Former Gateway International Speedway renamed, racing and bring NHRA back!
St. Louis and Midwest are racing enthusiasts no longer have to wonder what will be happening at the newly renamed Gateway Motorsports Park because the schedule is up! The regions preeminent racing facility featuring a drag strip, oval and road course races back to life on March 17th with an “Open Test and Tune”. Chassis certification happens on the previous weekend with a “Gateway Kickoff” and a two-day NHRA Chassis Certification.

For complete details be sure to check out: Gateway Motorsports Park Schedule

For those that are willing to work for an early peak at the race track, there is a Volunteer Work Day Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 9AM and it is scheduled to run until 3PM. Sunday, March 4th is a back up day.

When more details become available, I will update the blog and local calendar.Gateway Motorsports Park staff will be updating their Facebook page with more details including who you should contact if you want to attend. They will be providing refreshments for volunteers, so they would like volunteers to RSVP.

Anyone in Collinsville, race fan or not, should be excited about this development! Gateway Motorsports Park is going to once again be an integral part of Collinsville’s prosperity and help grow our community’s reputation as a place in the Metro East St. Louis area to do business and raise a family!

Take your date out for a seafood dinner!
I seldom focus on chain retailers here, but what the heck, a deal is a deal. If you a not adverse to fat, sodium, carbohydrates or unidentified fish, this is bound to be a tasty, budget treat. The link goes to Arby’s corporate site and you must print a coupon. They do ask for your name, but surely you can be creative! In any case, the deal is for a fish sandwich and curly fries for $2.99. I figure that is about $1 off of the combo they usually sell with a drink for $5. Fill your water bottle up before leaving home and you a cool.

The Prize
Arby’s $2.99 Fish & Curly Fries Coupon Link Good until end of business on 2/14/12 at participating locations.

Give a helping hand and enjoy the holidays in Collinsville, IL
On December 18th, Sunday, at the Collinsville American Legion, (1022 Vandalia St.), your assistance is requested by the Collinsville Marine Corp League to help sort and bag toys for the “Toys For Tot’s” distribution. The post I read said “…lots of volunteers…” would be needed starting around 8AM. It is estimated the volunteers will be needed until sometime between noon and 2 pm. Of course the more, the merry and quicker one can get to their mid-day church services or football game.

Everything needs to be completed by 2pm to be read for the “Toy’s For Tot’s” distribution to 1,500 area families.

Collinsville Area Recreation Department Updates
- 2012 Season passes to Splash City are on sale now. Save up to 20% if you purchase your pass before January 31, 2012! (More Info PDF)
- Parents are asked to attend the informational meeting on the “Snowboard & Ski” trip for kids 11 to 19. This meeting is on January 9th The trip is 4PM to 11Am February 10 & 11th. Inclusive cost for this chaperoned overnight trip is $125 with ski/snowboard rental or $110 without including lessons. That would be a pretty nice stocking stuffer for your future or existing skier! There is also a $75 option for kids who are not snowboarding or skiing. Kids will need to bring money for snacks, dinner and breakfast. More details available at the informational meeting on January 9th. (More* Info PDF) *For some reason, pricing is lower on the C.A.R.D. website.
- Don’t forget to get your free “C.A.R.D.” card, available to in-district residents which does give you benefits when using C.A.R.D. facilities.

I swear I saw the Cardinals hopes of post season and then championship opportunities get smashed against the wall a half dozen times. This Championship should be called “Last Seconds All The Way To Victory” because it was one of those kind of things.
Who’d of thunk…
Well plenty did, but I believe now! Isn’t it all that counts!

Now lets get around to roasting that squirrel, this is Cardinal Country!

Tonight, how about partying locally? As a proponent of safe roads, I suggest that your Halloween party should be somewhere you can cab to and from. If you are in or close to Madison County or downtown St. Louis, consider checking out Hallowine at the West View Wine Cellar.

There will be costumes, contests, prizes, trival, specials, and in general, fun. Better yet, you get a view as well.

It starts at 5PM!
I bet there will be some extra celebration up on the bluff as well!

http://westviewwinecellar.com

Westview Wine Cellar is located right off I-55/70 at Exit 11 Rte/157 in Collinsville, IL. From St. Louis just take I-55 as if you are going to Chicago. About 15 minutes from downtown, firs exit after you pass I-255.  Just go straight across after exiting and turn left up the hill. Look up, you will see!

Most folks around Collinsville know of Ravanelli’s since it has been around here since 1964. Many don’t know that Thursdays nights at Ravanelli’s is one of the better “pig out” deals if you are prone to “all you can stand to eat”. Unlike some places that offer rib tips or normal ribs if and when the do “all you can stand”, Ravanelli’s offers up baby back ribs Thursdays and that is only $10.99 for all you can eat. That pricing put’s it right in line with the factory food and service available at the “Golden Corral”. Instead of being a buffet where everyone gets to breathe on your food before you get it, Ravanelli’s offers you table service, a more personal atmosphere and way better seating.

