(GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN) December 19 – Motorsports author Joe Verdegan of Green Bay has released his 2019 tour schedule for his fourth book “The Bird & The Bear,” published by Pedal Down Promotions of Manitowoc, Wis.

The book chronicles a pair of Northeastern Wisconsin racing legends – Kimberly’s Roger “The Bear” Regeth and Appleton’s J.J. “The Tweety Bird” Smith. In their racing careers spanning several decades starting in the 1960’s, the pair racked up several hundred feature wins and multiple track championships along the way on both dirt and asphalt ovals across Northeastern Wisconsin.

The tour includes a pair of radio show appearances, two motorsports related shows and stops at three Northeastern Wisconsin race tracks that Regeth and Smith experienced a great deal of success in their colorful careers.

The ’19 Tour kicks off Monday night, Jan. 21, 2019 at the Big Apple Pub & Grill in Manitowoc on “Sports Talk” on 1240 WOMT AM with hosts Greg Anderson and Brian Norton. Stop two will be at the fourth annual Luxemburg Racing Show Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg.

Stop number three will be at the 5th annual NEW MOTORAMA at Shopko Hall in Green Bay Friday thru Sunday March 29-31. The tour then heads south to West Allis Tuesday, April 2 at the famed Milwaukee Mile at Paulie’s Pub for the 35th season of host Jim Tretow’s “Racing Roundup” show.

Shawano Speedway, the famed half-mile where both Regeth and Smith are members of the track’s Hall of Fame, will host a signing at their season opening race Saturday, April 13. Outagamie Speedway in Seymour powered by Eastern Wisconsin Stock Car, another track where “The Bird” and “The Bear” boast several track titles, will host a signing at their season lid lifter Friday night, May 10 at the Outagamie County Fairgrounds.

The final leg of the ’19 Tour will be at Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna for the second annual “Pre-Season Pit Party” Thursday night, May 16.

“What these signings have evolved into is a true racer’s reunion for both former drivers and fans alike,” Verdegan said. “Those two legendary drivers will be attending some of these signings next year.”

Verdegan’s other books include “Life In The Past Lane – a history of stock car racing in Northeast Wisconsin from 1950-1980” (released 2015), “Wisconsin International Raceway – Where The Big Ones Run” (released 2016) and “Life In The Past Lane – The Next Generation” (released 2017).

All four of Verdegan’s books can be obtained through the following venues:

Amazon.com
Coastal181.com
barnesandnoble.com Barnes and Noble (print on demand)
Muenster Shell (Green Bay)
Bosse’s News (Green Bay)
Book Stop (Green Bay)
Bay Speed Center (De Pere)
Hobby Town (Ashwaubenon)
Hank N Karen’s Pub (Appleton)
Right Foot Performance (Appleton)