The youths are trying to reach out to others who may not be interested in traditional sports.

RANGELEY – Young go-kart drivers showed off their machines at school Tuesday in an effort to attract more racers to the sport. All three drivers said speed was an attraction for them to race these karts.

There is also the competition, trophies and fun.

Joshua Adams, 9; Frank Thompson, 13; and Michael Haley, 9, showed their go-karts to their peers.

Mike Adams, Joshua’s dad, and Steve Rogers, a major sponsor, both of Rangeley, are trying to get more kids involved in racing as an alternative after-school activity for children ages 9-to-13-years old.

Students who attended Tuesday’s presentation were notified of an informational meeting for them and parents or guardians at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rangeley’s Public Safety Building on School Street.

There will be a barbecue. Drivers and their parents will bring their go-karts, equipment and show a video.

Not everyone is interested in baseball and basketball, Adams said.

Adams and his son, Joshua, 9, started racing and like the motor sport racing.

“We’ve gone from my son and myself going to races to now we’re a four-team family,” Adams said.

There are four families that race and travel to the speedways as a team.

It’s a good family event, Adams said.

There are a lot of kids who are not athletic, Rogers said, and racing is a good alternative for them to keep them busy.

“Last year we got into the racing and a lot of kids showed a lot of enthusiasm,” Adams said.

They race at speedways in Kezar Falls and Weare, N.H.

The boys are responsible for getting sponsors for their vehicles.

A variety of sponsors including the Rangeley Police Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, The Red Onion and S.B. Rogers Plumbing already have their names on the karts.

The karts have Briggs & Stratton engines that run on methanol alcohol and go 40 to 50 miles per hour.

Adams and Rogers are looking for another driver for next summer for one of the karts.

“We’re looking for that kid that’s real interested in the operation of the race team,” Adams said.

All four teams have agreed to take on one of the race enthusiasts as a pit crew member this year to let them see what it’s like.

Interested children have been asked to write a few lines about why they’re interested in go-kart racing and bring it with them to Saturday’s event.

Adams said the invitation to the informational meeting is open to kids outside of Rangeley also.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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