COMMUNITY: Lil' Racer Club 'all about the kids'

Editor's note: Roy Parker owns and maintains the website RacingInIowa.com covering all things racing in the state. As a lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids, Roy has a history with Hawkeye Downs Speedway as a fan, a driver, a sponsor and as media personnel. Parker is currently volunteering at the track with the Lil' Racer Car Club every Friday night.

By Roy Parker, community contributor

As someone who has been around auto racing his whole life, I have seen a lot of progression in the area of local auto racing.

Drivers have come and gone, classes have changed, race tracks have even closed.

One thing that has definitely changed is the fan base of racing. With so many other forms of entertainment to choose from, it is getting harder to get families to come to the track every week.

This is where Mitch Swinton of the Lil' Racer Car Club helps to draw those families in each week.

The Lil Racer Car Club was established in 2005 at the West Liberty Raceway. That first night, five members signed up. Today, the club has 1,500-plus members from several different tracks across the state.

Swinton said the club provides recreational, educational and entertainment opportunities to young race fans at local tracks. The club is open to children age 14-and-under.

“The name was chosen to represent Lil' Racers, kids at race tracks who are there to watch their parents race or have friends that are racing,” Swinton said. “Some of these kids dream of being racers themselves some day.

“It is called a club because all kids like being part of something while growing up. They strive for that sense of belonging to something with their friends.”

When Swinton brought the club to Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, I loved the idea so much I had to see if there was room for a volunteer.

Swinton explained the club is an all volunteers, including himself.

I got to see first hand how the kids would run up to the table when they arrived, sign the attendance book or fill out the membership form. Kids rush to the “free table” for coloring books, colors, small toys and other items that are donated by friends of the club.

The club does many activities through out the season for the children on and off the track, including boxcar races. The kids fashion a cardboard box into a race car they can wear around their waists.

I would encourage anyone who hasn't visited their local racetrack to load the family up and spend some quality time together watching some great and fun entertainment. When you come out to Hawkeye Downs on Friday night, be sure to stop under the grandstand to meet Swinton and hear about all the great things he does for the kids.

The Lil' Racer Car Club operates solely on donations and sponsorships from people in the community.

“It's all about the kids,” Swinton said, a statement he has carried on as the slogan for the club.

Swinton puts in so much time and effort into the club, has a very big heart and loves to see the smiles on each kids' face.

• Anyone interested in donating items or sponsoring the club, contact Swinton at lilracerclub@gmail.com or check out the club's website at www.lilracercarclub.com