As a race official waved a green flag from the center of a grove of trees, engines roared to life and the scent of fuel and burnt rubber filled the air on Sunday.

Once the race began, there was no stopping until the green flag was replaced with a checkered one.

The East Lansing Kart Track, is where the championship race started, not far from the Northern Tier apartments more than 3 miles from campus.

The track, 15933 Chandler Road, has been in business for more than 40 years, offering racing activities for people of all ages.

"(The track is) going to definitely be more geared to someone who's interested in racing," owner Kevin Haun said. "It's a very fast and exciting sport."

The cars are low to the ground, resembling a souped-up go-cart armed for speed.

With all of the equipment encased under or behind the driver, the drivers are open to the elements, with their heads above the front of the carts and only the seat holding them in.

But the track has a long history, first racing when Martin Block opened the track in 1961 as a race track for his grandchildren. In 1975, the Haun family purchased the track.

"We raced there before," Haun said.

But, the Hauns made the business their own by renting go-carts, holding sanction races and starting a racing school at the track.

"We used it as an income by starting the rental business," Haun said.

In the late 1980s, the track expanded to include regularly sanctioned races and a local racing club.

Haun and his brother, Robert, now own the business, having bought the business nearly eight years ago.

Haun said his interest in the business developed from "just the sport of racing itself."

The Kart Track offers racing for ages five through 70, with four different age brackets: Kid Kart, Junior Sportsman, Junior Competitor and Senior Competitor. The Kid Kart division is geared for ages five through eight at speeds around 30-35 mph, whereas adults, in the Senior Competitor class, race at speeds of up to 75 mph, Haun said.

The racing season at the track culminated in Sunday's Season Championship. The race was open to anyone who wanted to race, with no previous racing experience necessary.

The track also gives entire families an opportunity to spend more time together, as is the case for Seth Rippee, 35, of Grand Blanc.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," Rippee said.

Rippee's wife, Pam, 34, and their two sons, Bradley, 8, and Austin, 5, all race at the track. Their sons compete in the Kid Kart division, and the parents race in the Senior Competitor division.

Rippee said the best part of racing for him was the "family time" because "we're all together."

Rippee added that racing also gives his sons experience in driving and helps to improve their hand-eye coordination.

But the business doesn't just cater to families or hometown crowds.

Some of today's biggest names in racing and most successful drivers got their start at the track, Haun said.

Danica Patrick, one of racing's most prominent female drivers, raced here about 20 times, Haun said.

Also, "this was the first asphalt track that (Sam Hornish Jr.) raced on," Haun said. "They're just like superstars."

Next year, Haun said the Kart Track will have the honor of hosting one of four national races for go-carts.

"It's a lot of fun every year," Haun said.