News for January 2010
NASCAR has added a third test to the Spoiler
NASCAR has tentatively added a third test of the spoiler on the Sprint Cup Series car, this one set for the sport’s biggest track.
Plans are to test the vehicle March 16 at Talladega Superspeedway, according to a series spokesman. That test would be in addition to a two-day open session scheduled for March 23-24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and would be to specifically examine the spoiler’s performance on a restrictor-plate track. Four drivers also tested cars outfitted with the spoiler at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month.
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The spoiler would replace the rear wing on current Cup Series cars, which has been criticized by fans and drivers alike for both its appearance and its aerodynamic characteristics. Pending the results of testing, the spoiler could return to vehicles on NASCAR’s premier division as early as this spring.
“The deal with the spoiler looks very promising,” driver Martin Truex Jr. said. “I think it’s important for the fans. I think they’ll be more excited to look at the cars. The cars look a little racier, a little more sleek. Every car I have ever seen since I was born had a spoiler on it. That will be good.”
Some have blamed the rear wing for the recent spate of airborne accidents at Talladega, including Ryan Newman’s flip during the track’s most recent event, and Carl Edwards’ crash into the restraining fence in the spring race. NASCAR, though, has insisted that the wing is not the culprit in those incidents, and that airborne crashes at Talladega were not the impetus behind the move to the spoiler.
“I have seen a lot of, well, it looks like we did that because of Talladega, Ryan Newman getting air under his [wing] contributed to that,” NASCAR chairman Brian France said recently. “As [Sprint Cup director] John Darby reminded me, we had a similar instance of more than one at Talladega with the spoiler, as well, in terms of the car lifting off. That’s always something we will address, and putting the spoiler on doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that we have car lift at Talladega.
“Lift is a problem, and we will solve that, and [there are] already lots of ways to do that. The spoiler is coming on for the look of it, to look more like it used to, and to drive differently and create better racing. That’s the premise of the spoiler.”
Edited: January 31st, 2010
Tripadvisor releases it’s Dirty Ten
What are the dirtiest hotels in the US to avoid when you travel? The filthy and stinking and basically what readers consider to be the “dirtiest hotels in the United States” have been released by travel website TripAdvisor.
The list is formed on opinions from people that have spent time in the hotels as the list of the top 10 dirtiest hotels based on traveler reviews.
Some of the reviews are pretty filthy. Reports of horrific smells, dirty linens and bed sheets along with problems with the bathrooms, towels and other issues that sound like a travelers nightmare.
Dirtiest Hotels in the United States (based on TripAdvisor traveler reviews) BELOW.
1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California
2. Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri
3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia
5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
6. New York Inn, New York City, New York
7. Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida
8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California
9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California
10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida
Just makes you wanna stay in a nice and clean Bed and Breakfast now doesn’t it?
Edited: January 31st, 2010
Talladega Superspeedway to host car auction
Bill Chapman’s Alabama Antique & Classic Car Auction, Car Corral & Swap Meet is moving from the Alabama State Fairgrounds in Birmingham to Talladega Superspeedway’s infield. Chapman’s annual automotive event has grown every year since he started it in 1980. “We had outgrown the Fairgrounds but had not planned to move,” Chapman said. For the past 28 years the event has been held at what was the home of the oldest race track in Alabama. Circumstances forced Chapman to move the event 52 miles away to the notorious infield of NASCAR’s Talladega Superspeedway the weekend of February 26-28, 2010.
“Last year’s event almost didn’t take place. Buildings that we were supposed to have access to at the Fairgrounds were being torn down the week of the show,” Chapman said. “The city of Birmingham destroyed a source of revenue.” Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, convicted of 60 bribery-related counts on Oct. 28, 2009, spearheaded a plan that proposed to build an Olympic-style village in the place of the historic 5/8th-mile race track known as BIR or Birmingham International Raceway. The race track, grandstands, along with most of the buildings, excluding the Bill Harris Arena, were demolished last year.
I wrote about Chapman’s final antique auction at the Fairgrounds, (here and here).
