Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

Dolomite Mountains srl (http://dolomitemountains.com/en/home.htm), an Italian company bent on proving that the adventure path reveals some of the most beautiful natural settings on earth, announces a new mountain biking trip through Italy’s Dolomite Mountains that follows the route of the Südtirol Sellaronda HERO, an international sporting event akin to Tour de France.

The 8 day / 7 night trip at EU1,650 per person double provides guests one day on the actual Sellaronda course biking at their own pace. The trip begins and ends in Alta Badia and is scheduled for Aug. 28 to Sep. 4, 2011. This trip is also available as a custom group departure on dates of a guest’s choosing.

The actual Südtirol Sellaronda HERO competition is held annually in early July, drawing more than 1,500 bikers from 27 countries. Traditionally the course has only been open to an elite few, noted Agustina Lagos-Marmol, owner of Dolomite Mountains srl.

“Our clients are cyclists of all levels and they have expressed interest in experiencing the Sellaronda in a supported environment so we have added this element to one of our mountain bike itineraries. It is a great opportunity for bikers to be part of one of the greatest bike courses in the world,” she said.

Each day participants will cycle from hotel to hotel (or rifugio to rifugio), taking in the Dolomites from all different angles and perspectives. Riders will visit the valleys of Alta Badia and Cortina d’Ampezzo and experience their different cultures, traditions and cuisine. The Dolomites are home to Italian, Austrian and Ladin peoples whose history will be revealed along with artifacts ranging from medieval castles to World War I bunkers.

The price includes double accommodations in “bike friendly” hotels and mountain inns, most meals, professional mountain bike guide, local transportation, luggage transfer during the trip and detailed map of the area.) Mountain bikes can be provided on request.

For over 15 years they have been crafting Dolomite adventures, helping travelers uncover the region’s true spirit. Customized guided and self guided active trips and luxury and gourmet adventures take travelers off the beaten path for authentic experiences that reveal the real Dolomites.

Dolomite Mountains srl believes in the value of sharing their love of the mountains and natural places with others while also recognizing the need to take care of them if they are to be here for future generations. They employ sustainable practices in all daily operations – everything from recycling in the office to leaving only footprints while in the field. Hotels are selected that adhere to environmentally sustainable standards wherever possible including two CasaClima hotels in certain accommodation options (CasaClima is a building certification that establishes a standard for energy efficiency that follows the Kyoto Protocol and a standard for use of sustainable resources.) The company also supports several worthy organizations that contribute to the betterment of societies and their environs around the world such as SUMMITS4KIDS and The Footprints Network. See:

MOTEGI RACING’S BRIAN DEEGAN, TANNER FOUST AND MARCUS GRONHOLM SWEEP THE PODIUM
AT X GAMES 17 RALLYCROSS

Motegi Racing came up big at the Summer X Games 17 on the first, second and third place vehicles. Motegi Racing’s first-place Brian Deegan was up against some of the industry’s most formidable RallyCross racers from across the globe at this year’s X-Games. The streets of downtown Los Angeles had been turned into a three-quarter mile street course, a full-fledged RallyCross track. Brian Deegan overcame mechanical issues and ran a near-perfect race and experienced his first X Games RallyCross victory when he snuck past his opponents in the first turn when two cars crashed into each
other.

Next to cross the finish line was Motegi’s multi-talented World Rally Champion
Tanner Foust, who also placed on the podium finishing a strong second in his
Motegi outfitted Ford Fiesta. Foust is a three-time X Games gold medalist and
two-time Formula Drift champion. Rounding out the podium was Marcus Gronholm –
also a World Rally Champion – that makes a sweep at this years’ X-Games 17.

“Motegi Racing is excited about sponsoring these drivers and their vehicles…
They are all hard-charging competitors and we are thrilled to be a part of their
success.” Said Chris Anderson, Marketing Manager for Motegi Racing. “We’re
excited to have swept the podium at RallyCross at this year’s Summer X Games,”
he added.

Motegi Racing was conceived to develop the most advanced performance wheels
through innovations in design and engineering. Through the development of
high-quality wheels, we provide to our demanding customers a product that
delivers the ultimate performance in racetracks and street. Our technology and
design follows a true philosophy of pure performance, allowing the form of the
wheel to follow the function necessary to succeed in different racing
environments. Whatever your passion in performance automotive is, Motegi Racing
is your partner in the pursuit of authentic performance

For more information on Motegi Wheels, please visit www.motegiracing.com

Vacations By Rail’s winter product line includes travel to National Parks, the Canadian Rockies and the Western Caribbean

With the hazy days of summer dwindling, it’s natural for thoughts to turn to winter travel plans. Specialty travel company Vacations By Rail’s winter product line features a variety of off-season train getaways to popular destinations throughout the United States and Canada.

New for the 2011/12 winter travel season is Yellowstone & Yosemite Winter Magic, a 13-day escorted rail tour to Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake City, Yosemite National Park and Los Angeles. Special highlights include a live broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the National Elk Reserve and touring by Snow Coach through Yellowstone National Park as well as travel aboard two legendary trains, Amtrak’s California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief.

Also new to the company’s winter product line is the New Orleans/Western Caribbean Rail-Cruise vacation, an 11-day package featuring travel from Chicago to New Orleans aboard Amtrak’s iconic City of New Orleans train and a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise with ports of call at Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City and Roatan.

Other popular winter itineraries include train escapes across the snow-blanketed prairies of the U.S. to the Grand Canyon, San Francisco and Seattle as well as cross-Canada train vacations and rail vacations to the Canadian Rockies.

“Winter travel presents a great deal of opportunity for travelers,” explained Todd Powell, president of Vacations By Rail. “The winter months bring fewer crowds at popular destinations as well as aboard trains, the scenery is unbeatable and many packages are usually more affordable than during the summer months.”

Winter rail vacations throughout the United States start at $599 per person. Winter getaways throughout Canada start at $1,759 per person. All prices are land-only based on double occupancy.

To book a winter train vacation throughout the U.S. or Canada, visit www.vacationsbyrail.com or call 877-929-7245 to speak with a rail specialist

THE NASCAR TWINS made history earlier this year when they were first twins to ever race in the top three series’ (NATIONWIDE, SPRINT and Camping Truck Series). Never have two women had the ability to distract more drivers, than when Amber and Angela Cope set foot on the speedway. These blonde bombshells may look like they belong on the runway rather than the racetrack; however, they are more than just a set of pretty faces: they are a force to be reckoned with behind the wheel. The twins have races lined up consistently through the rest of the season including the historic DAYTONA 500 Race. The nieces of Daytona 500 winner, Derrike Cope, are already well on their way to achieving their ultimate goal of becoming the best female drivers in Nascar.

From 2001-2010, the girls competed in over 47 races in both Super Late Models and ARCA. On October 23,2010, they made Motorsports history for the first time when they competed in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series, making them the first twins to ever compete in one of the top three series’ in NASCAR.

The twins have been consistently racing since they were nine years old and they will continue to make history as the only twins and two of a handful of women currently racing in the sport.