Even better, if you sign up for the Ravanelli’s newsletter, not only do you get a gentle reminder to what is going on, alerts to special values and the act of signing up will get you a $5 off $20 coupon. Other good deals follow!

Saturday begins at 8 AM with the 5K run and kids activities follow at 8:45 with the Kids Fun Run and 11PM with the “Diaper Dash”. Kids rides open again at 11PM.

For a complete, downloadable and printable schedule, CLICK HERE courtesy of the Italian Fest Main Street website.

When: Friday, August 19, 2011 7-10PM
Where: Splash City Family Water Park
Address: 10 Gateway Dr. Collinsville, IL 62234
Phone: 618-346-7529 (For Registration)

Next Friday, get your cheesy Hawaiian shirts, leis and beachcombers out, leave the kids at home, grab a cab or a designated drive and head to Splash City’s annual adult-only Polynesian Luau this Friday on August 19, 2011!

You must register by August 13. Single price tickets are $35 and couples are $60.

This is a 21 and over only event at Splash City! There will be a catered Polynesian style buffet, entertainment and cocktails. In general, this is a fun event and there will be no kids!

Imagine, sitting poolside, Hawaiian music and dancers, the sweet smells of a luau wafting over the water slide and pool!
If you were not able to make it to Hawaii this year, here is the closest chance, courtesy of the Collinsville Area Recreation Department! Call 618-346-7259 to register!

There are many reasons you justify driving by places that intrigue you. I have suffered such intrigue since I moved to Collinsville and the object of my wonder was the Smoke Pit BBQ at 404 Beltline Rd near Rt 159. Well finally they reeled me in with an offer of $1.00 tacos on their sign. I was hungry and I haven’t had a bad $1.00 taco yet. The Smoke Pit BBQ did not disappoint!

You can’t miss the building as it appears to have been on Beltline since the days before pavement on main streets was fashionable. The screened in porch and red barn-like paint job give it a “home cooked meals found here” look. You push the screen open to the porch, past the picnic benches into the enclosed, air conditioned kitchen and the down-home atmosphere follows you in. There is a massive smoker in one wall that suggested to me immediately that the Smoke Pit means business.

It was the tacos that got my attention, but there were plenty of other deals on the menu boards.

One the caught my “budget” eye was a six-pack of sliders for $6.00 or $1.05 per. So I ordered four tacos and four sliders, with a side of salsa to go. Total bill, $8.95. I had a seat across a smiling lady that was doing some embroidery and about ten minutes later, I had my brown lunch bag, ready to go.

Arriving home, I opened my bag and inside were two containers, one full of tacos and the other full of sliders. They were both pretty darn tasty! The tacos were hearty sized and unlike most fast food places, there was more meat than lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. There was plenty of flavor to support the crunchy taco shells. Four of those tacos would have made a hearty meal for many, two would have been enough for most.

Then there where what I call the monster pork sliders. These sliders defy stereotyping, they were huge. Again, unlike those famous brand sliders, the pulled pork BBQ sliders took about six bites each. Not only was the smokey, bar-b-que flavor very tasty, but the buns were good as well, nice and soft! The current special of $1.05 has to be one of the better and tastier deals around these here parts!

Bottom line is that the meat in the tacos as well as the pork sliders was tasty, finger licking delicious. I will go back and work up the food chain at the Smoke Pit BBQ in Collinsville, IL, another small local business serving up some better values than the corporate stores with the cookie-cutter food and facades.

There will also been bird cages, pellets, seed, supplies and accessories.

Location: Collinsville VFW Kahokian Post #5691
Address:1234 Vandalia St. Collinsville, IL 62234
Hours: 9-5
Admission: $4 Kids free with a paid adult.
One Day Only

If you are a railroad modeler or just fascinated by scale railroads, this is an event that you should not miss. Not only will regional model railroaders be showing off their work, but there will be a massive FreMo layout displayed.
The video below is just a random FreMo no affiliated with this event, but I’d venture the largest RPM event in the St. Louis area will have one that will blow you away!

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Excerpted from the St. Louis RPM Flyer

The Fifth Annual St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers (RPM) Meet will be held on Friday, Aug 5th and Saturday, August 6th at the Gateway Convention Center. Bring your models finished or in progress for display and discussion.

All scales, gauges, and models from all eras are welcome; bring locomotives, structures, freight cars, dioramas, vehicles or other models. There are no contests. The purpose of the meet is to share techniques, learn from your fellow modelers, and meet people from St. Louis and around the U.S. We had 1,200+ models on 45 tables at our last meet!

In addition to model displays, presentations by nationally-recognized modelers and historians are scheduled for both days. Historical Societies and select vendors will also be in attendance; live, hands-on weathering clinics will be presented. A pre-RPM social is planned on Thursday evening. An operating FreeMo layout will also be on display.

Door Prizes, Vendors and special speakers.

Admission $20 for Friday and Saturday or $15 for Saturday only.
For complete information: http://icg.home.mindspring.com/rpm/stlrpm2011.htm