Chapman says the Talladega car auction/corral and swap meet will be a full 3-day event. Spectators will enter through a gate near turn 3 and drive across the backstretch of the track into the infield. If you attend the show be sure to check out the cars in the parking lot too. At past shows I have seen a large number of spectator’s classic cars in the parking lot with for sale signs propped in their windows.
More than 400 cars are expected in the car corral. That’s where you can sell your own car from an assigned spot. Cost is $100 per car.
Saturday at 11 a.m. the car auction takes place inside the Sprint Cup Garage. “This will allow a travel day for those from out of town.” Chapman also said he “expects this to be the largest show he has ever had.” Last year more than 100 cars went through the auction.
This should be a good time to find a deal on a classic vehicle or that hard to find part you need. That is, if you have cash to spare? The Dixie Vintage Automobile Club is also hosting a car show on pit road during the 3-day event. I will have more info on it soon.
DETAILS
Alabama Antique & Classic Car Auction, Car Corral & Swap Meet
February 26-28, 2010
Schedule
Friday, February 26 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 27 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Auction Time: 11 a.m. Saturday
Sunday, February 28 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tickets
Three (3) Day Ticket $25.00
Single Day Ticket $10.00
Children 10 and under FREE
Flea Market
10′ X 20′ Outside Space $100.00
10′ X 10′ Limited Inside $100.00 (Pre-Registration Required)
Car Corral
Sale Your Car Outside $100.00
Auction
Attention Sellers – All you pay is $100.00 Entry Fee (5% Commission Charge Buyers & Sellers)
Bring Cars and Proper Papers. Minimum Seller Fee $200 or 5%
Edited: January 30th, 2010
Plans set for spoiler test at Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR has tentatively added a third test of the spoiler on the Sprint Cup Series car, this one set for the sport’s biggest track.
Plans are to test the vehicle March 16 at Talladega Superspeedway, according to a series spokesman. That test would be in addition to a two-day open session scheduled for March 23-24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and would be to specifically examine the spoiler’s performance on a restrictor-plate track. Four drivers also tested cars outfitted with the spoiler at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this month.
Purchase race tickets
Book your travel
The spoiler would replace the rear wing on current Cup Series cars, which has been criticized by fans and drivers alike for both its appearance and its aerodynamic characteristics. Pending the results of testing, the spoiler could return to vehicles on NASCAR’s premier division as early as this spring.
“The deal with the spoiler looks very promising,” driver Martin Truex Jr. said. “I think it’s important for the fans. I think they’ll be more excited to look at the cars. The cars look a little racier, a little more sleek. Every car I have ever seen since I was born had a spoiler on it. That will be good.”
Some have blamed the rear wing for the recent spate of airborne accidents at Talladega, including Ryan Newman’s flip during the track’s most recent event, and Carl Edwards’ crash into the restraining fence in the spring race. NASCAR, though, has insisted that the wing is not the culprit in those incidents, and that airborne crashes at Talladega were not the impetus behind the move to the spoiler.
“I have seen a lot of, well, it looks like we did that because of Talladega, Ryan Newman getting air under his [wing] contributed to that,” NASCAR chairman Brian France said recently. “As [Sprint Cup director] John Darby reminded me, we had a similar instance of more than one at Talladega with the spoiler, as well, in terms of the car lifting off. That’s always something we will address, and putting the spoiler on doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that we have car lift at Talladega.
“Lift is a problem, and we will solve that, and [there are] already lots of ways to do that. The spoiler is coming on for the look of it, to look more like it used to, and to drive differently and create better racing. That’s the premise of the spoiler.”
Edited: January 30th, 2010
NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson crashed during practice
Four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson crashed during practice Thursday for this weekend’s 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.
Johnson is feeling fine and hoping to get back behind the wheel for another practice on Friday, driver spokeswoman Kristine Curley said. Johnson is still planning to drive in the 24 Hours of Daytona on Daytona’s 3.56-mile road course.
