New business in Plumsted Township offers slot car racing, mini monster trucks.
By: Scott Morgan
PLUMSTED Gravity takes a fleeting breath. Speed demands only one tight curve to pry their wheels from the track and throw them through the air, and then gravity pulls them back to the ground.
The children who watch stand inches from the cars, gleefully witnessing the vehicles’ transformation from nimble to faltering and finally to airborne. They tumble and crash for just a moment, and finally come to rest at the edges of the track just within reach of the children, who eagerly plunk them back into their grooves and send them round again.
The top floor of the New Egypt Recreation Oasis looks sort of like a Christmas race car set on steroids. Two giant figure-8 tracks fill the room as miniature stock cars whiz past in their high speed whines.
Ken Francis is delighted or, rather, "tickled to death" that these speedy young racers choose to crash on his track. He opened the New Egypt Recreation Oasis, located at 27 Main St., at the end of the summer to encourage kids (and kids at heart, of course) to satisfy their itch for speed. So far, he says, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
"A few days ago, a group of kids came in to look around," he said. "They went out for a minute, and when they came back, they brought tackle boxes full of cars."
Racers can rent cars or bring their own.
Away from the screams of midget race cars is the oval dirt track on the second floor. Here, monster trucks of minor size slog through soil and plow through kin en route to the other end. And like their full-scale brethren, the little monsters seem most at home spewing gobs of dirt from their rear tires and dulling the gleam on their tiny chrome rims.
Perhaps the shiniest twinkle comes from the eye of Mr. Francis himself. A self-professed big kid, he says the cornerstone of staying young at heart is to love what you do for a living.
"You have to love your job," said Mr. Francis, who is a member of the Plumsted Township Committee. "On the one hand it’s a job, but on the other hand you enjoy doing something you’re good at."
Standing amid the screeching figure-8 track and giggling with the kids who drive their cars over the edge, it certainly appears that Ken Francis loves his job.
New Egypt Recreation Oasis is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. For information about rates call 758-4700.

