"Gentlemen (and Lady)-- Start Your Engines!" With that, the roaring engines, cheering teams, and squealing tires provided the soundtrack to the visually stunning blur of colors as 15 cars raced around in the large parking lot of the Masonic Health Care Center. This was the third time the campus of the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown was the site of the June 2nd Masonic Village Charity Mini Grand Prix. Fifteen teams from across the state participated in the race, which benefited the Masonic Children's Home. A twisting track outlined by old tires was designed by Masonic Village Engineer Jeff Gromis, to make driving skill just as important as speed.
The Mini Grand Prix raised more than $25,000 in contributions for the Masonic Children's Home this year.
The teams participating were Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Ebersole Excavating, Inc., K.L. Harring Transportation, Lodge No. 2, Masonic District D, Masonic District 10, Masonic District 30, Masonic District 30, Masonic District 45, Masonic District 45, Masonic District 55, Moscow Lodge No. 504, Pennsylvania DeMolay, Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh, SimplexGrinnell Operations Department, SimplexGrinnell Service Department and Warfel Construction Company.
The day began with the singing of the national anthem by Leandra Logan, Grand Worthy Associate Advisor for Pennsylvania Rainbow, and followed with a parade of the cars, led by Ronald A. Aungst, R. W. Grand Master. A Dash for Kids race and a 30-lap championship race followed. R. W. Past Grand Master Samuel C. Williamson drove the parade laps for Pennsylvania DeMolay, but declined to participate in the race, noting that since Paul Newman had recently retired from racing, he thought he'd just watch this time around.
In the championship race, the K.L Harring team took first place, Masonic District No. 45 took second and Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682 (the E-town lodge) took third. The K. L. Harring team also was first in the Dash for Kids, and District 45 was second.
Other awards were:
- Pit Stop: K.L. Harring, first; Moscow Lodge No. 504, second; Warfel Construction Company, third.
- Most Authentic Paint Job: Warfel Construction Company, first; Pennsylvania DeMolay, second.
- Most Creative Paint Job: Scottish Rite of Pennsylvania, first; Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, second.
- Most Authentic Uniform: Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, first; Pennsylvania DeMolay, second.
- Most Creative Uniform: Masonic District 30, first; SimplexGrinnell Operations Department, second.
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For details on the successful 2006 Mini Grand Prix, click here
For details on the successful 2005 Mini Grand Prix, click here.
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