DID YOU KNOW:
...That Indy car drivers have nothing on the racers in Henderson and beyond? On Memorial Day weekend, you could feel the tension in the drivers' meeting amidst the new cars, new track, and rookie drivers. The May 28th Ford Country 500 was preceded by “open track testing" on Friday, and brought a great turnout to “dial in” the final speed tweaks. The race opened with coffee and donuts, a tech inspection and finally the main event — RACING!
Seventy eight of the sport's fastest Pinewood racers were sitting in the pit area and formal racing started promptly at 10:30. Driver ages ranged from 8 to 88 and the colors, graphics, and custom appearances of the cars was spectacular. The big guns included the team from Shelby American, Colorpoint Body and Paint, and a multi-time Champion from California. There were so many fast cars and some super close racing that made the recorded finishes requiring a “going to the tape.” Great Stuff.
Three months earlier, the planning started and the inaugural Ford Country 500 was underway. A great team of Ford Country employees pulled together to create a fantastic event. Every racer got to run their cars at least twice, and most three or four times to make the finals. Our electronic score keeper gave up the ghost, making the eyewitnesses and video recordings true lifesavers. The young ones were kept busy with their free Hot Wheels cars on the Hot Wheels track: the best babysitter we’ve ever seen.
The free BBQ was a hit and the first event overall was a blast. A lot a folks have been asking us not to wait a full year for the next one. We did learn this: don’t have it on a holiday weekend. Thank you to Ford Country, Mustang Sally's Diner, and to all the great folks and their families who raced with us.
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