Starting out as a dirt fairground track for horses, the Stafford Motor Speedway rose to become one of the most prominent forces in New England Stock Car Racing. Cars began racing at Stafford in 1940 and NASCAR has sanctioned the facility since 1959. Clarence Benton sold the speedway to Malcom Barlow who paved the track in early 1967. Barlow went broke in mid-1970 and leased the track to Jack Arute who, along with his brother Chuck, bought the speedway in 1971.

Never before has a national publication featured a collection of photos of the Northeast’s favorite stock car racing’s division – the modifieds. The author brings together photos and text of the region’s best-loved drivers and their cars, as well as the “also-rans,” during the ‘60s and ‘70s when modifieds were built in backyards by local mechanics utilizing junkyard parts, no two cars looked alike, and there were so many tracks to race at. See them now as they were!

Human beings have always been driven to compete. Foot racing became horse racing became automobile racing, and we continue to redefine the word “fast.” Whether you prefer the tales of American bootleggers customizing Prohibition-era automobiles to outrun the law or the natural progression of cars replacing horses on the streets and on the racetrack, automobile racing flourished as a sport for many years in the United States before stock car racing truly came into its own in the 1950s. The economy rebounded after the end of World War II. The GIs brought home skills and knowledge about advances in technology, and civilians had learned how to get the most out of old machines during the war. Scrap steel was no longer reserved exclusively for the War Effort, and the junkyards were filling up with worn out cars as people started to invest in new ones to replace them. A very competitive stock car could be purchased at the junk yard for $25 or so. By adding another $75, a clever builder could make it race ready. Teams of weekend warriors could compete head to head against well-funded, highly trained teams and have a real shot at winning. It was a perfect combination: knowledgeable mechanics and fearless drivers in cars that the public recognized from their daily life. The grandstands filled and new tracks turned up all across the countryside to satisfy the public's interest in watching these race cars compete. Associations formed to standardize the tracks, which were often farm fields that had been lovingly sculpted and paved by the farmers themselves to give the drivers and their crews a place to showcase their talent. These men and women entertained, awed, and inspired a generation of "motor heads" and race fans. This book is a tribute to the drivers and other figures from Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania who shaped stock car racing in the 1950s.

Outside Groove digs deep into the culture of oval-track racing by telling the stories of the undercurrent driving the sport. Renew your faith in racing's future by reading about young drivers working hard to make a name for themselves. Heed advice from seasoned sages who often learned those lessons the hard way. Root for fan favorites as they overcome adversity. Learn more about "racers" who do things other than turn a steering wheel. Gain perspective on hot-button topics such as parts shortages, disqualifications, and world issues affecting the sport. Travel to new places, both in time and locale, as you turn each page. Editors J.A. Ackley and Mike Adaskaveg compiled these incredible accounts of enthralling prose and captivating photography into one riveting read.

Connecticut’s pristine coastline, stunning fall foliage, and idyllic town greens are widely known, but if you’re wondering what there is to actually do here, 100 Thing to Do in Connecticut Before You Die is for you. Take the Essex Steam Train into the scenic Connecticut River Valley or hop aboard Sea Mist for a sightseeing cruise through the picturesque Thimble Islands. Catch a Broadway-bound musical at the Goodspeed or walk among 50 life-size dinosaurs at Dinosaur Place. Sample craft brews, world-famous pizza, and fresh-from-the-ocean seafood. Feel the thrill of floating over farmland and forest in a hot-air balloon or the joy of standing in a field of sunflowers. With glittering casinos, amusement parks, destination-worthy architecture, and museums showcasing everything from American art to World War II aircraft, Connecticut packs a big punch for a small state. So whether you’re a jazz fan or history buff, baseball lover or antiques hunter, you’ll find plenty of ideas to keep you busy. Curated by one of the state’s top travel writers, 100 Thing to Do in Connecticut Before You Die offers both visitors and locals a checklist of the state’s most exceptional places, experiences, and tastes along with helpful itineraries, seasonal ideas, and insider tips. How many have you done?

Provides a social history of how the CIA used the psychedelic drug LSD as a tool of espionage during the early 1950s and tested it on U.S. citizens before it spread into popular culture, in particular the counterculture as represented by Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, Ken Kesey, and others who helped spawn political and social upheaval.