Steve Nicewanger’s Story Archive

Close Encounters of the Bob Balaban Kind

July 27, 2023 | by Steve Nicewanger

It doesn’t seem possible that it was 17 years ago. The Boss and I were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary with a weekend at the Canterbury Hotel. It was an anniversary gift for us, arranged by my youngest sister, Robin who was a banquet manager at the hotel. Our anniversary … Read More

A Hot Time in the Old Car

June 29, 2023 | by Steve Nicewanger

Two weeks ago we loaded up the Town and Country van and headed south to Kentucky to attend a family reunion and enjoy a weekend vacation. Our Chrysler is now ten years old and has spent most of its life in town, so we thought it was time for it … Read More

Cues and Billiard Balls in American History

June 15, 2023 | by Steve Nicewanger

First published Nov. 22, 2013 The term pool is generally used as the generic name for American pocket billiards. This came from the common practice of players putting  a pot or “pool” of money for the winner to take at the end of a game. The game of pool became … Read More

1963: The Green “Funny” Car Changed Everything

May 25, 2023 | by Steve Nicewanger

This column first appeared in May 2013 While it didn’t seem so at the time, 1963 was the most revolutionary year in the history of American automobile racing. Two cars entered by Team Lotus of Great Britain and powered by engines produced by the Ford Motor Corporation were entered and … Read More

Baby Boomers

May 18, 2023 | by Steve Nicewanger

First published in November 2013. Baby Boomers are defined as anyone born in the United States between the years 1946 and 1964. They tended to be the sons and daughters of the service men and women who came out of the war and settled into domestic life. The Greatest Generation … Read More