Arkansas Mile to be an annual event here

A little rain couldn't dampen the spirits of those participating in the inaugural Arkansas Mile Friday at the Arkansas Aeroplex -- or slow down their high-performance vehicles.

Several cars and motorcycles exceeded 200 Miles Per Hour before hitting the one-mile mark on the 1 1/2 mile track on Friday. In fact, fans saw a motorcycle, driven by Hussain Alsowaigh, run 238.2 MPH down the track.

Event chairman and CEO Shannon Matus said there are about 120 participating this weekend, and she anticipates "a few thousand" spectators.

The crew prepares the record-holding Ford GT for a run Friday at the Arkansas Mile on the Aeroplex. The crew will try to beat the 279.9 miles per hour record this weekend.

Matus noted there was no concern about the rainy forecast -- or the brief delay late Friday morning, as they broke early for lunch.

"This is nothing compared to a hurricane coming in," she said, pointing out at one event in Texas a hurricane blew through but they still ran that weekend.

The Arkansas Mile continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and, in addition to watching some fast cars, there will be drone racing, Matus said. The event wraps up on Sunday.

There are several spectator tents, including one at the starting line, as well as signs posting the speeds and various vendors.

"It's great for the spectators," Matus said.

Matus said the Arkansas Mile will be an annual event, just as its sister race, the Texas Mile, has been for the last 14 years.

"We do not just try something out," she said. "Once we do it, we're doing it. When we commit, we put everything in. It's not just a trial, kind of figure it out. We throw everything at it and we're committed to doing it year after year."

"We're planning to make this a destination event," Matus said.

She said not only does the track meet the physical needs, the community has been welcoming.

And she appreciates the invitation from Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority president Barrett Harrison to bring the event to the Arkansas Aeroplex.

"It's more than just a track," Matus said. "We need a mile and a half and it has a mile and a half. What we like about it is this amazing sense of community that we try to bring to all of our events. By being invited into this community makes this track wonderful as well. It's in excellent condition, so that's amazing as well. It's great for spectators to be able to come out and to be able to participate."

"The place is huge," she added. "It can hold a lot of people and really support the growth of the event. There are several things we like about it. The basic foundation is a perfect facility. From the full community, that's what makes us love it."

Matus said the event will continue to be planned around Relay for Life and Cars and Cycles Against Cancer, as it was this year.

"This was not about trying it out, this was about doing it for the longterm," she said.

mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com