Win A Trip To The Coca Cola 600 At Lowe's Motor Speedway In Charlotte... 4 Penny PressMARCH 4, 200 See Page 16 Las Vegas, NV Volume I Number 23 2003 Winston Cup Champion passes 2004 Daytona 500 winner Jr. for the final time to win last year's Daimler- Chrysler 400. This year's race is on March 7.

Front Row Joe Nemecheck celebrates after winning the 2003 Sam's Town 300. This year's Sam's Town 300 Busch Race is on March 6.

The Official UNAUTHORIZED Guide Speed Week In Las Vegas THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 2 Improvements Will Greet Fans Coming To NASCAR Weekend At LVMS grandstand. We have a new ramp Additional Ticket behind Section 1 that will allow fans to exit from that area and walk Gates, Access directly to their cars. When we open the gates Friday morning, we are Ramp Will Speed confident our fans will take notice of and enjoy the fresh new look at Las Entrance, Exit Vegas Motor Speedway.” The speedway also has improved Race fans arriving at Las Vegas the facility’s cosmetics with large, Motor Speedway for the March 4- bold letters on the front of the super- 7 NASCAR Weekend will notice speedway suite building that spell many enhancements to the facil- out the speedway’s name. Nextel ity. In addition to the new Dale signs have replaced Winston signs Earnhardt Terrace, the speedway and the new Sunoco towers have has made significant alterations to been built on each end of pit road the property to make fans’ visit to replacing the 76 Racing balls that LVMS more enjoyable. had been a staple at NASCAR tracks Hundreds of yards of chain link for decades. fence have been removed from the NASCAR Weekend at LVMS perimeter of the superspeedway, begins Thursday with the Las Vegas allowing fans easier access to the Outlaw Nationals Presented by J.D. midway area. The grandstand area Byrider for the World of Outlaws has eight entrance gates and each Sprint Car series. Friday, March gate is covered with a red canopy 5, opens with Pole Day qualifying and flanked by six flagpoles. The for the NASCAR Nextel Cup and flagpoles will make it easier for fans NASCAR Busch Series at the super- to identify gates even on the huge speedway, followed by the conclu- midway. sion of the World of Outlaws series Race fans seated in the grand- at the dirt oval. The NASCAR stands in Turn 1 now have a wide Busch Series Sam’s Town 300 will access ramp for quick exit once the start at 1 p.m. Saturday followed event is completed. by the Southern Nevada Dodge Want A Penny Press “Our construction crew has been Dealers Showdown at the Bullring at busy making improvements in prep- LVMS at 6 p.m. The seventh annual aration for NASCAR Weekend,” NASCAR Nextel Cup Series UAW- In The Mail? said LVMS general manager Chris DaimlerChrysler 400 begins at noon Powell. “We identified areas where on Sunday. Tickets for all events are $55 per year First Class Mail we could make it more convenient still available by calling the - and enjoyable for our guests and way ticket office at 1-800-644-4444 Name______Penny Press made the necessary changes. The or logging on to www.lvms.com. Address______418 ½ S. Maryland new gates are easy to locate and will City_____State___ZIP_____ Las Vegas, NV 89101 lessen the wait in line to enter the www.pennypresslv.com The Penny Press is published weekly by Penny Credits: 5010 Productions, Inc. All Contents © Penny Press 2003 Publisher and Editor: Contributing Editors: Letters to the Editor are encouraged. They should be sent to our offices at 418 1/2 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Press Fred Weinberg George Harris Al Thomas Vegas 89101. They can also be emailed to: Logotype Sales: Doug French Bill Here [email protected] No unsigned or unverifiable Pointedlymad Vince Lupo Dolores Lonergan Pat Choate letters will be printed. licensed from: Rich Gast Visor Connie Ross 702-740-5588 Fax: 702-920-8215 Penny Press LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 16 PAGES VOLUME I NUMBER 23 MARCH 4, 2004 Modern Super Speedway Era Started In '97 NASCAR In Vegas Dates To '55 BY FRED WEINBERG But one of the entrants was Tiny Fred Lorenzen, but the promoter it up on the same track until Roger Penny Press Publisher Lund, who would go on to win the said that he took a huge bath on the Penske came back to Indianapolis. When the green flag drops of 1963 Daytona 500. He was an early race and, until Richie Clyne, Ralph Richie Hearn won. Sunday’s Nextel Cup race, it will not version of . Engelstadt and Bill Bennett came The next major event was a 1997 actually be the eighth season of Las According to a piece written along, that was it for anything for Busch race which was the first time Vegas events on a “superspeedway”. by historian Bill Hill for the 1997 more than short-track stock car rac- a top NASCAR touring series per- It will be the ninth. Busch race program, Wisconsin was ing in Las Vegas. formed on the new track. But it was a long time from big even before Dave Marcis with They turned the first shovel full It was an off Winston Cup week- October 16, 1955 to March 16, 1997 Norm Nelson taking the pole driv- of dirt for the current track in 1995 end in March and 1996 Cup winner when we ran the first Busch series ing a Chrysler 300 in his NASCAR after Clyne came up with the idea on led a field which event on the than brand-new LVMS debut. the back of a napkin at the Mai Tai also included ’s rookie super speedway. To make what would probably bar in the Imperial Palace. start in Las Vegas in the number 3 The 1955 event was a late model be a very long story short, Nelson He sold the idea to IP owner Busch car owned by Dale Earnhardt regional event which would have won from the pole with the race Engelstadt and there was a frenzy of Incorporated. roughly translated to the Winston shortened to 111 laps because of a construction which still was not fin- Jeff Green won the race but the West series of the day. 12-car pile-up which took an hour to ished when it came time for the first big winner was Clyne and com- It was run at the Las Vegas clean up. Lights weren’t an option Indy Racing League race in 1996. pany in August of 1997 when it Jockey Club’s one mile dirt track in 1955. The suites weren’t finished, they was announced that there would be where the Las Vegas Convention Also, Nelson was the only car on had little idea how to move a large a Winston Cup race on March 1, Center stands today. the lead lap. number of cars in and out of the park- 1998. The purse was $5,000 which is There was a USAC stock car ing lot but more than 70,000 people What started on the back of a bar a far cry from the over $6-million race on the same track in 1959 which showed up to watch the last time napkin became a very real proposi- being distributed Sunday. was won by NASCAR’s golden boy, CART and IRL drivers would mix Continued on page 4

