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Articles by Ryan Smithemail
As many as 5 socialists could join City Council after election successes Tuesday
If their success on Tuesday carries over to the April runoff election, as many as five members of the Democratic Socialists of America could be on the Chicago City Council — the most in more than a century. Two won aldermanic seats outright. Three others made the runoffs. “The oligarchs are shaking in their boots tonight,” Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) told supporters Tuesday at Puebla Restaurant celebrating his re-election over challenger Amanda Yu Dieterich.
Motor Row's road to recovery: Chicago’s forgotten auto corridor revs up again
Chicago’s one-time automotive destination, Motor Row, hasn’t weathered time as well as its counterparts, like the Magnificent Mile or Jewelers Row, and the role the city once played in the American auto industry is also often overlooked. “It’s been overshadowed by other industries — meatpacking, railroads, and steel,” said Peter Alter, a curator at the Chicago History Museum.
Get your kicks: Illinois’ 10 must-see Route 66 roadside attractions
Route 66 is more than a sprawling, 2,440-mile connection between Chicago and Los Angeles. It’s a destination unto itself. Designated in 1926 as the nation’s first-ever all-weather highway linking Chicago to Los Angeles, the iconic roadway literally put the idea of the cross-country road trip on the map.
'Like motorsports Disney World': Drive like a pro at a high-speed test track
John Foley’s hands were in constant motion. He twisted his steering wheel back and forth to weave his car through a series of yellow- and red-colored cones. The Libertyville man needed to zip through the course in under 23.5 seconds to have a shot at winning this autocross time trial. It was easier said than done. As Foley’s sedan snaked past the last set of obstacles and skidded to a stop, he checked his recorded time — 25.8 seconds — and shrugged. “It looks like I’m kind of maxed out,” he said.
Driverless cars are coming: When will they arrive in Chicago?
Human beings are still in the driver’s seat at this year’s Chicago Auto Show — but drivers may soon be an endangered species. At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, rows of booths showcasing the latest gadgets were dotted with displays from automobile makers presenting vehicles like Toyota’s Research Institute’s TRI-P4: a Lexus LS sedan able to drive itself.
From floor mats to gaskets, the Chicago area's auto industry keeps us all moving
An estimated 600 companies made parts and accessories in the Chicago area during the auto industry’s big boom a century ago. Most are gone, but several area manufacturers are still making goods that make your car — or truck or bus — go, or make it go better. Here are six local standouts that continue to innovate: Navistar Lisle This massive global company traces its history back to the mid-19th century when Cyrus McCormick began producing reaper machines.
Cruise down memory lane at 7 Chicago-area car museums
Whether you dream of speedy hot rods, vintage Fords or one-of-a-kind celebrity vehicles — including three Batmobiles — the Chicago area has a wide range of car museums and collections for gearheads and pop culture aficionados alike. Here are seven of the best showrooms that are a quick drive from downtown: The 1966 TV series Batmobile was built from a 1955 Lincoln concept car by George Barris of Barris Kustoms.
What was it like trying to kick Cody Parkey's 43-yard field goal? Amateur hour
Some say you should walk a mile in another man’s shoes before judging them. But does that maxim still apply when you’re kicking a field goal in an NFL placekicker’s cleats? Goose Island Brewing Company believed so when they came up with the cheeky premise behind Saturday’s Field Goal Challenge. Do you hate Cody Parkey’s guts for double-doinking that 43-yard kick off of the goal posts? Well, then you try it, buddy.
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