Local News

Sebring Thunder is this weekend

Photos

JOE SEELIG
Published: September 13, 2012

SEBRING - There is something about the sound of squealing tires and the smell of burnt rubber that gets a crowd of motor heads roaring, and they'll have another chance this Friday night at the third annual Sebring Thunder car show in downtown Sebring.

The show starts with a 4 p.m. welcome at the Kenilworth Lodge for all this year's participants, followed by 6 p.m. tech inspection and burnout competition starting at 7 p.m., Friday, at North Ridgewood Drive and Mango Street.

This will be followed by a meet and greet with burnout drivers, an awards ceremony and music.

Co-organizer Bud Whitlock said registrations were about 35 percent over last year and they're expecting 250 to 300 entries. Right now about 120 were registered. However, only 50 can be in the burnout competition.

The burnout is so popular because it's illegal to do this on an open public street, Whitlock said.

"The winner receives a $250 cash prize and he (or she) definitely burns that much rubber," he said. "So it definitely isn't for the money.

"It reminds them of their younger days when they used to do it when no one was around."

Whitlock was hoping the weather would hold out, but some rain is forecast.

Saturday, the event begins with more registrations in the downtown from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and the car show from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

At noon all engines will be started to hear "Sebring Thunder."

The Shannon Reed Band will provide entertainment on the Circle from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. At 5 p.m. events start up again at the Kenilworth Lodge for a poolside barbecue for the entrants, awards and music.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, the entrants will line up on the empty lot across from the Kenilworth, for a cruise to the Sebring International Raceway, where they will ride the track.

Business owner and Community Redevelopment Agency Commissioner Gene Brenner was taking calls from vendors via the event website. The CRA is one of the event sponsors.

He said Tuesday that they already had nine vendors registered and he was talking with a couple more. Brenner expected about 600 people coming into the city with the entrants as well as a crowd of about 2,000 visitors for the show.

The registration fee is $25, which includes one entry to the burnout contest (limit 50, but they've never had that many), one entry to drive the race track, and one ticket to the awards barbecue.

For more information visit www.sebringcruise.com.

jseelig@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5834