The Great Race coming to Cape Girardeau

I have written previously about the multitude of what I call destination events that occur through much planning in our city each year. One such event is underway as you read this column. The 22nd annual Rolex Girls Junior Golf Championship at the Dalhousie Golf Club continues through Friday. Top female junior golfers are here from 19 states and 10 other countries.

The next June event that I want to bring to your attention is the 2013 annual "Great Race," which will occur on June 25.

Cape Girardeau is fortunate to be one of the overnight host cities for this race, which starts in St. Paul, Minn. and finishes in Mobile, Ala. This is a prestigious event, and as the course changes every year this is most likely the only time in the foreseeable future that we will have the Great Race in Cape Girardeau.

This will bring many visitors to our city and will be an exciting evening for all of our citizens.

There will be more than 90 cars in the race, ranging from the 1916 era to the late 1960s. Each car will have a driver and a navigator.

Teams are judged on the accuracy of a predetermined speed. Each daily route takes the cars through the back roads of each state at 45 miles per hour. Each team attempts to reach every check point with the least variation of time in seconds.

Our leg of the Great Race will begin at 5 p.m. June 25, as the cars cruise down Broadway in one minute intervals.

Local businesses along the route are encouraged to host pit-stop parties for viewers to witness each of the cars as they arrive in Cape Girardeau.

The 90 race cars will be parked that evening for viewing along Main Street, from Broadway south to William Street. More than 100 local vintage cars will also be on display in downtown Cape Girardeau.

I encourage everyone to stop by downtown that evening to see the vintage cars, visit with the drivers and navigators, and enjoy the festival-like atmosphere.

I would like to thank the generous sponsors of this event: Capaha Antique Car Club, EVTV Motor Verks, KFVS12, Midamerica Hotels, Napa Auto Tire & Parts, Rhodes 101 Convenience Stores, Capaha Bank, Charter Communications, Crimson Creative, Dream Big, Ford Groves, Green Sky Cleaning, Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill, Hutson's Fine Furniture, McAlisters Deli, Red Letter Communications, River City Rodders and Roth Restaurant Supply.

Once again, if you own a business or organization along Broadway or on Kingshighway south of Lexington, I would encourage you to host a pit-stop party to welcome the Great Race.

Visit VisitCape.com/GreatRace for more details.

Harry E. Rediger is the mayor of Cape Girardeau.