Air temperatures near 100 weren’t the only thing warm about Emporia Thursday, so too was the hospitality shown to drivers in the annual Hemmings Motor News Great Race.
The four-decade-old race, which began in 1983, made a lunch stop in Emporia for the first time since 1998 and several hundred local residents were in attendance to take in the sights and sounds of the 120 pre-1970-era vehicles rolling into the Lyon County Fairgrounds. Among the teams to pass through Emporia were last year’s grand champions Josh Hull and Trevor Stahl in their 1932 Ford Speedster.
Hull says they love participating in the event as while it may be a competition, you would never know that by the way the participants interact.
Chris Brungardt was competing in his tenth Great Race alongside his partner Jerome Reinan in their 1918 American LaFrance. Brungardt says the Great Race combines to of his passions a love for classic cars and tourism.
As drivers made their way into Emporia, race organizers noted that the local turnout was one of the best they have seen from a community thus far. That brought a smile to the face of Visit Emporia Director Lelan Dains who says Thursday proved what he has always known about the Emporia community.
The Great Race is described as a “timed, navigation, controlled speed, endurance race.” Race Director Jeff Stumb likened the event to packing an entire NASCAR season into nine days.
More than 120 teams are taking part in this year’s race. For more information on The Great Race, be sure to visit Greatrace.com.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
