Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ren Vasiliev, a former scorer for an endurance race team, has published a scholarly book exploring the origins of the names of about 2500 places in New York state.

The book, called From Abbotts To Zurich, New York State Placenames, is published by Syracuse University Press.

Vasiliev handled scoring for The Swine Dudes, which became Team Pearls Suzuki, in the WERA National Endurance Series from 1989 through 1995. The team, which won three class Championships, was co-owned by Vasiliev’s husband-at-the-time, Peter Jones, and Tim Taylor.

Vasiliev is an associate professor and chair of the Geography Department of the State University of New York, College at Geneseo.

More information is available from www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu