Rock Island Grand Prix announces 2006 race classes

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, has announced its 2006 race lineup. This year’s event will feature 15 races through the downtown streets of Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District on Sept. 2-3, as well as a full lineup of auxiliary events that help add to the festival atmosphere. SBC and CJC Investments are Presenting Sponsors. Kart Expo International and Jumers Casino Rock Island are major sponsors.

The race will again feature King of the Streets, one of the premier kart races in the world, this year mixing 125cc moto and ICC power under Pro Kart Challenge rules. “The Rock” will also be one of the few U.S. races on the FIA/CIK International Calendar, again hosting the North American Street Championships for Intercontinental A and Intercontinental C classes under CIK rules. Two races for TAG (touch-and-go) motors – TAG Senior and TAG Masters – will again be direct qualifiers to the TAG World Finals in October.

New this year will be the Tom Argy Junior Sportsman class for junior drivers, ages 12-15, utilizing the 3-hole (YBX) exhaust. Junior drivers must also submit a driving resume along with their entry form to be accepted for this class. This replaces the Junior Animal class run in the past. Exhaust will be provided by RLV Tuned Exhaust. The 125cc moto (open, not stock or spec) and 125cc Masters classes will run under 2005 SKUSA rules, but with no minimum combustion chamber volume.


The full race lineup and tentative weight limits for 2006 follows:

King of the Streets (Moto and ICC) 395/385 lbs.
4-cycle Heavy (B&S flathead) 375 lbs.
TAG Senior 360-390 lbs.
125cc Masters (Moto and ICC) 405/415 lbs.
2-cycle Super Sportsman Heavy (4 hole) 365 lbs
Intercontinental C (CIK rules) 375 lbs.
Yamaha Heavy 360 lbs.
4-cycle Sr. Animal Heavy 375 lbs
TAG Masters 390-420 lbs.
Intercontinental A (CIK rules) 330 lbs.
Tom Argy Junior Sportsman (3 hole can) 315 lbs.
2-cycle Super Sportsman Medium (4 hole) 340 lbs.
125cc Moto (open, not stock) 385 lbs.
Rumble at The Rock (Sr. Animal Med.) 350 lbs.
Yamaha Medium 335 lbs.

Entry Packets will be mailed and online entry will begin in late April. For additional information, visit www.rockislandgrandprix.com or call 309.292.8133

Briggs & Stratton Support Cuts Entry Fees In Half

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – In an effort to directly help control the costs of racing for competitors, Briggs & Stratton Motorsports and the Rock Island Grand Prix have announced plans for 2006 that will cut the cost of race entries in half at Rock Island.

The Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, has three classes featuring Briggs & Stratton powered karts, including the Rumble at The Rock featuring the overhead value Animal engine. The Rock Island Grand Prix is held each year on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2-3, 2006, on a street circuit laid out through the Downtown Arts & Entertainment District. SBC and CJC Investments are Presenting Sponsors of the Rock Island Grand Prix. Kart Expo International and Jumer’s Casino Rock Island are also major sponsors.

This year, Briggs & Stratton has put together a package that is just too good to pass up. Briggs & Stratton will pay half of the $75 entry fee in the 4-cycle Senior Animal Heavy and the Rumble at The Rock (Sr. Animal Medium) classes. That leaves drivers with an entry fee of only $37.50 !

“In developing this support program, it allowed us a unique opportunity to give back to as many customers as possible. The Rock Island Grand Prix is the premier street race in the country and we are excited to be a highlight of this great event. We look forward to some great racing and best of all, a fun weekend,” said Dave Klaus, Motorsports marketing coordinator for Briggs & Stratton.

The 4-cycle Heavy class for Raptor motors is not included in the program. The discounted entry fees will cover only the first 30 entries in each Animal class. Drivers wishing to compete are urged to contact the Rock Island Grand Prix by email at grandprix@qconline.com , or by calling the Grand Prix office at 309.292.8133 to be put on the mailing list for Entry Packets that will be mailed in late April. For additional information about the Rock Island Grand Prix, visit the web site at www.rockislandgrandprix.com . For additional information on Briggs & Stratton racing, visit www.briggsracing.com .