“I put myself in a position with a GT car that I shouldn’t and paid the price,” Johnson said in a statement. “I hate it that I tore up equipment and put the guys in this spot. It looks like we will get this fixed and hopefully everything will be good for tomorrow.”
Johnson damaged the rear end of his No. 99 Chevrolet Riley Daytona Prototype trying to avoid a slower car. He hit the brakes, turned sideways, slid backward and slammed into the wall.
Johnson’s team is planning to rush parts to Daytona and work through the night in hopes of getting the car back on the track by Friday.
Edited: January 30th, 2010
Valentine’s Day Ideas for a Memorial Moment
Valentine’s Day is a special day to celebrate that special relationship. A unique way to commemorate this special day is with a romantic horse and carriage ride. Valentine’s Day is right around the cornor once again. Most couples celebrate this special day by dining at a fine restaurant, while others celebrate with gifts exchanged or even a romantic getaway. After years of dating or being married, one may find it difficult to come up with something different and distinctive ways to spend the holiday. Hey, what about a a horse and buggy ride! Horse Drawn Carriage Rides rides are offered in many metropolitan cities in the United States. Some of the most popular cities for carriage rides include Orlando, historic Boston, New York City, and many others. There are a range of different carriages. For more comfort, several carriage owners have added various amenities to their coaches. Some of the more luxurious buggies provide soft music, a blanket (for colder days or evenings) and a driver decked out in a fancy atire. Most horse drawn carriage rides last anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour. These tours may take one through a scenic park, or may involve a tour of a cities downtown. In some cases advanced reservations are required; nonetheless, in larger cities, one can simply catch a buggy ride at a number of specified locations. Many carriage companies will increase the number of buggies available for public rides on Valentine’s Day. Custom Horse Drawn Carriage Rides along with standard tours, several carriage companies also allow for custom tours. This means that one can make their Valentine’s Day plans well in advance. In addition to choosing your destination, special amenities and treats can also be arranged. Make the evening special with one or more of the following ideas: Take a carriage ride to and from a favorite theater, restaurant or to a local Bed and Breakfast. Arrange to have champagne glasses and champagne (or sparkling cider) aboard the coach upon pick up. Have the coach arrive with a dozen roses, or have the coach decorated in a special flower. If a married couple, consider using colors and flowers from related to your wedding. Whatever details you choose, it’s sure to be a memorial and special day.
Edited: January 30th, 2010
Getting Geocaching Up and Seeking
Geocaching is known by many names. It has been called everything from high-tech hide-and-seek, global stash hunting to a more modern version of the Easter egg hunt. Geocaching is a very fun adventure game for GPS users. To enjoy your geocaching adventure, we have listed a few geocaching gear and supplies for you to consider. GPS Unit. A GPS receiver is the most essential gear you need for geocaching. You need to input the geocache coordinates into your GPS in order to find it. Garmin is number one when considering GPS for geocaching with their host of products to make sure you find that big cache. With a Garmin GPS in your hand and an appetite for adventure, you will definitely find all the geocache around the world. Geocache Containers. A geocache is a small container hidden by geocachers. Some are hidden in forests or deserts while some are buried in urban areas. If you decide to hide your very own cache, you must use the right type of container. Ammo cans are the best container for geocaching. They are very cheap, designed for the outdoors and waterproof. The tupperware box is the most common and cheapest geocache container around. It is quite waterproof, strong and comes in a variety of sizes. It can easily be wedged in any nooks and crannies and it looks innocent unlike ammo cans. Film canisters, bison tubes and small magnetic tubes are used for micro and nano caches. GeoCoins. GeoCoins are numbered geocaching coins that were made to give geocachers a collectable, tradable and trackable cache prize. You can leave them in your geocache for other geocachers to find or trade them. Travel Bugs. Travel Bugs are items that, once registered, can be tracked online. The travel bug is carried from cache to cache (or person to person) in the real world and you can follow its progress online. GeoSwags. GeoSwags can be left as prizes for other geocachers or traded for other items in the geocache. Some common geoswags are casino chips, hot wheels and patches. Geocaching Clothing and Accessories. With geocaching, you would usually head into urban areas or the woods. Proper clothing is therefore very important to keep you safe and warm. Logbook. A logbook is where visitors of your hidden geocache will write down details about their visit. You can write down jokes or tips about the place. There are many other supplies that may help you enjoy geocaching more such as Walkie Talkies, camouflage tapes, walking sticks and geocaching books.
