[Roger Ruthhart]

I’m coming to the discussion late, but back in the early days of shifters there were some Kawasakis (maybe others) that ran but then Honda became the gold standard thanks top SKUSA. But TJ is right — it’s just too small of a market for mfgrs to mess with. Honda Performance wouldn’t exist if it was just karting and not IndyCar etc. But look how many Yamahas have run in karting for home many DECADES and they haven’t gotten involved. Just isn’t going to happen.

[Roger Ruthhart]

For the record, Rock Island is not governed by TAG USA, but we are happy to use their rules which are made available to anyone who needs them.

One thing to remember with regards to TAG and TAG USA is that 1) it was created at a time when there were a lot of TAG engines but not a lot of any one brand in this country. So if your track had 3 Biland’s 2 Rotax and an Easykart (dusting off history there, right?), you could run them all together. Founder Tom Argy Jr.  knew eventually some would get enough traction to have their own class, but not at every track. 2) Second thing to remember was it was never intended as a national class … various series and sanctioning bodies made that happen, then people started tinkering with engines, etc. etc. Tom’s vision was that other than a couple of large fun-filled weekends (Rock Island was one, TAG Nationals another) where people could step up a rung on the ladder to compete outside their own club, it was just supposed to be a local race class. I’m sure there are still local tracks using TAG USA’s rules because when you throw in the Local Option set they cover almost anything. Dave Larson has done a good job of keeping the program alive. But short answer, Tom never expected TAG to last forever.

[Roger Ruthhart]

In preparation for the 2017 Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom, the organizing committee wants to make competitors aware of several minor rules adjustments that will be put into affect.

* At the urging of competitors, the Open Shifter 2 race will NOT be run on the same tires as King of the Streets or Masters Shifter. While this has been a successful program for Briggs and Yamaha racers, gearbox karts race on different compounds and with more horsepower. It has been determined that tire degradation would be too significant and that racers competing in the King of the Streets race only would hold an unfair advantage. Both classes will continue to be offered so that shifter drivers can enjoy the main reason the second class was added – to provide an opportunity for more track/practice time and a second chance to win.  But each class will run Heat Races and Features on the same but different tires per the Supplemental Rules.

* A rule was included in the Margay Ignite shootout classes that does not allow previous winners at Rock Island to compete in these classes. Unfortunately due to the fact that the Ignite Junior class is the only junior class run at Rock Island, that rule unfairly singles out one competitor. That competitor won the class last year, is still a junior and has no other options for racing at Rock Island. So with the blessing of Margay, that rule is being eliminated for the Ignite Junior class only.

* Finally, for Briggs & Stratton 306 competitors we would like to call your attention to a new clutch rule released by the manufacturer. In its application at Rock Island, it will read as follows:

“Included in this update is a clarification of the driver and standard driver conversion as a non-tech item to prevent any future confusion. This updated language is highlighted in red. The official Briggs & Stratton 206 rule set has also been changed along with the date on our website. 32. Clutch (updated 8/11/17)

All Briggs 206 and Ignite classes can run any rim centrifugal clutch with a maximum of 9 springs and 6 shoes. No alteration to clutch allowed, except springs, driver, driver conversion and clutch key are nontech. Clutch coolers are not allowed. Clutch drums must be stamped single-piece steel only. Aftermarket drums with “machined” contact surfaces are not allowed.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

LeCont announced tire contingency program for Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom

LeCont Tires and importer WR Motorsports have announced LeCont’s contingency program for the 2017 Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom. LeCont is also the sponsor of this year’s King of the Streets open shifter race at Rock Island.

Drivers who win on four LeCont tires will receive a LeCont jacket and a set of tires. The awards will be presented to qualified winners in the following classes only: Yamaha Medium, Yamaha Heavy 1, Yamaha Heavy 2, B&S 206 Medium, B&S 206 Heavy 1, B&S 206 Heavy 2, B&S 206 Masters, TAG Senior, TAG Masters, King of Streets Open shifter, Masters 125 shifter, Open Shifter 2, 80cc Shifter.

Founded by two brothers, Sergio and Valter Cont, motorsports and technology enthusiasts, LeCont s.r.l. is a located in the Trentino area in the north of Italy and is producer of competition tires and high performance compounds.

