News for January 12th 2010

Race Engineer Jeff Britton Joins A.J. Foyt Racing

Jeff Britton, of Indianapolis, has joined A.J. Foyt Racing as chief engineer of the No. 14 ABC Supply Indy car driven by Vitor Meira. Britton will be renewing an alliance with Meira as the two men worked together in 2005 when Meira finished second in the Indianapolis 500 for the first time.

“I’m very excited to be joining the A.J. Foyt Racing family,” Britton said. “I’m looking forward to being able to rely on the wealth of experience that A.J. has and also working with Vitor again. He makes things very easy for engineers because he can boil down the problems of the car to the biggest problem. He enables you to work on one thing at a time to really make progress in setting up the race car.

“The other thing is his attitude; he has the most positive attitude of any driver I’ve ever worked with. He never gets upset in the car, always has his emotions in check and is constantly trying to push the team in a positive direction.”

Britton’s respect for Meira is mutual. The 33-year-old Brazilian revealed, “Jeff was the first guy that I had big results with–the first time that I finished second at the [Indy] 500 was with him. We had three cars on the team, Buddy [Rice] and Danica [Patrick] were in the other two cars and we were much faster than both of them so I always thought that we worked well together. I like the way he works. He’s very quiet, you tell him what the car is doing and what the problems are, then he asks you to leave and he thinks about it and comes up with a solution. It’s very simple. I think it will be good, very good.”

Team director Larry Foyt interviewed several candidates before hiring Britton who brings 15 years of Indy car experience to the team.

“In the end, I liked the fact that Jeff worked well with Vitor and together they had some good results,” said Foyt. “With the limited practice time that you have on race weekends, it really helps to bring in someone who can communicate well with Vitor, so we aren’t starting from square one. With Jeff having been around the IRL since its inception, he and A.J. have a lot of common experience and that also was important in our final decision.”

Britton’s experience includes stints with Treadway Racing, Kelley Racing (when driver Scott Sharp won the 2001 pole at Indianapolis), Access Motorsports (Greg Ray), and Mo Nunn Racing (Tora Takagi). In 2005 he joined Rahal-Letterman Racing where he worked with Meira in 2005, Rice in 2006 and Sharp in 2007. Britton moved to Vision Racing in 2008 where he spent the past two years working with Ed Carpenter.

Edited: January 12th, 2010

Why would anyone stay at a Bed and Breakfast instead of a chain hotel?

Visitors to a new town normally have no problem finding clean, comfortable accommodations. It is important, if you are considering a trip to a special event like a graduation or sports game, to book your rooms early. Chain hotels are nice, but what makes a visit to our wonderful city especially memorable is a night or two at a Bed and Breakfast. Why a Bed and Breakfast? Staying at a B&B offers more amenities than one will find in a standard hotel. It’s no secret that hotel rooms are basically the same when it comes to decor and comfort. Basically, if you have seen one hotel, you have seen them all. You might have room to move around, but a bed and breakfast can offer you an unique personal atmosphere complete with freshly laundered sheets, soft mattresses, and spacious, clean bathrooms. Where maid service at a hotel is strictly scheduled, a B&B stay gives you the freedom to arrange cleaning times with the innkeeper, allowing you more time for your morning routines and exercise if you choose. While it is true some chain hotels are offering more in the way of continental breakfast options, the “breakfast” in bed and breakfast makes the experience delightful. Creative gourmet dishes and full coffee and tea service can be enjoyed at your leisure, and depending on size of the inn you likely won’t have to jockey other busy guests for attention or a good seat! One very enjoyable aspect about a private inn stay is the personalized service. Your innkeeper is your concierge, available to recommend area attractions and restaurants, and able to arrange a number of vacation packages for you. On a second honeymoon? Very likely your innkeeper will offer a romantic bouquet or chocolate covered strawberries or other wonderful delights. Beautiful landscaping, intimate decor, and a cozy atmosphere enhance your stay. If you have reservations (pardon the pun) about booking a night due to cost, you may be surprised to know that a night at a B&B is as affordable as a chain hotel room. Pay attention, too, to websites and inn directories for discounts and seasonal specials. Next time you’re looking for a chain hotel, why not consider a home-style Bed and Breakfast instead? Many times my wife and I sit and peg our memories of places on a certain special Bed and Breakfast that we stayed. The memories will last a lifetime. After all isn’t that really what you want to add to the experience…the making of memories!

Edited: January 12th, 2010

ALABAMA PROMTOES 1,650 EVENTS

More than 1,650 events including a major Star Wars exhibit at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the first Indy Racing League competition in Alabama are featured in the 2010 calendar of events published by the Alabama Tourism Department.

Several major anniversary celebrations are scheduled for the year including the 50th anniversary of the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Monroeville and the centennial of Birmingham’s Rickwood Field.

The 96-page calendar has a city-by-city index of events and features a top ten list for each month. “We’ve made planning a trip to Alabama easier than ever,” said tourism director Lee Sentell.

The calendar also serves to kick-off the tourism agency’s campaign of the “The Year of Small Towns & Downtowns.” More than 200 communities across the state are participating in “Small Towns & Downtowns” by holding local homecomings. These events, known collectively as the Great Alabama Homecoming, are highlighted in the calendar.

The cover features Bellingrath Gardens and Trowbridge’s, a 1917 ice cream parlor in Florence.

Travelers can pick up copies of the publication at each of the eight Alabama Welcome Centers, by calling 1.800.ALABAMA or by going online at www.alabama.travel.

Edited: January 12th, 2010