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Electrified Sports Cars take on the Duryea Hillclimb

Reading Magazine
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Electrified Sports Cars take on the Duryea Hillclimb

Race cars rumbled up Duryea Drive again this weekend for the 66th annual Duryea Hillclimb. Showcasing the regions top automotive talent drivers make their way up Mt. Penn navigating hairpin turns on their way to the famous Pagoda, then speed towards the finish line past the Fire Tower.

For spectators, the thrill of the day is hearing the cars thunder up the mountain. However, this year Duryea Hillclimb featured two electric powered cars that left many stunned to at the low hum of the electric sports racers.

We caught up with EVSR drivers Mike Wilson and Todd Reid Saturday before the race to get a closer look under the hood of these slick electrified cars.

“People who see us drive by don’t understand why the car is so quite, especially at the start line where other cars are revving their engine loudly” says Todd Reid.

Electric cars work a little different than your average gas powered car. For starts the cars are powered by two sets of 25 daisy chained batteries. This provides ample power to reach speeds more than 100+ mph and last the entire weekend without a recharge.

The power travels from the batteries to the controller computers and then over to the two motors. This is where the two cars are unique. One is outfitted with a standard 4.75 gear ratio and the other uses a changeable ratio. The changeable ratio can be adjusted in as quick as 3 minutes up to a 6.50.

Stepping into the drivers seat is something out of a SciFi movie. Your surrounded by heavy duty roll bars with only a tachometer, power meter and steering wheel in front of you. Unlike regular cars these electric cars don’t shift or use standard breaking. Saving power, the electric motors run in reverse during braking downhill to rechange the batteries.

“There a great tool to make a person a better driver because you can really concentrate on just driving [when] you eliminate the noise of the engine” said Mike Wilson.

Get an inside look at what it takes to drive these electric cars with our exclusive video interview with Todd Reid and Mike Wilson of Team EVSR.

Muhlenberg Author publishes Sci-Fi Trilogy ‘Coming of Angels’

Jason Hugg
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Muhlenberg Author publishes Sci-Fi Trilogy ‘Coming of Angels’

For one Muhlenburg resident, there is more to life than what we see around us. Erie happenings, unidentified phenomenon, strange coincidence. For all her life M.J. Banks has been interested in the the scientific unknown, but it wasn’t until 2005 when she thought about writing as a way to reach other with the same interests.

Banks began with a simple goal, write a sci-fi story people could relate to. However, it didn’t take over night, banks took her time writing over several years. It all started with the purchase of a laptop. Banks would sit and write out her ideas steadily building the framework that would become a trilogy. Following her retirement, Banks decided it was time to dedicate all of her time to complete and publishing her first book.

The result of her years of work is the Coming of Angels trilogy, with the first book titled Strange Happenings. Strange Happenings made its debut in April of 2017. Although it’s science fiction, Banks has added elements of her own life experiences into the trilogy. One of these instances is the main charters daughter who has Autism. This was especially important for Banks to include as her own family has a history of Autism. “Just because someone has Autism doesn’t mean they can’t live a full life”.

Coming of Angels is based on the life of Jack Branden, an award-winning journalist who becomes involved in doing research for a UFO documentary. During his research, he discovers there are similarities between an experience his wife had one night, and people claiming to be abducted by aliens. His research takes him to Roswell, England, and Belgium. As strange things begin to happen to his daughters, the overwhelming evidence that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the Universe prompts him to embark on a quest for the truth.

New to the publishing world Banks found an unlikely partnership with Masthof Press in Morgantown. Looking for an editor Banks contacted Masthof Press to read over her book. Known for publishing local history, life stories, memoirs and more Masthof quickly took an interested in Banks and offered to publisher her trilogy. “They are amazing to work with, the cover art came out exactly how I envisioned it.” Banks Said.

With her first book in print and distributed on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program Banks is hoping reach people from around the world. “Iv’e heard from people as far away as Wiltshire England on Facebook who said they loved the book”.

Although writing a trilogy is new territory for her, Banks want to encourage others to do what they love. “People should follow their dreams and stick with it.”

Banks next book in the trilogy titled Contact is scheduled to be release September 2017.

Good Samaritans help Reading Police K9 Unit with flat tire on 422

Reading Magazine
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Good Samaritans help Reading Police K9 Unit with flat tire on 422

If you travel any part of 422 on a regular basis you have certainly seen your fair share of police, usually waiting to catch speeders. However, this was not the case last Saturday in Oaks when west bound drivers passed a Reading Police K9 Unit vehicle with a flat tire sitting on the side of the road.

It’s been a long week for K-9 Hemi and his handler, Reading Police Officer Hector Santiago. After becoming ill earlier in the week Hemi was sent to a vet in Philadelphia for treatment. Feeling better, it was time for Hemi’s return home.

With no warning the tire on Officer Santiago’s Police SUV suddenly blew out leaving him no choice but to pull over of the shoulder of 422. Thinking he could use the spare Santiago searched for the lug wrench and tire only to find the placement of the spare tire to be in a less than desirable place.

His other issue was traffic, being only feet away from the white line of the highway made changing the tire nearly impossible by himself. With a call into a tow truck and no other help Santiago was stuck waiting on the side of the road.

