Grassroots Motorsports $2015 Challenge
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Oct 23 - Oct 24 at Gainesville, FL

Grassroots Motorsports 2015 challenge

This event already happened. Click here to view the current event page.

The Grassroots Motorsports $2015 Challenge is compete. A full breakdown and results can be found HERE.

Think you can build an awesome car for just $2000? Fine, prove it—and have a fun weekend at the same time. The Grassroots Motorsports $2015 Challenge Driven by General Tire and sponsored by Miller Electric, CRC Industries and Pulstar Spark Plugs is the stage set for some of the most spectacular budget builds you've ever seen. We're talking 10-second quarter-mile times and cars that could dominate your local autocross, each built on a $2015 budget.

And we have a special guest judge this year! Al Unser Jr. will be attending and judging the concours portion of the $2015 Challenge. Thanks to Pulstar Spark Plugs for making this possible.

The $2015 Challenge celebrates its 15th anniversary by returning to Auto Plus Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, October 23-24, 2015.

Once again, the premise remains the same: The Grassroots Motorsports $2015 Challenge will include drag racing, autocross competition and concours judging.

Looking to stay abreast of the latest Challenge chatter? We made that easier to do, too. Start your journey here

Join in the conversation, let your friends know you're coming, and show off what you're bringing through our Grassroots Motorsports $2015 Challenge Facebook event page.

Want to learn a little more about the $2015 Challenge? Click here to watch a quick introductory video.

Enter the $2015 Challenge

To enter the $2015 Challenge, register online here. Then all you need to do is bring a completed copy of the vehicle information form to registration at the event so we can check you in.

Spectators are more than welcome and get in for free.

Schedule

The official schedule for the $2015 Challenge can be found here. Please note that it is subject to change.

Proposed Awards for 2015

Grassroots Motorsports Newsletters $2015 Champion: The winner of the $2015 Challenge will receive a big trophy, a check, a fancy jacket and a free welder from Miller Electric.

Second and Third Overall: the second and third highest scoring teams overall.

Top Three Autocross: Given to the three teams with the fastest autocross runs.

Top Three Drags: Given to the three teams with the fastest quarter-mile times.

Top Three Concours: Given to the three highest scoring teams in concours judging.

Most Spectacular Failure: These cars are built on a tight budget. Things blow up sometimes. This award goes to the most awesome disappointments.

Best Engineered: The Grassroots Motorsports staff will pick the car they believe to be the most ingeniously engineered.

Editors’ Choice: The Grassroots Motorsports staff will pick their overall favorite entry.

Challengers’ Choice: The $2015 Challenge participants will pick their overall favorite entry. The winner will receive a free welding mask from Miller Electric.

Rookie of the Year Award: Highest-placing first-timer.

Longest Drive Award: Longest drive from home to the event.

Phil Kime Spirit of the Event Award: Person or team that fully embodies the $2000 Challenge spirit.

Best Reaction Time: Best reaction time on the quarter-mile.

Last Chance Award: Highest-placing car acquired no more than 10 days before the first day of the event. Car shall be purchased from general public, not another Challenge team.

High School Award: Highest-placing car predominantly built by high schoolers.

Old Guy Class: Highest-placing car predominantly built by old guys.

College Class: Highest-placing car predominantly built by college students.

$1008 Class: Highest-placing car built for $1008 or less.

If you have questions, contact Rick Goolsby.

Host Hotel

The host hotel for this year’s Challenge is the Best Western Gateway Grand, located at 4200 NW 97th Blvd., Gainesville, Fla., 32606.

Update: The host hotel is all full. However there are a few hotels one ext down I-75. We would recommend booking rooms somewhere close to the host hotel because it serves as a kind of base camp for the event. You can start your search here.

Rules

2015 will be the first year of a three-year car preparation rules freeze. Car preparation rules from this year will not change for the next two. That means that if you don't have your car ready in time, you can be confident it will reach the rule requirements of the next year.

Click here to see the complete rules.

Want to race on an even smaller budget? Give valve cover racing a try. It's like pinewood derby, except you have to use a valve cover as your vehicle's body.

Rules for Valve Cover Racing.

