6/17/2009
Takin’ It Off the Streets: Speedway Opens 1/8-Mile “Test & Tune”
Car festival set for Friday nights at HMS, as THE Championship Track aims to curb illegal street racing; Grand Opening is Friday, June 26, with half-price admission
Law enforcement and advocacy groups have long sought safe alternatives to illegal street racing that plagues South Florida roadways. To combat this dangerous activity, Homestead-Miami Speedway is proud to announce the development of the “Test & Tune” experience, whereby car enthusiasts can test and tune their street-legal vehicles on a 1/8-mile course. The Grand Opening is set for Friday night, June 26, with free dinner and half-price admission for all attendees arriving between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
On June 26, drivers producing valid license and vehicle registration can tune street-legal vehicles in the very garages housing IndyCar (Oct. 9-10) and NASCAR (Nov. 20-22) elite for Championship Weekends, as well as test their cars on a 1/8-mile course. The infield will open at 6 p.m., and attendees arriving between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. will be treated to: 1) half-price admission – $10 for competitors, $5 for spectators, children 12 and under FREE; 2) a FREE BBQ dinner – courtesy of Homestead-Miami Speedway; and 3) a FREE $10 gift card to Longhorn Steakhouse.
In support of the Speedway’s commitment to road safety, Florida law-enforcement officials and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Champion Darrell Gwynn will join Speedway President Curtis Gray in inviting the public to “start their engines” on June 26 at THE Championship Track.
“People all over South Florida are aware of the dangers posed by illegal street racing,” said Gray. “Pick up a paper or watch the news, and you’re likely to come across an accident that occurred due to street racing. Well, the way to bring about change is through education and by offering alternatives, and Homestead-Miami Speedway is taking the lead with the 1/8th Mile Test & Tune at THE Championship Track.”
Gwynn, a South Florida resident and one of the NHRA’s Top 50 All-Time Drivers, was paralyzed in a 1990 racing incident. In 2002, he formed the Darrell Gwynn Foundation to improve the quality of life for those afflicted with paralysis, and to provide wheelchairs to kids and young adults. Gwynn also introduced legislation paving the way for Florida Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week – the first of its kind in the U.S.
“Homestead-Miami Speedway has really taken the initiative to provide South Florida with a structured environment to both test and tune their vehicles, and I applaud that,” said Gwynn. “I’m really looking forward to seeing all the different models at the Speedway June 26 – South Floridians love their cars.”
Homestead-Miami Speedway recently held a dress rehearsal for “Test & Tune,” with a field of street-legal cars and trucks. Competitor Jorge Touzet, who owns and tunes a Nissan GT-R, said he was drawn to the event by the controlled racing environment and the proximity to his home in Miami: “I would much rather do this [than street race] because it is much safer and a lot more fun,” Touzet said. “When South Floridians realize how easy and safe it is, Test & Tune is going to be a real hit.”
For more information visit www.HomesteadMiamiSpeedway.com.