Spenser Sandoval was not having the best day on Saturday. If being overworked from his 3 jobs wasn’t enough, he found himself receiving a speeding ticket from Pottstown Police while driving on Route 100 in the morning. Now driving up from Valley Forge on 422 Sandoval spotted a police car on the side of the road, but something didn’t seem right to him. That’s when he noticed the flat tire. As an car enthusiast he thought he would stop and see if he could help.

“My sister is a State Park Ranger so I respect the field, even though a cop gave me a ticket this morning, one wrong doesn’t mean I can’t help a guy out” said Sandoval.

After speaking with Officer Santiago about how long it would take a tow truck to arrive Sandoval made a call to his friends CJ and Richard Mckinney. As experienced car dealership mechanics, the three were very confident they could get Officer Santiago back on the road in a very short time.

After Officer Santiago cleared his trunk of weapons and emergency equipment, the trio was now ready to pull out the spare. “They don’t make it easy, we actually had to remove some of the bottom paneling just to get to the tire. It took us longer than expected” said Sandoval.

Once out of the trunk the tire was changed in no time. Being next to traffic, Sandoval recalls the his time on the side of the highway. “A few people driving by were laughing, I saw an empty tow truck drive by and surprisingly no other police”.

Of course timing is everything and once the tire was changed the tow truck arrived. With all of the work already done Sandoval and his friends jumped back into their cars and followed Officer Santiago up to Pottstown where they exited to head back home.

It didn’t take to long for word to spread about their good deed on social media. Grateful for the thanks, Sandoval hopes more people will take the time to help others in need, no matter who they are. “I wanna show people that not all cops are bad, they have a long day every single day, if I can make their day better than i’m going to do it.”

Extremely happy for their help, Officer Santiago took to social media to congratulate Sandoval and his friends. “[Iv’e] Been a cop for 15 years and never had anyone do this for me. They are the reason why I believe they are good people who deserve my service. I’m proud to say I made new friends. Thank you guys and I truly hope you guys stay safe.” said Officer Santiago.

Georgio’s Pizzeria supports Penn Avenue trash clean up effort

Jason Hugg
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Georgio’s Pizzeria supports Penn Avenue trash clean up effort

When school is out kids hit the streets spending long days outside with friends, visiting carnivals and watching fireworks. For many who are old enough summer is also a great time to get a small job and earn money.

That’s was Aaron Stephenson’s idea, to find a job just to pay for a few small items over the summer. The only problem? He’s 13 years old, not quite the age to legally have a job. Not wanting to let his age limit his summer goals he began searching for a job anyway. At the suggestion of his father, Aaron stopped in to talk to Chris Posch, owner of Georgio’s Pizzeria in West Reading to see if he had any employment opportunities.

Like many of the small business owners on Penn Avenue Posch has always been frustrated with the trash problem on the sidewalks and street. It wasn’t until he met Aaron that he thought of a solution. Considering his age Posch gave Aaron a slightly different job offer than normal.

Work as a volunteer for a few hours a week and clean up the sidewalks of Penn Avenue. In return for his good service Posch would buy Aaron school supplies, new shoes or other items he might need.

Proud to have landed a summer job Aaron quickly accepted the offer and began working on the Avenue with a trash bucket, broom and dustpan provided by Georgio’s. Walking up and down the Avenue Aaron found himself meeting new people and business owners, who were all to eager to give him a little tip for his service.

Happy to help Aaron buy a few summer items Posch is hopeful more businesses on the Avenue will take his lead and sponsor youth volunteers to clean up the area. Looking towards the future Posch would like to expand the clean up effort to include the residential areas of West Reading as well.

So if you find yourself walking on the sidewalks of Penn Ave and you see Aaron with his broom and bucket, give him a five five and thank him for taking the intuitive to make the community of West Reading a better place.

Derek Evans raises awareness of POTS with book signing at Barnes & Noble

Jason Hugg
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Derek Evans raises awareness of POTS with book signing at Barnes & Noble

When life threw Exeter Township resident Derek Evans a curve ball 9 years ago with the diagnosis of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, he knew it would change his life. However, what he didn’t know is that he would eventually become a self published author.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, otherwise known as POTS was a condition Evans thought he knew. With any illness he had good days and bad. That all changed when he collapsed during a visit to an auto body shop in Shoemakersville.

Evans woke up from his collapse in an ambulance headed to Reading Hospital. With a few months of recovery in front of him he was forced to resign from his position as assistant branch manager from Hertz Rent a Car. Feeling defeated, he began writing out his thoughts and connecting with people online who have had similar experiences.

Through his journey, Evans found a supportive online community of people all across the world who were more than willing to talk about the disease and how it has effected their daily lives. This gave Evans the confidence begin formulating a book.

After about a year of interviews and in depth research he finally released his book titled “So Close to Death Yet So Far Away: A Story Based on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome”.

Looking to reach the community with his message Evans contacted Barnes & Noble in Wyomissing (where his book is sold locally) about hosting a book signing event.

Evans goal for writing the book is all about educating the public on POTS. As an invisible illness with no cure, Evans feels people may pass it off as something that isn’t big deal.

“If someone has a more common illness like Diabetes, you just say this is what I have and people know what you’re talking about. My goal in the future is that people know what [POTS] is and people that have it can be open about it”.

Although he didn’t think he would ever become an author, Evans is enjoying the opportunity to meet new people and producing his annual charity softball tournament in Limerck, which benefits the Standing up to POTS organization.

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