Welcome To Las Vegas’ WE GET LETTERS PAGE 4 PAT CHOATE PAGE 5 Newest Paper! FRED WEINBERG PAGE 6 Inside: Penny Wisdom DOUG FRENCH PAGE 7 BILL HERE PAGE 8 They'll Never Get Opera is when a guy gets ALBERT THOMAS PAGE 10 stabbed in the back and, RESCUE SCHOOL PAGE 11 NASCAR Dads instead of bleeding, he sings. —Ed Gardner VISOR PAGE 12 DOWN MEMORY LANE PAGE 15 See Editorial Page 6 THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 4 We Get Letters... Editor way, and if you don’t think so try drivers will be more cautious than intoxicated or tired were the cause of it yourself. Try to find someone to those that think they know all there most of the accidents I witnessed. Today I was saddened to hear take you somewhere when you need is to know about driving. The reac- The point I am trying to make that there is now a push to take to go, or try to get to the bus stop in tion time in older drivers is slower is, good and bad drivers come in all away drivers licenses from people all kinds of weather, or pay for a taxi than younger drivers, but the many ages. There is absolutely no good just because they are getting old. or someone to take you. For some thousands of miles of driving expe- reason to take away someone’s It seems that in the opinion of a so older people the right to drive is not rience of the older drivers can’t be right to drive based on age alone. I called expert, that anyone over a a luxury but an absolute necessity if forgotten either. feel that driver’s licenses should be certain age should not be allowed to they are to continue living without Let’s be honest, rude driving by reviewed every so many years in all hold a drivers license. What’s next? being confined to a home. any generation is probably one of the age groups. I also feel that if for some Why not just pick an age and put I would like to know how the biggest factors that cause accidents. reason (that is not medical) a person everyone over that age out of his or people that want to take away driv- I know this because I have driven doesn’t come up to standards for her misery. Has anyone ever stopped ing from older people would take emergency vehicles of all sorts and renewal of their license every effort to consider what these people are it, if someone decided to take their been to more accidents than I care should be made to help them solve going to do about going to the store driving privileges. There are a lot to remember. I have watched while the problem. If we all took a little or the doctor or anything else that of people of all ages out there that rude drivers have failed to get out more time to get where we are going they need to do? Oh sure, they can should not be allowed to drive any- of the way of a fire truck, or other and had a little more consideration all ride the bus or get a friend or thing. The decision of whether to emergency vehicle. I have seen the for the other drivers on the road the family member to take them. Why take away driving privileges should results of the accidents that have accident rate would fall like a rock. not just let the older ones walk? I always be made because of the way been caused by rude or thoughtless can see it all now, an endless line of they drive, not how old or young drivers. Age had nothing to do with wheel chairs and walkers heading to they are. Older people and younger most of the accidents I have been to. Thomas Kimble the store. It just doesn’t work that people that are trying to be good Speed, rudeness and people being Henderson Modern NASCAR-Vegas Era Started In 1997 Continued from page 3 At the end of 1998, Clyne and his backers sold the track to its cur- Radio: PRN (Locally on KKLZ 96.3 Distance: 300 miles, 200 laps tion on Sunday morning, March 1, rent owners, publicly held Speedway FM) Purse: $1,436,867 1998. Motor Sports, Inc. headed by Bruton th Qualifying record: It was the third race in the 50 Smith. (173.016 mph, 31.211 seconds) 2003 Field: 43 cars. Fastest 36 on time tri- season of NASCAR competition. Smith wasted no time putting his als and seven provisionals Dale Earnhardt was just ended 20 stamp on the track, bring in much of Race record: (146.530 years of frustration in an hugely the current management and setting mph) 1998 TV: F/X. emotional win at the Daytona 500. the facility on a course to make it And we were about to have Last winner: Matt Kenseth Radio: PRN (Locally on KKLZ 96.3 one of the finest in the world. FM) our first Winston Cup race in Las Saturday’s race will be the eighth Top 5 in 2003: 1, Kenseth; 2, Vegas. Busch start, Sunday’s race the sev- Earnhardt Jr.; 3, Waltrip; 4, B. Labonte; Qualifying record: Matt Kenseth It was long and green and a one- enth Cup start. 5, Stewart. (169.385 mph) 2001 two Roush Racing finish with Mark Martin winning and sec- DaimlerChrysler Previous winners: Race record: Jeff Burton (135.118 ond. Mark Martin (1998), Jeff Burton (1999, mph) 2000 2000), (2001), Sterling The Sam’s Town 300 Busch race 400 Fact Sheet Marlin (2002), Matt Kenseth Last winner: the day before was won by who kept rookie Dale What: UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 Previous pole-sitters: Top 5 in 2003: 1, Nemechek; 2, Earnhardt Jr. behind him to spoil NASCAR Winston Cup Series event Dale Jarrett (1998, 2001), Bobby Harvick; 3, Bliss; 4, Park; 5, Keller. Little E’s first serious career shot at Labonte (1999, 2003), Where: (2000), (2002) Past winners: Jeff Green (1997), a win. That would have to wait for (1.5-mile tri-oval) Mark Martin (1998), Jimmy Spencer later in the year at the Texas Motor (1999), Jeff Burton (2000, 2002), Todd Speedway when Jr. would go on a When: Sunday, March 7, Noon Pacific Sam’s Town 300 Bodine (2001), Joe Nemechek (2003). tear and win his first of two consecu- Time Fact Sheet Past pole-winners: Jeff Green tive Busch series championships. Distance: 400 miles, 267 laps The estimates were all over the (1997), Mark Martin (1998, 1999), What: Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Hank Parker Jr. (2000), Matt Kenseth board, but there were something like Purse: $6,011,590 Busch Series event (2001), Jeff Burton (2002). 