I plan on geocaching on Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast as we are located on an Island on the Coose river. Stay tuned for detail. Have fun.
Edited: January 29th, 2010
A Pearl in Every Oyster…well, almost
Wintzell’s Oyster House, 500 Sanderson St., came to Huntsville in December 2009. This Gulf Coast Seafood goldmine is tucked in behind the Hampton Inn off University Drive (where Green Hills Grill used to be).
Wintzell’s has filled a void in fresh seafood in Huntsville. Dating back to 1938, there are 10 locations of Wintzell’s scattered throughout Alabama & Mississippi. The closest one to Huntsville is the one in Guntersville on US Highway 431. Owner of the restaurant in Guntersville, Dana Price, decided to open a location in Huntsville and has been surprised at the brisk business and welcoming of the Huntsville community. Since I’m a picky eater, Wintzell’s was the very last place I thought I’d find myself going to for lunch. Here’s the photos and a brief description of what my friend Nancy and I discovered while dining at this restaurant.
Edited: January 29th, 2010
Alabama Department of Touriam releases 2010 Vacation Guide
More than 200 Great Alabama Homecoming Celebrations are featured in tourism’s 2010 Vacation Guide. Participating cities and towns will hold festivals, tours, and other events including the unveiling of historic markers as part of The Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns.
A few of the homecoming celebrations that will be held at various dates throughout the year include the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird in Monroeville; the 100th anniversary of Rickwood Field in Birmingham; Jubilee CityFest in Montgomery; the 50th anniversary of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, and Foley’s 10th Anniversary of Heritage Harbor Days. A list of 215 Great Alabama Homecoming Celebrations can be found on pages 10-13. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute was named the Attraction of the Year and is featured on page 16.
“We are proud to celebrate 2010 as the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. We invite residents and visitors to join the Great Alabama Homecoming events and experience southern hospitality at its finest,” said Governor Bob Riley. “The vacation guide is a valuable tool designed to help travelers experience the best of Alabama,” added Riley.
The 157-page guide provides travelers with information on hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, tourism associations, state parks, golf courses, attractions, trails and museums.
The guide spotlights attractions and events in the four regions of the state that include the Mountain, Metropolitan, River Heritage and Gulf Coast regions. The Mountain Region that includes North Alabama begins on page 22 with photos of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Point Mallard waterpark in Decatur, Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro and the Stevenson Railroad Depot. The Metropolitan Region surrounding Birmingham, begins on page 48 and highlights the new Wellborn Muscle Car Museum in Alexander City and the Talladega Superspeedway. The River Heritage Region begins on page 78. A few of the attractions highlighted include the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery and Black Belt Treasures in Camden. The Gulf Coast Region begins on page 104. Photos include the Gulf State Park Pier, the Dauphin Island Estuarium and Mardi Gras.
The publication also highlights Alabama’s restaurants, attraction of the year and the new Spa Trail along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. A section on chefs, restaurants and other dining can be found on pages 14-15. Readers will find details about some of the nation’s top rated spas on page 18.
New for 2010 are fun facts about Alabama and its attractions with “Did You Know?” sections appearing throughout the guide. The sections feature caricatures of famous Alabamians. A new section on exploring Alabama’s outdoors is on page 130.
Two covers were produced for the publication, one features the Marriott Grand Hotel in Point Clear with a smaller photo of the Monroeville County Courthouse. The other cover features a group of students touring Desoto Caverns in Childersburg.
The 2010 Alabama Vacation Guide is available at all eight state welcome centers across the state. Copies of the publication can also be obtained by calling 1.800.ALABAMA or visiting www.alabama.travel. Compass Marketing of Gulf Shores publishes the vacation guide.
