Roughly 4hrs North Of Phoenix on the New Mexico/Arizona Boarder in the White Mountains.

Well, in a few short weeks - The Annual St Johns grand Prix will take place in Northern Arizona. This is the biggest auto venue in Northen Arizona sponsored by Professional Auto Sports.
http://www.proautosports.com/StJohns.html

As taken from the PASA Web Site.

5TH Annual Bud Light
Saint Johns Grand Prix
Labor Day Weekend
September 1 - 6, 2004

5TH ANNUAL TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN ST. JOHNS GRAND PRIX
SCHEDULED FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Larry Pond of Professional AutoSports along with the City of St. Johns, St. Johns Chamber of Commerce and Springerville-Eager Chamber of Commerce announce the 5th Annual Top of the Mountain Grand Prix to be run at St. Johns Arizona, September 4-6, 2004. This auto racing event will host Stock Cars, Sports Cars and Cars that have run the Indianapolis 500 for the 3 day Labor Day Weekend, starting on Saturday September 4 and finishing with the feature races on the Monday holiday September 6th. Last year this 3 day event brought approximately 10,000 spectators, 46 sponsors, 25 midway activities, the Lakesiders Band and 200 cars to St. Johns for the weekend.

Eric Duthie, City Manager of St. Johns stated “auto racing in Arizona started in St. Johns in 1908 through 1922 with a 3 day event featuring the likes of Barney Oldfield and the Chevrolet brothers. It is only fitting that we continue the tradition now with the Grand Prix every year.” He continued “This event has proven itself as great entertainment, a good tourist draw and a lot of fun for the local citizens. It gives our families the chance to see real race cars and drivers up close that we normally only see on television.” “We welcome everyone to come up to St. Johns for a wonderful weekend with the weather expected to be clear with temperatures in the 80’s during the day and 50’s during the night.”

Larry Pond of ProAutoSports, the sanctioning organization stated “we are working with a large number of cars and drivers that look forward to racing at the Top of the Mountain St. Johns Grand Prix each year. The event gets bigger each year. Drivers like the ambiance of the small community and good weather.” He continued, “winning the race at St. Johns is very prestigious and the competition to win very strong.” “Past winners have included former LeMans 24 hour winner Dan Murphy, NASCAR and ASA driver Ed Ochylski, Skoal Bandit off road driver Doc Ingram, Trans-Am Series Driver David Lansing. Last year, Indy Car driver Ken Petrie set a record of 208 mph on the course.

Jim Paxon is the Grand Marshall of the event. Jim brought his American Flag painted Cobra to a ProAutoSports race event this spring at Firebird International Raceway and completed his training for a Performance Driving License. Jim stated, “I am pleased to be a part of the organization bringing real Sports Car racing to the White Mountains each year. It is a real treat for me to be a part of it and I hope everyone comes and experiences a program that I have come to love.” He further stated, “racing cars is like cleaning the forests of fuel. We can exercise our cars in a safe environment instead of on the highways and cleaning fuel from the forests helps build a safer fire environment for all of us.”

The Grand Prix Committee has become known as Bosely and Larry’s Angels. Jim Pierson of Hope Ranch is Bosely and is in charge of media relations for the event. Angels Kelly Gunnels of St. Johns Chamber of Commerce, Lori Rothlisberger of St. Johns Custom Works and NAPA Auto & Truck Parts, Vicki Pond of ProAutoSports are responsible for community relations and sponsors. Last year their work brought in 46 sponsors, most of whom are planning to come back.

Kelly Gunnels stated “the Grand Prix is one of the major events of the year that benefits the White Mountain communities of St. Johns and Springerville-Eager. This year Marney Uhl, Director of the Springerville-Eager Chamber and her members have joined with us to make it the Top of The Mountain Grand Prix at St. Johns. It is truly a Regional event in southeastern Apache County now.

Marney Uhl said “each year as the Grand Prix got larger in scope, our members in Springerville and Eager wanted to be a part of it. We are pleased to work with Kelly Gunnels and the committee to truly expand the effort and results regionally. This can become the event that shows Kelly and I how we can work together to benefit all or our chamber members.”

Lori Rothlisberger brought the first new sponsor into the program with NAPA Phoenix Distribution Center co-oping of NAPA Auto and Truck Parts of St. Johns to establish a billboard program advertising the Grand Prix. Lori said “the first billboard has been placed along the highway as you enter St. Johns from Springerville. We show the Chamber of Commerce information on it for both St. Johns and Springerville-Eager since we are now partners in this program.”

Vicki Pond noted that Dale Klein of Golden Eagle Distributors has agreed to continue their annual sponsorship of the Grand Prix. She said “we received very good comments about sponsorship results last year. We plan to work with all of the sponsors again this year.” Vicki stated that “Cruise America RV Rentals is another new Sponsor this year. They will have a Cruise America Village Program at the Grand Prix. You can rent a RV located at the event for the weekend. This is available to both racers and spectators. For more information, call Cruise America at 800-327-7799.”

Kelly Gunnels announced that the ticket cost will be affordable again this year at $5 per day for adults and children 16 and under will be free. She said “we are very pleased that we can keep the ticket prices at a level where families can attend the event.” Tickets will be sold by the St. Johns and Springerville-Eager Chamber of Commerce’s and their members starting in July. “In addition”, said Kelly, “we will have a Race Festival at the event with vendors, food service, rides for children and music by the Lakesiders. There will be something for everyone to do.”

For more information on the Top of The Mountain St. Johns Grand Prix races, contact Kelly at the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce (928) 337-2000 or Marney at the Springerville
Chamber of Commerce (928) 333-2123.

PROAUTOSPORTS@***.NET
For More Information Contact Larry Pond
480-664-3872

PROAUTOSPORTS, 1900 W. CHANDLER BLVD, STE 15-380
CHANDLER, AZ 85224 PHONE (480) 664-3872

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This will be my third year at St Johns and it keeps getting bigger. If you would like to join the Grans Prix - The New Driver orientation program will take place and of course the car club prgram special is still in effect. If you would like more information, please PM me or a_waltenburg@msn.com

Thanks so much - BTW - Even if you dont race - come on up anyhow, it makes for a great road trip.

Thanks

Andrew

 

Do they still hold the Eloy Grand Prix?

 

Ive never heard of it?. Was it something similar?.