Buddy Baker Adds Luster to the Love Chevrolet Spring Festival at the Columbia Speedway

Buddy Baker, the first man to win NASCAR’s “Big Four” race contests – Daytona, Talladega, Darlington and Charlotte – will be one of the many legendary former racers to participate in the Love Chevrolet Spring Festival at the Columbia Speedway on Saturday, April 25. The Spring Festival is free to the public and will run from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and feature vintage racecars and show cars, autograph and photo sessions, food and musical entertainment. The Columbia Speedway is located at 2001 Charleston Highway. Spring Festival is being brought to the speedway by RacersReunion.com and sponsored by Love Chevrolet, Lexington Medical Center, Geoff Bodine’s Waxing Frenzy, Lizard’s Thicket and Citadel Broadcasting.

Baker, a son of the two-time national champion Buck Baker, was one of the more spectacular competitors the sport has ever known becoming the first driver to break the 200 mph barrier in a Ray Fox prepared Dodge at Talladega Super Speedway on March 24, 1970. Before that, he competed in his first career race on the half-mile clay oval.

Although Baker has retired from a racing career that spanned 34 seasons, he operates the Buck Baker Racing School. He has worked as one of the more colorful TV commentators and currently hosts a call-in racing show on Sirius satellite radio channel 128. In fact, on his program, he’s stated, “Columbia Speedway was a spectacular place to be, that’s the first track I ever raced on. My dad and I had some kind of great races there against some of the best. I’m looking forward to being there again. I just wish they were still racin’ there. I left there embarrassed lots of times.”

Baker, who scored 17 major speedway NASCAR victories, and 19 overall, is a member of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the National Motorsports Association Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Charlotte (Lowes) Motor Speedway Court of Legends.

Other former racers to join Baker at the Spring Festival include Ned Jarrett, “L’il Bud" Moore, Charlie Glotzbach, Haskell Willingham, Paul Lewis, Brownie King, D.K. Ulrich, Neil “Soapy” Castles.

The mission of RacersReunion.com is to help raise awareness and funds for former competitors who need medical or financial assistance.

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Homewood Suites by Hilton® Honors Columbia, SC

Brand’s Annual Conference Pays Tribute to Exceptional Service

Columbia, SC – March 2, 2009 – Homewood Suites by Hilton®, the international brand of all-suite, residential-style hotels, announced the list of team members and hotels honored with awards at the brand’s 20^th annual conference in San Diego, Calif. last week. Ninety hotels were recognized in 12 different categories among the brand’s more than 260 hotels for their exemplary customer service, adherence to Homewood Suites values, and leadership within the industry. Homewood Suites by Hilton of Columbia was awarded Complimentary Services Team of the Year, Reservation Team of the Year, and Consistency in Delivery award for 8 “Outstanding” grades for quality assurance evaluations in a row. Last year, this same hotel won Front Desk Team of the Year as well as General Manager of the Year.

The entire staff works diligently to provide friendly and efficient customer service, clean comfortable surroundings, and high-quality accommodations. Our complimentary services staff, lead by Cry Leggett, continues to exceed our customer’s expectations. Her friendly leadership has directed her team to always listen for opportunities to serve our guests.

“In this down economy, top-notch customer service, targeted sales strategies and efficient hotel operations become even more important to the success of our individual hotels and our brand as a whole,” said Bill Duncan, Global Head of Brand Management, Homewood Suites by Hilton. “Homewood Suites takes pride in outrageously pleasing our guests and we congratulate these top performers with our brand’s highest honors.”

The brand’s annual conference gives general managers and sales directors the opportunity to participate in a variety of intensive training programs, including sessions on revenue management, food and beverage, and sales/marketing. Additionally, networking breaks and other team-building activities help to unify the brand voice and allow for individuals to share ideas, express best practices, and learn about unique programs.

Located at 230 Greystone Blvd, Homewood Suites Columbia offers a mix of 81 studio and one bedroom suites designed for the extended-stay traveler. Amenities include complimentary Suite Start hot breakfast buffet daily, Manager’s Welcome Home reception Monday – Thursday, complimentary parking, onsite heated indoor pool and whirlpool, complimentary HSIA, business center, and meeting space for up to 75 people. Nearby attractions include Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, USC, and Government Offices. For more information about rates and specials, call 803-239-4663.

Columbia Hits Pavement in First Ever Triathlon

Columbia Downtown Triathlon to bike and run the city’s streets

Columbia, SC – (March 17, 2009) The Columbia Regional Sports Council would like to announce the arrival of Columbia Downtown Triathlon on Saturday March 21. This is Columbia’s first triathlon and the sports event will feature a 500meter swim, 10 mile bike ride, and a 5km run. More than 300 athletes have signed up to participate. The triathlon is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

The swim will take place at the Blatt P.E. Center at the University of South Carolina located on Wheat Street. From the swim, athletes will bike 10 miles with a 3.3 mile loop that goes through Main, Gervais, Harden, and Blossom streets. Rounding out the triathlon is the run where athletes will utilize the pedestrian overpass at Assembly and Blossom streets and run down Lincoln Street. For more information or to sign up to participate, please visit www.setupevents.com and click on the South Carolina races.

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Teams Row South for the Winter

The Columbia Regional Sports Council welcomes college rowing crews to the Richland County Rowing Center for winter and spring training. This week Syracuse University and Bucknell are enjoying the Famously Hot Broad river and will be training there until March 15. On March 15 through March 22, Massachusetts area schools, Tabor Academy and St. Mark’s School will be in town to enjoy three miles of unobstructed warm flat-water.

