ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – High speed kart racing action returns for the 23rd year to the downtown streets of Rock Island with the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom. The world’s largest karting street race will offer two days of high-speed racing through the city streets Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3.
Saturday morning will featuree practice with heat races beginning at 1:15 p.m. Racers will run 10 lap sprints to earn points which will determine starting positions for the Sunday Finals. On Sunday, Opening Ceremonies will be at 10:40 a.m. with the kids’ autograph session at 10:55 a.m. followed by 17 exciting races. Best of all general admission is free. Daily pit passes are $10.
Race teams from coast to coast as well as Ontario and Bermuda will compete. A previously announced plan to air the race on Facebook Live has been dropped due to a medical emergency, but Mediacom will still have its wifi hot spots open in downtown Rock Island to demonstrate its unequaled high speed service. The races will be web cast live on eKartingNews.com .
This year’s race will again feature the Travis DeVriendt Memorial Race for Briggs LO206 Heavy sponsored by Gett Industries in memory of a local kart racer who was recently lost to suicide. The race will honor his long-term participation at Rock Island and raise awareness of suicide prevention. This will be the first race of the day and has a huge field entered.
Two previous winners of the King of the Streets race sponsored by LeCont tires, Jordon Musser and Josh Lane, will lead a stout field in this historic event which will crown the best gearbox street racer on the planet. Four gearbox races will provide high-speed thrills through the streets of The District.
Vintage kart racing will again be featured this year with three different vintage classes featuring karts from 1985 or older.
Margay Racing will showcase its economical Ignite spec racer package which features the Margay K3 chassis, the Briggs & Stratton sealed 206cc 4-cycle engine and Bridgestone tires. Masters, senior and junior classes will be run. In all, 17 races will be featured in 2-cycle, 4-cycle, gearbox and vintage classes.
Sponsors include Mediacom, AT&T, Jumer’s Casino Rock Island and Modern Woodmen Bank.
Race sponsors include Briggs & Stratton Racing, Modern Woodmen Financial agent Joe Schurr, Schurr Power Racing, Sunbelt Rentals, LeCont Tires, AMT Ambulance, Johannes Bus Service Inc., Gett Industries and Margay Racing.
Media partners include The Dispatch-The Rock Island Argus-QCOnline, CBS4, Fox 18 and Quad-Cities CW, eKartingnews.com, and radio stations Q106, Fox Sports QC, WOC and WLLR.
Other sponsors include Rock Island McDonald’s restaurants, Holiday Inn Rock Island, Courtesy Car City, Miller Trucking and Excavating, Gas & Electric Credit Union, Curry’s Transportation, Rogan Scale, Tempo Marine, J&J Camper, 61 Kartway, Triple E Sales, and Zimmerman Honda - Alpha Romeo – Fiat.
Action starts Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. and concludes around 5 p.m. In its more than two decades as one of the world’s premier karting events, the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom has drawn top drivers from coast to coast as well as Canada, Bermuda, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Italy, Poland, Costa Rica, the Philippines and England.
Race details are available on the Grand Prix website at rockislandgrandprix.com or ridistrict.com.
2017 Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1 2-10 p.m.: Competitor sign-in open at Holiday Inn, Rock Island. 2-5 p.m.: Pre-race tech at the off-site staging area, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island. 5 p.m.: Streets close in The District of Rock Island. 6-11 p.m.: Pits open. 6-9 p.m.: Pre-race tech, fuel testing open on the pre-grid. 8 p.m.: Outdoor music on the East Plaza Stage sponsored by Rock Island Brewing Company. All ages show. Admission charged. SATURDAY, SEPT. 2 7 a.m.: Pits open. 7-9 a.m.: Driver sign-in open at Holiday Inn, Rock Island. 7 a.m.: Pre-race tech for overnight arrivals only. 7:15 a.m.: Mandatory Driver's Meeting in front of The Argus. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.: Two practice rounds. Five-minute sessions. Crossing breaks every four rounds. 10 a.m.: Grand Prix Marketplace vendors open. 1:15 p.m.: Heat races. 5:30 p.m.: Track closes at conclusion of racing. 8 p.m.: Outdoor music on the East Plaza Stage sponsored by the Rock Island Brewing Company. All ages show. Admission charged. SUNDAY, SEPT. 3 8 a.m.: Final practice round begins. 10 a.m.: Grand Prix Marketplace vendors open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Camaro Club/Corvette Club Car Show. 10:40 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies. 10:55 a.m.: Kids Autograph Session. Start/Finish line. 11:10 a.m.: Racing begins. 5 p.m.: Racing ends. 7 p.m.: Xtream powered by Mediacom Awards Ceremony, Holiday Inn. 8 p.m.: Outdoor music on the East Plaza Stage sponsored by the Rock Island Brewing Company. All ages show. Admission charged. MONDAY, SEPT. 4 9:30 a.m.: Annual Rock Island Labor Day Parade. 18th Ave. and 24th St. Note: All times tentative and subject to change
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The Xtreme Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom is hosted by the Downtown Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District which features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries and comedy clubs all within walking distance of the host hotel. Jumer’s Casino & Hotel is just a short drive away. Rock Island 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)
