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| August 31, 2007 News |
| EKN Trackside: Rock Island Grand Prix - Preview |
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The Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, is set to run their 13th edition of the Labor Day Weekend festival in the southwest portion of the Quad Cities along the mighty Mississippi River. Well over 300 entries will converge at the Rock to battle in 14 classes on the weekend, featuring some of the top racers from across North America. Near 5pm Friday evening the streets of Rock Island, IL will close down for the many RIGP volunteers to begin building the track as the haulers begin filling the paddock area for to prepare for Saturday morning action.
The headline event of the weekend is the Superkarts! USA King of the Streets race, sponsored by the Bob Bondurant SuperKart School. RIGP and SKUSA have increased the winning payout for its coveted crown to $4,000. Add to that the Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by the Indy Racing League and Bridgestone joining forces to boost the first place check for the ICC North American Street Championship to $4,000 as well, giving the ICC drivers a chance to compete for more than $11,000 in prize money.
Leading the charge this year are the two winners of the last three years - Alan Rudolph and Kyle Wiegand - are set to add to their win totals this year. Wiegand is a two-time winner (’04 and ’05) with ‘Rudi’ earning his fourth KoS victory last year. Joining them thus far in the entry list includes three pilots making their first RIGP. Recent KartSport Grand Prix winner and former SKUSA SuperNationals winner Wesley Boswell will return to the driver’s seat for the second time this year. 2006 Canadian National Champion and recent Stars of Karting ICC winner Michael Vincec will cross the border for his first RIGP event.
Eyes will also be on Gary Lawson, Jason Birdsell and Todd Bolton, as they chase the title for Most Career Victories at Rock Island. Birdsell has held the mark, with 11 wins, for quite some time. But with two wins last year, Lawson climbed to 10 wins and Bolton is not far behind with 8. Bolton will have the advantage or disadvantage of running six classes on the weekend with Lawson running five and Birdsell competing in four.
 | 2006 RIGP King of the Streets winner Alan Rudolph
(Photo: EKN) |
Mazda and PG Racing have stepped up to sponsor the two TaG classes this year, TaG Senior and TaG Masters. The TaG Senior class is the biggest of the entire event, capped at 55 entries. TaG Masters is second with 38 drivers set to qualify for 30 spots - which is the number of starters for all the main events on the weekend. The Last Chance Qualifiers Sunday morning should be interesting for both divisions. Also, the top 10 finishers in each will qualify for a chance to attend the TAG World Championships in October at the IMI Motorsports Complex, just outside Denver, CO.
The event will also feature the Rumble at the Rock featuring the Briggs & Stratton overhead value Animal power plant, as well as an Animal Heavy class. Briggs & Stratton has helped boost the winning prize for the Rumble at the Rock race to $2,000. Also featured this year will be the Tom Argy Jr. Sportsman class for drivers age 12-15. This year’s Sunday races will again be broadcast live worldwide via the internet by monksmedia.com beginning at noon.
New to the Grand Prix festival weekend this year is the Venetian Night Lighted Boat Parade Saturday at dusk on the Mississippi River. At one time this event was one of the premier events of its kind in the country, but it has not been held for three years until returning as part of the Grand Prix festival weekend.
Also new this year is the Wagner Racing Products Kart Simulator. The simulator will be located in the pit area on Saturday and in the Grand Prix Marketplace on Sunday. Competitors will be able to race the Rock Island race course for a chance to win cash prizes. The enty fee for each race is $5 with money split between the purse for winners and Argus Santa/Dispatch Goodfellow fund - which benefits both children and adults in need at Christmas time.
 | Gary Lawson carried has five wins in the last two RIGP events
(Photo: EKN) |
Also part of the festival weekend is a Saturday Labor Day Ride fundraiser for the American Cancer Society to raise funds to battle non-Hodgkin Lymphoma . It is sponsored by The Daiquiri Factory - part of The District. Sign-in is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and the last participant is due in by 6 p.m. All kinds of vehicles are invited, you must be over age 21 to participate and the entry fee is $10.
Sunday will also feature an Antique Auto Show featuring the Mississippi Valley Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America. Those looking for a break from the racing and family activities will enjoy the HyVee Family Fun Zone located in the infield area of the track on Third Avenue.
John Deere & Co. returns as sponsor of the John Deere Awards Show for drivers and race teams. There is nightly outdoor entertainment on the East Plaza stage sponsored by the Rock Island Brewing Co. Festivities each day will wrap up just in time for fun on the outdoor stage featuring The Travoltas - always a RIGP favorite for the racers. Outdoor concerts will be offered all three nights.
Presenting sponsors of The Rock Island Grand Prix are AT&T, CJC Investments, and Mazda. Jumer’s Casino Rock Island is sponsor of the $32,000 total purse – one of the largest payouts in professional karting. General admission to the races is FREE, although there is a daily charge of $10 for pit passes which allow admittance to the pit area. Action starts Saturday and Sunday at 8:15 a.m. and concludes at 6 p.m. To discuss the event and watch updates during the weekend, visit the Official Discussion Thread
Rock Island Grand Prix Festival - Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, AUGUT 31
2-10pm: Competitor sign-in open at Holiday Inn
2-5pm: Pre-race tech/scrutineering open at the off-site staging area at Rock Island’s QCCA Expo Center
5pm: Streets close in The District downtown Rock Island
6-11pm: Pits open
7-10pm: Pre-race Tech/Scrutineering open on the pre-grid
9pm: Outdoor music on East Plaza Stage featuring The Brat Pack, sponsored by the Rock Island Brewing Co. All ages show. Admission charged
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
7 am: Pits open
7 am-Noon: All you can eat DeMolay Pancake Breakfast at Masonic Temple
7-9am: Driver sign-in open at Holiday Inn
7am: Pre-Race Tech/Scrutineering Opens
7:15a.m: Driver's meeting at pre-grid area. Attendance is Mandatory
8 am-6pm: Grand Prix Marketplace vendors open in The District
8:30-11:45am: Practice rounds. Five minute sessions. Crossing breaks every 4 rounds
10am: Kart Racing Simulator open in the Pit Area; admission charged
11am: Labor Day Ride cancer fundraiser begins at The Daiquiri Factory
1pm: Timed qualifying begins
6pm: Track Closes at conclusion of qualifying
Dusk: Quad-City Venetian Night Lighted Boat Parade on Mississippi River
9pm: Outdoor music on the East Plaza Stage featuring The Travoltas, sponsored by the Rock Island Brewing Co. All ages show. Admission charged
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
7am: Pre-Race Tech/Scrutineering Opens
7am-Noon: All you can eat DeMolay Pancake Breakfast at Masonic Temple
8am-6pm: Grand Prix Marketplace vendors open in The District; 10 a.m. HyVee Family Fun Zone opens
8:15am: Final practice round begins
10am: Antique Auto Show opens on 18th Street near CBS4
10am: Kart Racing Simulator in Grand Prix Marketplace; admission charged
10:30-Noon: Consolation Races
Noon: Opening Ceremonies and Kid’s autograph session
12:30pm: Racing begins
6pm: Racing Ends
7pm: John Deere & Co. Awards Ceremony
9pm: Outdoor music on the East Plaza Stage featuring The Travoltas, sponsored by the Rock Island Brewing Co. All ages show. Admission charged
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
9:30am: Annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade. 18th Ave. and 24th Street |
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