When Al Seeger woke up after his October 2009 Showtime fight against Victor Fronseca in Texas, he immediately called Dr. Bill Dascombe, his plastic surgeon in Savannah. Seeger knew he was in trouble; he was hurt pretty badly. He explained to the doctor that during the fight he was severely injured and didn’t trust that the San Antonio hospital would give him the kind of attention he needed. A cry for help like this from a professional, hard-nosed, well-seasoned and self-proclaimed “grimy” fighter was certainly nothing to ignore. Dascombe sent him directly to a sports specialist who worked with the San Antonio Spurs.

The racing and vintage sports car enthusiasts of Savannah’s Oglethorpe Driving Club are out to revive Savannah’s somewhat forgotten history as a major center of automobile racing and, if they have their way, bring it back to the place of international racing fame it held a century ago.

The city of Savannah is known for many things—Southern cooking, art, architecture and history, just to name a few. The thrill of white-knuckled, heart-pounding spectacle, however, probably wouldn’t appear on a contemporary list of reasons to visit the Hostess City. But about a century ago, that’s exactly what Savannah was known for the world over. Little does the common tourist know, there’s a racing resurgence in the South.

Just what is it that most defines a person? Is it the job they do, or how they walk? Is it their relationship to family, or the totality of their accomplishments? Is it what they leave behind? Or is it something else entirely?

With the Mayan deadline approaching, the idea of doomsday prepping is at an all-time high. But you can relax; here is the smart guy’s approach to not only surviving the apocalypse but thriving through all this end of the world stuff.

Athletic competition is by nature taxing and challenging, but add in mud pits, rocky terrain, steep hills, costumes, fire and other wild obstacles, and thrill-seekers are faced with a whole new breed of racing. Considering that the courses involve things like running through creeks, swimming in swamp water and crawling through drainpipes, it’s no wonder the phenomenon of adventure racing has found a home here in the dirty, dirty South.

When Jack Nicolas, Jeff Burton, or the owner of the Royal Bank of Scotland need handcrafted fighting chairs for their mega-yachts, who do they go see? Savannah local Sam Peters and his crew of craftsmen.

There is something peaceful about Savannah at 5 a.m. The streets are empty, the stores are closed, and there is a soft calm that hangs in the air like Spanish moss. For nearly 20 years, a small cadre of dedicated Savannahians have taken advantage of this predawn quiet to log more trips around Forsyth Park than most will in a lifetime.

What’s better than listening to music outdoors on a sunny Saturday in Savannah? Knowing that the great music is going to last all day, in both outdoor and indoor venues throughout the city. Savannah Stopover’s fourth and final day meant music starting at noon, this year at the beautiful Ships of the Sea museum. I had no idea that this venue had a gorgeous, meticulously manicured back courtyard perfect for the acoustic, folksy rock that played throughout the day like Electrophoria, Young Benjamin, Dare Dukes, Powerkompany, Young Benjamin and The Viking Progress.

Day #3 of the Savannah Stopover got off to a bit of a slow start. Rainy weather, the Shamrock Run, and I think sheer exhaustion from two great nights of music on Wednesday and Thursday had fans and bands moving a little sluggishly Friday at 4 p.m. But things took off when local favorites Country Mice took the stage at Congress Street Social Club. Playing solid rock ‘n’ roll, declaring one of their songs a belated birthday present to Dr. Seuss, they had the room filled and people clapping and dancing already at 5pm.

As the Savannah Stopover music fest begins, nightlife writer Shawndra Russell helps you prepare for a rockin’ good time!

Dos and Don’ts of Attending Savannah Stopover

Do wear layers. Since there are 10 venues participating, you will be walking from place to place, and every venue will be different temperature-wise. Last night was a little chilly outside during shows by two bands in from Brooklyn, Dinosaur Feathers and Oberhofer. Their performances on the outdoor stage were set up on the street in front of Telfair Square, but the Jinx was toasty inside with everyone squeezed in to listen to Canada’s Each Other and a second set by Oberhofer.