Begun in 1993, after having made its debut in the motorcycle sector, LeCont positioned itself as one of the leaders in the karting world, before starting its experience in race car competitions.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

Vega tires and TS Racing have announced $5,600 in contingency awards for drivers winning on Vega tires at the 2017 Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom.

Vega Tire will award $350 per class to racers on Vega Tires. Class winners on four Vega Tires will receive a check for $200. Second place finishers on four Vega Tires will receive a $100 gift certificate. Third place finishers on four Vega Tires will receive a $50 gift certificate.

TS Racing, the Vega Tire importer for the United States, is also offering a special pricing program for this year’s event. The world class CIK/WSK homologated Vega XM 460/710 tire set is reduced to $189.00.

The popular FH Blue 460/710 tire set will be $155.00.

Vega has all competitors covered with a wide selection of tire compounds, including 6-inch Yellow or Whites and the popular VAH Red 206 tire.  Check out the Vega Tire selection at TSRacing.com or call 800-962-4108 and speak to a representative.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

August 22, 2016  RIGP Rules Clarification

We have two additional rules updates prior to this year’s race. The updated Supplemental Rules in their entirety will be posted today to our website.

First, Rule Additions to all Yamaha KT100 Classes:

KT100 Pressure / Vacuum Testing For Leakage:
Testing may be performed to insure extra air is not being pulled into the engine for a performance gain. Any means to bypass the intent of the class rules is illegal.  Both pressure and vacuum tests may be performed — engine must hold 5 psi for 60 seconds and/or  5 HG of vacuum for 60 seconds.

KT100 Blowdown checking procedure for Yamaha engines –
1 — By a careful visual inspection (light check)  , identify the highest exhaust port and the highest intake port.
2 — Using the Lad tool, zero the dial indicator on the highest exhaust port, taking care to hold the shaft  of the tool against the cylinder wall.
3 — roll the crankshaft backwards (.500″ on the dial indicator)
4 — insert the Lad tool into the highest intake port, holding the shaft of the tool against the cylinder wall.
5 — roll the crankshaft forward until the piston stops on the Lad tool and note the value.
6 — the value must be between .380″ and .420″ to be considered legal
7 — engine to be checked as raced

Second with respect to the Margay Ignite Junior Shootout. 

Carb Slide: Yellow OEM Unaltered. Briggs carb locking clamp must be in place with cap fully tightened at all times.

Third with respect to Spec Fuel: All classes will use spec fuel available at the track. 91 octane non-Ethanol fuel for Briggs 206 and clones; 98 octane for TAG and shifter classes; 110 octane for Yamaha classes. TAG and shifter drivers are reminded to please let use know your fuel needs in advance!

Finally, a reminder about two other changes made previously:

Brakes: Only rear brakes only are allowed in 4-cycle and Yamaha classes.

Ignite Shootout: A spec clutch and gear have been specified for the Margay Ignite Shootout classes. The spec clutch is Hilliard Flame. The spec clutch gear is 19T and the rear gear is open.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

We have announced one rules change — 125 Masters should have listed minimum age as 30 — same as last year.  We have also listed a couple of clarifications which can be found posted on our website.

[Roger Ruthhart]

We are really excited about this latest announcement!

ROCK ISLAND, IL – July 18, 2016 – The Rock Island Grand Prix has announced a new partnership that places Mediacom Communications as the first naming rights sponsor for the world’s largest karting street race. The high-performance race held annually over Labor Day weekend will now be named the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom.

Mediacom, the area’s leading broadband provider, signed-on for a three-year sponsorship that will provide the Rock Island Grand Prix with television advertising valued at more than $55,000 and targeted to sports fans and other viewers throughout several Midwestern states.

The 2,700 TV spots per year should be a huge booster in exposure for karting in the Midwest too.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

+1

He was the first race director at the Rock Island Grand Prix, 1993-95, and did an awful lot in the early days for karting. None quite like him!  RIP

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

For those interested in a more complete description of Vintage classes, here it is:

Class name                                     Description

A Class

                                                        Straight front axle karts

                                                        any rear engine kart

                                                        Single engine only

                                                        MC101 or WB  820  OK

Mac Class                                        All fan cooled Mc’s, WB,PP, etc

                                                         80cc to 100cc

                                                         Single engine only

Open Class                                      All foreign engines 100cc 135cc

                                                         All dual engine karts

[Roger Ruthhart]

