05-18-05

NEWS FROM THE ROCK ISLAND GRAND PRIX

Rock Island, Illinois — Roger Ruthhart, director of the Rock Island Grand Prix reports the following:

Entry Report: Just two weeks into accepting entries for this year’s event we already have 80 entries. That is a HUGE number compared to previous years, and likely indicates we will be hitting caps in many classes. Typically a lot of our entries come after August 1. If you wait that late this year, you may find yourself on a waiting list or not able to compete. Leading the way is TAG Senior with 20 entries and TAG Masters with 15. These classes most assuredly will cap at 55 entries. 125 moto and 2-cycle Super Sportsman (4 hole can) are not too far behind in entries.

International drivers: We already have 2 international drivers registered – Jean Valerio from Costa Rica and Scott Barnes from Bermuda. We have inquiries and on-going discussions with several drivers from the UK as well as Spain, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Malaysia, but nothing as yet confirmed. The Rock Island Grand Prix is once again on the CIK World Calendar in 2005.

TAG License Clarification: Because the TAG races at the Rock Island Grand Prix are qualifiers for the TAG World Finals to be held in October at New Castle, Ind., licensing has become an issue. Here is the clarification direct from Dave Larson at TAG Racing. Drivers entered at Rock Island need to have a TAG competition license ONLY if they intend to qualify and compete at the TAG World Finals. TAG competition licenses are available
for $25 through the web site at www.tagracing.net . The top ten drivers in each class who hold a TAG Racing license will qualify for the TAG World Finals. If you don’t have a license, you don’t qualify. Those drivers not planning to qualify and race at the World Finals do NOT need to have a TAG license to race at the Rock Island Grand Prix. Drivers who qualified for this year’s TAG World Finals by finishing in the top 10 at last year’s Rock Island Grand Prix, will need to have a TAG license to compete at the World Finals.

TAG Age Clarification: 15-year-old drivers, who turn 16 during the competition year and prior to the Rock Island Grand Prix, will be eligible to race in TAG Senior at Rock Island, according to Dave Larson of TAG Racing. However, he warns that by moving up to race Senior, a driver may become ineligible to go back and race in the junior class at their local or regional program. Drivers planning to make this jump are encouraged to check eligibility rules with their local series prior to racing at Rock Island.

Junior Animal Restrictor Plate: The Supplemental Rules of the Rock Island Grand Prix incorrectly state which restrictor plate is required in the “Tom Argy Jr. Animal Roundup.” The proper restrictor plate is the .505 (gold) plate made by Horstman Manufacturing. All competitors who register in this class will be reminded of the rule change at the time of registration.

“Thank you once again for your continued support of the Rock Island Grand Prix, presented by SBC Communications and CJC Investments, a Homevestors franchise. Please support these and all of our other sponsors,” Ruthhart concluded.


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