The Des Moines Grand Prix was a popular professional auto racing event held on a temporary street circuit in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, from 1989 to 1994. Sponsored heavily by trucking magnate John Ruan, the event drew national attention, featured ESPN broadcasts, and showcased series like the SCCA Trans-Am.
It was a 1.8-mile to 2-mile temporary street loop that wound through the heart of downtown, passing landmarks like Veteran’s Auditorium and reaching speeds up to 145 mph on the straightaways. The event featured a variety of competitive series, including the SCCA Trans-Am, ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series, and the Corvette Challenge.
Despite its initial success, high insurance costs, operational expenses, and logistical hurdles led the event's organizers to declare bankruptcy and end the race in 1995. Today, it is remembered as a unique era in the city's sports and pop culture history.
It's hard to think about this taking place now. Can you imagine the streets of Downtown Des Moines shut down for this? Would you watch this live, if it happened today?
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