Rock Island Grand Prix April Newsletter

This is the latest news from the Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race. Dates for this year’s event are 30-31 August. For Entry Information and Hotels, please see our web site at www.rockislandgrandprix.com  . As always, if you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please reply stating such and we will remove you immediately.

New Format for Tom Argy Jr. Sportsman
The Rock Island Grand Prix has announced a change to the program for this year’s junior class – the Tom Argy Junior Sportsman class. The popular Junior 3-hole Can class will race a Prefinal /Final format. As in the past, competitors will run timed qualifying on Saturday afternoon. This will determine the starting grid for the Prefinal. An 8-lap Junior Prefinal will be run in late morning on Sunday to determine the starting grid for the Sunday afternoon 10-lap Tom Argy Junior Sportsman race.

The addition of the Prefinal to the Sunday morning schedule will mean that only THREE senior classes will be able to expand to 55 entries and run Last Chance Qualifiers. All other classes will cap at 30 entries.

“The juniors have always been an important part of our event. They were also very important to our former race director, the late Tom Argy Jr., after whom the race is named. But the Rock Island Grand Prix by design offers very limited track time. Senior competitors, if they choose, can add more track time by entering additional classes. Juniors cannot. For many, it is a long way to travel to run one race,” said Roger Ruthhart, president of the Rock Island Grand Prix.

“The new format will allow them additional track time to experience street racing, while providing more time to learn the course under race conditions. Obviously we also hope this move will encourage more junior drivers to participate and also result in a more competitive Final on Sunday afternoon,” Ruthhart added.

125 Masters deadline nears
Late last year, the Rock Island Grand Prix organizing committee announced plans to drop the 125cc Masters gearbox class from the schedule. In response to pleas from drivers – some long-time supporters of the event – the decision was made to allow the class until June 1 to register a field of at least 21 drivers before it would be dropped. Currently there are nine drivers from six states registered. Please help spread the word if you know any gearbox drivers over age 32 that would like to help preserve this class at “The Rock.”

To sweeten the pot, Phil Gordon has offered up an additional $250 to the highest finishing driver over age 40. Get those entries in soon!

 

Strong early registration
We were excited to be able to start registration much earlier this year and the early turnout has been very encouraging. To date we have 54 drivers entered, representing 86 race entries. Entries so far represent Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Texas, Michigan, Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, California and Pennsylvania, as well as Bermuda. There is still plenty of time to enter, but remember that due to the change in format for the Juniors, there will be only THREE classes that cap at 55 entries. All other classes will cap at 30 entries. Don’t get caught on the Waiting List.

Congrats to Graham Rahal
Congratulations to former Rock Island Grand Prix competitor Graham Rahal for his big Indy Racing League win on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, at the Honda Grand Prix. Experience racing the streets of Rock Island couldn’t have hurt, right?! We’re really excited about the great progress he has made with his career and all of us in Rock Island wish him continued success. Dad Bobby must be thrilled, too, and rightly so.

Congrats also to Danica Patrick for finally getting the monkey off her back with a win. Despite being from just up the road in Roscoe, Illinois, Danica never did race here, although many other talented female drivers have. We’re still awaiting our own “breakthrough win.” So far Ashley Betts and ‘Rocky’ Martinez are signed up to give it their best shot in 2008.

Sponsor opportunities available
There are still some great sponsorship opportunities available for this year's Rock Island Grand Prix.  Sponsorships offer great exposure and help us keep the costs down for competitors. If your company is interested, we have a range of sponsorships from $350 to $10,000. Contact Roger Ruthhart today.