Finding Auto Repair Help While Traveling

Ouch. It’s happened to us: you are far away from home, and something happens to the car. You’re in a strange town, you know absolutely no one and now you need a brake job (or, as was in our case, a totally new transmission)– what on earth do you do?? Here’s a tip: bookmark this webpage for future reference: RepairPal. I’ve checked out the website, and I like it! They are kind of like a “yellow pages” for car repair, and their lists cover every state in the U.S., from Rome to Miami to Dallas auto repair. I did some searches on the site, and was very pleased to see some local businesses in my area listed at Repair Pal.

Nowadays, we’re always bringing some kind of Internet-capable gadget with us when we travl (phone, netbook, etc); and libraries in cities all across the nation offer free Internet access, too. So if you can’t find a hotspot on the highway, get to a convenience store or library to connect. You can access the RepairPal website and search for a good mechanic. You can search the website by location, or by car make. So, if you’re looking for a local car deal for a Chevrolet Silverado, you can search and get some good results.

Repair Pal also had reviews of car repair shops, helpful articles on common problems with types of vehicles, and an area for you to submit a car repair question to an expert. It’s a really terrific site! I’ve got it bookmarked for whenever we go out. You just never know, and being stranded in a strange town has happened to us twice!

Remember, I’m a pro-blogger and I am sometimes compensated with stuff or money to review or mention products or services! This was one of them. You can read more about my blog policy on my Sitewide Policies page.

Travel in Absolute Style

Can you imagine traveling in one of these gorgeously painted cars? The cars themselves are works of art, but the paintings are breathtaking!

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The Antique and Classic Car Show in Utica, Pt2

This is part two of my previous post about a terrific car show we went to earlier in July. I snapped dozens of photos, but have reserved the best for you.

The winner of the event was a man from Pennsylvania. He owned this car, the amazing 1928 Isotta Fraschini. What a slick car.

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PLEASE Be Careful with Motorcycles

My local news is having nearly a story a day, reporting some horrible accident or fatality with motorcycles. Now that warm weather is here, motorcyclists in Upstate New York are everywhere. In each story so far, it seems that the drivers of the motocycles are at fault. I think I have read 4-5 stories where the cyclist attempts to pass a few cars that have slowed down, not realizing that the first car in the procession is making a left-hand turn. The motorcyclist collides with the side of the turning car, and there have been so many fatalities this year.

If you drive a motorcycle– PLEASE be careful! Never try to pass a procession of cars unless you are SURE no car is turning off, and only pass when the lane medians allow it. Just because you drive a motorcycle does NOT exempt you from vehicle road laws and road courtesy.

Because motorcycles are so easily manueverable, drivers think they can zip their bikes in and around traffic. This is ILLEGAL and unsafe! Abide by the traffic laws! Don’t ever pass stopped vehicles, on the right or the left!

P.S. If your bike also has an ear-piercing, open muffler or exhaust system, would you mind closing that up? It’s really, reeeeally annoying to be unable to hear anything in the house while you pass by. Thanks…

Rome Sports Hall of Fame

Central New York is most known for its historical significance, but this area is also very popular for sports attractions. The Boxing Hall of Fame is in Canastota, NY, (I have yet to see it), and the Rome Sports Hall of Fame is in Rome. We visited the Sports Hall of Fame the same day we visited the Erie Canal Village. The Rome Sports Hall of Fame is right next to the Erie Canal Village, and admission is free. I know almost nothing about sports, so I just wandered around and took photos.

There are multitudes of sports memorabilia, for local and national sports. Two of the most prominent displays are for Richie Evans and Jerry Cook, Rome natives and NASCAR champions.

Yes, that’s my son in the car. Kids are allowed to check it out.

Richie Evans died in a crash in 1985, racing at the Martinsville Speedway. His career was stellar; he was a local champ at the Utica-Rome Speedway, and climbed the ladder to be win the NASCAR National Modified Championships nine times.

Jerry Cook also started his career at the local Utica-Rome Speedway, and won the NASCAR Modified series six time. He is retired and lives in the area.

You can see a few more of my photos of the museum here at my Flickr page.

Rome, NY, is one of my favorite cities to visit!

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