Racing For Kids® gets back on track with two special kick off events, part of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Pete – the season opening race of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR Series. First up on Thursday, March 7, Racing For Kids will bring AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci and Sting Ray Robb to Johns […]
It was an engaging and impressive “Road To Indy” Show Thursday’s at Racing For Kids® stop at the Sheboygan (WI) County Boys & Girls Club in Sheboygan Falls.
Headliners in the show were three fast-rising racers: Andretti Autosport’s Mazda Indy Lights driver, Nico Jamin; Team Pelfrey’s drivers Nikita Lastochkin, who competes in the Pro Mazda Series, and Alya Agren from the USF 2000 Series.
Young, articulate and bright, the three represented a mini United Nations of motorsports with Jamin being from Rouen, France; Lastochkin from Moscow, Russia; and Agren from Baerum, Norway.
The trio handled a myriad of pointed questions from the 100 or so children assembled in the club’s gymnasium. Most of the questions, understandably, had to do with speed, stress in the racecar and crashes.
However, the most unexpected question came from a young seven year old girl who asked Nikita: ”How did you lose your accent?.”
After chorus of laughter from the drivers as well as the youngsters, Nikita thanked the young girl for the compliment and added, “I tried very hard to learn English.”
The youngsters were first treated to a video on the history and focus of Racing For Kids® followed by an energetic video composite of the wild and extremely close racing in this year’s Indy 500.
When the formal part of the Racing For Kids program concluded, the drivers signed autographs and posed for pictures with their new fans.
The Boys and Girls Club effort was organized and directed by Robert O’Hara, Executive Director, and Tessa Wilterdink, Unit Director.
TranSystems representative Chaz Gross, made the early morning trip to Sheboygan Falls from his Schaumburg, Ill office to assist in the hour long program as he helped in passing out Racing For Kids hats and memorabilia. Kansas City based TranSystems has been a major Racing For Kids sponsor since 2004.