CONTACT:
Edith Parten
334.242.4537
Edited: January 29th, 2010
Travel Tips for 2010
This could be a tough year for Europe travel, especially if airlines don’t move quickly to restore transatlantic capacity.
This year, planning your travels isn’t just about finding the best price, though that’s certainly on everyone’s mind. There are also new practicalities to consider that could have just as big an impact on your travels as how much you pay for your ticket. But in a year that will be marked by economic uncertainty, there’s a lot to consider before you take out your credit card and book that trip.
Here are some of the situations that will affect your travels in 2010, and the strategies you’ll need to handle them.
How do I get a good deal this year?
Situation: No one, not even the airlines, knows if travel will pick up this year, or if it will continue to struggle. Consequently, no one knows where fares are headed in 2010.
Fewer people are flying than two years ago, and the airlines reduced capacity to match the drop in demand. This, along with low fares, allowed carriers to keep their planes relatively full in 2009. But it’s those same low fares that cast doubt on 2010: The main reason people were flying is because tickets were cheap. If fares go up, will people still travel?
In this environment, airlines will be extra vigilant in looking for ways to increase revenue while offering competitive fares. So-called holiday surcharges are already in place for several dates this spring, and it’s fair to assume airlines will continue the practice as the year goes on. These surcharges allow carriers to pinpoint specific, high-demand dates with $10 to $20 surcharges while keeping base fares low.
Strategy: For one thing, keep track of those surcharges, and see if you can avoid flying on popular holiday travel dates. The airlines are banking on these high-demand days, and flexible travelers will benefit from adjusting their schedules accordingly.
Most importantly, compare, compare, compare. It’s a time-worn adage, but it’s also as relevant as ever this year. Airlines are in tough competition for a reduced number of travelers, and it’s fair to assume we’ll see lots of fare wars and competing sales as the summer travel season approaches. Start benchmarking fares to your destination as much as two or three months ahead of time, and monitor them for a few weeks to see what happens. When you find a price you like, you’ll know just how good a deal you’re getting.
Further, this is a year where discounted last-minute flights may play a larger role in the airline business. Carriers will no doubt try to push up fares in advance of flights, with the hope that public uncertainty about pricing trends will lead people to book early rather than risk watching their fare go up. If you have a strong enough stomach, you may be rewarded with a deal if wait until a week or two before your trip to book your flight. (Caveat: This won’t necessarily apply to the most popular destinations, such as Europe.)
Dealing with fees
Situation: We will certainly see fees go up this year—in fact, we already have. The only questions are which fees will rise, and by how much? Baggage fees, in particular, stand to rise incrementally throughout the year. Each time it seems the airlines have maxed out their first- and second-bag fees, they tack on another few bucks. If there’s a limit to how much the airlines will charge, they clearly haven’t hit it yet.
There is also a growing consensus that more airlines may adopt the Ryanair model of checking in online—and charging a fee to travelers who don’t. This makes sense from a business perspective, but empties the wallets of travelers who can’t access a computer. But it could be a way for especially desperate carriers to bring in some extra revenue, so long as they can tolerate some consumer outrage.
Strategy: Keep factoring ancillary fees into your fare comparisons, and consider airlines that charge fewer fees than the competition. Most importantly, keep up with all the new fees so that you know exactly what you’ll be paying, and try to travel with only a carry-on if you can.
United has an annual bag fee program that may work for frequent travelers. For $249 a year, you can check an unlimited number of bags on all United flights. If you know you’ll be traveling a lot, and United’s service and fares work for you, this could be a good money-saving option. So far, no other carriers have come out with a similar program.
Choosing an affordable destination
Situation: It’s been a rough few years for several prominent vacation destinations. Las Vegas, in particular, has struggled amid the recession, but hotel rates have dropped across the country in cities like San Diego, Chicago, New York City, and Hawaii.
