Thursday, March 28, 2024
47.0°F

Off to the races: Moses Lake hosts first Columbia Basin Kart Fest

by SAM FLETCHER
Staff Writer | March 2, 2021 1:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Racers who entered Saturday’s Columbia Basin Kart Fest could hear roaring engines from the Grant County Fairgrounds’ gravel lot.

They mazed through frantic crews preparing karts in the Ken Ardell Pavilion, hazy with exhaust smoke.

“It’s some fun, grassroots racing, you know?” said Jeremy Anders, general manager of the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval. “You can take your old school kart and toss a Predator motor on it and go have some fun.”

According to wsvo.com, East Wenatchee’s Super Oval is one of the fastest quarter-mile asphalt tracks in the world and has been in operation for more than 50 years.

Saturday’s Kart Fest was the first event in Moses Lake, Anders said. The town is event-friendly, as it’s right off of Interstate 90 and in the middle of racers from the west or east side of the state.

Plus, the Ken Ardell Pavilion makes for a perfect-sized track, Anders said. It’s indoors, too, which is ideal for events this time of the year.

One hundred sixty-seven racers registered, Anders said; quite a few more than expected. They raced in 10 different classes separated by age group. Ten to 12 karts hit the track at a time. Because of the high volume of racers, some of the classes had to be split up in A, B and C groups.

The youngest racers were 5 years old, Anders said. The oldest, in their 70s.

The little karts zipped in circles around the pavilion, kicking up dust and occasionally crashing into dirt bluffs. The safety crew and an ambulance were on standby.

It’s unfortunate the event is only for racers and crew, Anders said. It’s easier to social distance in karts than on the bleachers, he added.

They’ve had to get used to the changes, he said. The Super Oval was able to have events again in May 2020, but there haven’t been spectators since.

“It’s pretty fun to watch, especially with the kids and stuff out there,” he said. “Our goal is next year to do a few of these and hopefully we’ll have the spectators available.”

But one good thing about continuing the races, even restricted, is the economic impact, Anders said. Racers come from all over the state, and a lot of them stay in hotels.

This provides “a nice little booster for people,” he said.

The pavilion is competitive, Anders said, and he’s excited to hold more events there as soon as possible. He hopes to hold four more next season, October to February.

“The facility’s really nice, the track is really nice, the fairground is amazing,” he said. “We’re learning from our experience, it’s our first time we’ve been here, but I’d definitely say we’re going to do it again.”

photo

Sam Fletcher

9-year-old Sawyer Smith's crew prepares his kart before the race on Saturday.

photo

Sam Fletcher

Karts lined up before Saturday's race at the Ken Ardell Pavilion.

photo

Sam Fletcher

Krista Shepard gives 9-year-old Bella Smith a pep talk before the kart race on Saturday.

photo

Sam Fletcher

And they're off! Jon Peterson waves the green flag, starting the race on Saturday.

photo

Sam Fletcher

Moses Lake resident Adam Smith wheels his son Sawyer Smith's kart into the pavilion on Saturday.

photo

Jeremy Anders (left) gives commands as Jon Peterson (right) waves the checkered flag at the finish line on Saturday.

photo

Sam Fletcher

167 racers registered into Saturday's Columbia Basin Kart Fest.