Special event at boys & girls club

GAINESVILLE - The American Le Mans Series - which comes to Road Atlanta this week - is holding a Bike Grand Prix Wednesday afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club of Hall County to promote ThinkFirst, an educational program at the club.

The program deals with personal vulnerability and risk-taking.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Gainesville Police Department, which will have officers on hand to conduct a bike safety presentation, stressing the importance of wearing bicycle helmets. Bike helmets will be given to all children who show up.

The Bike Grand Prix will start at 3:00.

As part of the program, Johnny O'Connell, one of Team Corvette's drivers will drive a Corvette street car up to the staging area. Johnny will emerge replete in helmet, seatbelt, fire suit and talk to the kids about wearing bicycle helmets and the Shepherd Center will do a demo on head and neck injury prevention. The Gainesville Police Department will then conduct a bike safety event with the kids.

In addition to the Bike Grand Prix, approximately 40 Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County members will participate in the opening ceremonies at the Chevy Grand Prix of Atlanta which will be held Sunday at Road Atlanta.