Two-wheelers scooting to Orlando for Sport Compact Challenge

When Orlando Speed World Dragway's Carl Weisinger put out the word about the $50,000 World Sport Compact Challenge he was encouraged by event co-promoter, David Vidal, to add a scooter class as a little something extra.  

"We hoped to have a handfull of scooters from around the local area and posted a modest purse for them," Weisinger said.  

But it looks like the lure of a champion’s jacket, a world class champion’s trophy and the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans at the historic Central Florida track hit the Puerto Rican Scooter Team hard. A half dozen of these mighty missiles are secured in a container, on a ship and on course to Florida from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
 
The World Sport Compact Challenge is scheduled for October 26-28 and features only one class of cars. The engines are limited to a four-cylinder, two- or three-rotor, inline six-cylinder or a V-6 of import origin with overhead cams, and must be cloaked in a sport compact car. The quickest 16 of the group will square off in "Orlando Style" heads up, pro tree competition for $20,000 to win.

There's another $5,000 up for low E.T. of the event and more cash awards for those quickest in their engine category.  There is a second chance race using a dial-in, full tree format for non qualifiers dialing quicker than 10.99 featuring a $5,000 cash prize to win.  

"We expect over 100 cars to be attempting to qualify for the Quick-16 at this once in a lifetime event and with this format we have plenty of time to have everyone be a part of the wildest Sport Compact drag race in the history of the universe," Vidal said.

A Street Bike class will round out the program. [10/5/2012]

Krawiec returns to former job at Englishtown -- for one weekend

And speaking of two-wheelers, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader, Eddie Krawiec,  will return to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park Oct. 12-14 for the 10th annual SPEEDTECH CORP. Shakedown Nationals (formerly known as the Shakedown at E-town).

The  Middlesex County, NJ, native was the former Raceway Park dragstrip manager.

"I've been there for 'em all, from the first one that was freezing cold to last year's, which was sunny and in the 80s," Krawiec said proudly.

Once again, he'll prepare the racing surface for the drivers to compete in nine classes -- Pro Modified, Top Sportsman, Outlaw 10.5, Heavy Street, Limited Street, X275, 8.50 Index, Pro Import, and Pro Street Bike -- for their respective shares of the $125,000-plus purse.  (Ron Lewis photo) [10/5/2012]