PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY TO REDUCE CAR SPEEDS FOR SAFETY
PERRIS, Calif. — Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian has unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing the safety of racing by implementing speed reduction measures. The initiative, which is set to commence at this Saturday’s sprint car and stock car show, will introduce new speed limits that must be adhered to by all drivers. The plan stipulates that drivers who exceed the newly established speed limits will face penalties. These penalties will include the addition of weight to their cars or the use of different tire compounds, which are intended to reduce the speed and performance of their cars. This measure is designed to ensure that races are conducted at safer speeds, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing overall safety for drivers and spectators alike.
Safety improvements continue to evolve as innovation advances in racing. The same can be said of speed. The cars continually get faster. Kazarian had been thinking of ways to make things safer for drivers without adding additional costs for car owners for quite some time. The speed limit idea came to him a couple of weeks ago and he has diligently been working to have everything in place for this Saturday’s race.
“I have been wanting to make racing safer for a long time,” Kazarian said. “ Everything I came up with seemed like it was gonna’ cost the car owners a lot of extra money. Even at the bottom levels, this sport is very expensive. The other night, when I was lying in bed unable to sleep and staring at the ceiling, it hit me. Establish a speed limit. I was so excited; I woke up my wife to tell her about it. She told me to go back to sleep and tell her in the morning.”
Once the idea hit, Kazarian had to find ways to enforce the new rule. Simply eyeballing a car when it went down the straightaway would not work. So, he took a trip to the swap meet in Tijuana and picked up a radar system and a light bar.
“I picked up a trick radar system that will fit comfortably in a sprint car and a light bar to mount on the top of the cage,” said the longtime promoter. “They are both made by the Acme Electronics Company. I tested both of them and they work very well. They are ready to work on Saturday, and some drivers are going to be in for a surprise when they are caught.”
Mounting the light bar on top of the cage was no problem at all. It features your standard police special red and blue beacons. However, it is obviously smaller than you see on a police car on the street. Once the radar detects a car traveling too fast, the red and blue lights will be activated to warn the driver. The offending driver will not be immediately penalized. He will be given two laps to comply unless he is detected after the white flag. In that case, he has to slow down immediately.
What may have seemed like the hardest part was the thought of who would wheel the car with the radar and beacon. However, Kazarian pointed out, it was really not hard at all.
“When I had the idea of who would wheel the car, I immediately thought of one driver,” Kazarian said. “It was Jeff Dyer. In addition to racing sprint cars, he is a longtime California Highway Patrol officer. Who would be better to fill the bill of catching speeders?”
Dyer, who lives in Yucca Valley, has raced open-wheel cars for over a decade. He began and still races lightning sprint cars, where he has posted several wins. He has also been racing 410 sprint cars for quite some time.
“I was excited to get Don’s call,” said the driver of the yellow #39 sprint car and the #4 lightning sprint. “The toughest part will be the radar gun. Handling it while racing simultaneously is going to be a challenge. Especially getting the radar mounted. We have a couple of ideas we plan on trying.”
While looking for speeders in the sprint cars, Dyer will also be competing. However, with the stock cars, the senior and young gun sprints, he will only be patrolling, and looking for the law breakers like he does on the California freeway system. In addition, he will be on patrol and doing his duty at the Nights of Destruction featuring figure 8 races, figure 8 trailer races (he will not be required to pull a trailer), mini stocks, demo cross, and double deckers.
“Don never said anything about having to do it at Night of Destruction,” Dyer commented. “I had not planned on that. I need to discuss that with him a bit further. Perhaps he will let me use his truck on those nights, as I sure do not want to waste a racecar.”
When asked what the drivers and owners thought of this new idea, Kazarian said, “Except for Jeff, when they read this, it will be the first time they have heard of it. I am sure word will travel fast.”
The speed limits for the sprint car and stock cars will be posted on the PAS website (www.perrisautospeedway.com) and the Facebook page on Thursday or Friday. Additionally, all aspects, including speed limits, will be discussed at the driver’s meetings on Saturday.
“Spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and we will explain everything to the fans before cars are on the track.” Kazarian then added with a wink and a smile, “I hope everyone has a happy and fun April Fool’s Day.”
For fans who wish, advance tickets for all of the USAC/CRA & PASSCAR, and Night of Destruction shows are available at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7 or by calling 800-595-4849. For fans who do not wish to purchase advance tickets, there will be plenty available for everyone at the ticket window each night.
Tickets for the September 13th return of the World of Outlaw NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars at The PAS are available at https://bit.ly/42Dssil
Camping on the fairgrounds is available for all races at $25.00 a night beginning at noon on Friday.
Perris Auto Speedway is conveniently located close to the freeway at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, home of the Southern California Fair, in nearby Riverside County. To get there, take the 215 freeway, exit at the Ramona Expressway, and go three miles east to the fairgrounds. For online directions, the address to enter is 18700 Lake Perris Drive, and the zip code is 92571.
Perris Auto Speedway 2025 Schedule
April 5th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS
April 12th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
April 26th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS
May 3rd LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
May 24th "SALUTE TO INDY" AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS,
PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS
June 14th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
June 21st AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS
JUNE 28TH “FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR AND SKY CONCERT”
LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
July 19th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS
July 26th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
August 9th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
August 16th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS
August 30th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
September 6th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS
SEPTEMBER 13TH THE “GREATEST SHOW ON DIRT!” THE WORLD OF OUTLAW SPRINT CARS
September 20th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
September 27th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND FACTORY STOCKS
October 18th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER AND STREET STOCKS
October 25th LKQ Pick Your Part Presents NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION,
DEMO CROSS, FIGURE 8'S, TRAILER FIGURE 8’S, MINI STOCKS AND DOUBLE DECKERS
November 1st AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/ YOUNG GUN SPRINTS, PASSCAR SUPER, STREET and FACTORY STOCKS (Front Gates open at 5:00 Showtime 6:30)
November 8th AVANTI USAC/CRA SPRINT CARS, PAS SENIOR/YOUNG GUNS SPRINTS, “JERRY DODD CHAMPIONS NIGHT” PASSCAR SUPER, STREET AND FACTORY STOCKS
(Front Gates open at 5:00 - Showtime 6:30)
THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
To keep up with everything happening at The PAS, please visit the track’s social media efforts on Facebook and Instagram and visit the website at perrisautospeedway.com.
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