WL Mayor, local celebrities to compete in Malibu Jack’s kart race for nonprofit

West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter will participate in a celebrity kart race among other local celebrities at Malibu Jack’s Lafayette tonight.

The indoor family fun park will partner with Cars For Keeps, a local non-profit, for the 2024 Race to Place Fall Fundraiser, according to a press release.

Other “local celebrities” include Vinny Martorano from WLFI, Purdue basketball analyst Bobby Riddell, D.A.R.E. Officer Barry Richard and Amy Sundell from Greater Lafayette Commerce.

The event Friday from 6-9 p.m. aims to raise $20,000 for Cars For Keeps’ fall vehicle placements to help the organization’s “mission to end the cycle of poverty through vehicle ownership and financial education,” according to its website.

“We serve the community in a different way (from Cars For Keeps) but we really love what (they do) for the community and helping those families that are struggling,” said Malibu Jack’s in Lafayette Sales Director Casey Toby. “Families are a big part of our audience as well so anything we can do to help support families in our community, we're really excited to do so.”

Participants can contribute to the cause by purchasing all-access passes, making donations throughout the night or joining in the kart race.

The format of the race is three 10-lap qualifying heats with 10 karts per heat, the press release says.

The top three drivers from each heat will move on to a nine kart final race, with their starting positions for the final determined by their placement in the previous heat.

Those interested can register for up to all three qualifying heats through the Cars For Keeps website but can only qualify for one position in the final race. Participants can pay to get a better starting position in the race, the website says.

“We are a very large building, so we have a really big capacity, and we're ready to welcome as much of the public that comes in tonight,” Toby said.

Racer requirements include a valid driver's license, height of at least 56" and a maximum weight of 300 lbs.