LAS VEGAS - A tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas in the form of a meticulously created $200,000 wax figure in a driving uniform.
The figure is part of the wax museum's newest interactive attraction, called SPEED, dedicated to auto racing.
Earnhardt, known as "the Intimidator" died in an accident on the final lap of the 43rd Daytona 500 in February 2001. "He was instrumental in introducing the sport of auto racing to millions and his presence best represents the country's fastestgrowing spectator sport," said Adrian Jones, general manager of Madame Tussauds Las Vegas.
Jones said additional wax figures of famous sports and racing legends are planned for the site.
Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is located in The Venetian hotelcasino.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maplewood
sees red
Visitors to Maplewood State Park won't see red only in the trees today and next weekend.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Saturday and Oct. 2, Friends of Maplewood serve Elmer's Bar-B-Q, brats and smoked turkey legs as part of the Minnesota park's Leaf Days. Wagon rides are also available. Profits from the event go toward a picnic shelter.
The park is located on Highway 108 between Pelican Rapids and Perham.
See a guide to a tour of changing colors on the back of this section.
Maria vs. Mozart
VIENNA, Austria - Salzburg tourism officials are considering building a museum devoted to the film "The Sound of Music."
ADVERTISEMENT
Discussions are under way to create a center about the von Trapp family, whose story was told in the 1965 Hollywood classic about a family singing troupe that flees the Nazis, Salzburg Deputy Gov. Wilfried Haslauer said.
About 300,000 people visit Salzburg each year simply because of the movie.
Tourism surveys show that three out of four Americans come to Salzburg, the former home of the real-life von Trapp family, because of the musical.
Once in Salzburg, many tourists ignore composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the city's most famous native son, to tour sites featured in the movie and participate in sing-alongs of famous melodies from the film.
- Compiled by John Lamb
