Grand Prix of Minnesota
Encyclopedia
The Grand Prix of Minnesota was an auto racing
event held from 1996 until 1998 on an Alan Wilson (motorsport)
-designed temporary street circuit
in Minneapolis
, Minnesota
near the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
. It was known as the Children's Grand Prix of Minneapolis in 1996, changing its name to The Sprint PCS Grand Prix of Minneapolis for its final two years.
The Grand Prix of Minneapolis was started as the first professional auto race in the United States that would contribute all of its profit
to charity
. The goal of the Grand Prix was to make a $
1 million annual contribution to the Cancer KIDS Fund, part of the Children's Healthcare Foundation of the Twin Cities. The event was founded by Mark and Claudia Cohn after their son Tyler (1988 – 1997) was diagnosed with leukemia
at the age of 4. Rather than giving a one-time donation, the Cohn's decided to create an event that would provide long-term support for the Cancer KIDS Fund.
The event debuted on July 6 and 7 1996 with Boston Market
as the sponsor. They returned for their second year on July 4 through 6 1997 with Sprint PCS as its sponsor, and they held an event on June 27 and 28 1998 with Sprint PCS continuing to be their sponsor.
All three years had the Sports Car Club of America
(SCCA) Trans-Am Championship as the featured race. The supporting races in 1996 included the World Challenge
Grand Sports Division, Sports 2 and Touring Division, Touring 1 and 2, Spec Racer Ford
Pro Series, and a Vintage Car race. The supporting races in 1997 were the Barber Dodge Pro Series
, World Challenge Touring Division 1 and 2, Spec Racer Ford Pro Series, and a Vintage Car race. For their last year, the supporting races were the United States Road Racing Championship
, F2000 Series, World Challenge Touring Division 1 and 2, and the Dodge Neon
Charity Challenge.
USRRC
SCCA World Challenge S2 Class
SCCA World Challenge T1 Class
SCCA World Challenge T2 Class
SCCA Spec Racer Ford
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
event held from 1996 until 1998 on an Alan Wilson (motorsport)
Alan Wilson (motorsport)
Alan L. Wilson is an American designer of motorsports road course race tracks.Considered one of the most prolific track designers, Wilson has designed and built more than 20 race courses, including Miller Motorsports Park, , Barber Motorsports Park, Motorsports Park Hastings, Gingerman Raceway and...
-designed temporary street circuit
Street circuit
A street circuit is a racing circuit composed by temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Facilities such as the paddock, pit boxes, fences and grandstands are usually placed temporarily and removed soon after the race is over but in modern times the...
in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
near the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
. It was known as the Children's Grand Prix of Minneapolis in 1996, changing its name to The Sprint PCS Grand Prix of Minneapolis for its final two years.
The Grand Prix of Minneapolis was started as the first professional auto race in the United States that would contribute all of its profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
to charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. The goal of the Grand Prix was to make a $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 million annual contribution to the Cancer KIDS Fund, part of the Children's Healthcare Foundation of the Twin Cities. The event was founded by Mark and Claudia Cohn after their son Tyler (1988 – 1997) was diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at the age of 4. Rather than giving a one-time donation, the Cohn's decided to create an event that would provide long-term support for the Cancer KIDS Fund.
The event debuted on July 6 and 7 1996 with Boston Market
Boston Market
Boston Market, known as Boston Chicken until 1995, headquartered in Golden, Colorado, is a chain of American fast casual restaurants. It is owned by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.-History:...
as the sponsor. They returned for their second year on July 4 through 6 1997 with Sprint PCS as its sponsor, and they held an event on June 27 and 28 1998 with Sprint PCS continuing to be their sponsor.
All three years had the Sports Car Club of America
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
(SCCA) Trans-Am Championship as the featured race. The supporting races in 1996 included the World Challenge
SPEED World Challenge
The Pirelli World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America . Founded in 1985, it consists of four classes: grand touring, touring car, a "GTS" class since 2010, and a "touring car B-spec" since 2012...
Grand Sports Division, Sports 2 and Touring Division, Touring 1 and 2, Spec Racer Ford
Spec Racer Ford
Spec Racer Ford is a class of racing car used in Sports Car Club of America and other series road racing events. The Spec Racer Ford, manufactured and marketed by SCCA Enterprises , is a high performance, closed wheel, open cockpit, purpose-built race car intended for paved road courses, such as...
