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| East Bay Raceway Park Opens New School Visit Program at Palmetto Elementary | by Bill Green
Tampa, FL (Oct. 16th, 2003) East Bay Raceway Park is only 30 minutes north of Palmetto Elementary School, but a world away from the average student.
Then again Palmetto's well thought-out Elementary School program has a vision for student's that perked East Bay Raceway Park's interest. See, official's at this elementary school entered the 2003-2004 school year with the theme, "Racing The Race!"
Referring of course to the big race of life through education, yet leaving room for a little fun. East Bay Raceway Park's "School Visit Program" adds in the fun with the education, as junior race fans learn seat belt & helmet safety, protective clothing requirements, fire safety and more, all while sitting in a real race ready car.
"Racing The Race," soon began to take on bigger meaning around Palmetto, like NASCAR racing and the education it takes to market, design and operate such a diverse sport. Let's face it, auto racing takes hundreds of engineers, mathematicians and computer operators to put on each weekend's performance seen on national television.
So, East Bay Raceway Park thought what a great opportunity to launch it's School Visit Program, showing families how racing brings the family together every weekend and can motivate kids to do well in school.
Visiting Palmetto Elementary School would be local Sarasota race driver Paulie Milum and his 360 cubic inch, alcohol burning, 750 horsepower, winged sprint car. Along with Paulie's young son, 6 year old David and his 50cc, full racing chassis go-kart. Racers as young as 5 years of age can begin their racing careers in these 5 to 7 year old starter karts, while dads often race the senior divisions.
Clyde "Elvis" Poole brought along his brand new Limited Sprint car, still un-skinned, so students and parents could see the inner workings of the car. Plus he brought his current race ready, fully skinned car, for comparison. Clyde's race trailer was a big hit also,
as it doesn't hurt to be the owner of Poole's Paint & Body when you want to get attention with your hauler's paint job.
The George family showed the crowd that girls are racers too! Dad, Tim George, displayed his yellow Limited Sprint, while young Becky, seven, and Susanne, eleven, both showed off their go-kart racing machines. Becky and Susanne both have beaten many a male driver under the checkered flag.
Also on hand to show off their race vehicles were East Bay Raceway Park Co-Owner's Dean Varnadore and Fred Lay. While Dean has a trailer full of go-karts for his and his brother Al's kids to race on the go-kart track, Fred Lay brought out his Pro Truck Series racing truck, that seemed to a big hit with several of the student's dads.
Another interesting display for the elementary age, junior race fans, were the go-karts and information at the Ambassador Racing School training program table. Students learned that they do not have to own a racing go-kart to go racing. Ambassador Racing offers training for every age and skill level. Located in Balm, Florida, Ambassador Raceway is also just around the corner from Palmetto.
The last of the race car displays was a Dad with his own elementary schooler. Jim Greenwood is affectionately known as "Psycho Dad" at the track, but his years of dedication to local racing, the community and East Bay Raceway Park find him in a league of his own. Jim has seen very few, if any, Victory Lanes. His effort is under funded verses the bigger names in street stock racing, yet the Greenwood Family is proud of their wide-tired number 19 machine, and Jim likes it that way.
"It's not the winning that counts so much, but watching the eyes light up in my daughter when I even start the car up." Jim says, "Don't get me wrong, I love to compete and I'd love to win more, but this School Visits Program is fantastic. I hope we get to do it more often!"
East Bay Raceway Park's visit to Palmetto Elementary School was only 3-hours long. Not every student or parent knew the displays were going on, but those that visited with the racers, came away with a different view of Saturday Night, dirt stock car racing. They now know that it truly is, "FUN AND DIRTY!"
East Bay Raceway Park is located 5-miles south of Interstate-4, on US Hwy-41. Racing continues every Saturday Night through November 15th. Remember, at East Bay Raceway Park parking is always FREE, kids under 12 get FREE grandstand entry and the Special Family seating section means everyone has fun!
Call the track office at 813-677-RACE (7223) for more information about school visits, or visit Palmetto Elementary School's office for a special, 2-for-1 Adult Admission coupon and visit us at East Bay Raceway Park.
We'll see You at The RACES!
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