Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 July 2001 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2001

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A3

Black drag racers prove sport has broad appeal

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER USPS 262-660

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0 * +" By KIM WELLS For the Recorder The fast and the furious of Black drag racing contained themselves to tracks in Indianapolis on Independence Day weekend for the first annual Indy Soul Nationals. In what was slated to be a weekend racing spectacular, an enthusiastic crowd of Afri-can-American drag racing enthusiasts gathered to witness dragsters and racing cycles of various degrees tear down the lanes of the Indianapolis Raceway Park in Hendricks County, just west of Indianapolis. The Indy Soul Nationals spanned three days, June 29 through July 1, and was organized by the Black Drag Racers Association. Their goal was to bring awareness of the sport to the African-American community in particular, according to Willie T. Wardlaw, founding president of the association. “We were hoping that we could let the African-American community know that there are thousands of African-American drivers and drag racers in the United States.” Wardlaw said that members of the Afri-can-American community do not know about black drag racers because they do not see them in the media competing. But he feels that securing corporate sponsorships will help in the efforts for African Americans to compete in the sport. Drag racing events in the Indy Soul Nationals were standard National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) competitions that included drag racing in the Super Pro Car and Bikes, Pro Car and Bikes, Quick 16, Open Body and Door Cars and Junior Dragsters. Racers were not able to compete in Sunday’s finals of the Indy Soul Nationals because a lightening storm accompanied by heavy rains flooded the track. BRIEFS Continued from A1

Bad weather could not erase connections made between drivers and their groups of loyal followers over the course to the weekend. Nor did it douse the fires of the competitive spirit. Drag racers made appearances at the Indy Soul Nationals from across the Midwest. Professional motorcyclist Antron Brown, who is also a NHRA competitor, made an appearance at the inaugural Indy Soul Nationals. The event drew a diverse crowd of competitors as well including father-daughter and father-son teams who competed in their individual races. Wardlaw said that the Indy Soul Nationals also had a specific focus on African-Ameri-

can youth. He said youth should know that there is a healthy and productive alternative to teens getting behind the wheel of fast cars on city streets drag racing. Wardlaw said they can aspire to drive, to race and they can get the experience they need by coming to the Indianapolis Raceway Park. Wardlaw is optimistic about the future of the Indy Soul Nationals as word of the event spreads. Wardlaw said that it will be news to some in the community that AfricanAmericans do drag race and that they are competitive. They will keep their momentum going by planning next year's event.

Recorder's Roving Eye

edge and understanding. These funds are important for their promise of helping with the hard work of educating help meet the great challenge of understanding.” The grant award is the first ,of its kind for Indiana. O’Bannon calls for moratorium on grants ■ * Gov. Frank O’Bannon told legislative leaders he has ordered a moratorium on processing of any Build Indiana Fund grants. In a letter to leaders of the four legislative caucuses, O’Bannon said that the moratorium would cover any pending BIF grant, in ing open grants that have been approved by the State Budget Com tee but not fully expended. “This administration plans to support all other reviews or investigations into expenditure of the BIF grants,” O’Bannon 'wrote. Build Indiana grants have come under scru ny for lack of oversight on the spending of the grants. Mon ey from the lottery finances the fund. Neighborhood cyber center The Indianapolis Neigh hood Resource Center (INRC), 1802 N. Illinois St., has a cyber center that includes a new state-of-the-art computer training facility to improve the technical capacities of neigh hood associations, communitybased organizations, not-for-profit agencies, and the citizens of Central Indiana. INRC has teamed with New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Indianapolis to offer beginning, intermediate, and advanced computer courses for different computer programs and other things such as word processing, desktop presentation, and Internet Web site design. For more information on applying, call the INRC (317) 920-0330. 2001 Community Service Awards Applications are being accepted for the Mayor’s Community Service Awards. The recognition program sponsored by the Mayor’s Office for Indianapolis and Marion County volunteers was created to annually recognize Indianapolis citizens for their

contributions and commitements to community service. Honorees will be recognized at an autumn celebration featuring Mayor Bart Peterson and receive a personalized brick for placement at the Mayor’s Volunteer Plaza, located at the 10th Street Basin on the Downtown Canal Walk. Applicants representing a wide variety of com ty service activities performed during 2001 will be considered. For an application contact Judy McKillip at 327-3927 or visit www.indygov.org. Deadline is Aug. 9. IDA program expands A statewide program that helps people with lower and moderate incomes buy a home, start their own business or go to college expanded on July 1 to allow more Hoosiers to take part. Public Law 289 contains language cham oned by state Rep. John J. Day, D-Indianapo-lis, that makes the individual Development Account (IDA) program permanent, and expands income eligibility requirements that will make it available to more families. Day authored the legislation that created the program in 1997. The new eligibility standards will allow in als or families earning up to 175 percent of the federal income poverty level to take part in the program. For example, a person with no dependents earning less than $14,613 a year will qualify for an IDA, as will a single parent with a child earning less than $19,688 and a four-person household making less than $29,838. Funding for perinatal health disparities The Health Re es & Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Marion County Health Department $900,000 as the first year’s installment of a four-year $3.6 million grant to fund their program called Eliminating Dis ties in Perinatal Health. The $900,00 first year grant award is the first installment of what is anticipated to be a four-year project, to be funded at the same level in subsequent, subject to the availability of funds.

First Sundays Recorder Editor Anare Holmes and WTLC-AM’s Linda “LC” Clemons were on hand for Elohim Production’s First Sundays Gospel/ Jazz Supper Club & Artist Showcase at the downtown Hyatt Regency. (photos/Jim Buntin)

First Sundays Gospel/Jazz Supper Club & Artist Showcase creators Raymond McElroy (r) and Har’rell Chisolm are the owners of Elohim Productions, a business management and creative marketing firm. $ * ik

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