ONONDAGA TWP., Mich. (WLNS) — As Lansing officers are working to create a complete response to what they name “reckless driving” and avenue racing, the proprietor of the Sloan Onondaga Dragway is inviting avenue racers to race legally.
“I would love to have them out here,” Woody Sloan, proprietor of the 1/8 mile observe about 24 miles from Lansing. A textual content message from metropolis spokesman Scott Bean says Lansing Mayor Andy Schor is “supportive” of Sloan’s invitation.
Woody Sloan, 79, proprietor of the Sloan Onondaga Cragway. He is invited unlawful avenue racers to make use of his observe as a substitute for metropolis streets. (WLNS)
Metropolis officers in Lansing are struggling to seek out options to unlawful avenue racing within the metropolis. The difficulty turned extra pressing on April 24 when police say two autos racing south on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Lansing have been concerned in a five-vehicle crash. The crash despatched 13 folks to native hospitals, ranging in age from 3 to 52. A type of, a 15-year-old, died of his crash-related accidents Tuesday afternoon, officers confirmed.
Sloan, 79, has owned the 70-acre property since 2021 however had dreamed of proudly owning the property for many years.
The observe on the Sloan Onondaga Dragway. (WLNS)
He tells 6 Information he first noticed the asphalt strip and property within the early 90s, and instantly thought the property would make a “great” raceway. He drove previous it once more in 2013, however one thing had modified – there was now an energetic raceway on the property.
In 2021, the chance arose for him to purchase the property. “When I got the opportunity to buy this place, it was a dream,” he says. “It was a dream for me. And I love it. I love this place. I love the land. I just I’m attached to it.”
A part of his dream was to create a secure place for younger racers to be taught the artwork and abilities essential to take part within the sport. He says that mission was private as effectively.
His son, now 24, was wrapped up within the Detroit racing scene. His participation led to Sloan’s private automobile being impounded by Detroit Police as a part of a crackdown on unlawful avenue racing and “drifting.” Drifting is a type of driving the place the automotive’s actions create smoke and go away rubber marks on the pavement.
Tire marks in a Lansing space strip mall car parking zone that enterprise homeowners inform 6 Information take care of “drifting” repeatedly. (WLNS)
He tells 6 Information his love for the race and the property goes a lot deeper. “Well, tell you the truth, I could never talk about it before,” he says, choking up. “Not very much ‘cause I’d just choke up and break down ‘cause I love it for me and for the people as well.”
Sloan has been racing, he says, since he was 16.
The dragway provides two varieties of racing – a program referred to as Check and Tune and races for “outlaw cars.” The Check and Tune is for “street-legal” automobiles. These can vary from a Charger to a “family vehicle,” he says.
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“Most of our cars are probably 70 to 95 mph,” he says. “And the regular street cars, most of them, I mean, they are street cars. You could drive them right out of here, you know, so they’re not that fast, you know.”
Then again, the “outlaw cars” have been modified for elevated velocity. These modifications stop them from being on the common streets. Sloan says these automobiles can attain 130mph on the drag strip.
In the end, he says, providing a possibility to race is essential.
“If you got kids and this — I think it’s a good thing for them to do,” Sloan says. “I think it’s fun for them because nowadays, my kids, all they do is sit on the computer and play games. And if you’ve got kids, I’m sure a lot of you’re dealing with that. I mean, I want to get them out of the house and get them active and get them doing something. And I think this is a good pastime. It’s an innocent sport. I think it’s fun.”
