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The race is on for the Santa Maria Karting Association
Posted: Jul 1, 2012 7:22 PM by Hope Hanselman, KSBY News
Updated: Jul 2, 2012 4:49 AM
Shined down and geared up- go karts are back in full force at the Santa Maria Karting Association's track with a green light to burn some rubber.
Sunday, members of the association returned to the course near the Santa Maria Airport for the first time in two years. The Federal Aviation Administration had closed the track because it didn't qualify as airport use. Since then, the association has made negotiations with the airport to reopen it.
"When I was a kid, my grandfather and I built a go kart," Scott Grundfor, President of the Santa Maria Karting Association, said. "This was in 1958."
It's a sport with a long history for Grundfor and many others.
"Back then, the best thing a kid could have would be a go kart."
Now, it's making a comeback with a younger generation.
Seven year old Matt Horn gave me a demonstration of the
kart he works on with his dad. I took his advice and suited up, myself.
The kart the association had for me can go up to 90 miles an hour. In August, they'll hold national competitions at the track. Those racers will reach about 140 miles an hour.
I took things a little slower. Well... a lot slower. But after a few runs, it was easy to see why this place brings all ages together to push the limits.
"What we had to do was to convince them (the Federal Aviation Administration) that, in fact, because of its community value, it is an appropriate use for airport property," Grundfor said.
They also agreed to up their rent by thousands of dollars.
Once again, the race is on for go kart drivers around the Central Coast.
For more information on becoming involved with the Santa Maria Karting Association, click here.
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