Bud Wilkinson

Connecticut

Columnist at Republican-American

Editor and Publisher at Ride CT & Ride New England

Harwinton correspondent for The Republican-American

Articles

Inside 'exhilarating' go-karting for kids, adults at Lime Rock Park

1 week ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

SALISBURY - Stephen Huntley's instructions to the helmeted drivers standing alongside the autocross track at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville were precise and delivered in a firm tone. "If there's any contact - light contact is fine - but you do not pile drive each other off the course," he said. It was early afternoon on April 23. Huntley, who is manager of track programs at the motorsports facility that dates back to 1957, was shepherding the debut of a new go-kart attraction.
Torrington man has owned his 1972 AMC Javelin SST for 50 years

2 weeks ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

TORRINGTON - Jim Boscarino was a senior in high school and driving home from Hartford one day in June 1975 when he came to the "crazy corner" on Route 4 in Farmington. That was the location of the Parsons car dealership, which lasted from before World War I until 2006 when it moved to make way for road improvements. "I really wasn't looking for a car that particular day," Boscarino recalled in late October. At least not until he spotted a used 1972 AMC Javelin SST on the lot.
Reduced Days For Trail Riding At Thomaston Dam In 2025

2 weeks ago | ride-ct.com | Bud Wilkinson

THOMASTON, CT – Off-road motorcyclists will get two fewer days each week to ride the 13 miles of trails behind Thomaston Dam in 2025. A federal hiring freeze has resulted in a staff reduction at the popular recreation area which serves about 40,000 riders annually. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced earlier this week that it has trimmed the number of days the area will be open to the public. It has also reduced the number of hours on the days the area is open.
CT man had to overhaul 1933 Chevy pickup when he found bullet holes

3 weeks ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

TORRINGTON - It was eight or so years ago that Henry Jacquemin purchased a 1933 Chevrolet pickup from a seller in Portland, Oregon, in an online auction. Jacquemin didn't remember the exact year of the deal when My Ride visited his home in Torrington last fall, but that can be excused by the passage of time and the fact he was 87 years old at the time.
“Itchy Boots” Scraps U.S. Book Tour; Says “It Doesn’t Feel Safe” - Ride CT & Ride New England

3 weeks ago | ride-ct.com | Bud Wilkinson

She’s among the best known motorcycle riders in the world and, just possibly, the most adventuresome having ridden throughout Africa and South America, from India to Europe, and in numerous other countries worldwide over the past eight years, and doing so on a variety of bikes. Her popular YouTube channel “Itchy Boots” has 2.75 million subscribers, who view her tales with awe, jealousy and respect.
Middlebury owner of 1969 Oldsmobile 442 coupe has an edge when buying cars

1 month ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

MIDDLEBURY - Rick DeVino has an advantage when buying cars. Whether it be a classic, used or new model, DeVino's edge comes from having grown up around cars and having worked in the car business. He got his first car when he was a junior in high school - a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am."My dad was in the car business.
Connecticut's top 10 car shows of 2025 not to be missed

1 month ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

One of the many signs of spring is the retrieval of cherished classic vehicles from winter storage by their fussy owners. The old cars and trucks get dusted off and readied for showing off during the coming car show season, which stretches from April until late autumn. Last year, an estimated 350 one-time-only shows were held across Connecticut. That number doesn't include weekly or monthly car cruises at night, or "cars and coffee" events on weekend mornings.
1970 Pontiac Grand Prix takes Watertown owner back to high school days

1 month ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

WATERTOWN - Randy LaPointe of Oakville was a senior in high school when he bought his first car. It was May 1976, a month before graduation, when he got a loan from a credit union and acquired a sporty 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix that was bright yellow with a black vinyl top. The Grand Prix didn't last for long, though.
Connecticut man's restored 1922 Ford T-bucket kit car has fiery past

1 month ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

Milano's T-bucket is an amalgamation of brands. "It might be a Ford body, but the engine is Chevy, the transmission is Chevy, rear end is out of a Jaguar and the front end is out an old Ford drop-axle, so it's really bits and pieces of a car that we put together," Milano said of his restoration team. "And that's what makes it so much fun to have one. You have to think about it: 'How are you going to put this car together? What do I need? What do I do first?
Burlington man doubles down on rare 1976 Suzuki RE5 motorcycles

1 month ago | ctinsider.com | Bud Wilkinson

Jones wanted to give it a go because the model is a rarity and has historical value. "It would be just a shame to part it out. There's so few left on the road," he said. "There's a registry of these and in the United States there's only a couple hundred that have active registrations."That, too, makes the RE5 significant. "Suzuki wanted to reshape motorcycling and they felt the Wankel technology that was developed in Germany was going to be the way of the future for bikes," Jones said.