacher in Niskayuna by day, nights and weekends have seen John Grady at speedways near and far for decades, always with his camera on a strap around his neck and a big envelope of snapshots from prior weeks under his arm.

At one time or another, John was the official track photographer at all the speedways in the area, sending photos to the trade papers and selling snapshots at the souvenir booth. And for a number of years, he also wrote a racing column for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady. But his greatest contribution to the sport was providing a source for “old” photos, both for journalists and collectors, along with names and anecdotes stored away in his photographic memory.

John Grady is best known for his shots of drivers either standing beside their car or strapped in, ready to go to war. All you had to know about a driver of the past is what car number he drove. John, and in later years his son Chris and friend Bob Novak, could go into the bins of photos, filed consecutively by number, and pull out the photo you wanted. The cost was minimal and the story that went with it was a no-charge bonus.

We’re proud to share enlargements of some of John’s favorite photos with you. Our only regret is that this mini-exhibit, limited by available space, represents less than one percent of the photos he’s taken over the years.

SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM AND CAPITAL DISTRICT MODEL T CLUB JOIN FORCES FOR “MODEL T SCHOOL”

Many experienced drivers will tell you they “can drive anything.” But put them in one of Henry Ford’s Model T’s, the car that changed the world and most won’t have a clue what the various levers and pedals are for.

This mystery will be solved on Sunday, November 22nd when SAM and the Capital District Model T Club join forces to present their first “Model T School” at the museum, located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park. Club members will have several Model T’s on hand for what SAM Education Director Seth Warden calls “a 100% hands-on program.”

“We have 20 seats available for the program,” said Warden. “Participants will develop the skills, dexterity and, most importantly, the confidence required to be comfortable driving a Model T on the highway.

“We’ve had requests before for instruction on driving Model T’s, which are entirely different from other cars. Our new exhibit, “Real Steel,” features a pair of vintage Model T’s, and the club members are enthused about sharing their knowledge, so this is the perfect time to run this program. Licensed drivers of all ages are welcome and the only pre-requisite is bringing warm clothing for the road sessions.”

Model T School –Course Outline

• Becoming familiar with a Model T

• Starting the vehicle

• Use of spark and throttle control levers

• Coordination of hand and foot controls

• Proper shifting techniques

• Stopping the vehicle

• Correct use of the Neutral / Brake lever

• Reversing the vehicle

Sign up here: https://saratogaauto.z2systems.com/np/clients/saratogaauto/eventRegistration.jsp?event=46&

PAINTINGS BY FAMED ARTIST STU EICHEL ADDED TO “REAL STEEL” EXHIBIT

Saratoga Springs, NY     When the new “Real Steel – Stories of Automotive Archaelogy” exhibit opens on November 14th at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, both of the museum’s galleries will be filled with vehicles from the collection of Connecticut businessman and automobile enthusiast Kevin Biebel. And as an “added attraction,” the museum’s art gallery will also feature a new exhibit showcasing a variety of paintings by nationally known artist Stu Eichel.

“We’re blessed that an artist like Stu has settled in Saratoga Springs and is willing to share his work with us,” said SAM art director Brandon Salls. “This will be his second showcase here and it will feature 29 new pieces, all ‘something that rolls’ including cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, firetrucks and more.”

A graduate of New York’s Pratt Institute with a degree in graphic design and the University of Tennessee with a fine arts degree, Eichel has produced works for such diverse customers as the John Deere Corporation and McGraw-Hill while winning major awards at competitions in New York, Tennessee and St. Simons Island, GA.

Eichel, who moved to Saratoga Springs after living in a number of places around the nation, professes a love for the region that finds him “outside painting the scenes that have caught my eye any time the temperature is over 50 degrees.” So besides enjoying his artwork, visitors to the Saratoga Automobile Museum may well see familiar places and vehicles as they peruse Eichel’s gallery display.

“Real Steel” will open to the public at 10 am on Saturday, November 14, 2015 following a formal opening for members and other interested parties at 6 pm on November 13. 

Contact:   Brandon Salls, Saratoga Automobile Museum Art Director – 518-587-1935 or Brandon.salls@saratogaautomuseum.org

UNIQUE EXHIBIT SET TO OPEN AT SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

The Saratoga Automobile Museum, known nationwide for presenting unusual exhibits, has outdone itself with the upcoming presentation of “The Kevin Biebel Collection – Real Steel: Stories of Automotive Archaeology.”

