Racing Across The Sooner State

Thursday, July 5th 2007, 7:57 am

By: News On 6

The 4,000-mile Great American Race stopped for lunch in Muskogee on Thursday. The stop was one of several in Oklahoma, as participants made their way to an overnight stop in Norman. The teams got a genuine 'Okie from Muskogee' welcome. The News On 6â€™s Rick Wells reports local radio personalities, Cliff and Kelley from 101.7 radio, did the introductions as the cars made it to the lunch stop at the Muskogee Civic Center.

The teams have been at it since the start on Saturday from Concord, North Carolina. This leg is from Fort Smith to Norman with a lunch stop in Muskogee.

Lots of folks came out to watch the cars come in. Rick McIntosh is a veteran of the Great American Race. He owns a 1930 Ford Racer. He's the navigator of the race. Driver and navigator have to get along.

"It's tough on the driver, because I'm telling him what to do for two weeks in a row,â€ said McIntosh.

A '67 corvette is one of a handful of Oklahoma cars in the race. It belongs to Mike McLaughlin of Cookson. His brother Kelly is the navigator. McLaughlin said the Great American Race has always been a dream.

"Always wanted to do this in a â€˜67 vette,â€ McLaughlin said.

So, he bought the car and here he is.

Muskogee put on quite a welcome. There were volunteers with checkered flags. The territorial Marshals we on hand to keep order. Lots of locals brought their own vintage cars over just to be part of the spectacle, and the race teams seemed genuinely glad for an opportunity for a pit stop and a little lunch.

For more information about the Great Race, click here.

Watch the video: The Great American Race

News On 6 reporter Rick Wells covered the race as it passed through Oklahoma last year. To watch his story, click here.