Run what you brung and hope you brung enuf’

People of Poteau get ready - The Mean Machine is coming to town! Owners of AIS Motorsports Greg Price and Dustin Price of Searcy, Ark., will be rolling through town Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. complete with a police escort from the Days Inn and Suites to the Robert S. Kerr Airport for the Poteau Spooky Balloonfest. The Mean Machine Monster Ride Truck is a 2008 stretch Hummer H2 Limo and will be available for rides at the balloonfest. It will also be the featured act for the Mud Race at the event which begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

By Laura Young
Managing Editor

Even if you hate the rain, you'll love what it can do for a mud race.
The Poteau Mud Race will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. as part of the 2009 Spooky Balloonfest at the Robert S. Kerr Airport.
The mud pit was prepared a couple of weeks ago and the rains have made it a total mess, exactly what the drivers want.
The Mean Machine Monster Ride Truck will be featured as well as many other local and area drivers.
There will be three classes: Street Class/Just Fer Fun ($20 entry fee), Modified ($30 entry fee) and Super Modified ($40 entry fee).
All drivers will meet at 1:30 p.m.  All trucks must be signed in and teched before their class starts.
 The payout for all classes will be: First place, 50 percent; second place, 30 percent, third place, 20 percent.
 Plus, there will be $2,000 added money. In addition, The Mean Machine Monster Ride Truck will be giving $1 for every ride on Saturday morning to the added money pot.
The guaranteed payouts will be as follows.
Super Modified: First place, $500; second place; $300, third place, $200
Modified: First place, $350; second place, $210; third place, $140
Street/Just Fer Fun: First place, $150; second place, $90; third place, $60
The payout figures are based on the added money. The actual payout may be larger with the entry percentages and the ride proceeds are added in.
The general rules for all classes are:
• Each truck gets two runs to get the best of two runs.
• Each driver will draw a number to determine race order
• Run order will be as follows: Street, Modified, Super Modified; Reverse order Street; Reverse order Modified; Reverse order Super Modified
• Winner in each class will be determined by the lowest time or longest distance (best out of two runs not combined)
• Each vehicle must have strong pull points in front and rear of vehicle for easy pull out (clevis, hitch, chain, etc.)
• Each entry may run as many classes as they chose, as long as the truck can tech for lowest class to run
• Fire-retardant clothing is highly recommended for all classes but not required unless running nitrous, turbo,  superchargers, or alcohol.
• Helmets and closed-toed shoes are required in all classes
• Full roll cage in each vehicle is highly recommended but not required unless running Nitrous, Turbo, or Superchargers
• If vehicle has no top then roll bar is required
• Racing  harnesses are recommended in all classes but not required, unless running nitrous, turbo or superchargers
• Fire extinguishers are recommended
• If truck does not have harnesses then seat belts of some kind must be worn
• Driver may carry only one passenger while in the pit
• Truck will be flagged by an official to stop his/her run if vehicle stops forward progression.
• In the event that a truck comes out of the pit during his/her run then distance will be measured from exit point.
• Vehicles will be measured to the center of the farthest hub
• All trucks will be teched and placed in class so-deemed
• 10 percent of all entry fee money will be held out to cover miscellaneous expenses
• No one will be held responsible for your safety other than yourself
For more information and rules in each class go to www.meanmachineh2.com/Poteau_Mud_Race.php


In Case of More Rain

Due to wet weather conditions and the forecast calling for additional rain, alternative parking for the Spooky Balloonfest will be available, if necessary, at Carl Albert State College and Kiamichi Technology Center. Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes from the Robert S. Kerr Airport and back to the college/vo-tech parking lots. Additional updates and details, if necessary, will be available in the Friday edition of the Poteau Daily News.