INDIANA EXCHANGE: Go-kart racing returns to Elkhart in 2017

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) - Mike Burrell remembers the first time he got ready to race a go-kart around the streets of Elkhart in the early 1990s.

"As a 19-year-old kid, racing in Elkhart was like coming to the Indianapolis 500," Burrell told The Elkhart Truth (http://bit.ly/2fO3LFw). "You had all the fans and a great course through the city. I really thought I had arrived and was on my way as a driver."

Now, just over 20 years later, Burrell is the karting director for the United States Auto Club - or USAC - which will be the sanctioning body for The Elkhart Riverwalk Grand Prix. The three-day racing event which will bring go-karts back to Elkhart in August for the first time since 1995.

Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese announced last week that racing is set for downtown Aug. 11-13.

"USAC Karting is excited to work with the city of Elkhart to bring this historic kart race back and make a must attend event for both spectators and karters," Burrell said. "Street racing has always been a great way to promote karting and cities like Elkhart. It's our hope racers and fans fill the restaurants and hotels around the county, have a great time racing and a positive impact on the community."

Burrell used his karting experience to eventually race midget cars. He's also the former editor for the Granger-based National Kart News, where he worked for Curt Paluzzi, the promotor of the original Elkhart Grand Prix in the 1990s.

As a former kart driver, Burrell knows what the drivers will be experiencing when they get to Elkhart next summer.

"Street racing is very exciting, but it's also tough on the body," Burrell said. "The bumps knock you around and when you're making a lot of laps on the weekend, you will really feel it by Sunday night."

With that in mind, USAC's plan for Saturday, Aug. 12, sounds downright evil.

There will be a two-hour timed kart race, which will feature "hot" pit stops and driver changes. Burrell said some of the stops will look somewhat like a NASCAR or IndyCar stop, with gas being added and perhaps even a tire change.

"A number of the drivers will also race Sunday, so I'm sure they'll pop a few aspirin and be ready to go," Burrell said with a smile. "But I'll tell you this much, they're going to be sore when they climb back into those karts."

Burrell is expecting between 12 and 14 classes of karts to come to Elkhart, with the fastest ones expected to tour the six-tenths of a mile course in about 45 seconds.

The USAC series travels around the Midwest in the summer months and many of its races are on street courses, although there is talk that a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a possibility in the near future.

"I think the best way karting has been described is it's a hobby on steroids," Burrell said. "We will have around 200 families or so each year from ages 12 on up. We even have a grandfather and a grandson racing, while the father works to try and pay for everything.

"You will have some teams pull into Elkhart with a full NASCAR-like trailer for the weekend, while others will bring the karts on the back of a pick-up truck," he said. "But spending a lot of money doesn't ensure victory. To me, it's a lot about the driver."

Burrell added that local go-karters would be eligible to race at Elkhart.

"The races will be open to all drivers, as long as their kart matches USAC specs," he said. "You will have to buy at least a temporary membership, which will also cover insurance. So, for instance, if drivers want to come from Michiana Raceway Park (in North Liberty) they'll be welcome and I'm sure they'll be able to find a class to race in."

Many of today's top race drivers got their start in kart racing, including Formula I champion Lewis Hamilton, NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Darrell Waltrip, and NASCAR veterans Danica Patrick and Ryan Newman.

"I believe there will be very exciting racing in Elkhart," Burrell said. "The course will be both fast and challenging and I can't remember another circuit where you cross two bridges during a lap. Plus, having the river right there and racing right by a park, I'm sure the drivers will love it."

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Information from: The Elkhart Truth, http://www.elkharttruth.com