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Lancaster Grand Prix promises downtown thrills and excitement

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Lancaster will be roaring and revving with high-powered excitement Sept. 26-28 as the sixth annual Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix winds its way through downtown. Each autumn, Lancaster hosts one of the west coast’s largest and most prestigious professional KART street races. The event draws hundreds of North America’s elite drivers, all vying for the title of “fastest street course racer.”

The Streets of Lancaster is largely funded by sponsorship from local businesses and organizations. Tens of thousands of spectators have attended past races, and organizers expect to see even more racing enthusiasts this year. Traffic will be cordoned off along all streets in the vicinity of downtown Lancaster.

“The Streets of Lancaster is one of my favorite events,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “The competitive community races combined with electrifying high-speed professional races make this event truly entertaining on multiple levels. However, nothing compares to the feeling of seeing thousands of families, friends and neighbors from all over the Valley gather here in downtown Lancaster. This is what community is all about.”

The road race will be held in conjunction with a street fair and festival on both days. Saturday’s lineup will also include a “cruise-in” car show; a classic car show and live entertainment. Past sponsors of the race have included the City of Lancaster, Lancaster Honda, AV Web Designs, Andy Gump, American Medical Response, Re/Max Realty, Antelope Valley Harley Davidson, Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Antelope Valley Press, Bex Bar and Grill, Time Warner Cable, Sun Power Corporation, Edwards Federal Credit Union, Sierra Toyota/Scion and Valleywide Dental. A VIP race event will allow sponsors to enter the competition with their own driver.

“The Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix is a tremendous partnership opportunity for any product or service,” said Ronda Perez, director of Lancaster Department of Parks, Recreation and Arts. “The event offers the ability for sponsors to align their brand with one of the west coast’s premier KART racing events. Imagine yourself racing the streets of downtown Lancaster in a KART covered in your company’s custom brand and image, all while supporting one of the Antelope Valley’s most anticipated fall events.”

The route will travel primarily along Lancaster Boulevard east to Elm/Ehrlich Avenue, then west to Date Avenue, and north back to Lancaster Boulevard. Practice runs and qualifying will take place along the official race route.

A media challenge race will be broadcast live on the first morning. Local corporations and firms will also have the opportunity to compete that day in the annual Corporate Challenge. Qualifying sessions will begin on Saturday morning, as will the opening ceremonies, followed by the Mayor’s Gold Cup race, the Gun and Horses Race and the VIP BLVD Champ Series. Although racing will take place in various formats throughout the weekend, Sunday is the big day for the professionals. Closing ceremonies will begin not long after the winners are announced. Street entertainment, the classic car show (Saturday only), music and special race exhibits will take place from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The three-day schedule will follow generally last year’s timetable with pit parking and registration taking place tentatively Friday morning at 10 a.m., followed by the first of several VIP practice runs beginning at 1 p.m. The BLVD Association heat is tentatively scheduled for  3 p.m.; practice for the Mayor’s race starts at 7 p.m. and the corporate challenge will begin at 8 p.m.

Gates will open and registration will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Opening ceremonies are tentatively scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and the street festival will get underway by noon. The popular car show will begin 4 p.m. and the first of several VIP heats will begin at 4:30 p.m. and continue through 7 p.m. The BLVD Champ final is tentatively set for 8 p.m., and trophies will be awarded for the top classic cars at 8:30 p.m.

Racing fans can enter the gates at 7 a.m. on Sunday and witness several practice sessions and various heats throughout the morning. Primary races will begin at 12:30 p.m. with podium presentations taking at 3:30 p.m. All times within the three-day schedule are subject to change.

Local sponsorship is a vital aspect of the Street of Lancaster Grand Prix. City officials attest that those corporations opting to sponsor a car or spectator event can reap the benefits of increased business exposure. Many past sponsors have reported a net return on investment as a result of increased tourism to Lancaster and the general vicinity.

