The Rock Island Grand Prix
1724 Fourth Avenue, Suite 200, Rock Island, Illinois USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information
Email: grandprix@qconline.com
Call (309) 292--8133


ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, will host an exciting schedule Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-4, 2005. Local promoters of “The Rock” have put together an impressive race lineup featuring many of the top pro karters in the world.

SBC Communications is joined by CJC Investments – a Homevestors franchisee, as Presenting Sponsors. Jumer’s Casino Rock Island is sponsor of the $27,000 purse – one of the largest payouts in professional karting. Kart Expo International in Chicago, returns as a major sponsor. Four Points Hotel by Sheraton in Rock Island will again serve as the host hotel and race headquarters. General admission is free, although there is a $10 charge for a daily pit pass to get into the pit area. The action starts at 8:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings and concludes at 6 p.m.

This year, the Rock Island Grand Prix is joined by the Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by the Indy Racing League which is co-sponsoring two races that make up the Stars U.S. Street Grand Prix. The race is on the FIA/CIK World Racing Calendar. For the sixth consecutive year, Rock Island will also host Superkarts! USA’s King of the Streets race, sponsored by the Bob Bondurant SuperKart School. This year the Rock Island Grand Prix will also host two races for the TAG USA classes, sponsored by Easykart America and PG Racing, featuring a variety of low-maintenance, electric-start motor packages. The top ten finishers in both races will qualify for the TAG World Finals. Two Briggs & Stratton 4-cycle Animal classes, the Rumble at the Rock and the Tom Argy Jr. Animal Roundup for junior drivers, return to the race lineup. Eight other feature races are on the schedule including 2-cycle, 4-cycle and gearbox racing.

The Grand Prix has also added some exciting spectator attractions this year. On site for the two days of racing will be the IndyCar Series Fan Experience Properties. These unique entertainment venues travel to IRL races around the country in self-contained semi tractor-trailers. IndyCar Series Pole Position is a full-sized racing simulator featuring real IRL cars. IndyCar Series Tech offers sponsor displays and brings the excitement and intricacy of the pits and garage to race fans in an interactive manner. The IndyCar Series Pit Stop offers a tire change challenge, a refueling simulation and racing equipment displays including the War Wagon video component, flag stand explanation, and more. The IRL will also have one of its cars at the Rock Island Grand Prix.

Also new this year will be the HyVee Fun Zone featuring family games, the chance to sit in the HyVee go kart, food, a climbing wall, and other diversions for spectators enjoying a full day of racing.

John Deere & Co. returns as sponsor of the John Deere Awards Show for drivers and race teams on Sunday evening, featuring Comedy Sportz entertainers. Festivities will wrap up just in time to join the fun at the outdoor concert stage, with outdoor concerts sponsored by Rock Island Brewing Company. Friday night’s headliner will be The Brat Pack while Saturday and Sunday will feature the return of The Travoltas -- the always popular with Quad-Citians and the racing crowd.

This year’s races will be broadcast live around the world via the internet by Indianapolis-bases Monks’s Media at www.monksmedia.com . a Number of TV production companies are also expected to be on site filming for a variety of future programming features.

The Rock Island Grand Prix has drawn top drivers from 34 states, Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, France and Italy. This year foreign drivers from England and Costa Rica will also compete in 15 separate races with over 400 entries.

Other sponsors include Zimmerman Cars, Kart Expo International, WHBF-TV4; radio stations B100, 97 Rock and Star 93.5; The Dispatch, The Rock Island Argus and The Leader newspapers and Quad-Cities Online. Illinois Oil Products will sponsor Saturday night’s Karter Hospitality Party. The Jewell Group is sponsor of the Pre Grand Prix Party. Other sponsors include Budweiser and Stern Beverage, PG Racing, Courtesy Car City, Rieken’s Racing, B&K Sportswear, Sunbelt Rentals, Communications Engineering Corp. (CEC) of Davenport, Iowa, U.S. Cellular, Gas & Electric Credit Union, Robert Emmett Communications, Fastenal in Moline, Rock Island Country Market and Sprint Kart Speedway in Davenport, Iowa. Race details are available on the Grand Prix website, www.rockislandgrandprix.com.

CJC Investments is a franchisee of HomeVestors of America, Inc., which trains and supports HomeVestors franchisees who specialize in buying properties in need of repair, expanding and building upon the HomeVestors of America, Inc., reputation for "We Buy Ugly Houses." In every market where HomeVestors exists, the "We Buy Ugly Houses" and "Ugly's OK" campaigns are prominent. CJC Investments, the HomeVestors office in St. Louis, Mo., can be reached by calling (618) 394-8940. www.homevestors.com .

SBC companies currently serve more than 54 million access lines nationwide. Cingular Wireless, of which SBC is a 60 percent owner, serves more than 46 million wireless customers in all of the top 100 metropolitan areas. SBC companies serve business customers inside their 13-state footprint and in 30 additional major metropolitan areas across the country. SBC companies and their employees are committed to enriching and strengthening America's diverse communities through financial support and millions of volunteer hours. www.sbc.com .

Rock Island is located in an area known as the Quad-Cities on the Mississippi River where it intersects with Interstate Highways 80, 88, 280 and 74. The area has a population of 375,000 and welcomes karters with open arms. The Quad-Cities features three riverboat casinos and a great variety of entertainment and attractions. For more information on the Quad-Cities see www.visitquadcities.com .

The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District, which hosts the race weekend, is a great spot to go after a day of racing. It features a casino boat, a number of top restaurants, coffee houses, night spots, comedy clubs and dinner theater all within walking distance of the pit area and the host hotel. Live outdoor entertainment is featured on the Great River Plaza throughout race weekend. For information see www.ridistrict.com .

Roger Ruthhart