Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross will be the Grand Marshal for the 18th Annual Seaside Le Mans-The Race for the Cape Cod Community, as over 10,000 spectators are expected to return to Mashpee Commons on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Opening ceremonies will kick off at 11:30 a.m., followed immediately by the 4-hour endurance race and awards presentation. The patriotic opening ceremony will also feature an honor guard, a flyover and live music from the Cape Conservatory Jazz Band.
During this free, family-friendly event, dozens of local companies will be racing through the streets of Mashpee Commons in Formula One race karts on a ¼ mile outdoor track, complete with a bridge over the track to the infield. Spectators are welcome to view the race from outside the track or the center infield to get close to all the action and activities. Live race results will be available throughout the day on the “Race Monitor” app (a free app available on Apple and Android devices), allowing racers, spectators and fans across the country to view the leaderboard, check on lap times and track live results.
New this year, spectators will be invited to volunteer at the trackside “bike build” where 240 children’s bikes will be assembled, representing the 240 minutes of the race, then donated to 10 local children’s organizations. Returning this year will be a medical tent hosted by Cape Cod Healthcare, the official medical care provider for the race, as well as the Blood Mobile supporting the Cape Cod Healthcare Blood Center. Media sponsors Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine and Cape Cod Broadcasting will be part of the event too. There will also be free children’s activities, food vendors, merchandise tents and music throughout the day. Spectators are invited to visit some great new additions to Mashpee Commons including Fox + Kit Children’s Boutique, Southern Tide and Molly’s Apothecary.
With kart sponsorships, matching funds and the Drivers Cup Fundraising Challenge, this year’s race will raise $600,000, bringing the funds raised to more than $6.5 million over the last 18 years – all of which has directly benefited the Cape Cod community. Beneficiaries of the race this year are the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Healthcare, Cape Cod Children’s Place, Cape Cod Theatre Company Home of the Harwich Jr. Theatre, and Dream Day on Cape Cod, each of which has a specific focus for the funds received. The Davenport Companies work in partnership with The Cape Cod Foundation to manage the sponsorship donations and with X1 Boston to manage the race. “From the beginning, the whole focus of this event has been on bringing the community together to support Cape Cod,” said event founder DeWitt Davenport, CEO of The Davenport Companies. Unique among fundraisers, 100% of sponsorship dollars from the event go directly to the chosen beneficiaries since expenses are underwritten by The Davenport Companies, covering all event costs.
Additional event and sponsorship information can be found at www.seasidelemans.org or on Facebook.
Established in 1956, The Davenport Companies remain family owned and operated with a real estate holding and investment company and businesses in the hospitality, services and real estate industries. For more information on the race and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.seasidelemans.org or contact DeWitt Davenport at 508-398-2293 or Kelsey Ellis at 508-394-8800 ext. 142.
