NYSSCA Hall of Fame Members To Meet Fans at the Saratoga Automobile Museum

A trio of new inductees to the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame will join a host of past inductees as the association's updated permanent display is unveiled at 12 pm on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Modified star Chuck Akulis, Pro-Stock ace Jim Langenback and famed flagger John Tallini will be honored in Saratoga prior to that evening's induction ceremony at the association's annual banquet at the Turf Inn in Albany. The fourth inductee, dirt and asphalt champion Merv Treichler, will be unable to attend as he and his wife will be on a well-deserved vacation scheduled prior to his election to the Hall of Fame. "The event is traditionally held the morning after the induction ceremont, but due to a scheduling conflict, the museum is unavailable for an event of this magnitude on Sunday" explained HoF chairman Ron Hedger. "The museum will be moving the permanent display to a more prominent area in the racing gallery and we expect a huge turnout, so we had to compromise on the date." The format will be similar to past events, with the newly elected members sharing observations on their careers with the audience and current members interviewed briefly. New for 2007 will be a question and answer session where the audience will be able to interact with Akulis, Langenback and Tallini. "Time is limited at the banquet, as the association honors scores of drivers and the program has to keep moving" explained Hedger, who is also the museum's racing gallery coordinator. " But here, the pace is leisurely and fans will have the opportunity to interact with the new Hall of Famers, something that has proven to be the most popular part of our other racing related events." The Saratoga Automobile Museum is on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park, just off Exit 13N of the Adirondack Northway (I-87). Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and free to museum members. Current Hall of Fame members and a guest will be admitted at no charge, as will the families of the new inductees.