Crowds were down a bit for Saturday's opening of the Susquehanna 500 Mini-Indy races, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of officials and race team members participating in the 12th annual event at Brandon Park.
Kathy Stine, deputy director of the North Central Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the event went off without a hitch, with 21 teams running the course.
"(Today) will be a bigger crowd, " Stine said. "The championship races are the event."
Stock and modified feature races begin at 9:30 a.m.
Consolation races will be at noon with championships to follow. The awards ceremony is set for 2:30 p.m.
The event is free to the public.
Numbers of teams are down this year and usual preparations got sidetracked when Lycoming County officials notified the Red Cross in August they would not lend volunteers to
By MIKE REUTHER
Clyde Schon and a gaggle of extended family members jumped up and down and let loose with happy squeals as the pink car roared by them at Brandon Park.
"We just passed a car," he said excitedly.
Once again, Schon and his large extended family have two cars entered in the Susquehanna 500 Mini- Indy race.
The annual event has become a family affair.
"It's just great," he said. "I wish it (Mini Indy) would be held two or three times a year."
Schon of Schon Brothers Hardware, 4060 Lycoming Creek Road, along with some of his fellow male family members have the black and white car, while ladies of the family are part of the pink car team.
"It's a family thing," said Sarah Harding, a member of the pink car team. "We make a weekend of it."
Harding does not drive the car, but helps on the pit crew.
"This year we had a screw drop into the carburetor. So that was a little hairy."
Her husband, Kevin, is on the other Schon race team.
Valerie Schon, Sarah's cousin, said she was afraid that the Mini Indy would not happen this year.
Clyde said the family initially only entered one car, but eventually the women wanted their own car.
Among the sponsors for the Schon teams are Susquehanna Bank, Crippled Bear and Roan's.
"I tell them if they can pay a few dollars for the entrance fee we can do the rest," he said.
