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ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – In response to pleas from
drivers, the Rock Island Grand Prix organizing committee has announced that it
will suspend the planned implementation of a TAG Heavy class at this year’s
event in favor of retaining the 125cc Masters gearbox class.
“This is
a highly unusual action on our part,” said Roger Ruthhart, president of the
Rock Island Grand Prix. “We have seen the 125cc Masters class in decline both
at our event and nationally. The Rock Island Grand Prix is one of the few
national events where the class is still featured. We were approached by some
racers who asked us to reconsider plans to drop the class.
“These
are people who, in some cases, have been long-time supporters of our event and
of kart racing in general, so we agreed to discuss available options and have
come up with a plan that we hope everyone can live with. It has always been our
goal to provide an event at which as many racers as possible can compete and
this action is taken in that spirit and again shows that we try to be as
competitor-friendly as possible.”
The plan
approved by the race committee provides:
*
Competitors in the 125cc Masters gearbox class have until June 1, 2008 to have registered at
least 22 competitors. The class allows drivers over age 35 to compete in both
moto and ICC powered gearbox karts run at differing weights. If that threshold
is reached, the race program will move forward as announced. If it is not
reached, 125cc Masters will be dropped and TAG Heavy will be reinstated.
* No
refunds will be given in this class after June 1 unless the class is dropped.
* No
“ghost riders” will be counted. This is about putting a competitive class on
the street for spectators, not just about paid entries.
The Rock
Island Grand Prix plans to begin registration in late February or early March –
several months earlier than previous years – giving competitors ample time to
sign up before the June 1 deadline. If adequate support doesn’t surface, 3
months will remain to register drivers in TAG Heavy.
“It is
our hope that we will be able to be a premier event for the 125cc Masters
drivers for many years into the future. But from a business perspective, we
cannot offer classes with declining participation,” said Ruthhart. “This offers
these competitors a fair opportunity to rebuild and retain the class. But if
the support is not there, we will go ahead with plans to add the TAG Heavy
class.”
Additional news about plans for this year’s
Rock Island Grand Prix will be announced at Kart Expo International, held Feb. 23-24
at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center in suburban Chicago. For more
information on this event, visit www.e-kmi.com,
or see the slide show under Newsletters and Press Releases on the official Rock
Island Grand Prix home page, www.rockislandgrandprix.com
.
The Rock Island Grand Prix has drawn top
drivers from 34 states as well as Canada, Bermuda, Mexico,
Argentina,
Brazil,
Colombia,
France,
Italy,
Costa RicaEngland.
Drivers will compete in 14 races featuring around 400 race entries.
and
Presenting Sponsors of the Rock Island
Grand Prix are Mazda and AT&T. Jumer’s Casino Rock Island and Kart Expo
International presented by Sodi Kart are also major sponsors. John Deere &
Co. returns as sponsor of the John Deere Awards Show for drivers and race
teams. Festivities will wrap up just in time for fun on the outdoor stage once
again featuring The Travoltas. Outdoor concerts will be offered all three
nights.
Others sponsors of this year’ Rock Island Grand Prix
include: Zimmerman Cars; CBS4 TV; radio stations B100, 97 Rock, Star 93.5 and
The River 104.9; The Dispatch, The Rock Island Argus and The Leader newspapers;
Quad-Cities Online; Mediacom. Illinois Oil Products is the sponsor of HyVee VIP
Hospitality Park
and the Jewell Group is sponsor of the Pre Grand Prix Party. Other sponsors
include Budweiser and Stern Beverage, Sprint Kart Speedway and 61 Kartway, PG
Racing, JET Karting, Triple E Sales, Courtesy Car City, Rieken’s Racing, CJC
Investments, Sunbelt Rentals, Communications Engineering Corp.(CEC), Gas &
Electric Credit Union, Rogan Inc., EZ Companies, County Waste, Full Circle Media,
Fastenal of Moline, and Rock Island Country Market. Additional sponsorship
opportunities are still available.
On any given weekend,
there are more Mazdas on the road-race tracks of America At the track, you’ll see MX-5
Miata, RX-8, MAZDA3, MAZDA6, RX-7 and other vintage Mazda models
competing, because every Mazda has the Soul of a Sports Car. In fact, the fastest growing road-racing
class in the U.S.
is the SCCA’s Spec Miata class, with nearly 1,500 first- and second-generation
Miatas tearing up America’s
racetracks, making it the most-raced production car in the world. Mazda’s involvement in motorsports extends to
its relationship with Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, one of the world’s premier
road-racing circuits, and the Skip
Barber Schools
for driving and racing. than any other brand of
vehicle.
Mazda North American Operations,
headquartered in Irvine, Calif., oversees the sales, marketing, parts
and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through
nearly 900 dealers. Canadian operations are managed by Mazda
Canada, Inc., in Ontario,
and in MexicoMexico City. (www.MazdaUSAmedia.com, www. Mazdaspeedmotorsports.com )
by Mazda Motor de Mexico,
AT&T is the largest telecommunications
company in the United States
and one of the largest in the world. AT&T
is the recognized world leader in providing IP-based communications services to
business and the U.S.
leader in providing wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long
distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. As part of
its "three screen" integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video
entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as
AT&T U-verse TV. With 55.8 million subscribers, AT&T
provides international voice services to virtually every country and territory
in the world. It is a global company that sets the industry standard for a new
era of integrated communications and entertainment services. The AT&T
Foundation has contributed more than $1.8 billion to nonprofit organizations
around the country, including $60 million in 2006, putting it among the five
largest corporate foundations in the United States. (www.att.com)
The Rock Island Grand Prix is hosted by The Downtown
Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District which features Casino Rock Island,
retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art
galleries and comedy clubs all within walking distance of the host hotel. It is
located on the Mississippi River three hours
west of Chicago
in an area known as the Quad-Cities which straddles the river and the
Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88
and 80 and is served by Quad
City International
Airport in Moline, Ill.(www.ridistrict.com)
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