A sure sign that spring is here is the annual show by Al Lockett.
RENO (March 19/20) – Lockett’s Motor Sport Expo is part of his annual spring show highlighting many recreation areas including boats, landscaping, fishing and RV’s. On the motor sport side there are off-road related clubs, shops and other displays more focused on racing.
One booth is from the Off Road Hall of Fame based in the National Auto Museum. Its now headed by the next Executive Administrator Barbara Rainey, who working on the hall’s next big effort.
Barbara Rainey stands in the Off-Road Hall of Fame booth at the Lockett show. She the new executive administrator of the hall.
“The big thing we’re working on right now is our induction ceremony on October 31st at the South Point in Las Vegas,” she said. “But we don’t have a ceremony unless we have new inductees and the process starts right now through April 30. Anyone can nominate any person for the hall of fame, as Rod Hall likes to say, ‘it’s not the off road racing Hall of Fame, it’s the Off Road Hall of Fame.'”
She added that potential inductees could be recreational wheelers, advocates as well as anyone in the industry that had made a difference and contributed to the sport of off-road.
“So how you nominate someone for the Hall of Fame is to go to www.ormhof.org and right on the front page ther is a link to the nomination packet. Download that, have someone print it out, fill it out and submit it by April 30th,” she said. “There is a committee of distinguished off-road individuals who will review these in June and we’ll announce this year’s inductees in July.”
Rainey added the booth is at this show to help inform people about the Hall of Fame and what it offers as well as starting the process for new inductees. And it’s been a fixture of the Lockett show for years.
Another regular participant of the show is the Reno Region of the SCCA. One of the two members manning the booth on Friday was Mark Berglund.
Mark Berglund stands by his car at the SCCA Reno Region’s display area.
“I’m a driving instructor for track events. The used to be at 95A Speedway but now we’re running at Willows, California at Thunder Hill West,” he said.
In this area the region stages Solo II, or Autocross, events, usually twice a month from April until October.
“It’s open to anybody and any car with a low center of gravity,” he said. “Come on out, we’ll put an instructor in your seat if you need one. Typically it’s $25 per day and we’ll teach you how to race.”
He explained that Solo II uses a short course set up with cones. The goal is to drive through it as fast as a person can but for every cone they hit there is a 2 second time penalty added to their score.
“If you like to experience it you can come out, look wistful as most people will take pity on you, throw you in the right seat and you’re welcome to take a ride with anybody, anytime,” he said. “Our membership is up, our solo program is one of the best on the west coast and we have one of the largest facilities and more active racers than most clubs.”
He also mention the club offers things other ones don’t and there will be some new events added for this year.
‘We’re going to offer some off-site events this year,” he said. “We’re going to try to do airport events and maybe some larger parking lot events outside of the Reno area.”
Those wishing more information can go to the region’s website at, www.renoscca.com.
“We have schedules, information, contact numbers,” he said. “Show up any time, any place and we’ll teach you the ropes.”
Need2Speed, the indoor kart track in Reno is new to the show and general manager Matthew Bowen was manning their booth on Friday.
Need2Speed general manager Matt Bowen stands at the track’s booth.
“Business is going great right now and we’re pushing some new sport leagues coming up on March 23rd,” he said. “It’s going to be a six-week league, going to be a nice intro league for people that are just starting out and want to get a little bit faster on track. That’s what we’re pushing right now.”
For those that might have an interest and would like a cost effective taste of what racing is Need2Speed offers just that.
“We run $23 for adults in our karts that go 45 miles an hour. This gives you 14-laps, you get a good opportunity to get out there, push the course as hard as you can and see what your lap times are,” he said. “It’s all ages from kids, as long as they are above 48 inches tall then they can get out there and race with us. The Adult karts are for 13-years-old age and above and must be at least 56 inches tall; we’re open seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
For further information their website is, www.need2speed.com.
One booth of several off-road related clubs was for the Nevada Four Wheel Drive Association. Larry Calkins, president of the club explained what they do, especially for retaining access to public lands in this state.
Larry Calkins stands by the Nevada Four Wheel Drive Association’s booth.
“We’re the voice of the 4-Wheel Drive enthusiast of the state of Nevada,” he said. “Out job is to try and maintain access to all public lands. And we monitor the Federal Government, BLM, Forest Service and the state through the state OHV Commission. We go to their meetings, go through their plans, documents and come back as the voice of the 4-Wheel Drive activists.”
He added the membership consists of those using an ATV, UTV, Jeep, trucks and others that use 4-Wheel Drives for recreation.
When asked about public lands, Calkins explained that things are in a lull due to changes made by the government.
“So BLM isn’t doing these huge land planning acts but it will break loose very shortly,” he said. “We’ll start going through the 3,000 page document, marking them up again, sending them in, commenting on them then going into a period of opposition to them. And using all of the things we’re allowed to do and most of the stuff is going to end up in some type of litigation.”
He added that there is an effort to create more clubs and get more people involved, “because there is strength in numbers.” And as more people get involved as well as organized they can address the access issues.
Currently there are no issues with state lands but there is one issue he hopes to have resolved when the legislature meets next year.
“We will be at the state to gain a seat representing 4-Wheel Drive Recreation, meaning the street legal on the OHV Commission. They were overlooked at the time of its creation but we’ve been at all of their meetings and done a lot to help them get back on track,” he said.
Those wishing more information on the Nevada Four Wheel Drive Association their website is, www.n4wda.org.
These were just some of the organizations at the show dealing with motor sports and recreation. The show also had a large selection of trailers, boats as well as landscaping, gardening and other areas to see.
• On Sunday the Northern Nevada Kart Club held it’s annual practice race. While there no points in this event it helps get the season started.
NNKC president Brian Rivera watches the races from the top of Turn 5 at Desert Park Raceway.
Asked about the upcoming season NNKC president Brian Rivera said, “We’re looking pretty good for 2016. Right now we’re pretty close to 50 members. This tune up race, which is just a race for the racers to get the cobwebs off and for the track staff to kind of brush up on all the stuff we have to do on a race day. We had 40 karts show up today so we’re happy and looking good.”
Asked about any special races Rivera said that this year IKF (International Kart Federation) won’t be running a regional this season. However there will be a special race in the fall.
“We have a KPX (Kart Project X Series) race scheduled for October. KPX is of course a Briggs and Stratton and 206 series and they have about 60 to 70 karts that follow that series,” he said.
Fortunately the weather cooperated and everyone was able to get in the heat races as well as mains. Another good sign is that there should be four to five Kid Kart drivers, which is the class where the youngest racers earn their spurs.
OTHER RACING NEWS
• Every summer there is a huge race at Mammoth Mountain that includes virtually every division in motocross. But to get an invitation a rider must qualify and this week there was a qualifying event at Praire City where two local riders earned their invitations.
Connor Gaarenstroom earned his Mammoth ticket by finishing 7th over all in the 7 to 9 65cc class. Chase Cannizzaro competed in the 65cc 10 to 11 and 65 Open class where he earned two invitations.
• This week the local oval track season begins at Fernley 95A Speedway and the racing will begin at 2 p.m. Area drag racers want to check the NHRA chassis inspection going on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Summit store on Glendale Avenue in Sparks.
• NASCAR ended its western swing at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
In Saturday’s Xfinity race Kyle Busch had his win streak end as he started third and finished second while Brendan Gaughan started 15th and finished seventh.
On Sunday the Sprint Cup race was run and both Busch brothers ended up three laps down with Kyle finishing 25 and brother Kurt ending up 30th.
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Below is a photo gallery from some of the Lockett show and NNKC’s practice race.