90,000 people present at the Busch race and 120,000 people for the Cup Field: 43 cars. Fastest 38 on time tri- Where: Las Vegas Motor Speedway * -No Busch qualifying was held in race making those events the second als and five provisionals (1.5-mile tri-oval) 2003 due to inclement weather. largest and largest events ever held TV: FOX When: Saturday, March 6, 1 p.m. at the time in the state of Nevada. Pacific Time THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 5 Commentary: Pat Choate to restrict marriage to a man with interpretation. The unwillingness of live. The Federal a woman, but allow gays to enter the amendment’s authors to clarify What I do see in all this, howev- civil unions. But Eric Shumsky, a their language makes very clear that er, is a group of advocates who wish Marriage Washington-based lawyer who spe- this is their real goal. to impose their moral, religious, and cializes in constitutional and appel- The “messiness” of the language political views on others. I also see Amendment late law, writes in the Washington and the authors’ disingenuous inten- some politicians who smell a wedge Post (“The Amendment Speaks for tion are sufficient reasons to oppose issue that they can use to raise cam- President Bush and many GOP Itself”, 2/29/2004) that by denying the Federal Marriage Amendment. paign cash and divide voters for House and Senate Congressional gay couples “legal incidents thereof Such a bad start foreshadows bad their advantage. And I see a group leaders now support a constitutional ” the states would also be prohibited law. of politically activist religious orga- amendment to ban gay marriage. from allowing civil unions. Put into a larger context, why are nizations that have milked the abor- The text of the proposed amend- Robert Bork, a former federal our elected officials even consider- tion issue for about all the money ment is: judge and co-drafter of this amend- ing a constitutional amendment that they can get and are now looking for Marriage in the United States ment, argues otherwise, but ulti- deliberately discriminates against a new hot-button, fundraising topic shall consist only of the union of mately acknowledges that the defini- a specific group of Americans? -- and gay bashing under the guise a man and a woman. Neither this tion is unclear, leaving the matter to Historically, federal amendments to of protecting the institution of mar- Constitution nor the constitution of be determined by the courts, which the Constitution have always stopped riage is it. any State, nor state or federal law, means the Supreme Court. discrimination against groups, not I have a suggestion for the shall be construed to require that What the sponsors want is the legalized it. President and the Congressional martial status or the legal incidents courts to “clarify” the muddle, which And do our President and GOP leadership now climbing on thereof be conferred upon unmarried ultimately means a conservative Congress really think that “conser- this anti-gay bandwagon. Fix the couples or groups. Supreme Court that will use unclear vatism” means federal regulation problems we sent you to Washington These advocates claim they want language to make a most restrictive of marriage? The real effect of this to confront. amendment will be to discourage Balance the federal budget, for gay adults from entering into legal, example, which you have let get out reciprocal, responsible relationships of control. Stop the outsourcing of with each other. jobs that is destroying the lives of Viewed another way: If two millions of Americans. Stop the consenting adults wish to enter into vast flow of illegal immigrants into a shared legal obligation on matters our country. Create a trade policy such as inheritance, property, and that can bring down our current other matters, why would American $500 billion yearly deficits. Fix our society want to prohibit such respon- national highway system, which is sible action? I see no reason. crumbling. Put the Social Security As to the question of semantics and Medicare Systems on a sound – that is, whether to call the con- basis. Protect our intellectual prop- tract a “marriage” “civil union,” or erty from foreign pirating. You have “partnership” -- why would we want much unfinished work that should The Penny Press Tips Its Cap To: the federal government to supplant be your primary concern. And this churches, states, and participants in is just the start of my list. Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval for making at least haf a decision determining what two consenting I also remind the President and which took some guts—that state employees could not serve in the legis- adults call it? . GOP leadership that if conservatism lature. He was wrong about municipal employees, but that's progress in Today, some church denomina- means anything, it means not usurp- Nevada. What amazes us is that most of the affected lawmakers essentially tions will perform a ceremony it ing the rights of the states, which told Sandoval to go to hell, they were running anyway and would keep their terms a “marriage.” Others will not. this amendment does. And clearly, jobs. And these are the folks who make the laws. Some states will term such relation- conservatism means no federal regu- ships a “marriage. “ Again, others lation of marriages. The folks at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for doing everything they could will not. Now, the people decide Leave questions about marriage which church best expresses their to the churches, states, and people. think of to make this week a pleasent one not only for the 150,000 visitors faith and in which state they will PAT CHOATE they will attract but those of us who live here as well.

