AKRON, Ohio (AP) – All-American Soap Box Derby officials are showing off some old cars, champion plaques and other memorabilia ahead of the 75th running of the event in Akron later this month.

They’ve dusted off 77 cars and other items that had been stored in a basement and a trailer and are displaying them in an outbuilding at the race site that they’ve dubbed the Hall of Fame and Museum, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.

“I said, ‘Why not put these where people can really enjoy them?’” President Joe Mazur said.

The cars make up roughly half of the 140 winning vehicles to date. The winning cars were supposed to be retired, but a lack of storage space meant some were trashed or taken home by their owners. A derby volunteer kept about 40 cars in a trailer, and race alumni provided others.

Among them is a replica of a vehicle that raced in the Dayton event that led to the first Soap Box Derby in Akron. Bob Gravett’s car, now the derby’s official emblem, was constructed of old lumber, tin and wagon wheels.

There’s also a replica of the winner from 1973, when a racer put a magnet on the nose of his car in a cheating scandal that led to a closer examination process for racing vehicles.

For this year’s racers, that process starts this week. The 450 competitors will send their cars to Derby Downs in Akron for inspections ahead of the July 21 championship.

Up for grabs will be thousands of dollars in scholarships for the top finishers.

Mazur has been working to rebuild the popularity of the nonprofit organization, and the museum could be an added draw. It will be closed during most of July for the championship but will open to the public during derby office hours starting in August.

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Information from: Akron Beacon Journal, http://www.ohio.com

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) – Rubber tomahawks have played a part in preserving our national parks.

The classic child’s toy souvenir—and countless other manufactured items such as postcards, pennants, teaspoons and coffee mugs offer protection for national parks, a professor said.

“Souvenirs prevent people from collecting natural objects, such as feathers and rocks,” Ken Barrick said.

“It’s a way of taking home a piece of the park,” the University of Alaska-Fairbanks associate professor of geography said.

People also use keepsakes to trigger pleasant memories of long-ago vacations to parks, Barrick said. Doing so makes them lifelong advocates of the park system.

“We remember the park when we’re at home, vicariously, through souvenirs,” Barrick said. “This tradition has allowed people to appreciate parks from a distance their entire lives.”

These treasured possessions often occupy pride of place on a prominent wall, a mantel or in a curio cabinet, and aren’t disposed of during ordinary spring cleaning or downsizing, Barrick tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

“People tend to keep these things in their lives until they die,” Barrick said. “They never edit these things from their lives.”

Barrick is scheduled to talk about national park souvenirs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center auditorium in Moose, Wyo.

He will show slides of hundreds of park keepsakes dating back to the 19th century.

Antique souvenirs sold in or near the national parks were often quite well-made and “wonderfully artful,” Barrick said.

He will show off porcelain plates fired in the ceramics capital of Limoge, France, silver lapel pins, letter openers and lithographs. For decades, Barrick has built his own collection of national park souvenirs, and he is now writing a book about the topic, set to be released in 2016, the centennial of the National Park Service Organic Act.

About 20 years ago, Barrick met antique shop owners Susan and Jack Davis of Bozeman, Mont. They sold a huge collection of souvenirs in 2001 to the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

The Davises turned Barrick on to William Henry Jackson’s photochrome lithograph prints, produced from 1898 to 1906 by the Detroit Photographic Co. About 65 of the 400-some images featured Yellowstone.

Last winter, Barrick found the last one and purchased it, completing his collection.

“I’m the only one, I think, who has ever done that,” Barrick said. “It took me 20 years. I’m hopeful that eventually that will be in Yellowstone Park’s collection.”

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Information from: Jackson Hole News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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CANTON, Ohio (AP) – A prop vehicle that was used in the original Star Trek TV series in the late 1960s and acquired by an Ohio collector has sold at auction for just over $70,000.

The Repository in Canton reports an Akron-area collector had been storing the partially restored 24-foot-long Galileo shuttlecraft for several years before putting it up for auction online.

Auctioneer Brooks Ames says the selling price soared during the final 90 seconds of the auction on Thursday as three late bidders fought to claim the structure used as the shuttlecraft of the USS Enterprise.

Ames says he believes the buyer plans to restore the prop and possibly display it in a museum.

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Information from: The Repository, http://www.cantonrep.com

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A central Ohio man has donated hundreds of fans from his collection to help neighbors in need keep cool despite high temperatures.

Bill Galloway, of Columbus, began collecting fans in 1999 and amassed about 1,000 of them, packing the items into his garage. When spring arrived with unseasonably high temperatures, he decided there were others who needed the working fans more than he did.

