Grand Prix salutes contributions of Stan and Maroline Long

QUINCY — For years, Stan and Maroline Long were essential to the success of the Grand Prix of Karting.

Stan was driver Terry Traeder’s crew chief and known coast to coast for his engine expertise. Stan and Terry teamed to win 27 Grand Prix championships — and numerous other major titles across the country — by the time Traeder retired as a driver in 1994.

Maroline was equally well known as a numbers cruncher, scorekeeper and organizer, helping founder Gus Traeder make the first 32 Grand Prix of Karting events run smoothly. Stan, 84, and Maroline, 78, who reside in Canton, Mo., are being saluted this weekend for their contributions to the Grand Prix.

The Longs, who have been married for 57 years, were awarded an honorary Gussie trophy this weekend, symbolic of their role in making the Grand Prix a world-recognized celebration of the sport. Gussies are also awarded to all class champions at the Grand Prix. The Gussie resembles Grand Prix founder Gus Traeder, who passed away in 2016 at age 90 and is buried next door to the 1.2-mile South Park course in Greenmount Cemetery.

“It was a good ride,” Maroline said. “Racing has been good to us.”

Prior to retiring “10 or 15 years ago,” Stan worked for the Traeders’ various karting and other business ventures for 47 years. Stan said he warned Maroline early in their relationship about how interested he was in motorsports-related activities. Before their first date, Stan told her, “If you like racing, we’ll probably go out again. If not, there probably won’t be a second date.” 

What many do not know is that Stan was also an accomplished driver before concentrating solely on helping Terry Traeder win championships.”I always loved both (aspects) of the sport, the mechanical part and the driving part,” Stan said.

Responsible for layout of South Park course

Terry Traeder credits Stan as the man responsible for the layout of the famed South Park course. The original idea was to have the tight, 13-turn, 1.2-mile course running in the opposite direction that it does today.

“I remember Stan taking one look at the layout and saying it would not work, that it had to go the other way (for better racing and safety purposes),” the 70-year-old Traeder said. “And he was right.”

The track — and race — became legendary, so much so that Ekartingnews.com listed the Grand Prix as one of the top 10 races in the United States a few years ago.

Stan and Maroline’s love of racing was passed on to daughter Mary Kay and son Michael. Mary Kay was one of the top modified drivers at Quincy Raceways in the early 1990s and Michael has been one of the top modified drivers in the nation for more than a decade.

Stan, Terry and Maroline were all an integral part of the glory days of karting, a time they still treasure. Maroline may have summed it all up best.

“Life changes,” Maroline said. “But I thoroughly enjoyed all of those years being connected with racing.”

Honorary Gussies have been awarded to the following since the return of the Grand Prix in 2018:

• Stan and Maroline Long
• Jeff Miles
• Scott Evans
• Keith Freber
• Scott Pruett

Anticipates big turnouts

Rome Frericks, who serves as executive director of the Quincy Park District, which helps oversee the Grand Prix, is expecting another big crowd Sunday for the racing at South Park.

“It’s hard to accurately gauge the crowds because of the (layout) of the park and the people coming and going, but I would think we’ll end up with about 10,000 people at the races each day (Saturday and Sunday),” Frericks said.

If Frericks’ estimates are accurate, the total attendance at the Grand Prix since its rebirth in 2018 would rise to more than 40,000

Fulks back behind the wheel

Rick Fulks is back behind the wheel this weekend at South Park for the first time since the return of the Grand Prix of Karting four years ago. The 58-year-old Fulks had served as race director since the event resumed, but told Traeder he wanted to temporarily step away from those duties. Fulks had a reason for that request. Actually, two of them. 

The Jacksonville, Ill., resident has two goals this weekend:

• 1. He wants to win a Gussie.
• 2. Fulks had five career victories at the Grand Prix before it was originally discontinued in 2001. One more win would vault Fulks into the top 10 of Grand Prix all-time winners.

Fulks, who has been racing for 46 years and competed in West Virginia last month, is a longtime friend of the Traeder family. Like many current and former karters, the loss of the Grand Prix just over 20 years ago was admittedly emotional.

“It was like the loss of a member of the family,” Fulks said when the Grand Prix went on hiatus. “Quincy is the karting capital of the United States. We all love Quincy.”

Grand Prix all-time champions leaders

• Terry Traeder, Quincy, Ill., 27
• Scott Evans, Des Moines, Iowa, 27
• Scott Sellergreen, Chicago, Ill., 15
• Mike Birdsell, Champaign, Ill., 13
• Rod Stewart, Jacksonville, Ill., 10
• Jason Birdsell, Champaign, Ill., 9
• Pete Vetter, St. Louis, Mo., 8
• Jack Gerber, Springfield, Ill. 7
• Tony Neilson, Delmar, Iowa, 7
• Bob Chilton, Beardstown, Ill., 6
• Chris Shearburn, Springfield, Ill., 6
• Rick Fulks, Jacksonville, Ill. 5

First green flag Sunday at noon

Racing resumes at noon on Sunday. Opening ceremonies, including prayer and national anthem, will start at 11:30 a.m. Presentation of the Gussies and other awards will begin at 5:45 p.m. Six classes raced on Saturday and 11 are scheduled for Sunday.