The Penny Press Sends A Bronx Cheer Want A Penny Press In The Mail? And A Bouquet of Weeds To: $55 per year First Class Mail The City of Las Vegas for wanting to have a private police force so badly that they're willing to throw away up to $70,000 a year for jobs which could Name______Penny Press easily be absorbed by Metro—which, after all is supposed to handle police Address______418 ½ S. Maryland work in the area. Now if the City Marshall's would like to investigate ethics City_____State___ZIP_____ Las Vegas, NV 89101 violations on the city council, maybe that would be different... THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 6 OPINION From The Publisher... The Truth About NASCAR Dads And The Democrats We’ve written about NASCAR Dads before, but never for an We work hard, try our best to be good role models, try our audience of them, as well as NASCAR moms and NASCAR best to play by the rules and we value education. kids. We are well aware that outsourcing jobs became pos- This being Speed Week in Las Vegas, it seems appropriate sible under the administration of Celinda Lake’s patron to point a few things out to the national, mainstream media saint, Bill Clinton who couldn’t wait to join the World Trade who still don’t get it. Organization.

The term NASCAR Dad is not a complement. While we love the old Chrysler Corporation’s products, we are well aware that it is now owned by the same folks who It was coined by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake as a way made military vehicles for Germany in World War II. of trying to explain who voted for George Bush in the last election and who the Democrats have to peel off in 2004 to We read a lot and we, in general, are very sophisticated win. about the internet. And even those of us who are not real big country music fans appreciate Toby Keith and his song In the well upholstered life of the Celinda Lakes of the world, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” NASCAR Dad is a code word for what she and her ilk thinks of as Republican, white, Southern trailer trash. We are also fairly open minded.

Oh, make no mistake, she’ll never admit to that, but the If Ms. Lake’s party were to come along and make a strong truth is that people like her cannot understand the infield at case for a new leader based on facts opposed to negative Talladega or Daytona, the fierce loyalty to a driver and his advertising and trying to crap all over a guy who most peo- sponsors, what makes 150,000 or more people go to Las ple acknowledge is in tune with today’s voters, most people Vegas to go to a racetrack and that a question of race is who will be at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend whether Dale Earnhardt Jr. win the Nextel Cup this year. would give them a serious hearing.

She, her New York and Washington liberal friends think that But if she thinks that she can scare a NASCAR Dad into vot- we’re all knuckle-dragging Neanderthals who, if she had a ing for her party’s candidate, she doesn’t understand who choice, wouldn’t be allowed to vote. And that if we weren’t we are as a group. allowed to vote, the Al Gores of the world would always be President. We’re fairly sure that there are Democratic NASCAR fans. Some of them may even vote for Senator Kerry in Well, here’s a news flash for Ms. Lake, her liberal friends and November. the mainstream media which fawns all over them. NASCAR fans are no more monolithic than say NFL or Major NASCAR is about auto racing, not elections. League Baseball fans.

