Kids Race Day is a Rotary initiative that commenced 10 years ago with 3 racecars and 13 kids and their families from Camp Quality. The objective of the day is to give kids the thrill of being a passenger in a 4WD, Race and Rally car at Oran Park Raceway. In 2004 over 350 kids were given this unique experience. Approximately eighty drivers from categories such as the Konica V8 Supercar Series, V8Brutes, Super-Tourers, Commodore Cup, Porsche Cup, GTP and Formula 3 support the Kids Race Day event. Many of the kids were treated to quality track time in a range of prestige vehicles such as Lamborghini Contachs, Ferraris, BMWs and Porsches and there was plenty of time afterwards to meet the drivers for that important autograph or to get a photograph taken in their favourite vehicle.

The event has grown in popularity over the years and was featured on Channel 7’s Sunrise program in December 2003, Channel Nine’s National news programs on Sunday, 21st December 2002 as well as 2UE, 2KY and C91.3 radio stations and various community newspapers across Sydney leading up to the day. In previous years Kids Race Day was shown on The Footy Show, the Today program, Paul Wade’s Soccer program on Foxtel and The Disney Show. Over 2,000 people turned out at Oran Park last year despite the temperature reaching 30ºC by midday.

With a strong media presence expected again this year, the organizers are hoping to draw attention not only to a wonderful group of kids and young people, but also to the hundreds of volunteers across Australia who work tirelessly alongside these children.

Why do we run the event each year? Simply, because many of the children cannot go to a racetrack; so a small group of Rotarians from our Club got together to bring ‘the race track to the children’.

We also encourage the children to bring their families to the event and to participate in the various activities as a family unit. Our Rotary Club is conscious of the fact that some parents needed to focus their energies on one child, often causing some of the siblings to feel rather neglected or ‘left-out’; it was therefore our desire that these children should also share the race-car experiences with their brothers and sisters. Many of the children that undergo therapy use the race-car experience as a positive moment in their lives and hopefully this will help them to overcome some of the trauma caused by their treatment.

We also run the event on the last Sunday prior to Christmas each year to give these kids a fun start to the festive season. So what events make up the Kids Race Day program? In December 2005 the program includes:-

• 'Hot Laps' for persons over the age of 12 y.o (Ticket holders only);
• 'Guest laps' for children under the age of 12 y.o. (Ticket holders only);
• 'Parade Laps' featuring Hot Rods, Street Machines, Exotic Vehicles, Vintage Cars, Police Cars, Fire Engines, Rescue Crews, etc;
• Experience extreme 'Off-Roading' in 4WDs on the 4WD Track;
• Passenger Rides in full spec Rally Cars with the Nepean Valley Car Club
• Burnout Sessions;
• Static display of Hot Rods, Dragsters, Street Machines and Exotic Vehicles;
• Remote control racing on a smaller scale with the Penrith Districts’ Nitro Race Club;
• Special appearance by Santa; Clowns and face painting;
• Other Entertainment;
  
  • The Race Place Hyper-Stimulator Challenge;
  • The Penrith Districts Nitro Model Race Club display;

Objective of the day?

To provide 'Motorsport Therapy' for children and young people who have been affected by physical disabilities or illnesses such as cancer.