Website update is complete and we expect to launch registration soon… just waiting on a last minute tweak to the Supplemental Rules. Classes are essentially the same as last year except Margay Ignite Shootout Junior class will replace 80cc shifter. Here’s the list:

* Yamaha Medium
* Yamaha Heavy 1
* Yamaha Heavy 2 (same tires)
* B&S 206 Medium
* B&S 206 Heavy 1
* B&S 206 Heavy 2 (same tires)
* B&S 206 Masters
* Margay Ignite Shootout Senior
* Margay Ignite shootout Junior
* Clone Medium
* Clone Heavy
* TAG Senior
* TAG Masters
* King of Streets Open shifter
* Masters 125 shifter
* Vintage  Sportsman
* Vintage Mac
* Vintage Open

Contact Keith Freber at Margay for arrive-and-drive information for the Ignite packages, which can also be raced in other LO206 classes.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

We all need to look beyond the impact on each of us and realize that there is no longer a national magazine for our sport … even an E version. Sure the large sanctioning bodies have something for their members but it seems like karting in a country this large should be able to support one publication available through subscriptions, track and kart shop sales… or even just online E-mag subscriptions. We loved working with Sean Buur and his family but when they sold I had really great hopes for Go Racing when K1 took over given the resources they seem to have. I realize there are business decisions to be made and I’m not faulting anyone for Go Racing’s demise, but I do find it really sad that there is no regular publication for US karting… a vehicle to help lure in new racers that isn’t totally Euro focused. Thank goodness we still have Ekartingnews.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

I’ll be interested in seeing the responses, but we have asked this for several years in our driver surveys. 30 percent yes for spec tires, 50 percent no, and the rest don’t care or have no opinion.

What we hear verbalized in favor of a spec tire is that with the open tire rule, to be competitive you have to buy and test several different tires in practice (although not sure everyone does that!). The argument FOR the open tire rule is that I have a trailer full of tires that I’ve used all season and now near the end of the racing calendar you are asking me to buy and use tires I’ve never raced on before, I don’t want to do that. And we have a lot of racers who come from different tracks or series that have their own spec tire — shouldn’t they be able to continue to use those?

Last year we have several gearbox drivers who for the reason stated said we should make MG the spec tire for those classes since that’s what they run in SKUSA all season. Made sense and we thought we were responding to desires of our racers so we did that … and our entries went down. This year we are back to open tire and entries are back up.

We have run open tires and compounds for many years successfully. We think racers should be able to use what they think performs best for them and what they feel safest with. And why shouldn’t tires be part of the setup equation for racing?

We have worked with all of the tires companies over the years to do promotions for the benefit of our racers and will continue to do so if the tire distributors want to. We also greatly appreciate the long-term sponsorship of the King of the Streets race by MG .. and even as the race sponsor they have not demanded to be a spec tire. Wagner and his crew are also big supporters of our event and we appreciate that.

Time for me to go have a race. Have a good discussion.

 

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

The Clone Medium class has been dropped from the program due to lack of entry support. Drivers have been notified and refunds will be made.

[Roger Ruthhart]

Things are really looking good so far for this year’s RIGP. We are already over 200 entries which is a healthy increase over last year with 3 weeks of sign-ups still to go. All of the discounted LO206 entries have been claimed and those classes look real solid. There ares still a few slots left for the Margay Ignite Shootout arrive-and-drive program but you better make those arrangements soon.

We have entries from all over the US — California to New Hampshire — and for the first time in our 20 year history will welcome drivers from British Columbia and Louisiana!

One last-minute decision was to allow sealed Rotax DD2 racers to compete in the Open Shifter classes at the stock Honda weight, so please help us spread the word to those potential drivers.

If you were one of the 4-cycle drivers upset last year because you couldn’t run your 6-inch wheels, just a reminder that those are now legal in the Clone classes so we hope to see you here.

Great entertainment has  been scheduled as always for the weekend we will be sending that info out to our email list soon to help plan your weekend in the Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District.

And all is in place with Aaron Carotta and the crew from Mav TV to film Saturday and Sunday for “Motorsports Road Trip.” Thanks again to Margay Racing for helping to make that happen.

As always if you have any questions or concerns first read the Supplemental Rules on the website and then feel free to call 309-292-8133 or email grandprix@qconline.com.

See you all soon!

[Roger Ruthhart]

I don’t know anything about silly season, but I don know Ron White and his family are class act. Drivers can learn a lot under his tent!

