Local competitors bring love of cars, helpful hands to Texas Mile 2018 in Victoria

Allen Libbe said it is hard to explain what it’s like to compete in and help with the Texas Mile.

The bi-annual speed extravaganza in Victoria is part car show, part speed trials and part party. For Libbe and a large contingent of competitors and sponsors from Corpus Christi, the event is a labor of love where they not only compete but also offer help.

“It’s a great weekend that you get a bunch of your buddies together and doesn’t really matter what kind of car you have you go as fast as you can on that one mile,” Libbe said. “And you don’t get speeding tickets.”

Libbe, who is a co-owner of CC RV near Annaville, competes in his 2014 Chevrolet Camaro but his business also provides trailers and a motor home to the event for workers.

And he’s not alone. Royce Cameron, a long-time friend of Libbe, supplies light stands and generators, while other area businesses help with concrete walls and even portable toilets.

Cameron said he and his business helping started in casual conversations about their businesses and what the event might need.

“We found ways we could help and they were appreciative,” Cameron said. “When they moved from Beeville to Victoria we drove up there and helped them move with trailers to help them haul their stuff.”

The event brings fans and competitors from across Texas and the nation to take their turns going down the one mile circuit to see how fast they can go. Vehicles range from stock family sedans to motorcycles to custom-built cars that can reach speeds of up to 230 mph or more on one of Victoria Regional Airport’s runways.

The event started in 2003 running at an auxiliary landing field in Goliad, moved to Chase Field in Beeville in 2010 and in 2017 moved to Victoria. Competitors go through a licensing process and safety inspection before they can compete. Once those are completed, they can make as many runs as they want during the day.   

The first year the event had 35 participants and now draws more than 250 competitors and has 70 staff members, who mostly volunteer their time.

Libbe and Cameron are part of a team that includes about 10 cars and has the name of “Off Like a Prom Dress.”

Libbe said the first time he drove his Camaro in the event he had the air conditioner running with music, and he said he missed a shift. His next run he was more serious and now he can get his car to speeds of more than 160 mph.

“It’s part of the fun pushing yourself and the vehicle to try to do a little bit better,” Libbe said. “You’re competing against yourself for the most part.”

IF YOU GO

TEXAS MILE

When: Friday-Sunday

Where: Victoria Regional Airport

Admission: Admission is $25 for adults for an event pass and will get a fan onto the grounds for three days. Children under 12 are free.

For more information: www.texasmile.net

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE TEXAS MILE

Texas Mile origins

The event started in October of 2003 in Goliad with 35 competitors and no staff members. Now it has more than 250 participants who pay between $450 and $550 to run their vehicles. The event moved to Beeville’s Chase Field in 2010 and to the Victoria Regional Airport in 2017.

Run what ya brung

Competitors can run any kind of vehicle but it must pass a safety/technical inspection and drivers must also go through a licensing program before they can make a run. Shannon Matus, who helps run the event, said the focus is on modern-day vehicles. Competitors must also have helmets and other safety gear and can make as many runs as they can get in after all the licensing and safety inspections are complete.

A weekend of fun

The grounds open at 8:30 a.m. each day and runs will start around 9 a.m. and will run until 7 p.m. each day. On Sunday, runs will go until about 4 p.m. Fan admission is $25 and is good for all three days, and children under 12 are free.

Down the runways

The event will use some of the airport’s taxi ways and runways, while also receiving flights at the same the event is running. Texas Mile spokesperson Shannon Matus said it is a “pretty significant undertaking” to run the event at the regional airport.

When does the event run?

The event is run twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.