Pro Series, and a Vintage Car race. The supporting races in 1997 were the Barber Dodge Pro Series
Barber Dodge Pro Series
The Barber Pro Series was an entry-level open-wheel auto racing series from 1986 to 2003. The races were primarily on road and street courses in North America, although the schedule did sometimes include a few ovals....
, World Challenge Touring Division 1 and 2, Spec Racer Ford Pro Series, and a Vintage Car race. For their last year, the supporting races were the United States Road Racing Championship
United States Road Racing Championship
The United States Road Racing Championship was created by the Sports Car Club of America in 1962. It was the first SCCA series for professional racing drivers. SCCA Executive Director John Bishop helped to create the series to recover races that had been taken by rival USAC Road Racing...
, F2000 Series, World Challenge Touring Division 1 and 2, and the Dodge Neon
Dodge Neon
The Plymouth/Dodge Neon, sold in Europe, Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere outside the United States as the Chrysler Neon, is a compact front wheel drive car introduced in January 1994 for the 1995 model year by Chrysler Corporation's Dodge and Plymouth brands...
Charity Challenge.
Race Winners
Trans-Am| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | July 7 |  Tommy KendallTommy Kendall Tommy Kendall is an American race car driver and television broadcaster. He is best known for his SCCA Trans-Am Series career.... |
Ford Mustang Cobra |
| 1997 | July 6 | Tommy Kendall Tommy Kendall Tommy Kendall is an American race car driver and television broadcaster. He is best known for his SCCA Trans-Am Series career.... |
Ford Mustang Cobra |
| 1998 | June 28 | Paul Gentilozzi Paul Gentilozzi Paul Gentilozzi is a race car driver and businessman. His non-racing business interests are real estate development, principally developing store sites for big box retailers.... |
Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Corvette The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after... |
USRRC
| Season | Date | Winning Drivers | Chassis/Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | June 28 | James Weaver James Weaver (racing driver) James Weaver is a British former racing driver. He began his career in the European F3. In 1982 he was the Eddie Jordan Racing team's primary driver, but in 1983 he went back to the European F3. He debuted in the British Touring Car Championship in 1989 at the Oulton Park circuit in March that year... - Butch LeitzingerButch Leitzinger Robert Franklin "Butch" Leitzinger is a professional racecar driver. He is best known as an ALMS driver with Dyson Racing, but he has also driven for a variety of other teams and race series.... |
Riley & Scott Riley & Scott Riley & Scott Cars Inc. was a racing constructor and racing team that primarily provided chassis for various forms of motorsport, but worked primarily in sports car racing. It was founded in 1990 by Bob Riley and Mark Scott.-Sports car racing:... Mk. III-Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
SCCA World Challenge S2 Class
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | July 7 | Shane Lewis |
Mosler Intruder |
SCCA World Challenge T1 Class
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | July 7 | Greg Theiss |
Eagle Talon Eagle Talon The Eagle Talon was one of three model names given to a sports coupe that was manufactured between 1990 and 1999 and sold by the then Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors of Japan in a joint 50/50 corporate venture known as Diamond-Star Motors... |
| 1998 | June 28 | Chris Wiehle |
Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Corvette The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after... |
SCCA World Challenge T2 Class
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | July 7 | Chuck Hemmingson |
Oldsmobile Achieva Oldsmobile Achieva The Oldsmobile Achieva was introduced for the 1992 model year and was a front-wheel drive, compact car based on the GM N-body platform which it also shared with its siblings the Pontiac Grand Am and Buick Skylark... |
| 1998 | June 28 | Lance Stewart |
Acura Integra Type-R |
SCCA Spec Racer Ford
| Season | Date | Winning Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | July 7 | James Goughary |
External links
Sources
- Deborah Hopp, Publisher, Children's Grand Prix of Minnesota 1996 Official Souvenir Program, MSP Communications Custom Publishing
- Deborah Hopp, Publisher, Sprint PCS Grand Prix of Minnesota 1997 Official Souvenir Program, MSP Communications Custom Publishing
- Deborah Hopp, Publisher, Sprint PCS Grand Prix of Minnesota 1998 Official Souvenir Program, MSP Communications Custom Publishing
- http://wilsonmotorsport.com/public_html/code/maps.htm#street
- http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=5884&FS=TRANSAM
- http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=5885&FS=TRANSAM
- http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=10231&FS=TRANSAM
- http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=10233&FS=TRANSAM
- http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=17002&FS=TRANSAM
- http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=17146&FS=TRANSAM