That said, it is a fact that many if not most NASCAR fans But talking down to us as if we’re just a block of trailer trash value strongly the things which made America great. We, in the way of the Democrats electing a President is probably as a rule, think that the United States of America is the not going to work as a strategy. greatest nation on the face of the earth and we are proud to live here as citizens. Maybe if the Democrats were serious about courting NASCAR Dads, they’d learn something about restrictor plates. For As a rule, unlike the Dixie Chicks, we are proud of our their mouths. country and we call the President of the United States Mr. President out of respect for the office. Even those presi- dents who have demonstrated they have little or no respect FRED WEINBERG for us or the office. THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 7 Commentary: Doug French sure of inflation”—risen as fast as the keep the CPI low, the BLS uses what items in the CPI index are hedoni- Printing Money mountain of money the Fed has cre- they call hedonic regression to strip cally adjusted. Jim Rogers, in his ated? The government doesn’t want it prices of the four biases, especially book Adventure Capitalist, wrote, “56 The U.S. Department of Labor’s to. As the BLS website explains; “The the quality bias. Thus, you and I percent of the figures that go into the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) index affects the income of almost 80 may be paying more for a computer Consumer Price Index are now hedon- recently announced that the Consumer million people as a result of statutory than we would have a month or year ically adjusted.” Rogers has received Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5 percent action: 47.8 million Social Security ago, but the BLS for the purposes of letters from former BLS employees in January, its biggest increase in beneficiaries, about 4.1 million mili- figuring the CPI say that the price of “who say that, indeed, they were nearly a year. The CPI core rate, tary and Federal Civil Service retirees computers has fallen because of qual- always instructed to ‘smooth out’ any which excludes energy and food pric- and survivors, and about 22.4 million ity improvements. large increases.” es—like any of us can go without food stamp recipients.” And that’s Boskin went as far as telling the And the economists at the BLS gasoline or food—rose 0.2 percent. not all; the cost of school lunches is Wall Street Journal that a person who are far from done. They now have Both increases surprised analysts, but affected by CPI, as well as contracts substitutes chicken for high priced their sights set on deflating the price normal people—people who actually in the private sector involving rents, beef is lowering the cost of feeding increases in health-care, which makes pay money for goods and services— royalties, child support payments and the family. “This is pure sophistry,” up 4.6 percent of the CPI index. By weren’t surprised. alimony are tied to changes in the Lew Rockwell points out, “along the anyone’s accounting healthcare prices Federal Reserve Governor CPI. The government clearly has a lines of claiming umbrellas not only have exploded. But the pointy-head- Ben Bernanke told the press that the vested interest in suppressing CPI, keep you dry but also reduce the inci- ed wonks at the BLS know better than January numbers were “consistent” as stated on the BLS website; “Since dence of rain. Boskin has confused we do. By the time they get done with continuing low inflation. Another 1985, the CPI has been used to adjust the response to the problem (using a adjusting medical prices for quality currency crank, William Poole, presi- the Federal income tax structure to cheaper substitute) with the problem adjustments, the BLS will claim that dent of the Federal Reserve Bank of prevent inflation-induced increases in itself (everything getting more expen- a trip to the hospital has come down St. Louis said “inflation will likely taxes.” sive).” in price. remain at its current low levels in the BLS statisticians, since 1995, Everyone knows that the hous- The Federal Reserve Bank of U.S. for the rest of the year.” have been eliminating “biases” that ing market is on fire, with double-digit San Francisco website states; “Since Prices rise constantly, yet Fed they believe “cause the index to gains in the median price of homes in the Fed uses the CPI as an indicator representatives say that inflation is overstate inflation.” According to many parts of the country. However, of price inflation, a more accurate low. In fact, half of the time Bernanke the Federal Reserve Bank of San the BLS doesn’t see it that way. BLS index should make anti-inflationary worries aloud about deflation. As if Francisco website the elimination of statisticians claim the cost of housing monetary policy more effective. The prices have even the remotest chance these biases lowered inflation by more rose only 2.2 percent from a year ago. public will have a better indicator to of falling, while the Fed creates money than half a percentage point by 1999. The largest component of CPI, at 32.9 check how well the Fed is doing its by the bale. Yet, the CPI seems to In a 1996 report prepared by a percent, is “shelter” but for-sale hous- job.” How laughable, we know what support what the three stooges of panel of experts chaired by Michael ing prices are not used in the index. the Fed is doing, creating money day inflation--Poole, Bernanke and Alan Boskin, four biases were identified Something called “Owners equivalent and night. As Lew Rockwell wrote in Greenspan—are saying; inflation, as that supposedly served to overstate rent” (OER) which measures what a The Free Market, “Lacking any strat- measured by CPI, is relatively quies- inflation by 1.1 percentage points per house or apartment might rent for is egy for getting rid of inflation, they cent. year. Substitution bias doesn’t “cap- what is used in the CPI. intend to redefine it.” From January of 1984 to this ture the savings that households enjoy The February 27 edition of “Inflation is much greater January the CPI index rose from when they change their spending in Grant’s Interest Rate Observer points than the government admits,” wrote 101.9 to 185.2, an increase of 81.7 response to relative price changes out the difference that using OER, Representative Ron Paul last July. percent. Nothing to brag about, that’s of goods and services.” Outlet bias as opposed to using house prices, “The real measure of inflation is a near doubling in prices over those doesn’t reflect the savings consumers makes in the CPI calculation. “In the increase in the money supply.” twenty years. But, does that really receive when shopping at discount the past four quarters,” writes Grant, According to the BLS the inflation reflect what prices have done for the stores. New Quality bias occurred, “the house-price version of CPI regis- rate for the past year was 1.9 percent. past twenty years? Not hardly. The according to Boskin, because the tered year-over-year changes100 basis During the same period, M3 increased money supply, as measured by M3 CPI didn’t take into account qual- points or so greater than the OER 4.3 percent. Those who are searching has more than tripled from $2.7 tril- ity increases of new products and version.” for the proper inflation index to use in lion in January 1984 to $8.9 trillion New Product bias occurs because new A point here and point there and contracts may want to scrap the CPI last month. products don’t appear in the index pretty soon you have real inflation. index and use Ron Paul’s definition. So, why hasn’t CPI—what the until they are commonplace items. Besides massaging housing DOUG FRENCH BLS calls “the most widely used mea- To deal with these biases and price increases away, the majority of Investor Special Investor Special Investor Special

