St. Charles Recreation opens model track
Published 12:00 am Friday, April 7, 2000
LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 7, 2000
DESTREHAN – St. Charles Parish’s Parks and Recreation Department hasgotten into auto racing in a big way with its hosting of a new racetrack.
Don’t look for a massive race course where drivers risk life and limb, though.
This is racing for everyone, ages 6 to 96.
And it can begin with an investment of as little as $20.
The new model racetrack opened last weekend at the East Bank Bridge Park to a capacity crowd, watching tiny radio-controlled and even a few gasoline- powered racers zip around a dirt track. A wooden control booth stands toone side for the “drivers,” and a race announcer with a loudspeaker keeps everyone up to speed.
The race course is the brainchild of people such as Al Cazelot of Destrehan and Jamie Roux of Luling, each model enthusiasts who want to offer the fun of racing models to everyone.
Parks and Recreation Director Larry Matson and Parish President Albert Laque hosted the ribbon-cutting Sunday afternoon, with several dozen racers and fans on hand. Matson said he hopes one day St. Charles Parish can hostthe regional championship, as there are only two other similar racing facilities in Louisiana, one each in Baton Rouge and Slidell.
The race course will be directly run by the newly-formed, 35-member St.
Charles Racers Club, led by Roux.
“It gives the kids something to do, something wholesome,” Laque commented.
Meanwhile, racers barely slowed down for the ribbon cutting and could hardly wait to return to zipping the tiny race cars around the twisting track.
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