ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – In just a few weeks, the race track at the U.P. State Fairgrounds will be rumbling with activity.
Racers have been competing there since the 60s. However, this will be the track’s first season operating under a new name. What was once the Upper Peninsula International Raceway is now the Escanaba Speedway.
“We wanted to kind of pay tribute to the town that we’re in and the community that helps us do what we do and where most of our drivers are from,” explained Kaitlyn Maki, vice president of the Escanaba Speedway board of directors.
Nearly every summer weekend, vintage and brand new cars alike race on the approximately quarter-mile dirt track.
In preparation for their first practice of the season on Saturday, racers, crew members, and other volunteers are de-winterizing the track. They find everything from stones and litter to hair pins and brake parts, which can cause serious problems if not removed before a race.
“Some car goes by and it’s spinning the tires, then that spins up that piece,” said Escanaba Speedway racer Charles Peterson. “It can fling and hit somebody else in another car or even a bystander.”
Once the track is cleared, it will finally be time for drivers to get back behind the wheel. Peterson compares the feeling to other thrill-seeking activities.
“It’s almost like people going to amusement parks and riding a roller coaster,” he said. “The thrill of the racing, and you have control over what you’re doing.”
Racers range in age from five to 85. Speedway members say no matter their age or how long they’ve raced, every racer is part of a tightly-knit community, dedicated to the sport and to each other.
“We may bicker a little bit, but we really are like one big family, and I think it’s something you don’t see in a lot of different sports,” said Maki. “But at the end of the day, no matter what happens out on the race track, we still are a family. If something happens, we all come together and help them out.”
The Escanaba Speedway will host its first race of the season on Sunday, June 4. For tickets or additional information, visit the Escanaba Speedway website or Facebook page.