Unlike airlines, which can be more flexible with how much capacity they offer, hotels are stuck with a set number of rooms. Sure, hotels can close floors or simply sell fewer rooms, but this fixed inventory forces hotels to lower rates in order to keep their rooms full.
Strategy: In 2010, the real bargains will likely be on the ground, and savvy shoppers would be wise to start any search by looking for great hotel deals and worrying about airfare later. Most travelers take the opposite approach—airfare first, hotel almost as an afterthought—but unstable fare pricing in 2010 suggests this may not be the way to go. In fact, this is a good year to base your destination choices on price, since some destinations may offer deals too good to pass up.
Within hotels, high-end properties have generally seen larger price drops than other properties. This has resulted in price compression, where the difference between rates at high-end hotels and those at middle-of-the-pack accommodations has shrunk, making upscale rooms more accessible to budget-conscious travelers.
Lastly, take a long look at vacation packages this year. For the same reasons above, online travel agents like Expedia and Travelocity will look to sell bundled packages as a way of clearing unsold hotel inventory. This desperation could lead to some pretty good deals on vacation packages, especially in some of the harder hit U.S. cities.
But what about Europe?
Situation: Transatlantic travel is one of the areas hit hardest by industrywide capacity cuts over the past 18 months. As demand for travel dropped off, so too did the number of passengers flying across the Pond, leaving airlines with half-empty planes flying long, costly routes. But now, people thinking of a vacation in Europe face a market with decidedly fewer flights, and the potential for a very expensive summer travel season.
Further complicating the matter is high demand for flights to the U.S. from Europe. George Hobica, at our sister site Airfarewatchdog, has noticed very high Europe fares lately, and attributes this to a weak U.S. dollar attracting budget-conscious European travelers. This spike in demand, of course, also affects fares for U.S. travelers looking to head to Europe.
Strategy: This could be a tough year for Europe travel, especially if airlines don’t move quickly to restore some of the transatlantic capacity. Carriers will likely be hesitant to do this for two reasons: 1) A reluctance to trust early signs of recovery, and 2) the fact that they can charge more on popular routes with limited seats.
For U.S. travelers, the best way to grab a deal may be to price the ideal route for your travels, such as Chicago to Rome, and then price a flight to one of Europe’s main hubs such as London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or even Reykjavik on Icelandair, with a connecting flight to your destination on a low-cost carrier. This latter option may be less convenient, but it could save you some serious money. Bear in mind that many European low-cost carriers charge exorbitant fees, so make sure you factor these costs into your comparison (and pack light if you can).
Airport security issues
Situation: This year, it’s just as important to pay attention to the practicalities of air travel as well as the price. Last year ended with a close call on Christmas Day, and 2010 began under a cloud of security issues and questions about airline safety.
Things have quieted for the moment, and travelers flying domestic routes shouldn’t experience much out of the ordinary. Passengers entering the U.S. from other countries, however, can expect to encounter long waits and, in some cases, additional screening at the airport. For U.S. citizens, prolonged security lines should be the worst of it, but there is a chance that you’ll be selected for random screening.
Strategy: You simply need to give yourself extra time. You may not need it here in the States, but consider it an investment in peace of mind. Abroad, give yourself an extra two hours or more beyond what you would normally budget. Again, you may not need it, but you may also be glad you arrived early.
Beyond time, be prepared for some new experiences. The Department of Homeland Security is expected to add roughly 300 whole-body imaging scanners to U.S. airports this year. These scanners can see beneath your clothing and detect some non-metallic items such as bomb-making materials and composite knives. They also create a greyscale image of your body, which many people feel is a violation of privacy. For the average traveler, this will be a very new and potentially unsettling aspect of airport security, but it appears these scanners will nevertheless become a part of the flying experience.
Lastly, keep an eye on the news, as the security situation is constantly evolving. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and foreign security officials may make policy changes, for better or worse, and you don’t want to be surprised at the airport. Make sure you pack in accordance with current restrictions so your security wait time is minimized. Use common sense and check anything that might invite time-consuming additional scrutiny.
Edited: January 29th, 2010