Car Racing in the Sixties

Hi Group:
Just thought I'd post something kind of fun. The ruins of this racetrack still existed when I was a kid, and was less than a mile from my house (which, for you rock and roll fans, is today the home of Pat Badger, bassist for Extreme). At any rate, while technically the track was still under private ownership until 1977, almost all of the serious racing ended about ten years earlier. Ever since the late seventies, the spot has been the home of the town hall, library, police and fire stations, and a small baseball field. Few traces of its existence remain today. Anyhow, pay this site a visit if you like, enjoy the pictures, and dig the heyday of New England car racing in the 1960s:

http://www.thepinesspeedway.com

Best,
Alex

Roadside memorials

Hi all - This is a danger of teaching in multiple places - I'm always finding interesting material for one group of students that I think other groups might want to take a look at as well!

In prepping for my Hampshire College class today (where we're going to be discussing theories about memory), I came across a good page of links that also relates to our seminar on cars and culture.  Don't feel obligated, but if you're intrigued by the use of roadside spaces as memorials to people killed in car accidents (which raises all kinds of questions about who owns these spaces, how people use the memorials, etc.), here's a link to a page of links about roadside memorials around the world, with some thoughtful discussion and articles.

My Profile Page

Hi again group:
Here's my profile page...

http://www.blogger.com/profile/02891281495457173308

Once I Was Your Candy Colored Dreamgirl

Hi Group:
As promised, here is the URL for the essay I'd intended to read at today's seminar meeting:

http://www.strike-the-root.com/91/herman/herman1.html

I think you'll all really enjoy it. Perhaps we can discuss it a bit on this blog? At any rate, I know we've all got a lot of reading to do between both seminar and study group, but if anyone is interested, I've linked to my own essay archive at Strike The Root on my newly created profile page. So, indulge if you will, and don't be afraid to e-mail me with questions, comments, or any form of general discourse.

Very Best,
Alex Knight

Welcome!

This is a site for Cathy Stanton's spring 2009 "Cars and Culture" seminar at Union Institute & University's B.A. in Liberal Studies program. More info coming soon...