[Roger Ruthhart]

We have had a solid run of entries to date which is exciting as we plan for the 21st annual event. So far we have drivers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, California and Canada registered.

More than half of the Briggs & Stratton reduced entries have already been claimed and the LO206 classes continue to reflect our largest numbers of drivers so far.

If you missed the story about Margay’s great Ignite class arrive-and drive offering for under $1,000, see the EKN news section.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

At one point SKUSA (during it’s Jim Murley days) ran a Triple Crown of Karting, although I don’t remember the exact name. It featured a sprint race, long track enduro event and street race, which the Rock Island Grand Prix was honored to host. This would have been probably around 2000. Rob Howden and some others surely can remember more details than I, but that format certainly provided a unique challenge.

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

It probably has better traction in the snow than rear wheel drive!

[Roger Ruthhart]

Registration for Briggs & Stratton LO206 classes is going like gangbusters early and lots of new faces so far this year. And the second B&S 206 Heavy class (where you run on marked tires from another 206 class) is especially popular —  with many Briggs Medium, Heavy and Masters drivers opting to enter that race too.

 

 

[Roger Ruthhart]

And if you really want help, join the fun at EKN and get rid of the anonymous user name

[Roger Ruthhart]

Entries are now open for the 2015 Rock Island Grand Prix. Enter online at RockIslandGrandPrix.com

[Roger Ruthhart]

Pretty sure Badger Kart Club @ Briggs & Stratton Raceway is running 206. Don’t think I saw them on either list.

[Roger Ruthhart]

I just wanted to clarify a point I raised earlier regarding licenses. As Mr. Deering points out there is no point to having a license to race at a local track. However under today’s formula, a guy can race 1 or 2 races at his local track… heck, he call pull his new kart out of the box … and race at most of our top national events. Promoters have no way of knowing the talent level of the racers and racers have no clue whether the guys next to them going into the corner have any race craft knowledge.

Rotax has wisely addressed this problem by making racers compete and excel in regional programs before running in national events. SKUSA has some minimal license requirements for limited classes. Some local tracks make newbies put a big X on the back of their helmets. But pretty much everywhere, you just pay your membership and go race.

If you leave karting and go race cars, you need to qualify for a specific license regardless of the series. If you leave the US to race karts elsewhere in the world, you need to qualify for a license. But here ACCUS (the FIA’s agent in this country) has abdicated any control over karting so there are no national guidelines to assure that drivers have the necessary training and experience to be safe and qualified racers before moving up. If you were  racing at a major national event, wouldn’t you like to know that the guys next to you had the same skill level and weren’t just some clown out for a joy ride? That is the point I was trying to make.

[Roger Ruthhart]

The national-level racing is the image of the sport — even in the eyes of most of us. But having enough quality national series isn’t the sport’s problem. What is lacking is one organization (I’d even settle for a czar) to work with the local tracks to develop the sport at the local level (and I’m not just talking about trying to sell them insurance). That umbrella doesn’t need to pick rules and classes etc. but it sure would be nice if we had a national licensing system and maybe some coordination among events from various organizations on the race schedule to avoid serious conflicts.

If local racing is built up, I think the national issues will take care of themselves. In the 1990s when we started the Rock Island Grand Prix you could look around at neighboring tracks (Norway, Quincy, Davenport, Marshalltown, Springfield, etc.) and easily find 400 karts racing each weekend. Today, I’m guessing you will maybe find 150 combined and some tracks are gone forever. Gus Trader’s PKA street race series had over 350+ entries almost every weekend of the summer — now RIGP is the last one left and we are fighting to maintain 200.

Another huge blow to the sport, IMO, was losing the Kart Expo International trade show. Each Feb. all of the manufacturers, importers, series, kart shops, sanctioning bodies, etc. were in the same place. Individual meetings were held in conference rooms and around the bar and many of the issues facing the sport were hammered out. And yes, all of the new products were on display.  None of the auto-racing based gatherings have come close to filling that void and our sport is worse for it.

Sadly, we have no central rudder pointing us in any direction. Things at the national level won’t get better until much more is done to promote the sport at the local level … you have to learn race craft before you can race with the best. I have been involved in karting for more than 20 years and while there are some bright spots, this is the worse I’ve seen the sport overall in the US.  Rebuilding it must start at the local kart tracks.

 

[Author]

Posts