Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

I should say “Ladies and Gentlemen Start Your Engines” because there is an amazing amount of interest in motor sports these days among women… including my granddaughter, Reagan. Let me tell you about it.

This afternoon I’ll be headed to one of Middle Georgia’s best kept secrets: The Cordele Motor Speedway for Speedfest 2025,  their season opener; it’s kind of like the Daytona 500 is to NASCAR. 

This event normally draws racecars and fans from all up and down the east coast from Canada to Florida. It was originally scheduled for Friday to be the practice and qualifying day and Saturday to be the race day but because of the almost 100% chance of rain on Saturday the event was squeezed down to be a one day event. No doubt the speed and noise won’t be squeezed though!

We first started to attend these events when we were living at the farm which was just 9 miles east of the track. Most of the time, because the prevailing winds were from west to east, we could hear the cars at the farm! I miss those days!

Those were great events but this year and into the future will be even better. That’s because last year the ownership of the track changed hands and the new owners have really gone to work to upgrade the facilities. Just a few of the upgrades include new paint everywhere, new LED lighting, upgraded concessions, skyboxes and a souvenir shop.

Here’s a brief description of the facility from the CMS website, https://cordelemotorspeedway.com/info?

“Just half a mile from I-75 at exit 104 in Cordele, Georgia, Cordele Motor Speedway is located on 100 acres and features a 3/8-mile, medium-banked, high-speed, D-shaped asphalt oval track known as Watermelon Capital Speedway.

A favorite in the Southeast thanks to its fun, family-friendly atmosphere that welcomes drivers and fans of all ages as well as for its excellent facilities, CMS also boasts some of the fastest speeds in the area.

The track hosts weekly Division Trials including INEX Sanctioned Bandolero and Legends races, Go Karts, Mini Stock, Enduro, Pure Stock, Super Street/Sportsman, and Outlaw Late Model races.”

I’d like to expand on the “Family-Friendly Atmosphere” claims from the excerpt above. Last year my granddaughter, Reagan, took a pretty good hit into the concrete wall that surrounds the track. I can’t remember if she spun out or was pushed by another car but what I do remember is the phone call I got from Ricky Brooks, the track manager, on Sunday afternoon. I was really taken back when I saw the caller ID info on my phone as to what the call might be about.

It turns out that the call was just an outgrowth of the “Family Friendly” claims; Ricky, after not being able to connect with Reagan’s dad, reached out to her grandfather (me), to inquire about her well-being after her encounter into the wall on Saturday night.  After telling Ricky that she was fine, I told him how much I appreciated his call and that he went well beyond the call of duty in doing so!

As a race-loving family, we have really come to appreciate the Cordele Motor Speedway. If you or any of your family like Motor Sports too, I’d encourage you to give them a visit. This year’s event schedule is posted on their website:  https://cordelemotorspeedway.com/info/.

Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

Thanks for reading All About Seniors… see you next week!

Bill Milby is a Director of Visiting Angels® of Central Georgia, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. If you have questions or comments about this column you can reach him at william.mercylink@gmail.com or search for us at  https://www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsofCentralGA