Petey the Pace Car By: Tim Packman Once upon a time, Petey was a race car. He was very fast before some of the newer cars showed up and went faster. He loved to be around the track with his friends and fans, but knew his time as a race car was coming to an end. The track promoter knew Petey was a fan favorite around the track and didn't want to see him go. So, he become the track's Pace Car where he'd lead every race. Ride along with Petey and learn how you don't have to be in Victory Lane to be a winner!
This is a comprehensive career study and filmography of Mack Sennett, cofounder of Keystone Studios, home of the Keystone Kops and other vehicles that showcased his innovative slapstick comedy. The filmography covers the more than 1,000 films Sennett produced, directed, wrote or appeared in between 1908 and 1955, including casts, credits, synopses, production and release dates, locations, cross-references of remade stories and gags, footage excerpted in compilations, identification of prints existing in archives, and other information. The book, featuring 280 photographs, also contains biographies of several hundred performers and technical personnel connected with Sennett.
Whether they're actors or singers, politicians or statesmen, famous folks have no choice but to stand squinting in the limelight as their odd and offbeat exploits become fodder for scrutiny. Author Bob Fenster has captured all their hilarious, behind-the-scenes antics in They Did What!? Consider, for example: The Beach Boys originally wanted to call their group the Pendletons, so they could get free shirts from the Oregon clothing manufacturer; At her wedding, movie star Lana Turner had "I love you" spelled out in pimentos in the sides of baked hams; Before they hit it big in the movies, Angelina Jolie studied to be a funeral director and Sean Connery polished coffins. Filled with hundreds of fascinating escapades and interesting idiosyncrasies, They Did What!? also looks at issues associated with fame, such as "Why do famous people marry other famous people?" and includes tongue-in-cheek lessons we can learn from celebrities, like "How to become famous and still get into heaven."
As soon as there were automobiles, there was racing. The first recorded race, an over road event from Paris to Rouen, France, was organized by the French newspaper Le Petit Journal in 1894. Seeing an opportunity for a similar event, Hermann H. Kohlsaat--publisher of the Chicago Times-Herald--sponsored what was hailed as the "Race of the Century," a 54-mile race from Chicago's Jackson Park to Evanston, Illinois, and back. Frank Duryea won in a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes, of which 7 hours and 53 minutes were actually spent on the road. Race cars and competition have progressed continuously since that time, and today's 200 mph races bear little resemblance to the event Duryea won. This work traces American auto racing through the 20th century, covering its significant milestones, developments and personalities. Subjects included are: Bill Elliott, dirt track racing, board track racing, Henry Ford, Grand Prix races, Dale Earnhardt, the Vanderbilt Cup, Bill France, Gordon Bennett, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Mercer, the Stutz, Duesenberg, Frank Lockhart, drag racing, the Trans Am, Paul Newman, vintage racing, land speed records, Al Unser, Wilbur Shaw, the Corvette, the Cobra, Richard Petty, NASCAR, Can Am, Mickey Thompson, Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, and Formula One. Through interviews with participants and track records, this text shows where, when and how racing changed. It describes the growth of each different form of auto racing as well as the people and technologies that made it ever faster.
This work offers a critical examination of 130 commercially-released film comedies of the 1970s. It considers the socio-political circumstances of each year of the decade, then critiques each film released that year with a focus on its effect on the film industry and the art of big screen comedy, as well as the emergence of talents whose work influenced (or was influenced by) the zeitgeist of the decade. Covering popular titles like M*A*S*H, Blazing Saddles, American Graffiti, The Bad News Bears, Smokey and the Bandit and many more, it argues that the 1970s may rightly be considered the last golden age of film comedy.
Pinewood Bay is a town filled with nature's beauty. Seeland Glacier lies at the base of a steep valley and attracts tourists from all over the world. But there's one spot that's become an environmental eyesore. Garbage has amassed in the dump outside of town, and it's earned the nickname of "Trash Mountain." But no one has done anything to prevent it from growing. Solomon Forrest, a twelve-year-old thrill seeker who uses "Nitrous"-a gadget-filled wheelchair-to get around, wants to do something about Trash Mountain. Together with newfound friend Francine "Fran" Smirtel, heiress to the Smirtel Spread processed meat company, Solomon tries to figure out the secrets of the mysterious homeless man named Dirty Dan who lives in the garbage pile and collects soda pop cans in a town that doesn't recycle. When they follow Dirty Dan into the base of the mountain, Solomon and Fran discover a deadly secret, one that threatens Seeland Glacier and Pinewood Bay. Can they find a solution before the area's natural beauty-and the town-is destroyed?
Uncle John is back with the 36th annual Bathroom Reader, an all-new collection of entertaining articles that explore the weird and wonderful world we live in. In this 36th edition of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, longtime fans and new readers alike will be astounded by a treasure trove of wonderfully weird (and true!) stories that explore the realms of pop culture, history, sports, science, and everyday folks, including the always popular misadventures of dumb crooks. Uncle John and his team at the Bathroom Readers’ Institute have reached into all corners of the world to bring you this all-new collection of entertaining and informative articles that include short reads for a quick trip to the throne room as well as longer page-turners for when you take an extended visit. You’ll also find a plethora of amusing lists, odd factoids, quotes, and quizzes that will tickle every trivia enthusiast’s fancy.
Relive Mopar’s skunkworks racing team and its rise to dominance in this fascinating history! The drama of 1970s Chrysler Pro Stock drag racing unfolds in this new book, which focuses on the racing and technological evolution of the legendary Motown Missile and Mopar Missile racing programs from 1970 to 1977. Unequaled by any other drag racing development program, this was a huge undertaking in term of time, money, and effort. The 1970s saw great change in Detroit and in auto racing, with Pro Stock being a huge draw for fans. Chrysler racing historian and author Geoff Stunkard presents a chronological recollection, drawing from many interviews and summaries of the actual technical efforts that the factory accomplished and including both rare, unpublished technical and personal images from the team members and some of the most dramatic images taken by the sport’s best photographers. From the earliest days of owner/engine builder Ted Spehar, factory engineer Tom Hoover, and driver Don Carlton, the narrative is a colorful look at the team’s inner workings, programs, victories, and even defeats. Set against a backdrop of characters like Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, “Dandy Dick” Landy, and “Dyno” Don Nicholson, Carlton’s driving prowess had few equals. Indeed, called by one period scribe as a “cyborg,” the likeable pilot would pay the ultimate price as a drag racing driver. From the Challengers and `Cuda to the Demons and Colts, the book showcases the cars that made Chrysler so much a part of this racing era, as well as Ted Spehar’s never-before-revealed information on the 1970s Pro Stock engine program.
A successful entrepreneur, speaker, and marketing copywriter shows you how to wield the persuasive, profit-making power of humor. People buy more and buy more happily when in good humor. Understanding humor and being able to effectively use it for your sales and persuasion purposes is a powerful advantage. Drawn from thirty years' experience as a popular professional speaker, author of thirteen books, columnist and advertising copywriter, Dan Kennedy looks at humor as an instrument of influence. Anyone who must speak or write to a public audience will find fodder here. Whether you deliver speeches, seminars, or group sales presentations; serve as toastmaster at events; or write advertisements, sales letters, or newsletters, this book offers thoughtful insight, practical strategies, and simple shortcuts to help you be confident and adept at being funny with a purpose. (Even if you're not all that funny.) Note: this book contains adult material and may not be suitable for minors. Or for the easily offended.
