Ron Richard Blamed for Inadequate Funding for State Parks.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has issued its annual listing of the most endangered historic places in the United States, and heading the list are the nation’s state park systems. "It is a dubious honor that Missouri is featured as a ‘prime example’ of threatened state parks, along with five other states including California and New York," said Susan Flader, president of the Missouri Parks Association.

"Missouri’s selection by the National Trust probably reflects our park system’s strong national reputation as well as the failure of the Missouri legislature to address the funding crisis of our parks again this year," Flader surmised.

A measure to provide for issuance of statewide construction bonds -- HJR 77 -- was bottled up by Speaker Ron Richard, who refused to assign it to a committee according to Flader. A similar measure passed the House and got all the way to the floor of the Senate last year. A broad coalition of parks, conservation, and historic preservation organizations was advocating for adoption of the bond issue, says Flader.

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Sponsored by Curry Automotive

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR opened its Hall of Fame on May 11, giving stock-car racing a shrine to rival baseball’s in Cooperstown, N.Y., football’s in Canton, Ohio, and basketball’s in Springfield, Mass.

As former Charlotte Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, noted, "This is where the peach basket was put up in 1949, right out on Little Rock Road near the airport."

Wheeler was referring to the site of NASCAR’s first major race, run on June 19, 1949, on a 3/4-mile dirt track that existed through 1956. That track was located near the present site of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame occupies a prominent share of the downtown skyline. It bears some resemblance to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Above its massive walls, the Hall takes an oval shape, and there’s a practical reason. Inside, that oval shape translates into something of a simulated short track -- and also a banked ramp to the second floor -- with still, full-sized race cars placed around it, frozen in fanciful race mode.

The main floor is 10,000 square feet. Exhibit space exceeds 40,000 square feet. The overall budget was $154.5 million. The exhibit budget alone was $31 million.

The May 23 Induction Ceremony will officially enshrine NASCAR founder William H.G. (Big Bill) France; his successor and son, William C. (Bill Jr.) France; Richard Petty, stock-car racing’s most prolific winner; Dale Earnhardt, the only other driver to win seven championships; and Junior Johnson, who earned enduring fame as driver, mechanic and owner.

NASCAR has been around since 1948, but only five men get into the Hall of Fame each year. Inductions in succeeding years will be eagerly anticipated with legendary drivers like David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Lee Petty and Curtis Turner still waiting in the wings, so to speak.

Among the Hall’s features:

--A theater screen 65 feet wide and 15 feet high, along with a video wall containing 64 plasma-screen televisions.

--Visitors will wear either video cards or wristbands with computer chips, enabling holders to activate interactive parts of the museum like racing simulations and trivia.

--Each Hall of Fame inductee will have a "spire" with a video, emblematic photo and quote about him.

I have always enjoyed watchin’ a major thunderstorm move through. Clouds movin’ this way and that, formin’ all those wierd shapes. ‘Course as a kid, it made it a lot easier to enjoy it ‘cause we had a basement to run to if things got too outa hand.

I suppose there is somethin’ in our nature that makes us admire the works and power of nature.

I see where folks are goin’ out and gettin’ lowered into shark infested waters while bein’ protected by a metal cage. Payin’ good money too, I suppose.

Most of us who were brought up around the farm had some encounter with a rat or a snake or unpleasant hog that pretty well eliminated the urge to tempt anything with large teeth. Learned those lessons for free. ‘Course it’s easy to be brave when ya have a hidey hole.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have enjoyed your column for years and have always admired your bottomless knowledge and advice for car owners, abusers, know-nothings and BYMs (backyard mechanics). I have but one question I need you to resolve, and then I can drive happily ever after. The "Low Tire Pressure" warning light on my dash came on this morning. So I looked at all four tires, and they appeared OK. Just to be safe, I fired up my air compressor (with apologies to my sleeping neighbors) and topped off all four tires. The tire warning light returned! I eventually checked the manual of my Toyota Tundra, and it told me to check the spare, too. I did, and sure enough, it was low. My question to you is: How did it know? How does the computer system know that the air pressure is low in my spare tire? Weight? Sonar? Internet? Seismic vibrations? Make me happy and tell me the answer, boys. - Kim

Tom: It works via a wireless transmitter inside the tire, Kim.

Ray: It was first tried with wires, but they kept getting all wrapped up in the axles.

Tom: There’s a small pressure gauge and wireless transmitter that are part of the valve stem (where you put the air in) in most tires these days. When the pressure drops below a predetermined level, it signals the car’s computer wirelessly, and the indicator on your dashboard lights up. Pretty neat, huh?