GETTING GREATER; For its 25th edition, the Great Race celebrates the old and welcomes the new.(News)

Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON

For The Great Race in 2007, the 25th running of the event, organizers are drawing from the past and looking toward an expanded future. Starting June 30 in Concord, North Carolina, and ending in Orange County, California, July 14, the event spans 4000 miles of adventure with a $350,000 purse-$50,000 of it for the rookie class, which is meant to encourage new competitors. Entry to the main event is limited to 300 competitors.

Also aiming to expand the event's appeal are several changes in the rules including permitting cars built through 1969 (previously, cars had to be 45 years old or older) or even newer if they are of special interest, a division for hybrid and alternative-energy vehicles, and an option to participate in only half the rally.

"We found that a lot of people find it hard to take two full weeks away,'' said Rally Partners director of marketing and communications, Mike Ewing. "So within the larger event, we'll have Great Race East and Great Race West. The midpoint will be Dallas, so you can go from North Carolina to Texas or Texas to California.''

Within those one-week events, competitors may choose to compete in a "fun'' division for an entry fee of $2,500 or run for a prize fund with a $3,500 entry fee. The $1,000 difference goes into the prize fund; the final size determined by the number of entries. Details, rules and other information can be found at www.greatrace.com.

This year's route will revisit communities-mostly small to midsize towns, says Ewing-that have been most receptive to the event over the past 24 runnings. The rally also has permission to reuse its original title, "The Great American Race,'' having negotiated to ...