It took place Downtown Des Moines from 1989-1994. Yes, a race thru the streets of Downtown. It was a bit crazy. Do you remember? Find out more here.
Do You Remember the Des Moines Grand Prix?
- Thread starter BeastCY
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- des moines
Bring back veishea and bring back the Des Moines Grand Prix.
Didn't they have a celebrity race where they drove Geo Storms?
EDIT: Found a link...
Local & national celebrities raced around the Downtown Des Moines streets in the GEO Storm Challenge race.
The celebrity drivers are:
#1: Todd Adamson - Central Iowa Chevy Dealers from Ames, IA (Local)
#2: Lou Sipolt - KGGO Radio (Local)
#3: "Mr. Angry" - Q102 Radio (Local)
#4: Jack E Lee - "Badlands" Guitarist (National)
#5: Gene Anderson - KWQC-TV Davenport (Local)
#6: Howard Leese - "Heart" Guitarist (National)
#7: John 'Pat' Dorrian - Des Moines Mayor (Local)
#8: George Lynch - "Lynch Mob" Guitarist (National)
#9: Heidi Soliday - KCCI-TV (Local)
#10: Mick Brown - "Lynch Mob" Drummer (National)
#11: Gale Nye - WOI-TV (Local)
#12: Anthony Esposito - "Lynch Mob" Bass Player (National)
#13: Ric Silvestrini - WHO-TV (Local)
#14: Greg Chaisson - "Badlands" Bass Player (National)
#15: Jeff Martin - "Badlands" Drummer (National)#16:Bob Anderson - SCCA Racing (National)
EDIT: Found a link...
Local & national celebrities raced around the Downtown Des Moines streets in the GEO Storm Challenge race.
The celebrity drivers are:
#1: Todd Adamson - Central Iowa Chevy Dealers from Ames, IA (Local)
#2: Lou Sipolt - KGGO Radio (Local)
#3: "Mr. Angry" - Q102 Radio (Local)
#4: Jack E Lee - "Badlands" Guitarist (National)
#5: Gene Anderson - KWQC-TV Davenport (Local)
#6: Howard Leese - "Heart" Guitarist (National)
#7: John 'Pat' Dorrian - Des Moines Mayor (Local)
#8: George Lynch - "Lynch Mob" Guitarist (National)
#9: Heidi Soliday - KCCI-TV (Local)
#10: Mick Brown - "Lynch Mob" Drummer (National)
#11: Gale Nye - WOI-TV (Local)
#12: Anthony Esposito - "Lynch Mob" Bass Player (National)
#13: Ric Silvestrini - WHO-TV (Local)
#14: Greg Chaisson - "Badlands" Bass Player (National)
#15: Jeff Martin - "Badlands" Drummer (National)#16:Bob Anderson - SCCA Racing (National)
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I 100% remember it only by the name: Ruan Gran Prix. Legit do not remember it having the DSM name before Gran Prix.
It was definitely the Ruan Grand Prix for at least a few years. I have memories of it happening, but unfortunately never got to see it live.
I went one year my idol Walter Payton drove a Ford Mustang in it. Great memory.
Walter Payton's involvement in the downtown Des Moines street races included the following highlights:
- 1989 Event: Payton was a headline driver at the Grand Prix, participating in the celebrity and Sports 2000 events which drew massive crowds.
- 1992 Feature Race: He returned to compete in the Trans-Am series race in downtown Des Moines, driving a Budweiser-backed Ford Mustang.
Grew up in a nearby small town of about 2,000 people. Our final drive test for Driver's Ed included a downtown portion. Mine was on a Friday night at 4:00 while they were setting up for the grand prix meaning several streets were blocked off. Chaos. And I was scared to death.
