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ROCK ISLAND GRAND PRIX
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

For those of us up north, the end of winter and beginning of race season is almost in sight. The Rock Island Grand Prix is busy preparing for another great event in 2006. Dates for this year’s event are Sept. 2-3, so please be sure we’re on your race calendar.

* Kart Expo International: If you are not already planning to attend Kart Expo International in suburban Chicago, we encourage you to add it to your list of things to do. Dates are Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24-25. It offers a great opportunity to see the newest equipment, meet the leaders of our sport face to face, and there are also some great seminars and other programs planned during the show. The Rock Island Grand Prix is proud to be a long- time sponsor of this great event. Be sure to visit us in our booth. For more complete Kart Expo details, go to www.e-kmi.com .

* Air Connections: For those planning to fly to the Rock Island Grand Prix this year from the west, we are happy to report that United Express has added another flight to and from the Quad-Cities each day from Denver. You can also connect from the west through Dallas and Minneapolis, as well as Chicago O’Hare -- but we encourage you to try to avoid Chicago since flights are often delayed which can mess up connections. Quad City International Airport in Moline also has connections to Detroit, Memphis, Atlanta and Orlando, as well as the previously mentioned destinations.

* Hotel Booked: As noted earlier, the Official Race Headquarters at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton in Rock Island was booked full early last November. This despite adding 20 more available rooms per night! We have negotiated rates for Grand Prix weekend at many other hotels in the area. A complete list will be posted soon on our website.

* About the Web site: We apologize for delays in getting our website updated. It is a problem we have been working to resolve, but which has not been of our doing. We appreciate your patience and a complete update should be up soon.

* Contingency Programs: We are excited to announce that Vega Tires will once again we offering an impressive contingency program for this year’s Rock Island Grand Prix, including the return of the Vega Cup. We would like to thank the Giacomellis, Grand Prix Distributing and our friends at Vega Tires for their continued support. More details will follow later. We would be happy to offer other contingency programs through our event. Manufacturers and distributors should contact Roger Ruthhart for more details, at rruthhart@qconline.com . The sooner we get a commitment to the program, the better job we can do of promoting it to racers.

* Arrive and Drive: We have had several foreign inquiries and would be happy to work with any shops that are willing to provide Arrive and Drive opportunities at the Rock Island Grand Prix.

* Sponsors Welcome: We are in discussions with several new potential sponsors. Anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities at the Rock Island Grand Prix should also contact Roger Ruthhart. The Rock Island Grand Prix will again feature a live web cast by Monks Media at this year’s race and sponsorship opportunities are also available for that as well. Last year’s coverage is archived at www.monksmedia.com . Kartweb.com has filmed all the racing action and has every race since 2002 available on line and on DVD.

* 2006 Race Program: The race program for this year’s Rock Island Grand Prix has been completed and includes several minor changes in classes for 2006. The complete race schedule will be released at Kart Expo International and sent out by email to this list. Tom Kutscher has confirmed plans to continue the great King of the Streets tradition at Rock Island and more details will follow on that event. The RIGP will once again be on the CIK International Calendar and we expect a great field in ICC and ICA classes again this year.

* Congrats to the Finkes: Also, our congratulations to Les and Andy Finke on their purchase of the track at Norway, and landing of Concept Haulers as the new naming rights sponsor for what will now be called Concept Haulers Motor Speedway. As you may know, the Finkes purchased Marshalltown Raceway in Iowa a couple of years ago and will now operate both premier Midwest facilities. Complete JET Karting shops will be at both locations. A March 4 Open House is planned at Concept Haulers in Norway, so if you are in the area, please visit them. Our best wishes to the Combs family for their many years and many contributions to kart racing in the area. We are sad to see them go, but glad the property landed in the hands of someone who sees its continued potential as a kart racing track.

* 61 Kartway: We are also excited about the scheduled opening this spring of the new 61 Kartway track ( www.61kartway.com ) in Delmar, Iowa near the Quad-Cities. This lighted half-mile track features elevation changes and full facilities. With this awesome new facility, plus the popular Sprint Kart Speedway in Davenport, Iowa , and nearby Concept Haulers Motor Speedway, we expect to see a real boom in karting in the Quad-Cities area, as well as Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa. The Rock Island Grand Prix organization will be initiating some efforts with these other partners, to encourage that growth. It’s an exciting time !!

* Entry Packets: Rock Island Grand Prix Entry Packets will be mailed to past participants and others on our mailing list in late April. If you have changed your mailing address since last year, please let us know the new one. As in the past, you will also be able to enter through our web site with a credit card. We will again have caps on classes and, if early sellout of the host hotel is any indication, you will want to plan on registering early. Information or questions should be directed to grandprix@qconline.com or the Grand Prix office at (309) 292-8133.