If you have been a reader of KIT CAR for the past few years, or even one of those folks who used to read Kit Car Illustrated, then you've probably heard about the Run & Gun. Conceived nearly two decades ago as a way to do some performance driving and testing with the cars we build, the event offers a unique perspective-something no other kit or replicar event can claim. Where else can you have access to a dragstrip, an autocross course, or a banked oval and road course to test you and your car's limits for a couple of days?
That's the attraction of Run & Gun. Car builders, owners, manufacturers, and just "regular Joes" all have an equal chance to run their cars, which includes many different types of kits and replicars out there. Some do it just for the fun of it, and some so they can get close to their car's potential horsepower (without endangering anyone on a city street), while others come out to win a trophy and prove a point (mostly to others in their class!).
Held at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois (just across the river from St. Louis), for the past few years, the event revolves around having fun with your car. After completing an early-morning tech inspection for the cars, drivers get oriented with the track's safety procedures, use of safety flags, and even a low-speed run of the road course, just so there're no surprises. At the autocross course, you're allowed to walk the course, but not drive it, as a way to determine your car's best possible line. The dragstrip, of course, needs no explanation. Every one of the drivers at this event understands the concept of straight-line acceleration (and that concept is usually why they built or bought thir cars in the first place!).
For the past few years, attendees have been broken up into two groups: Prepped and Street, designated by the type of tire you run on your car (a street tire versus a drag tire, basically). Each division has sub-brackets that relate to drivetrain, as you're pitted against others with like motors.
Your expertise in either getting around the corners and down a straight line faster than somebody in a similar car is what this event is all about. You can be good in the quarter-mile but stink at choosing a line through the cones. Conversely, you may instinctively park your car in the corners on the road course but easily blast down the strip in nothing flat. It's the one who can get it done the fastest on all three courses that gets to be called Top Dog.
For 2005, much of the program that has worked so well in the past will still be in place. KIT CAR would like to see a Manufacturer's Cup portion of the event, where those who feel their particular brand of kit is superior to others in the market (you certainly read a lot of boasting on various forums and Web-based chat rooms). This would be an excellent way for those who mouth-off to their friends to either put up or shut up.
The class would be a serious slicked-down approach, much like the Prepped class, but entrants in the Manufacturer's Cup class wouldn't be allowed to race these cars in the regular Prepped class; it wouldn't be fair to the "regular Joes" who want to run with slicks. These M-Cup entries would be purpose-built/driven just for corporate flag waving. Think your Factory Five roadster is the best? Have a need to crush your opponents in your Superformance coupe? Can a smaller upstart company dominate all comers?
If that type of racing appeals to you, let us know by sending us an e-mail at kitcar@primedia.com.
Run & Gun Hotel InformationThe Holiday Inn in Collinsville, Illinois, will again be the host hotel, which is located at 1000 Eastport Plaza Dr. in Collinsville. The hotel's phone number is (618) 345-2800. Be sure to tell them you're booking a room for the Run & Gun to get the discounted price.