Hosting teams of this nature generates an awareness of Columbia, SC and provides an economic impact upon the community. Commenting on the benefits of hosting the athletes and staff members, Executive Director for the Columbia Regional Sports Council, Scott Powers states, “This is valuable business for our community. We estimate these teams will spend more than $300,000 on food, lodging, shopping and entertainment. This program continues to grow as more teams learn about the Broad River, the Richland County rowing facilities and the Columbia Rowing Club, which works hard to be the perfect host for these teams. We look forward to making a friendly and lasting impression on these and future crews.”

For training schedules and to see these teams in action at the Richland County Rowing Center, please contact Columbia Rowing Club training coordinator, George Park at 803-429-2597.

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Hilton® Columbia Center Voted #1 in North America by Guests

Only a year and a half after its grand opening, the Hilton® Columbia Center, is honored to receive top recognition by being ranked #1 by their guests out of all 287 full-service Hilton® hotels in North America.

According to the Hilton® Brand-Americas Voice of the Customer Survey, the Hilton® Columbia Center received the top ranking as #1 for overall guest services and amenities. Guests are asked to participate in the Voice of the Customer Survey by providing feedback on overall service, plans to return, and if problems occurred during their stay.

Located in the center of the financial, entertainment and historic Vista district, the Hilton® Columbia Center hotel opened in August 2007 and has hosted guests from all over the world. Managed by Hospitality America, the Hilton® Columbia Center has been the choice hotel for distinguished heads of state, such as former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During the presidential primaries, the Hilton® Columbia Center also welcomed Senator John McCain and hosted press events at the hotel with all the major television networks.

The Hilton® Columbia Center is adjacent to the Columbia Convention Center and Colonial Life Arena. This prime location has made it the premier hotel downtown to see and be seen with celebrities and music artists. The Hilton Columbia Hotel has also been selected as the choice hotel by multiple Hollywood stars, such as James Caan, James Marsden, Kirstie Allie and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Hospitality America oversees 222 beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites, including 2 Presidential Suites, heated outdoor pool, fitness center by Precor® and 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The Hilton® Columbia Center offers complimentary wired and wireless high-speed internet access in all areas of the hotel.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, located within the Hilton® Columbia Center, has also been honored as the “Best Steakhouse in Columbia” by patrons and readers of the Freetimes and Columbia Metropolitan Magazine. The restaurant’s on-site location provides guests with fine dining experiences for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Hilton-Columbia Center’s General Manager, Tony Tam, was just recognized as South Carolina's Hotel Manager of the Year by the Hospitality Association of South Carolina. Founded and headquartered in Tennessee, Hospitality America presently operates 11 hotels and 1,423 rooms in Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. Hospitality America is currently ranked as a Top 10 Hotel Management Company by Occupancy in the Nation by HOTEL BUSINESS’ Annual Rankings.

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Columbia Opens the Three Rivers Greenway Esplanade at CanalSide

The Three Rivers Greenway Esplanade along the Congaree River in downtown Columbia opened today in a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Mayor Coble, City Council, and several other prominent leaders involved in the construction of the site. The site is located adjacent to the private development known as CanalSide.

The Esplanade is an approximately 1,100 linear foot public walkway on City wned property, located along the east bank of the Columbia Canal on the former CCI property. The project scope included repairing an existing and historic granite retaining wall and construction of the public walkway including surveying, site clearing, excavation and fill, grading, installation of underground utilities, hardscape and landscape, stairs and associated guardrails and handrails. The site is located adjacent to the private development known as CanalSide.

RacersReunion.com and Love Chevrolet Presents Spring Festival at the Columbia Speedway

Columbia, SC - (February 6, 2009) Local racecar fans can still remember the days of old when the Columbia Speedway was in its glory. They were most likely part of the ten thousand fans that witnessed the Speedway’s first recorded race in 1948. For three decades, the Columbia Speedway became the source for much of stock car racing’s rich history until it closed in 1978. Now, after more than 30 years, the Speedway will awaken. In honor of veteran drivers who competed there along with countless loyal fans, Racersreunion.com presents the First Annual Love Chevrolet Columbia Speedway Spring Festival. The event will be held Saturday, April 25, 2009 at the Speedway located at 2001 Charleston Highway in Cayce, SC. Admission to the festival is free and will include legendary race car drivers, vintage race cars on display, a car show, food, and fun for the entire family.

The half-mile oval that began operations as a dirt track became a regular stop for many of NASCAR’s great drivers running in both the Late Model Sportsman and Grand National / Winston Cup divisions. The list of regular competitors there reads like a virtual who’s who of NASCAR history and includes familiar names such as: Lee and Richard Petty; Buck and Buddy Baker; Tim and Fonty Flock; Tiny Lund; Ned Jarrett; Fireball Roberts; Curtis Turner; Rex White; “Little” Bud Moore; Haskell Willingham; Junior Johnson, and a host of others. Many of racing’s firsts were recorded at Columbia Speedway. It was the spot of Studebaker’s and Chevrolet’s first NASCAR win. Buck Baker took his first checkers at the finish line at Columbia Speedway. His son Buddy ran his first race there. Richard Petty made his racing debut there and recorded his first win there one year later. Columbia Speedway was the venue that hosted NASCAR’s first Grand National/Cup night race.

“It is an honor and privilege to be a part of something that racing fans are so passionate about,” said Jeff Gilder, founder of RacersReunion.com. “We are extremely excited about Love Chevrolet’s agreement to be the event’s title sponsor. They were part of the track’s history, so it is very fitting they occupy the title spot for this event. Stepping forward to accept this position speaks volumes of their confidence in our economic future and demonstrates their support for this event. It has been a tough time for many over the past couple of years. This will be an opportunity to bring the family to a free event and have some fun while celebrating the great history of Columbia Speedway.”

Information regarding vendor and concessionaire participation as well as festival details can be found on the Events Calendar at www.RacersReunion.com or by contacting Jeff Gilder at 843.997.6645.