Sports : Lil Racer Club to offer activities for children at Benton County Speedway

A new club for chldren, the Lil' Racer Car Club, Inc., is beginning this year for the young fans of the Benton County Speedway. The club will be available for free for area children under age 14, and will include a variety of activities.

A fund-raising bowling event is scheduled for March 24, at Berry's Lanes, from 2-4 p.m. Cost is $12 per person and includes bowling, shoes, pizza and pop. I-Wireless is a title sponsor.

Lil’ Racer Car Club, INC. Q and A

(1)What is the Lil’ Racer Car Club?

The Lil’ Racer Car Club was created in 2005 to provide recreational, educational, and entertainment opportunities to young race fans at local race tracks.

(2)What does the name mean?

The name was chosen to represent Lil’ Racers-kids at race tracks who are there to watch their parents race or have friends that are racing. Some of these kids dream of being racers themselves, some day. It is called a car club because all kids like to be part of something growing up. They strive for that sense of belonging to something with their friends.

(3)What is the history of the Lil’ Racer Car Club?

The Lil’ Racer Car Club was established in the winter of 2005 at West Liberty Raceway and on our first night at the track there, we signed in five members!

We have steadily grown over the years to include 1100 members under the age of 14 and operate in 2012 at 6 tracks in Eastern Iowa and Eastern Illinois. West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, , 34 Raceway in Burlington, and NEW in 2012, Benton County Speedway in Vinton, and Quad City speedway in East Moline, Illinois.

(4)What do our kids race?

Our members DO NOT race anything with motors. They do race boxcars-cars made out of cardboard, which fit over the kids and they run in them. We also have Gunny Sack races on the dirt tracks. We do hope to have Big Wheel races at a later date with bicycle races being a possibility. Bike races and wheelbarrow racing for the adults have been held in the past.

(5)How old can you be to be a member of the club?

ALL kids under the age of 14 are welcome to become members of the Lil’ Racer Car Club. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE. Babies are eligible for prizes as are the older children.

(6)How much does it cost to be in the club?

Membership in the Lil’ Racer Car Club is entirely FREE to its members! Our philosophy is that, “Kids should not have to pay to have fun!” The only things in the booth that we charge money for would be earplugs, decals, or apparel, when available.

(7)How do you sign up?

We will have applications available online, or just stop by our booth when you arrive at the track. We will have a short application form for you to fill out. We respect your child’s privacy, so we have shortened the application this year. When you have filled the application out, give it back to us and we will give your son/daughter a lanyard with a plastic holder and their “Lil’ Racer Car Club Permit”.

This is their VIP pass, similar to what the big people wear at basketball games. Kids are VIP’s to us-Very Important People!

(8)What should I do with my permit each week after the races are over?

Your permit and lanyard are yours throughout the season. Bring it with you each time you are at the track and come to the booth when you arrive. After the races are over-put it in a safe place where you will remember where you put it, or give it to your parents and they can keep it for you. They are expensive to us and we don’t like to replace them very often.

(9)What is the “Free Table”?

We will have a table next to us called the Free Table. Here you will find our candy bowl, filled with free candy and healthy snacks of all different kinds each week. We will have coloring books and colors, pamphlets dealing with issues that affect children, Frisbees, and all donated items given to us by friends of the club. We will also have our cooler, filled with ices or juice boxes!

(10)Do you have a schedule?

We have a copy of our schedule posted at the club’s website and will have copies available at our booths at each track. We will also hang posters of special Lil’ racer events around the track and cities we are in, so be on the lookout for those!

(11) Do you have a website?

We can be found at: www.lilracercarclub.comand our email address is: lilracercarclub@gmail.com Club information can also be found at various racing web pages, and on Facebook at Lil’ Racer Car Club, INC.

(12) What is the “Birthday Club”?

When you originally filled out your application sheet, we hope you put down your birthday and birth year. On our website we have the Birthday Club. When we add your name to the calendar pages, you can click on your birthday and see your name and friends that might have the same birthday as you!

(14) Who works in the booth?

I will plan on being the booth each Friday night at Hawkeye Downs and on Saturdays in West Liberty. Friends of the club work at our other locations. Volunteers to assist me are always welcome! Stop by and introduce yourself! It is a great job for parents and/or grandparents, or people who just like kids and racing!

(15) This sounds like a lot. Who pays for all of this?

The Lil’ Racer Car Club is a 501©3 non- profit public charity which means that donations and sponsorships are tax deductible. We have an EIN number that is available upon request. We are an all-volunteer organization that pays no one a salary! We exist because of supporters of racing and kids who will sponsor the club or provide donations of items to us. We can be found on the United Way of Johnson County website.

(16) Since you are a public charity, do you have a Board of Directors?

We have a Board of Directors, an accountant, a lawyer, teachers and service workers. We welcome anyone who would like to be on our Board to let us know. Many decisions need to be made to run a club of this size.

(17) Can I make a donation to the club?

We will have a free-will donation container on the table each week, if you would like to donate, but it is not necessary to be a member. We accept donators to be responsible for candy in the candy bowl, ice pops or juice boxes for the coolers, or any free items that you would like us to give away at the table. We will not sell your items, however. We will ALWAYS accept new toys, shirts, decals, and similar things to give away to kids.

(18) Can I be a Lil’ Racer Car Club Sponsor?

Sponsorships are available for the club, just contact Mitch at the above email address or contact the track promoter and he can contact us. Certain tracks, such as Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Benton County Speedway offer attractive club sponsorship packages as well.

(19) I have a question but it is not listed here.

Contact me at the above email address and I will answer it here as soon as possible.

Thank-you!

Mitch Swinton, President

Lil’ Racer Car Club, INC.