By Ray Hamill — The Humboldt Outlaw Karts have found a new home.

The purpose built go-kart track at the Redwood Acres will be officially unveiled this weekend, with a packed day of racing action on Saturday.

“It isn’t just a track, it’s a home for us,” Lissa Usselton said.

Usselton, along with fellow Humboldt Outlaw Karts board members Ryan Walters and Fredy Champagne, have been working on the site — located to the northeast of the fairgrounds racetrack — for the past two months, and dreaming of it for a lot longer than that.

For the past two and a half years, the karts have raced on the dirt in the center of the fairgrounds raceway, most of that time under the promotion of track promoter Blair Aiken.

Packed house at Redwood Acres for Driver Appreciation Night over the weekend

This year, however, Aiken handed the reins over to the Humboldt Outlaw Karts, and the board has been busy planning expansion in more ways than one.

In addition to the new track, next year’s schedule will feature as many as twice the number of events, expected to double from the six on this year’s calendar.

For many racing enthusiasts in the local community, it’s an important step in the right direction.

“This is extremely wonderful bonding with your children,” said Champagne, who serves as president of Humboldt Outlaw Karts. “There’s no other sport like it. To be able to test machines at home and come to the racetrack to race with your children. It’s special.”

The new Humboldt Outlaw Karts track will be officially opened on Saturday.

The new track features many upgrades from their old home.

It’s longer, going from one-tenth of a mile to one-eighth, it features bleachers right alongside the track, and has a far larger area for pit crews.

And that’s something the board hopes to utilize to attract more out-of-town teams to race in Eureka.

They’re also hoping to squeeze in three more events before the winter break this year, beginning with Saturday’s racing, which is expected to draw as many as 40 cars.

The outlaw karts are open to anyone aged five and up, and feature six divisions split into  four different age groups, 5-8, 8-12, 12-18 and 18-and-over.

Saturday’s grand opening race is sponsored by The Mill Yard, with gates opening at 10 a.m., and the racing action getting under way at 3 p.m.

Track sponsors include Wes Green Landscape, Steve’s Septic Service, DCI Builders and Wendt Construction Co.

The six divisions within the Outlaw Karts include Williams Financial Box Stock, Champagne Attorney Service Beginners Box, Nor Cal Auto Center 500, Fortuna Wheel & Brake Fart Karts, and Miclette Family Pure Stocks.