RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
Longtime print and broadcast journalist Bud Wilkinson is a native of Harwinton, CT. He is a graduate of Vermont Academy in Saxtons Rivers, VT and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH where he earned a B.A. in journalism.
Early in his career he was a reporter and TV/Radio Writer for “The Columbus Dispatch” in Ohio. He then spent 10 years as TV/Radio Columnist for “The Arizona Republic” in Phoenix. That was followed by an eight-year stint as Entertainment Reporter/Critic-At-Large for KSAZ-TV/Fox 10 in Phoenix.
While at Channel 10, he covered Super Bowl XXX and the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He won a Scripps Howard National Journalism Award for a series on adult literacy and a regional Emmy Award for commentary.
During his years at Channel 10, he also served entertainment reporter for news/talk KTAR radio and as “off-ice” reporter for Phoenix Roadrunners’ International Hockey League telecasts on the regional sports network ASPN.
In 1997, Wilkinson launched the radio show “Broadway’s Biggest Hits” on KOY in Phoenix. It became nationally syndicated a year later. It aired nationwide on such stations as K-Surf in Los Angeles, KABL in San Francisco, KEZW in Denver, CKWW in Detroit, KIXI in Seattle and WOKY in Milwaukee.
The show aired on six stations in Connecticut, including WDRC in Hartford, WQUN in Hamden and WINE in Brookfield.
For nearly 20 years, he has wrote the monthly “RIDE-CT” motorcycle column for “The Republican-American” newspaper in Waterbury, CT. For the past nine years, he has written the weekly “My Ride” classic car feature for the newspaper, which also appears in Heart’s newspapers across the state, including the “Connecticut Post” in Bridgeport, the “New Haven Register” and more.
In mid-July 2023, he also became the interim host of the “Talk of the Town” chat show on WATR (AM 1320, FM 97.7) radio in Waterbury, CT and stayed in the position through September.
Over the years, he has also freelanced for such magazines/print publications as “Arizona Highways,” “Motorcycle Classics,” “Connecticut” magazine, Arizona “Diamondbacks,” “Arizona Golf Journal,” “Electronic Media” and “Variety.”
He currently drives a 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata and rides a 1987 BMW R 80 RT.
Email: budw@ride-ct.com Phone: 860-485-3118