“It’s very simple,” Galloway told WCMH-TV. “I said, ‘Are you going to use this? No, you’re not.’ So out (the fans) went.”

Since the spring, Galloway has donated about 600 fans—all in working order—to his church’s food pantry so they could be distributed to people who could use them. The recipients are warned to keep the fans away from children because they don’t have modern safety features.

Food pantry volunteer Phyllis Taylor said as soon as one load of fans was distributed, Galloway would bring more.

“They would disappear and the next day there would be another table full of fans,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen him shed a tear over some of the stories that he’s heard and people with the thanks that they give him.”

Galloway, 70, said he has kept about 300 fans for himself, including one that dates to 1912 and still operates.

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Information from: WCMH-TV, http://www.nbc4i.com

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WEBBERVILLE (AP) – An auction is planned for Wednesday to sell off assets of Michigan Brewing Co., known for making beers including musician Kid Rock’s own Badass Beer.

The Lansing State Journal reports brewing equipment and other assets including the Webberville-based brewery’s name are expected to be sold. The sale is to satisfy a Detroit-area creditor.

Bobby Mason, who founded the brewery roughly 17 years ago, says he’s trying to save what he can.

An on-site restaurant drew customers in recent years and its craft beers won medals. But Mason was evicted in April following foreclosure on the brewery.

Michigan Brewing had an agreement to brew Badass Beer. A statement on Kid Rock’s website earlier this month said an announcement is planned soon on a new brewer for Badass Beer.

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Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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TYLER, Texas (AP) – Down an old country road in the boondocks of East Texas, marked off with barbed wire and trailed by sky-high windmills, a freshly painted sign is mounted in front of an old gas station. In bright orange and navy blue letters, the unmistakably iconic “GULF” is inscribed.

Antique-looking signs advertising Nu-Grape soda and Mead’s Fine Bread decorate the beat-up screen door. A rust-covered tractor is parked beneath the awning, showing its age. The scene creates an impression of having taken a step back in time.

Wayne Rogers, 66, misses the time when a gallon of gas was only 17 cents, an ice-cold Dr Pepper came from a glass bottle and folks with giant smiles would gladly service your car.

Nostalgia, along with his love for building and all things antique, led him to completely re-create the outside of the old New Harmony Gulf gas station on his property.

After years of collecting and months of hard work, the project finally was completed—just in time for his family reunion on May 20. His grand opening for the public was May 26.

“I did it so maybe people could step back and forget the traffic out on the loop and just enjoy it,” Rogers said. “Maybe they’ve never seen stuff like this before.”

Rogers started planning his big project four years ago when he purchased a Gulf visible gas pump as an addition to his various collections. He kept it in his workshop until he found an old photo that sparked his attention.

It was a picture of the original Gulf gas station in New Harmony from the 1920s, when Louie Ferrell owned and operated it. Rogers searched for old artifacts and remnants of Gulf stations for four years to construct an entire re-creation of the original one, calling it the New Harmony Gulf Station No. 2. Not only did he restore the items, he repainted every single one in the signature orange and blue.

“I like to drive around and see stuff like this, so I figured I wasn’t the only one,” he said.

He began constructing the front of the gas station—building onto the storage shed by his home—earlier this year. On May 17, Wayne Rogers hung the last piece of memorabilia to his project—the iconic sign out front—just three days before his goal date.

So far, it has been well received in the community. At his grand opening, Moon Pies and RC Colas were served to the curious crowd who showed up to see what Rogers had been hiding behind his workshop all that time.

To give tribute to the original station, Wesley Ferrell, son of the first station’s owner Louie Ferrell, was asked to cut the ribbon. The Gulf Station No. 1 opened in the late 1920s and closed in 1947.

One of his proudest achievements with the project is his “Wall of Fame”—two swinging windows that are donned with photographs of old New Harmony. A brief description is included with each photo.

Vicki Kruscwitz, who grew up in New Harmony and is a relative of Rogers, served as the historian, collecting photos of people and places from back in the day. In fact, it was in one of her albums that Rogers found the old Gulf station photo.

“It’s history in the pictures,” she said. “I think it shows people what the community was like and allows you to step back in time to get a feel of it. Most people here had grandparents and great-grandparents grow up in New Harmony, so they can see what their family experienced also.”

As a boy, Rogers grew up on a farm south of Fort Worth, where his fascination and love for windmills and tractors began. Since then, he has collections of old engines and farm wrenches, to name a few, which he proudly displays in his station.

