By Myra Bean

Susan Camp is enjoying how the public has accepted the Lake Susie Dirt Racing track that she and her family built.

The track has been used monthly since March in a four-city series race. Camp works hard to make the race atmosphere family friendly.

“It is family-oriented,” she said.

Her youngest daughter is in control of the parking lot. Her son and daugher-in-law do the check-ins. Her daughter and son-in-law are over the concessions. Nieces and nephews also help around the track.

The darling of the group is her grandson Brenan who has a truck named after him, Brenan’s Toy.

“He knows every driver and every truck,” Camp said. Brenan even has his own air-conditioned room at the track.

“When we were out here building, he was always in my way and I had to have a babysitter,” Camp remembered fondly.

When his truck was racing, Brenan was in his room cheering “very” loudly for it to win, according to his grandmother.

The race at Lake Susie takes place every second Saturday of the month through October. The next race is August 11.

The rest of the schedule is first Saturday, Kizer Bottom in Myrtle; third Saturday, Lafayette Springs between Oxford and Pontotoc in Pontotoc County and the fourth Saturday is Grenada Dirt Drags in Grenada.

The gates open at 3 p.m. and the Drive-In Class begins at 4. Drive-in class is for drivers who race their own vehicles and may not be as powerful as some of the categories. They are required to have a helmet and a seatbelt.

Other class races start at 6 p.m. In addition to the Drive-In class are Pro E T, 460, Superstock, Small Block, Big Block, Modified, Super Modified and Open Class.
Women and youth (age 16) also race.

“Some of those youth are good drivers,” she said.

Last weekend’s crowd was about 800 people which was the smallest ever, possibly due to the threat of rain.

“It rained all around us, but we did not get one drop of rain at the track,” Camp said. “This was the third weekend God has blessed us where it rained all around us but not at the track.”

Usually, the crowd is around 1,500, according to Camp.

Drivers come from Louisiana, Jackson, Bruce, Oxford and the Panola County area.

This is the only track that allows paddles and scooper tires to run, according to Camp.

Camp reiterated this is a place where families can come and enjoy an evening out. There are foot races for the children. There is ample security with sheriff deputies, fire and ambulance on site.

“The racing community is like a family,” Camp said.

She was very thankful to the community and the sponsors for helping the track become a success.

Entry fee is $10 for 11 and older. 10 and under are free.

The address is 685 Lake Susie Road, Batesville. Go down Highway 6 West and turn left after the Tallahatchie River Bridge onto Waldrup. Go about a mile and follow the signs.