Latest Updates

October 12:
Remember, spectating is free at the $2015 Challenge. You're even free to roam the paddock and hang out with the competitors. Want to lend a hand? Many teams are often open to a little extra help while working.

October 6:
Our event supporters will be handing out goodie bags to competitors as usual. Sneak peak: Pulstar Spark Plugs will be including hats, spark plug sockets and fender mats. CRC Industries will also be including some of their products.

October 1:
We now have a schedule posted for the Challenge.

September 25:
We're less than a month from the event and we have 38 team registered at this time. Looks like a good field forming.

September 10:
Our General Tire Challenge is full. The first 20 challengers will be rewarded with some extra autocross runs in an ND-chassis MX-5.

August 26:
Looks like there are going to be a fair amount of luxury cars making their way to the challenge. Who wants to see a special land-yacht class added?

August 12:
There is still one spot left for the General Tire Challenge. The next registration we receive gets some extra autocross competition in someone else's car.

August 5:
Big news! Al Unser Jr. will be attending and judging the concours portion of the $2015 Challenge. Thanks to Pulstar Spark Plugs for making this possible.

August 1:
The field is shaping up nicely. Submit your entry now by clicking here

July 29:
Just a friendly reminder that we are now three months away from the $2015 Challenge. How is your build coming along? Have you even started it yet? Have you invited your buddies to build a car? Better yet, have you entered yet?

July 17:
While I was at the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge at VIR today, I met with our friends at General Tire and they are pretty excited about returning to sponsor the General Tire Challenge this year. We are working on getting cars for the second annual autocross race of champions for the first twenty entrants to the $2015 Challenge. Will one of those entrants be you?

July 2:
Working on a couple of big name drivers to join us at the Challenge as celebrity judges. Ever heard of Al Unser Jr.? Or maybe Don Garlits? Stay tuned for more details!

June 16:
We have seven registrations so far. That means there are 13 spots remaining in the General Tire Challenge. Get your entries in early to enjoy some extra competition.

June 16:
We now have online registration up and running through Motorsportreg.com. Click here to sign up. Your build does not need to be completed before registering. All you need to tell us is the year, make, model, purchase price and preferred numbers.

June 8:
Our first official entry to the $2015 Challenge is a 2001 BMW 330i coming all the way from Dearborn, Michigan.

May 28:
We're planning on bringing the General Tire Challenge back again this year. The first 20 entrants get to compete in a bonus competition where all drivers pilot identical cars on General Tire rubber around an autocross course. Fastest driver wins.

May 11:
Do you work with schools? We have awards for cars built by college students and high school students. Let's get the next generation involved.

May 11:
Want to enter the $2015 Challenge? We have entry forms and vehicle information forms now available.

May 4:
Coming to the $2015 Challenge? Remember to bring your valve cover racer. We'll be holding valve cover racing (basically a low-buck pinewood derby) again this year. You can find rules posted here

February 19:
We are pleased to announce that Miller Electric has stepped forward as a new supporter of the $2015 Challenge. They will be giving a welder away to the overall winner and a welding mask to the Challengers' Choice winner.

November 20, 2014:
Looks like General Tire will be back with us again hosting the General Tire Challenge autocross! More announcements coming soon. This was such a great event and it really showed off the performance of their tires. Speaking of which, if you are interested in purchasing some new tires for your next Challenge car, check out their line up and give them a try. Click here

November 12, 2014:
The event might be a year away, but we still have some news to share:

The site and date are locked in and we’re holding signed contracts.

In response to competitor feedback shared during the $2014 Challenge’s Town Hall meeting, we’re locking in car prep rules for the next three years. The $2014 Challenge car prep rules will be used for 2015, and we’re going to count 2015 as the first year of that three-year lock.

Also in response to competitor feedback, we have brought back some of the old awards—while adding new ones.

A mentor program for first-timers and other rookies will be instituted. Details to come.

The Thursday evening welcome party is coming back.

We’re looking at ways to allow more autocross runs.

For those who have asked, we’re working on promotional items that will explain the $2015 Challenge to your friends, family, parole officers, etc.

We’re looking at adding some more to the weekend’s schedule to help fill your trip to Florida.