“If you have ’em out for people to see, it’s a collection. If you keep ’em in boxes, you’re a hoarder,” Rogers said laughingly.

While the majority of his station is completed, Rogers calls it his “continuing project.” He hopes to add to his collection and pour in more history into his vision.

“Somebody told me if I live to be 100 years old, I still won’t be finished. I reckon they’re right,” he said.

Robbie Caldwell, senior pastor of New Harmony Baptist Church, said Rogers can fix or repair just about anything, and for him, this project was not just another example of his handiwork but a big contribution to the community as well.

“New Harmony is a community known for this church and the families here,” he said. “It (the station) adds to the history here, and it’s a wonderful thing.”

Rogers’ longtime friend Richard Jester, of New Harmony, said Rogers would call him for help on the project every so often, but most of the construction was done on his own. He also said the people of New Harmony were more than willing to help the effort as well.

“It shows the heritage here. Many people didn’t grow up here, but a lot did. They were a big help to him.”

He has included several items into his station that many people will not see in East Texas. For example, authentic limestone Kansas fence posts line the entrance to the gas station, a collector’s item that took him years to find.

Rogers encourages anyone and everyone to stop by and see his re-creation. He wants people to not only see his hard work but to also see the history and heritage of the New Harmony community from way back when.

“I don’t hunt, I don’t fish, and I don’t chase wild women. This is what I do,” he joked. “At least my wife knows where I am—out of trouble.”

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Information from: Tyler Morning Telegraph, http://www.tylerpaper.com

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – When Graceland opened to the public 30 years ago this month, nobody knew if it would be a success. Nearly 18 million visitors later, the house where Elvis Presley once lived is a moneymaking business that’s helped transform the city of Memphis into a top destination for music lovers.

But Presley’s ex-wife says it’s the spirit of Elvis that keeps the crowds coming.

“Every time I go in there, I feel like Elvis is going to come down the stairs any minute,” said Priscilla Presley in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press about the anniversary.

Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, and by the early 1980s, Graceland had become a burden on his estate, which faced high estate and inheritance taxes. Accountants and bankers wanted to sell the home, but Priscilla Presley thought that opening the house to tourists could solve the financial problems while keeping Elvis’ legacy alive. She secured a $500,000 investment and visited other tourist attractions—Hearst Castle, Will Rogers’ home, even Disney World—for inspiration.

Graceland opened for tours on June 7, 1982. “We had no idea whether 30 people were coming, or 300, or 3,000 that first day, Fortunately, it was the latter,” said Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises.

They sold out all 3,024 tickets on the first day and never looked back. Graceland’s success led to a worldwide merchandising and licensing business that keeps Elvis’ legend strong while generating $32 million a year in revenue. And the flow of tourists has remained steady, with an average of 500,000 annual visitors to the mansion and exhibit area across the street, according to Soden.

Visitors peak in August during the annual commemoration of Elvis’ death, which includes a candlelight vigil. Graceland expects to welcome its 18 millionth visitor this year.

Graceland’s popularity has also helped turn Memphis into a major music destination. “When Graceland opened, city leaders saw the impact it brought from visitors from all over the world,” said Regena Bearden, vice president of marketing for the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau.

When Presley died, Beale Street in downtown Memphis, which was known for the blues, was in disrepair, but today it’s a bustling attraction. Sun Studios, where music producer Sam Phillips worked with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and others, opened as a tourist attraction in 1985. The studio for Stax Records, known for Otis Redding and others, has been reborn as a slick multimedia museum of the label’s distinctive Memphis soul sound. And “Memphis in May,” a monthlong event that includes a music festival and barbecue contest at a park along the Mississippi River, now attracts tens of thousands.

Graceland remains focused on Elvis’ life and music. Gold records gleam on the wall of a long hallway. His Army uniform and outfits he wore in movies and concerts are displayed.

Outside, tourists—some crying—file past the graves of Elvis, his mother, father and grandmother.

Graceland’s draw has long had a spillover effect on the Memphis economy. In the mid-1980s, travel expenditures in Memphis were estimated at about $1 billion; in 2011, expenditures exceeded $3 billion, according to the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“I’m blown away by the mere fact that it’s 30 years,” Priscilla Presley said. “It’s been incredible to see that the legacy of Elvis is still going strong. We wouldn’t have imagined that when it was opened in 1982. Elvis is as popular now as he was then, if not even more.”