Under $115,000 with built in tenant. Three bedroom home/over 1100 sq.ft. Well Maintained/Seller requests rent back until the end of March 2004. LIBERTY REALTY Randall Vincent 232-6603 Investor Special Investor Special Investor Special THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 8 The Best Vegas Calendar BAR NONE! By Billhere brought to you by the VIVA LAS VEGAS NEWSLETTER. Subscriptions to the free, e-mailed, and complete index of Las Vegas coupons is available on the internet at: http://www.billhere.com/free.html NOTE: Please see how to get “CASINO ACTIVITY OR WIN/LOSS 16= New air service starts from Philippines - Philippine Air.. REPORTS FOR 2003” at the bottom of this Calendar. 17= St. Patrick’s Day. MARCH, 2004 17= St.Patrick’s Day Bash - House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. ======17-21= Bill Medley - Orleans. 4-7= Charlie Daniels Band - Orleans. 18= New BORG Invasion Exhibit at the Star Trek Exhibit -Las 4-10= Howie Mandel - MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre. Vegas Hilton. 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Info.: 5-7= Sergio Mendes - Suncoast. http://www.ushra.com/tickets/x.php?mode=view&tile=1&id=8 6= Luis Miguel - Aladdin. 767877 6= Britney Spears - MGM Grand Garden Arena. 20= Mozart-LV Philharmonic Orchestra-UNLV Ham Hall: 6= Playboy Club Tour - Studio 54 in MGM Grand. http://www.lvphil.com/schedule/classical.phtml#classical 6= Mark Chestnutt - Silverton. 20-21= Barney’s Colorful World - Thomas & Mack Center. 6= Paula Poundstone - Sunset Station. 23= Las Vegas Job Fair - Palace Station. Info.: 7-10= Nightclub Trade Show - LV Hilton. Info.: http://www.lasvegasjobs.com/splash/lvjobfair2004/employers/ http://www.nightclub.com/conventions/vegas04/brochure/ index.shtml index.html 23-Apr.4= Elton John - Caesars Palace. 7-11= Gift & Jewelry Show - LV Convention Ctr. & Mirage. 24= Wichcraft Sandwich Shop opening - MGM Grand. Info.: CASINO ACTIVITY OR WIN/LOSS REPORTS FOR 2003. http://www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/asd_spring/ Most casinos will furnish you with a report of your gaming index.jsp activities for the 2003 calendar year. They will show in and out 9= Spirit of the Dance re-opens - Golden Nugget. and win/loss for all slot (including video poker) and table game 9-11= Bingo World Expo - Riviera. Info.: activities. This free service is supplied by them for convenience http://www.bingoexpo.com in preparing your income tax returns but most people are just 9-May 9= The Fab Four - Las Vegas Hilton. (The ultimate Beatles curious of what the casinos show on their books. Normally you tribute band - a billhere must see!) have to sign a paper at the Casino Cage and they mail the 10-13= Chicago - Stardust. information to you. Other casinos will do it over the telephone. 11-14= Ray Stevens - The Orleans. Some casinos make it even easier by allowing you to apply 11-17= Paul Anka - MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre. on the internet. Most of these links require an Adobe Acrobat 12= Xtreme Close-Up Magic Grand Opening - O’Shea’s. Reader: 12= Boxing - Orleans. Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, Barley’s and Wild Wild West: 12= Newport Jazz Festival Tour - UNLV Ham Hall. http://www.stationcasinos.com/templates/department. 12-14= Tony Danza - Suncoast. asp?p=7&d=52 13= Jeff Beacher’s Comedy Madhouse - Hard Rock. Gold Coast: 13= St.Patrick’s Day Parade-Fremont St. Experience. Info.: http://www.goldcoastcasino.com/gaming/win-loss-form.pdf http://lvsoe.com/events/st_patricks_parade/parade_main.htm Harrah’s and Rio: +++++ http://www.harrahs.com/images/miscellaneous/gaming_his- 13= Boxing. Sugar Shane Mosley vs. Ronald “Winky” Wright tory_request_form.pdf Mandalay Bay Events Center. [HBO-TV] Orleans: +++++ http://www.orleanscasino.com/gaming/win-loss-form.pdf 13= Sarah Brightman - MGM Grand Garden Arena. Station Casinos: 13= Metallica - Thomas & Mack. http://www.stationcasinos.com/images/Stations.pdf 13-14= Gun & Knife Show - Cashman Center. Suncoast: 14= Race for Atlantis Ride closing permananetly-Caesars http://www.suncoastcasino.com/winlossreqform.pdf Palace. Venetian: 14-15= Charlie Prose - Suncoast. http://www.venetian.com/casino/winloss.pdf 14-17= Mah Jongg Tournament - Harrah’s. SOLD OUT. Info.: If you know of any others, please e-mail to: http://www.mahjongg.org/htdocs/Tourn_Schedule.htm [email protected] 15= RENT - Aladdin. THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 9

(owner/lic)

