Sunday Travel Funnies: Granny Puts Pedal to the Metal and Pilots Ask for God’s Help to Land Safely

Posted on May 25, 2008 by Michele Cheplic

If you think senior citizens live life in the slow lane you haven’t met 96-year-old Edith Pittenger. The great-great-grandmother made history last week becoming the oldest driver to ever gun it around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Pittenger, an Indiana native, took the trip around the famous racetrack in a two-seater Dallara with driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and reached speeds of nearly 200 mph. No, she’s not trying to become the next Danica Patrick; rather the ride was part of the Indy Racing Experience–a Christmas gift Pittenger received from her children. The anything but slow senior started attending the Indianapolis 500 … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Potpourri: Checkered Flags and Checkered Pasts

Posted on May 28, 2007 by Michele Cheplic

CHECKERED FLAGS I couldn’t be happier for actress Ashley Judd today. Her husband, racecar driver Dario Franchitti (also known in the tabloids as Mr. Ashley Judd) won the 91st edition of the Indy 500 yesterday. Judd was there cheering him on the entire time, but the moment that remains with me is the shot of her soaking wet in her flowery summer dress hurling herself over the pit wall and dashing towards her dear hubby. The couple has been married for six years now, though I still don’t understand how they ended up together. They seem like such an unlikely … Continue reading →