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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PARIS (AFP) – From French can-can dresses to plumed headdresses, an auction of extravagant costumes by the long-time owner of the Folies Bergere cabaret beat expectations at the weekend.

Nicknamed the “empress of the night”, Helene Martini ran the Folies Bergere — Paris’s biggest music hall, founded in 1869 — from 1974 until last year, when it was acquired by the Lagardere group.

Over three decades the showgirl-turned-cabaret manager salvaged some 6,000 stage costumes, keeping them in an outbuilding of her 19th-century chateau southeast of Paris and in a storeroom in the Pigalle red-light district, where she still lives most of the time.

In all, a treasure trove of about 1,000 items was put on sale, raking in a total of 413,212 euros ($516,762) over the weekend, beating expectations.

Lots had been given deliberately low estimates for the two-day sale held by Bailly-Pommery & Voutier in the former stock exchange building in central Paris, so that anyone could take home a Folies Bergere souvenir.

But in the end barely 20 lots went for less than 100 euros, with many hopeful buyers leaving empty-handed.

A stage curtain decorated with red sequins sold for 23,125 euros to rival cabaret Moulin Rouge, which plans to conserve the item as part of French music hall heritage.

Silkscreen prints by Russian-born fashion designer Erte (1892-1990), who worked at the Folies Bergere in the 1930s, also proved popular, while a series of 26 lithographs of alphabets went for 25,000 euros to a personality in the

fashion industry who wanted to remain anonymous.

The current manager of Folies Bergere, Jean-Marc Dumontet, also bought pieces linked to the history of the celebrated music hall such as models, drawings and documents.

Headdresses were among the most popular items, with several French and foreign cabarets snapping them up.

Some 75 lots which remain unsold will be presented at a second, larger sale that will take place on Wednesday in the east of Paris, this time aimed at theater companies and trade buyers.

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PARIS (AFP) – A rare 1932 cover illustration of Tintin in America by Herge, the artist who dreamed up the boy reporter, on Saturday fetched a record 1.3 million euros ($1.6 million) at an auction in Paris.

“The work has been sold at 1,338,509.20 euros, costs included, by a person who wishes to remain anonymous,” a spokesman for the auctioneers, Artcurial, told AFP.

The previous owner, another Tintin collector, had bought it for 764,218 euros in 2008, which had until today stood as the record price in this domain.

While Artcurial had not announced an estimate of what they thought it would fetch this time, a spokesman said they had expected it to break the one-million-euro mark.

Belgian comic book artist Herge painted the Indian ink and gouache color cover for the first edition of the book, which first appeared in 1934.

One of only five such works of cover art remaining by Herge, it shows the young adventurer dressed as a cowboy sitting on a rock, his dog Snowy at his side, as three Indians creep up behind him.

The sale Saturday was part of a larger sale of Tintin-related memorabilia.

In February a Belgian court refused to ban the sale of Tintin in the Congo, rejecting a complaint from a Congolese man, Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo, that it was filled with racist stereotypes about Africans.

Herge himself, real name Georges Remi (1907-1983), who revised some of the scenes for later editions had himself justified the book by saying it was merely a reflection of the naive views of the time.

Last year, film director Steven Spielberg released a 3D film, Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn and is planning a sequel.

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LONDON (AP) – The Royal Bank of Scotland is celebrating the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II by issuing 20 million pounds ($31 million) worth of 10-pound notes with four images of the queen from the 1940s to the 21st century.

Notes with special serial numbers have been donated to several charities including the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust, Oxfam, the National Museum of Scotland, Scottish Rugby Union, Scottish Golf Union and a children’s help organization.

A charity auction of the notes and others is planned later this year to raise money for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Charity Trust.

“We’re hoping that auctioning the commemorative note will raise money to help young people in Scotland set up their own business,” said Geoff Leaks, director of the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust.

The Royal Bank of Scotland was the first to issue notes bearing the monarch’s image, starting from its foundation in 1727 during the reign of George I. The Bank of England didn’t issues notes with the monarch’s image until 1960, RBS said.

The new 10-pound note is an upgrade for the monarch. RBS issued a 5-pound note in 2002 to mark her 50th year as queen.

Customers outside Scotland can order up to 20 notes for the face value plus 5.90 pounds postage.

The notes can be spent throughout the United Kingdom.

The Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank also issue Scottish notes, while four banks issue notes in Northern Ireland. Pound notes are also issued by the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, Gibraltar, St. Helena and the Falkland Islands.

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Online:

www.rbs.com/diamondjubileenote

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Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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