How about this You can live You the Mt. Charleston lifestyle. Allow us to help. Mt. Charleston Realty, Inc. Garry and Angie Tomashowski 702-872-5733 for your first look at the world each morning? www.mtcharlestonrealty.com Homes—Land—Monthly Rentals Just 30 minutes from your Las Vegas office. THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 10 Commentary: Albert Thomas master for many people and few brokers know Get yourself one of those good paddles and Paddle Your Canoe or care to learn them. However, there is one very learn to steer your own canoe. simple method that does work. AL THOMAS That method is too simple for brokers who At some time in your life you have been on a want you to think that you need their “expertise”. CopyrightAlbert W. Thomas All rights reserved. river in a canoe and hopefully you had a paddle. They sure don’t want you to find out as you won’t Author of “If ItDoesn’t Go Up, Don’t Buy You know about being up the creek without one. have to pay them commissions any more. The It!www.mutualfundmagic.comcomments You quickly learned that paddling up stream paddle you need to have to propel in the right [email protected] is much harder than paddling down stream. The direction is called the 200-day Moving Average lesson of going with the flow can be applied to Paddle and you can get it free if you know where many aspects of life and especially to the stock to look. You can make this yourself, but if you market. In the creek it is easy to know which way have a computer just go to the web site www. the current is flowing, but in the market it is much bigcharts.com and click on their Interactive chart more difficult. At least that is what Wall Street box and they will do all the work for you. You can wants you to think. do this at the library of you don’t have a computer On the river there are markers and naviga- at home. tions buoys to help you with your passage, but in Using an index such as the SP500 you easily the money world there are few such true indica- see that when the price (your canoe) is above the tors. Actually it is very easy to determine the flow 200 line (the current of the river) you should be of funds in the market. Standing on the shore are a buyer of stocks and mutual funds and when the people (brokers) shouting to go to the right and SP500 price is below the 200 line you should be another next to him screaming to go to the left. in a money market (even if it only pays 1%). You “Buy, buy, buy”. Very few of them know which don’t want to be under water. This is a simple way the current is headed. You have to figure this way to see the direction the market is flowing out yourself. and will keep you from losing money when the Fundamental analysis is excellent, but it is market starts down. very poor to let you know when and where to No one knows when the current will change. paddle (put you money). There are many techni- And don’t try to guess. Let the river (market) tell cal tools available, but these can be difficult to you the direction of flow. THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 11

Safety Starts With Nobody In The Stands On A Hot Summer Day

All of those people in the red safety trucks spend hours and hours training under "Rescue Ray" Turner for the moment they hope will never come. Turner recruits from medical professionals all over the area and runs a summer workshop to teach the basics of working at a race track. Turner's crews are busy year round with the Bullring, the Drag Strip and the many driving schools which use the superspeedway. Turner (left) shows crew members how to deal with a hot engine in a stock car up on the high banks. Craig Sanford of Advanced Fire and Rescure (right) demonstrates the Jaws of Life THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 12 Alex Hasse To Make Debut In Speed Trucks At Bullring

Las Vegas’ own 14-year-old Alex going from a small car to a truck is race, 25-lap Thunder Roadster race 12. Children five and under are free. Hasse will make his debut in the challenging, but I think I can do it. and 50-lap Mechanix Wear Speed Admission to the Stockyard is $36 Mechanix Wear Speed Truck 50-lap After practice Saturday I feel very Truck event. per vehicle (up to four people). race Saturday night at the Southern confident and I look to pull off a top- Spectator gates open at 4:30 p.m. Pit gates open at 2p.m. Admission Nevada Dodge Dealers Showdown five (finish) in my first truck race.” Qualifying is set for 4:45 with racing to the pits is $20 for NASCAR mem- the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor This up-and-coming young driv- at 5:45. bers and $25 for non-members. Speedway as part of NASCAR er recorded five wins, 17 top-five General admission is $11 for For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or Weekend. finishes and 17 top-10 finishes in adults, $9 for senior citizens/ mili- visit LVMS.com Hasse, the 2003 Semi-Pro 19 starts last year in the Semi-Pro tary personnel and $4 for children 6- Legends Cars Bullring track cham- Legends Cars division. Tony pion, will pull double duty in the The Southern Nevada Dodge Stewart's Pro Legends Cars division and will Dealers Showdown will include try his luck in Speed Trucks this a Celebrity Showdown featuring Home season. Jeff Hammond, , Depot “I going to compete in the Speed , Neil Goldberg and Sean Crew Truck events at the Bullring this Pragano. The Southern Nevada pushes year as well as Legends Cars,” said Dodge Dealers showdown also will the 20 Haase. “I always watched my dad feature a100-lap Super Late Model car onto pull double and I always wanted to race, 30-lap IMCA Modified race, the grid in try it. 25-lap Semi-Pro Legends Cars race, 2003. “The weight is different, so 25-lap Pro/Master Legends Cars Welcome to the Psychic Corner with VISOR Week of March 05, thru March 11, 2004 Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Monkey starts on January 22nd, promising a year of nutty Monkey energy, parties, good times and (yes, indeed!) is monkeying around. The whole world will be curious, funny and ready for love -- so get ready for YOUR Year of the Monkey