The United States Pro KART Series  (USPKS) completed its second season in mid-August at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. Dylan Tavella was one of the season’s most successful drivers, claiming the U.S./Rotax Max National Championship and the USPKS Series championship. Among last year’s most successful teams at the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix were 2Wild Karting, Mike Manning Karting, Pure Karting, Phil Giebler Racing, Leading Edge Motorsports and Buddy Rice Karting. Prior to the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, many of the drivers likely participated in the Lake Elsinore Storm “Temp Track” event early this month. The annual awards banquet for drivers, teams and sponsors will take place on Oct. 25 at the Riverside International Automobile Museum.

KART racing (“karting”) is similar to open-wheel motorsport racing with small, open four-wheel vehicles usually competing on a scaled down circuit. Many of today’s biggest names in Indy, Formula 1 and Formula A racing began in KART racing. Don’t let the small size fool you . . . speeds have been known to reach just over 110 miles per hour.

Go Kart Manufacturing Co. in 1958 was believed generally to be the first American firm to make KARTS, although McCulloch (the famous chain saw manufacturer) made the first engines in 1959. Later, motorcycle engines were adapted for KART use. Chassis are steel tube, but the real challenge in manufacturing is to develop a flexible chassis because the little vehicles have no suspension. KART chassis are classified in the United States as either “open,” “caged,” “straight” or “offset.” So-called “open” KARTS have no roll cage, while “caged” KARTS (driven primarily on dirt tracks) do have a roll cage that surrounds the driver. The driver sits in the center in a “straight” chassis, and in “offset” cars, the driver will sit on the left side.

As with any road racing machine, brakes are used at a minimum—mostly for entering turns. KART vehicles use disc brakes mounted on the rear axle; small KART classes use front disc brakes.

Racing KARTS rely on small two-stroke or four-stroke engines, often modified to develop up to 50 horsepower. Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh, Kohler, Robin and Honda are popular engine manufacturers. Transmissions do not have a differential, therefore one rear tire is always “sliding” while cornering. This is achieved by designing the chassis so that the inside rear tire actually lifts up slightly when the KART hits a corner. The tire does lose some grip or even slide, and depending on how fast the driver takes a corner, lifts off the ground completely.

Power is supplied to the rear axle by a simple chain; early KARTS were direct-drive only and a second person had to literally push the vehicle to start it.

There are a number of different tires designed for specific track conditions.  “Slicks” are used on a dry track, “wets” are used in rainy weather (grooved and narrower than slicks), and for icy conditions, “spiked” tires are often used. Another tire, “cuts,” are used for muddy and dirt/clay courses and offer maximum grip to the road surface.

Racing classes begin internationally at ages 7 or 8 (5 years of age among “Kid KARTS” in the United States). Senior status begins at ages 15 or 16 years.

Race formats include “sprint” which takes place on dedicated KART circuits (small road courses) where drivers must navigate left and right turns. Sprint courses usually span anywhere from one-quarter mile to just over a complete mile. The sprint format is usually a series of short-duration races; KART World Championship is a sprint race.

The “endurance” races can last up to 24 hours or more for a team of drivers (similar to the “24 Hours of Le Mans” but driven considerably slower). In these KART contests, pit strategy is valued more than all out speed.

Speedway racing is usually done on asphalt or clay oval tracks measuring in length from about one-sixth to one-fourth of a mile. These courses consist primarily of two straights and four left-turn corners.

In any KART race, all drivers are required to wear a full-face helmet, a driving suit (abrasion-resistant overalls), gloves and driving boots.

KART racing is often the first step in a racing career. The most famous names who began in KART series racing include Michael Shumacher, Allan Proust, Jason Button, Darrell Waltrip, Danica Patrick, Lake Speed, Ricky Rudd, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon.

To participate in the Cruise-In Car Show, contact Gary Avant of All Things Engravable at (661) 945-5443. Vendor information may be obtained by contacting city of Lancaster representative Dan Munz at (661) 723-6234 or contact him online at dmunz@cityoflancaster.org. For information regarding sponsorship opportunities, call the Lancaster Parks, Recreation and Arts Department at (661) 723-6077.

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