Photo by Julie L. Cleveland - Towerline Speedway employees Lindsay (left) and Desi (right), show us how to race the S track while having the most fun.
Sometimes, the kid in you gets the best of you, or so it would seem when you go back home for a visit. At least, that is what happened the last time I went back home to visit for my grandmother's 99th birthday.
As it turned out, it was my mother who decided to revert back to childhood spills and giggles and take me with her.
Mom mentioned we should go go-cart racing when I came back to visit. Now, mind you, we have never gone go-cart racing together before, so it was not as if we were reliving a thrilling annual tradition. As a matter of fact, I cannot remember my mother EVER saying she went go-cart racing in the past. Dad, yes, mom, no.
Under the guise of keeping me entertained while visiting, mom decided we should go racing. Truth be known, both of us have a lead foot, which appears to have been inherited from my 99 year old grandmother. I had the opportunity to "follow" grandma over the Pekin Bridge one afternoon several years ago. We had to floor it to keep up. She had to give up driving, but speeding was not the reason, but only because no one clocked her.
My own personal lead foot was given an additional bonus by having a speedboat father.
So, off we go.
Mom had been watching the reopening of Towerline Speedway in Pekin, Illinois for a while and kept thinking that was the place for her.
Towerline Speedway, owned and operated by Brian and Kendra Schwark, had been under re-opening status for most of the year. The Schwarks took over the speedway in the fall of 2011 and opened up in May of 2012.
The Schwarks are no strangers to the track, Brian raced a rail in Havana and Kendra was his support crew. With racing in their blood, it only seems natural that they would open the speedway back up again. After all, Brian went past the speedway every day on his way to work and thought it would be a great business to have.
As it turns out, it is a great speedway.
We raced the S in a couple reasonably powered go-carts that were both fun and nimble around the turns.
The cars were comfortable and the staff was great in helping mom and I get into the cars and get off the line. As it turns out, a friend from my 4-H days, Kelly, was the one helping us into our cars. Nothing like two women past middle age climbing into a car that sits two inches off the ground. I will worry about getting back out later.
Mom and I took off and it only took a turn to get comfortable with the car and I was off and racing against no one. Just enjoying being a kid and having a great time skipping around tires until I came up on my mom. I was about to pass my MOM!
The first time around, I tiptoed around the inside and was careful to not run into her, the second time I lapped her was not as thoughtful. Sorry, mom, but you were in my line. And as Earnhardt used to say, "that's racin'".
For four minutes, I drove as fast as I could around the track while trying not to run over my mother. Not that she was doing badly, she was just enjoying a drive around the track.
The four minutes was a fast blast and mom decided she was not done, so she took an extra lap while the rest of us watched her and waved, "Hi, Mrs. Carson!" Everyone was having a great time and the staff was so much fun. Kendra is a riot and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
We will go back to take a few more spins around the track and I do believe my niece, Lauren, is going to go back to visit my folks. My mom was talking about going racing again, only taking Lauren with her this time.
Towerline Speedway is more than one S track. They have a wonderful small oval track for kids, a bounce house, another smaller track for little kids and a goofy golf course, which looked like loads of fun! They also have a snack bar and a small arcade inside for those who do not like the wind in their hair.
They are the perfect place for church groups, birthday parties, family gatherings and a great weekend of fun. They are open limited hours, so please call before heading out.
You can contact them at:
Towerline Speedway
1422 Towerline Road
Pekin, Il 61554
Email towerlinespeedway2012@gmail.com
www.towerlinespeedway.com
309-353-6200
As it turned out, it was my mother who decided to revert back to childhood spills and giggles and take me with her.
Mom mentioned we should go go-cart racing when I came back to visit. Now, mind you, we have never gone go-cart racing together before, so it was not as if we were reliving a thrilling annual tradition. As a matter of fact, I cannot remember my mother EVER saying she went go-cart racing in the past. Dad, yes, mom, no.
Under the guise of keeping me entertained while visiting, mom decided we should go racing. Truth be known, both of us have a lead foot, which appears to have been inherited from my 99 year old grandmother. I had the opportunity to "follow" grandma over the Pekin Bridge one afternoon several years ago. We had to floor it to keep up. She had to give up driving, but speeding was not the reason, but only because no one clocked her.
My own personal lead foot was given an additional bonus by having a speedboat father.
So, off we go.
Mom had been watching the reopening of Towerline Speedway in Pekin, Illinois for a while and kept thinking that was the place for her.
Towerline Speedway, owned and operated by Brian and Kendra Schwark, had been under re-opening status for most of the year. The Schwarks took over the speedway in the fall of 2011 and opened up in May of 2012.
The Schwarks are no strangers to the track, Brian raced a rail in Havana and Kendra was his support crew. With racing in their blood, it only seems natural that they would open the speedway back up again. After all, Brian went past the speedway every day on his way to work and thought it would be a great business to have.
As it turns out, it is a great speedway.
We raced the S in a couple reasonably powered go-carts that were both fun and nimble around the turns.
The cars were comfortable and the staff was great in helping mom and I get into the cars and get off the line. As it turns out, a friend from my 4-H days, Kelly, was the one helping us into our cars. Nothing like two women past middle age climbing into a car that sits two inches off the ground. I will worry about getting back out later.
Mom and I took off and it only took a turn to get comfortable with the car and I was off and racing against no one. Just enjoying being a kid and having a great time skipping around tires until I came up on my mom. I was about to pass my MOM!
The first time around, I tiptoed around the inside and was careful to not run into her, the second time I lapped her was not as thoughtful. Sorry, mom, but you were in my line. And as Earnhardt used to say, "that's racin'".
For four minutes, I drove as fast as I could around the track while trying not to run over my mother. Not that she was doing badly, she was just enjoying a drive around the track.
The four minutes was a fast blast and mom decided she was not done, so she took an extra lap while the rest of us watched her and waved, "Hi, Mrs. Carson!" Everyone was having a great time and the staff was so much fun. Kendra is a riot and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.
We will go back to take a few more spins around the track and I do believe my niece, Lauren, is going to go back to visit my folks. My mom was talking about going racing again, only taking Lauren with her this time.
Towerline Speedway is more than one S track. They have a wonderful small oval track for kids, a bounce house, another smaller track for little kids and a goofy golf course, which looked like loads of fun! They also have a snack bar and a small arcade inside for those who do not like the wind in their hair.
They are the perfect place for church groups, birthday parties, family gatherings and a great weekend of fun. They are open limited hours, so please call before heading out.
You can contact them at:
Towerline Speedway
1422 Towerline Road
Pekin, Il 61554
Email towerlinespeedway2012@gmail.com
www.towerlinespeedway.com
309-353-6200
The miniature golf course at Towerline Speedway.
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