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Racers Pining For A Victory

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - These race cars are fashioned from a block of wood, four plastic wheels and four nails.

They'll duel for awards Saturday at the Fourth Annual Myrtle Lake Baptist Church Pine Car Rally.

Final car registration and inspection is at 8 a.m. and racing is scheduled to start at 9 in the church's fellowship hall-turned-speedway.

The entry fee is $5 for a new car or one running from a previous year. The fee buys a rally car kit (if needed), plus a hot dog, chips, soda and dessert during the competition.

Kits are on sale at the church, 2017 Riegler Road, near the intersection of State Road 54 and Collier Parkway. The office is open from 8 to 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

There will be four racing divisions this year:

•Kids Stock Division for first- through fifth-graders

•Teen-Adult Stock Division

•Outlaw Modified class, run under Woodcar Independent Racing League rules and open to all ages

•Royal Racers class, for first- through fifth-graders and run under Royal Ambassador Rules

Each year, race director John Berti invites a driver who competes at local tracks to be the grand marshal. This year it's Brandon's Dakotah Stephens, 16, a Florida Sprint Car Association champion. He will display his high-powered ride, sign autographs and participate in the awards ceremony.

Another highlight is "Managing the Beast: Auto Mechanics for Beginners" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Church members Ray Garcia and Martin Liwosz will teach children ages 12 to 18 basic car maintenance tasks such as changing the oil and tires.

Spectators get in free to Saturday's events and, organizers say, will find reasonably priced food and beverages at the concession stand.

For details, call the church at (813) 949-5516 or Berti at (813) 784-6822.

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