April 16 is race day in Carbon as the 2016 Carbon Hot Rims Tournament is on track for another exciting tournament.
This is the second annual Hot Rims race, where participants of all ages pit their Hot Wheels cars head to head on track for speed supremacy. They are looking for another good turn out for this year’s event, and hopefully more people are familiar with the event.
“There were quite a few people, a lot of families racing against each other, a seven year old against his grandpa,” said one of the race organizers Andrea McHugh.
The event, sponsored by the Carbon Bottle Depot is designed as a fun, family friendly event. Last year they had racers from 7 to 77 racing side by side, with a chance to take home a cash purse.
“We are trying to bring something new to Carbon and area that is family oriented,” said McHugh.
There are a few exciting changes to the event this year. At this years event, they are running both an amateur race in the morning, and a professional race in the afternoon, with a prize of $2,000.
The amateur race features unaltered 1:64 scale non power assisted hot wheels cars. They must be able to fit the tracks being used and can run specialty Faster than Ever (FTE) wheels or Faster than Ever 2(FTE2) wheels. The winner of event claims the $500 purse and is given an automatic spot in the professional races in the afternoon.
The professional races is where the big guns come out. This class has no weight restrictions and allows 1:64 Hot Wheels cars to be altered. Interior and exterior additions are allowed, however organizers ask racers to keep the cars looking clean and close to the original specifications.
This year’s races will be held at the Carbon Curling Rink. This is to accommodate the competition’s new professional longer track.
If you want to race, you have to make sure you reserve a spot. Organizers have opened a reservation hotline Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those wanting to participate need to make a reservation. The line will be available until April 9.
More information is available on the Carbon Hot Rims Tournament Facebook Page.
