The Harlan County Outdoor Recreation Board Authority was approached by an official of the East Coast Off-Road Racing Series (ECORS) Tuesday during the regular scheduled meeting concerning the possibility of the board allowing a pit-type race to take place in the county next year.

Rob Klinger, co-founder of ECORS, addressed the board about the race possibly taking place in late summer of next year, noting that it could be a great opportunity for the county since this type of racing’s popularity is becoming well-known and requested throughout the eastern United States.

“It is our goal to have each event at different venues to give the series a good regional spread for equal traveling for spectators and competitors,” said Klinger. “We have three classes of vehicles from stock jeeps to modified trail rigs up to full-custom racing buggies.

Klinger distributed information packets to the board which detailed the race and how it would work, including an announcement about the first race event that took place in Mountain City, Tenn., in October.

Klinger noted that the first race went well and he is expecting that with each event the endurance-type racing will become more popular in this area of the country.

This first event was the first of six races scheduled to take place for the season within the series. Klinger also noted that the team race and earn points for each event and after the end of the season the top point winners in each class win the Series Championship.

Each race is an endurance type event with multiple laps with each lap being between two and six miles and a designated pit area is needed which is easily accessible by service vehicles.

Klinger told the board that all funds from the entry fees is used to pay the racers and that the sole means of ECORS’ profits comes from vendor and sponsor booths which will be set up at the pit site.

“I would like to be able to offer a weekend spectator and competitor package that would include camping, admission to the race area, and trail use,” said Klinger.

While the attending board members suggested a couple of places where such an event could be held, they agreed that it would be best for Klinger to organize a group and come into the area to check out possible sites at the park to see if any locations would fit the purpose.

“Get an advance party together to come in here and look it all over,” said board co-chairman Dallas Gilbert. “Set up and appointment with Brandon (Goins) and have some of the board members to get together on it and go look it over. You will have a decision to make and so will we.”

The board also agreed that late summer might not be the best time for the event to take place in the county, with several of them suggesting July to be a good month for the race since it is normally a “dead period” for events.

“We would love to have anybody who wants to come here and put on an event,” said Gilbert. “If you do good, you can come back next year. If not then you don’t.”

Klinger, who is based in Greenville, N.C., agreed to set up a time to come back to the area to look over the park and discuss possible further planning of the event.

Board chairperson Kim Collier was not present at the meeting to give in-put on the matter.