Biebel, a Connecticut businessman who has displayed a lifelong fascination with all things mechanical, is a collector of memorabilia as well as unusual automobiles, thus the “Automotive Archaelogy” segment of the exhibit title. So along with cars ranging from a 1907 Success and 1908 Sears to his 1960’s Kent Fuller dragster and 1932 Plymouth roadster that came from the factory with a special Princeton University paint job, Biebel has accumulated untold interesting items that chronicle the development of the automobile.

“A visit to the Biebel’s home, garages or manufacturing facility is like walking through the warehouses of the Smithsonian,” said exhibit curator Ron Hedger. “Original artwork here, vintage advertisements there, dozens of vehicles on racks awaiting restoration, the original model and patent drawings for turn signals on a bookcase. Neither Kevin nor visitors can proceed from one point to another without stopping repeatedly to investigate unusual items.”

Kevin and Yvonne Biebel, who became interested in the Saratoga Automobile Museum through participation in its various auto shows and concours d’elegance, have graciously agreed to share many of these unseen items with the public in the new exhibit, which will open with a formal ceremony at 6 pm on Friday, November 13th and to the general public the following day. Tickets for the opening, at $10 for members and $20 for non-members, are currently available online or at the museum admissions desk.

Biebel will share stories of his collection during the event, including how the Sears, originally purchased from the Sears Catalogue, made its way to the longstanding Bridgewater, NY Automobile Museum and on to his collection. A number of his vehicles are national award winners and have been displayed individually at the ACCA Museum in Hershey, PA. They range from barn finds to restored beauties and include a motorcycle that spent decades inside the wall of a house before being discovered. Enthusiasts can expect to hear this story and more at the opening event.

The Biebel’s have also provided a number of go-karts for a mini-exhibit on the history of the toys turned racing machines and will collaborate with the museum’s educational program by donating a vintage TQ-midget race car for an upcoming student restoration project.

Details on the opening event, other exhibits and SAM’s ongoing educational programs, including the nationally heralded Distracted Driving program featuring state-of-the-art driving simulators, are available online atwww.saratogaautomuseum.org.

TREMONT AND SITTERLY ADDED TO LOST SPEEDWAYS 2015 LINEUP

Contact: Ron Hedger – 518-885-7481

Saratoga Springs, NY     Two of the nation’s top short track racers, DIRTcar modified star Kenny Tremont Jr. and Supermodified kingpin Otto Sitterly, have agreed to join the already exciting cast of the Saratoga Automobile Museum’s premier racing program, Lost Speedways. The program is set for its traditional “Saturday after Thanksgiving” date, November 28th.

Tremont, the 2015 point champion at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, is hot off a second place finish in the final Syracuse 200. He will join Sitterly, the leading winner at the super-competitive Oswego Speedway over the last decade, to discuss their enviable careers in the program’s closing segment.

“Last year I interviewed asphalt superstars Reggie Ruggiero and Brian Ross and it was a huge hit,” said event organizer Ron Hedger. “The audience really got into it when they had the opportunity to ask their own questions. Kenny and Otto represent different types of racing, but have known each other since they both competed at the nearby Albany-Saratoga Speedway, so it’s a perfect combination. Besides being great racers, they are also fan favorites.”

The other presentations will include Board Track Motorcycle Racing by Mark Supley, a look back at sports car racing on the streets of Alexandria Bay with Greg Rickes and the early days of Mil-Ray Speedway in Fulton by Ken Parrotte. In addition, John Snyder will recall Victory Speedway at the Orange County Fairgrounds and Bill Ladabouche will talk about the New Yorkers who dominated Vermont’s Otter Creek Speedway back in the day.

Lost Speedways will also feature the traditional memorabilia session, with enthusiasts bringing their treasures to share. The museum displays various items from the collections room, with the emphasis this year on the history of the Syracuse Mile. Participants are asked to have their items ready for display by 11:30 am, with the presentations set to go green at 12:45.

The event, which draws a full house each fall, is free to members, with others paying the normal admission charge. More information on the Saratoga Automobile Museum, located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park

Kenny Tremont Jr

Otto Sitterly

FOUNDING TRUSTEE OF SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS LEE IACOCCA AWARD

Bob Bailey, a founding trustee of the Saratoga Automobile Museum whose leadership skills, business acumen and dedication to the museum's primary mission of education have been key factors in the museum's success, was honored in late September with the nationally recognized Lee Iacocca Award. 

