Greater Des Moines Grand Prix

Des Moines Street Circuit
LocationDes Moines, Iowa
Coordinates41°35′36″N 93°37′24″W / 41.5933°N 93.6232°W / 41.5933; -93.6232
Opened8 July 1989; 37 years ago (1989-07-08)
Closed4 July 1994; 32 years ago (1994-07-04)
Major eventsFormer:
Trans-Am Series (1989–1992, 1994)
SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge (1990–1994)
ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series (1994)
Atlantic Championship (1991)
Grand Prix Circuit (1993–1994)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.600 mi (2.575 km)
Turns10
Race lap record1:20.295 (United States Dorsey Schroeder, Ford Mustang, 1994, Trans-Am)
Grand Prix Circuit (1989–1992)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.800 mi (2.897 km)
Turns12
Race lap record1:32.386 (United States Scott Sharp, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1990, Trans-Am)

The Des Moines Street Circuit (branded as the Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons) was an auto racing event held on a temporary street circuit in Des Moines, Iowa from 1989 to 1994.

History

In 1987, after announcing the intention to host a Trans-Am race in 1988, Des Moines officials travelled to the Detroit Grand Prix to gather information on the financials of the race. Two proposed layouts were introduced: one held in the middle of downtown near the Des Moines Convention Center (now the Wellmark YMCA building) and one held on both sides of the Des Moines River. Ultimately the race would be postponed to 1989 after running out of time for preparations. Nine surrounding suburbs, including Ankeny, voted to approve hotel tax revenues being sent to pay off a $1.2 million loan to secure funding for the race.

On November 18, 1988, it was officially announced that the 1989 race would go ahead. The final layout was revealed to be a 1.800 mi (2.897 km) circuit held around the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Popular Mechanics described the track as "[demanding] more of horsepower and brakes than handling finesse, although there are some significant elevation changes along the way."

For 1993, the layout was straightened at 4th Street and shortened to 1.600 mi (2.575 km). The Sunday Trans-Am race was canceled due to rising river waters as a result of the Great Flood of 1993. Trans-Am driver Ron Fellows started a relief drive at the Molson Indy Toronto the following weekend to help raise funds for those affected by the floods.

Attendance to the race dropped off significantly from 50,000 on Sunday in 1990 to 40,000 on Sunday in 1991. Due to dwindling attendance and financial trouble, the race for 1995 was cancelled with hopes of a return for 1996. On March 30, 1995, the Grand Prix board voted to declare bankruptcy.

Notable drivers to have raced the Greater Des Moines Grand Prix include Bill Elliott, Tommy Kendall, Jovy Marcelo, Willy T. Ribbs, Lyn St. James, and Jimmy Vasser.

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Des Moines Street Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Street Circuit (1993–1994): 1.600 mi (2.575 km)
Trans-Am1:20.295Dorsey SchroederFord Mustang1994 Des Moines Trans-Am round
Street Circuit (1989–1992): 1.800 mi (2.897 km)
Trans-Am1:32.386Scott SharpOldsmobile Cutlass1990 Des Moines Trans-Am round
Formula Atlantic1:34.039John TannerSwift DB41991 Des Moines Atlantic Championship round

Past winners

Trans-Am

Season Date Driver Car Laps Race Time Average Speed
(mph)		 Refs
1989 July 9 United States Dorsey Schroeder Ford Mustang 66 1:56:02 61.427
1990 July 15 United States Tommy Kendall Chevrolet Beretta 69 1:49:11 71.243
1991 July 15 United States George Robinson Chevrolet Camaro 62 1:44:08 71.44
1992 July 12 United States Scott Sharp Chevrolet Camaro 50 1:37:46 61.363
1993 July 11 Race cancelled by Great Flood of 1993
1994 July 4 United States Dorsey Schroeder Ford Mustang 63 1:31:32 66.066

ARCA

Season Date Driver Car Laps Race Time Average Speed
(mph)		 Refs
1994 July 3 United States Scott Lagasse Chevrolet Lumina 75 2:14:24 53.571

Atlantic Championship

Season Date Driver Car Laps Race Time Refs
1991 July 13 United States Jimmy Vasser Swift DB4 30 0:55:39.091

References

  1. ↑ Grett, Wayne (20 June 1987). "D.M. officials take close look at Detroit race". The Des Moines Register. p. 5S. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Willette, Anne (28 August 1987). "Racing official suggests flexibility in D.M route". The Des Moines Register. p. 1M. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  3. ↑ Grett, Wayne (24 October 1987). "Lack of organization and money delays D.M. race". The Des Moines Register. p. 3S. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Bendixen, Linda (9 November 1988). "Ankeny votes to help back loan for race". The Des Moines Register. p. 1N. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Beeman, Perry (19 November 1988). "They're off! Plans set for 'Grand Prix'". The Des Moines Register. p. 2A. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Des Moines plans grand prix race". The Daily Dispatch. United Press International. 27 November 1988. p. A7. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Swan, Tony (June 1989). "Des Moines Set To Stage A Street Race". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 166. p. 44. ISSN 0032-4558.
  8. ↑ Schmitz, Tony (30 June 1994). "Going to the races? What it'll cost you". The Des Moines Register. p. 3GP. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Olson, Jeff (11 July 1993). "Des Moines tells Grand Prix to suspend its racing today". The Des Moines Register. pp. 1D, 7D. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Olson, Jeff (14 July 1993). "Run off by bad water, they return with good". The Des Moines Register. p. 2S. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Sponsor happy despite attendance dip". The Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. 15 July 1991. p. A9. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Pollock, Jim (10 November 1994). "Grand Prix races unlikely in '95". The Des Moines Register. p. 1M. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  13. ↑ Williamson, Tammy (2026-04-03). "Running on empty: The Grand Prix will likely take drastic action to keep the event from stalling". Des Moines Business Record. Vol. 90, no. 46. p. 12. ISSN 1068-6681.
  14. ↑ "Grand Prix's board declares event dead". The Des Moines Register. 31 March 1995. p. 3A. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Olson, Jeff (11 July 1993). "Drivers racing through Des Moines to stardom". The Des Moines Register. p. 7D. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "1994 Trans-Am Box Scores - 1994 SCCA Trans-Am Championship - Round 6 - Des Moines Street Circuit - Trans-Am Round 7" (PDF). 4 July 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "1990 Trans-Am Box Scores - Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix - Trans-Am Round 7" (PDF). 15 July 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Des Moines - Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix, July 13 1991 - SCCA Toyota Atlantic Championship - Round 6". 13 July 1991. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "1989 Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "1990 Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "1991 Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "1992 Ruan Greater Des Moines Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "1994 Greater Des Moines Grand Prix". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "1994 Greater Des Moines Ruan Grand Prix". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 10 May 2026.