Sixty-one years after race cars first roared into the small Kansas town of Garnett, a dedicated group of passionate individuals is once again bringing horsepower to the American heartland. The seventh-annual Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival (LGGPR) will see vintage race cars, classic sports cars, and modern performance automobiles descend on the North Lake Park on Oct. 9th-11th, 2020, along with thousands of enthusiasts and their families.
The Revival has become one of the premier vintage and sports car events in the region, with a multi-day format that includes high-performance driving exhibitions around the old 2.8-mile race track, the EKAE autocross at the Garnett Municipal Airport, the Hagerty Revival showcase car show in downtown Garnett, a road tour & cruise, and the chance for spectators to get a ride around the track in one of 40-different high-performance cars during the Charity Rides.
The track sessions offer a little something for everyone, with a multitude of speed-regulated classes that allow for drivers of every experience level to get some seat time behind the wheel of their own classic cars. New in 2020 is the Rookie run group, which will allow driver’s ages 16-17 who possess a valid driver’s license to drive the track in their own dedicated class. Rookies will need to be accompanied by a legal guardian age 25+ and the group will be limited to 60mph, but it will allow younger drivers with a passion for older cars the opportunity to participate without the pressure of some of the more experienced run groups.
Heartland Vintage Racing will ensure that everyone gets their fill of historic horsepower. Spectators can expect to see vintage Corvettes, Shelby GT’s, and Jaguars thundering around the lake, while the more nimble Austin-Healeys, Lotus Cortinas, and Triumphs carve up the challenging corners. It’s a wonderful opportunity for automotive and racing fans to see cars that more and more are relegated to museums, being driven at speed on a historic race course.
Spectator admission and parking is free, and the LGGPR group encourages families and car enthusiasts of all ages to come celebrate these amazing automobiles. For the schedule of events, covid-19 regulations, and more information, visit the website at www.lggpr.org.