The award was presented by Hemmings Motor News publisher Jim Menetto at a banquet held in conjunction with the annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d'Elegance, a joint effort of the Vermont based automotive publisher and the Saratoga Automobile Museum.

Legendary auto industry executive Lee Iacocca is the namesake for this very special award honoring a person who, over time, has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to the classic car hobby through vehicle preservation and club participation and who has unselfishly assisted and encouraged others in perpetuating an "American Automotive Tradition." The award is linked with the Iacocca Family Foundation, whose mission it is to find a cure for diabetes. This is especially fitting because, like Lee Iacocca's dedication to the Foundation's mission, these car enthusiasts are committed to serving their communities.

Iacocca is known to the public for a variety of reasons, as he was the "father" of the Ford Mustang and the Chrysler Minivan and the bold leader who saved Chrysler and paid back a loan from the federal government in full and ahead of schedule. He also led the effort to raise funds for the preservation of Ellis Island as a memorial to our country's immigrants and was a champion of the restoration of the Statue of Liberty.

Bailey, a very successful sports car racer in his own right, is chairman of Racemark, which he founded with the late Mark Donahue, an internationally known driving star and Indianapolis 500 winner. Under Bailey's direction, the company, which produces OEM automotive floor mats and interiors, has grown from a small operation in Burnt Hill, NY to an international manufacturer with facilities in the United States, Hungary and Switzerland.

"I was humbled and honored to receive this most prestigious award,

especially since it benefits such a worthy cause, the National Diabetes Foundation," reflected Bailey. "And to receive it in front of our museum trustees and members, the Hemmings staff and the enthusiasts who made the concours such a great success made it even more special."

The prestigious award was presented to deserving recipients at some two dozen major automotive events across the nation this year, with the list of honorees spanning the automotive spectrum. Notable past recipients include auction organizer David Gooding, Mustang and Chrysler mini-van designer Hal Sperlich, racing legends Al Unser, Sam Posey and Don Garlits and journalist Denise McCluggage.

Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance has more than 300 classics, special interest and race cars decorating the show field on Sunday.

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance has donated a portion of its proceeds to several very deserving organizations in the Jacksonville/North Florida area. In particular Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.

Spring Auto Show 2015

SPRING AUTO SHOW AT THE SARATOGA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM UNDERGOES FORMAT CHANGE

Saratoga Springs, NY   The Saratoga Automobile Museum’s longstanding fundraiser for its educational programs, the Spring Auto Show and Saratoga Invitational, has undergone a slight format change for 2015. This year’s edition, set for Saturday, May 16 from 10 am-4 pm with a Sunday raindate, will no longer include the Saratoga Invitational as a separate entity but will still feature world class automobiles.

“In recent years, we have presented two separate shows on the same field at the same time,” said SAM trustee Ron Hedger. “This year, we will organize our traditional kickoff of the area car show season as a single show, the Spring Auto Show, to make it easier for enthusiasts throughout the Northeast to participate.

“We found that we were missing some beautiful, very interesting cars using the Invitational format because we were not aware of them and therefore they weren’t invited. The traditional auto show attracted outstanding vehicles of all makes, ages and types and we want to expand and build on that tradition by inviting everyone to participate.”

To smooth the transition, a handful of separate classes will be used to enhance the traditional “Top Twenty” auto show judging. Entries in these categories will be displayed together on the huge Saratoga Spa State Park lawn and Reflecting Pool area adjacent to the auto museum.

One area will be set aside for British cars of all types to preview the auto museum’s upcoming summer exhibit, “The British Are Coming!” There will also be awards for Pre-War American Cars, Race Cars/Motorcycles and Future Classics.

With the traditional “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice” awards to be presented along with trophies for the “Top Twenty” and the four additional classes, everyone will have a chance to have their pride and joy in the show ending awards ceremony spotlight.

Advance registrations at $15 per vehicle will be taken online or at the auto museum through May 1, with registrations after that date and at the show set at $20. As always, car clubs are encouraged to come as a group, with members who arrive together parked together.

The show field will also have a variety of new cars on display along with automotive and food vendors, while the vintage racers of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers and sleek cars of the Sports Car Club of America’s Mo-Hud Region will grace the space in front of the auto museum. As always, the $10 Auto Show admission will include a visit to the museum, where “Luxury Automobiles Through The Ages” will be the featured exhibit.

More information on Saratoga Automobile Museum activities and programs, as well as auto show registration information, is available online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.