Outlaw karts will be at the Coos County Fair on Sunday, July 29 for one day of racing and fun. Above, outlaw karts race around the track at the Coos County Fair in August 2002. World File Photo

COOS BAY - Lawrence VanHoof is ready to bring the noise back to the Coos County Fair.

He'll be on the dirt track in the fairgrounds arena on Sunday, July 29 to compete in one of several microsprint and outlaw kart races.

It's the first time since 2005 the fair has featured these fan-friendly speedsters, which are enclosed, go-cart sized machines that can run up to 100 mph.

VanHoof, a 600 cc methanol burning microsprint track champion from North Bend, said there will be 95 to 100 of them on the line Sunday, grouped into seven divisions based on the engine model.

“It's great to finally be racing back there,” he said of the fair. “It's exciting for both the fans and the drivers. We always put on a good show - everyone has a blast watching us.”

Crowd sizes suggest the same. The races drew roughly 2,500 spectators at the 2005 county fair. The stakes will be even higher this time because the race features championship heats for the Northwest Outlaw Kart Series - a league boasting some of the top microsprint and outlaw kart drivers from Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

“There are going to be a lot of talented drivers there just like every year,” VanHoof said. “It's something we encourage everyone to see.”

VanHoof feels the short track at the fairgrounds is going to bring out the best in each driver.

“It's not as much built for speed. It's more of a driver's track,” he said. “It's going to make for some tight turns, good racing and plenty of crashes and flips.

“Those are exciting for the fans. What's exciting for drivers like me is the chance to race at my home track.”

The same goes for Wes May of Coquille. He'll drive in the 250 cc microsprint alongside Seth Nunes, the reigning Medford track champion. May and VanHoof are the current points leaders in their respective divisions heading into tonight's race in Cottage Grove.

VanHoof also owns a 250 cc cage kart that will be driven by Ashley Reece next weekend.

“There's going to be a lot of racing,” VanHoof said. “That's good for the drivers because most of them have a long haul down here.”

Each division will have two preliminary heats, a trophy dash and a main race. There are going to a maximum of 10 machines on the track at once, racing an estimated 25 to 30 laps in the main, VanHoof said. The divisions include a five-horsepower stock motor and methanol burning classes, 125 cc, 250 cc, separate 500 cc junior and open classes and 600 cc.

Practice laps will start at 10:30 a.m. followed by racing at 11:30. General admission is $5, and pit passes are $15.

“There's going to be plenty of good, hard racing,” VanHoof said.

Notes: Sponsors for the event include Johnson Rock Products, Roto Rooter, Bay Area Yamaha, Pacific Quality Electric and Ferguson Pipe and Supply.