Aries Mar. 21- April 20 Libra Sept. 24 -Oct. 23 If you want to be invited back into people’s hearts any time soon, Even if you’re not directly involved, the chaos is bound to affect avoid the urge to run roughshod over their desires. Have you lis- you. Consider this a period of coping and maintaining instead of tened to yourself lately? a window for starting new projects. Taurus Apr. 21- may 21 Scorpio Oct. 24 - Nov. 22 You are at your best when putting offering support to somebody At last you get a block of time to call your own. This is when that you know well. All the wonderful things you remember about internal matters can be examined and savored. him or her come out in nonstop comic patter. Sagittarius Nov. 23 -Dec. 21 Gemini May 22-June 21 You can’t go on in the style to which you’ve become accustomed. Ruthless or desperate types will exploit any advantage you give Make an effort to be more accepting of things that you generally them. Before surrendering to the one who claims to have you wouldn’t tolerate. over a barrel, know that emotional blackmail only works when Capricorn Dec. 22 - Jan. 20 you buy into it. If he or she is craving your attention just as much, all’s right Cancer June 22-July 22 with the world. But if your advances are unwelcome, you need to Try not to nag your friends and family, partners or associates to come up with a less intrusive plan, or maybe give up altogether. death, though; if you can make this happen by yourself, go for it. You can’t help inspiring strong reactions. Leo July 23-Aug 22 Aquarius Jan. 21 -Feb. 19 If the two halves mingle, there might be friendship or pas- Be gentle with yourself. Tolerate the part of you that’s no longer sion, but there’s sure to be some kind of misunderstanding. the driving force instead of trying to burn it out. Unfathomable feelings and troubling questions interfere with a Pisces Feb. 20-Mar. 20 smoothly running process. Maybe they’ll even save you some of your favorite poisons if you Virgo Aug. 23 -Sept. 23 have a change of heart any time soon. Meanwhile, you’d rather Despite a troubled history or a general lack of rapport, family lose yourself deeply in a different kind of experience. Maybe a members could turn out to be your closest friends. special person would like a bigger share of your time. THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 13 A little over two years ago, some Las Vegas businessmen brought Parnelli Jones over to the studios of a radio station I used to own to do some radio commercials for a product they invented called Rollgard...

Keep in mind, that having owned the official radio station of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I had a lot of friends in common with Parnelli and we started talking about the product.

He saw my truck outside, a 1999 4 Wheel Drive Ford F-150 (since sent to truck heaven), and arranged for the owners of the company to install Rollgard on the truck, telling me that I really had to have it. Said it would make the truck handle like a Corvette.

That was in August of 2001.

I now have the distinction of having driven almost 150,000 miles in three big trucks that were Rollgard equipped.

I was impressed then and I’m so impressed now that I own stock in the company that makes Rollgard.

Parnelli knows trucks, driving and suspen- sions and he was right.

Simply put, Rollgard makes any big truck with leaf springs han- dle like a high per- formance sports car. For less than $400. Here’s the F-150. We put about 50,000 miles on it with Rollgard The F-150 has been replaced with a 2002 4-Wheel Drive Ford Excursion. That’s the biggest, heaviest production passenger vehicle sold in the United States. The SUV Nazi’s hate it, but they don’t live on Mt. Charleston and have to deal with 10 feet of snow every year. I love it and Rollgard tamed that beast on the highway as well as Yes, the Excursion is big. With Rollgard, it is very well behaved! the winding mountain roads.

Rollgard looks simple, but is based on solid scientific principles as applied by a race car designer to fix some of the faults inherent in truck based vehicles with high centers of gravity.

They lower the center of gravity of a truck or SUV and restore your ability to steer without making constant corrections.

With Rollgard, the truck or SUV goes where you point it. It keeps your rear wheels flat on the ground and you don’t sway in your track. This means that you can drive at normal speeds safely on the interstate and you are much less likely to roll over in the event of a sudden maneuver. It raises your margin of error.

Rollgard fits on any vehicle which uses leaf springs, take about 30 minutes to install and cost $395.

But, because the company which manufactures Rollgard is here in Las Vegas, you can buy it direct and save. In this ad is a coupon for $100 off the price AND free installation in the Rollgard shop, here in Las Vegas. NOW! FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! If you have any questions about Rollgard, you can call me, Fred Weinberg, at my Bring In this ad and get $100 off office, 702-740-5588 Rollgard and Free Installation! If I’ve done a good job selling you, call Rollgard at 312-6124 and tell them you want one installed as soon as they can. You’ve got nothing to lose because there is a 30- Offer Good To March 31, 2004 day money back guarantee, no questions asked. THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 14 Listen To America's Most Respected Commentator On Las Vegas' Most Respected Radio Station Weekdays at 5:30am,7:30am,Noon, 5:53pm

When You Need To Know THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 15 Down Memory Lane...

The year was 1997 and it was an off- Winston Cup weekend. The Busch Grand National Series made its first stop at the brand new Las Vegas Motor Speedway. When You're At The Jeff Green beat out a field full Speedway, Eat Where of Cup regulars including The Pros Eat! 1996 Champ Terry The FAST LANE Cafe Labonte Footsteps Away From The Speedway 6825 Speedway Blvd 702-651-9977

SATURDAY NIGHT IS ALL YOU CAN EAT CHILI NIGHT, $5.95 per person starting at 3pm. We're OPEN ALL RACE WEEK EAT HERE AFTER THE RACES WE CATER SOUVENIRS, DIE CAST, COLLECTIBLES 13" Italian Sub $5.96 13" French Dip Sub $5.96 3 Egg Breakfast $4.96 THE PENNY PRESS, MARCH 4, 2004 PAGE 16