Former Quincy champion and major name in karting, Scharf lauds effort to bring back Grand Prix

MADISON, Ill. – Keith Scharf felt like he had lost an old friend.

Like other big-name karters across the Midwest, Scharf was admittedly saddened when word reached him in late 2022 about the plug being pulled on Quincy’s historic Grand Prix of Karting.

Now, less than two years later, that old friend is back — and Scharf could not be happier.

Scharf, a 2018 champion in Quincy, will be one of the familiar names returning when the Grand Prix makes its comeback June 8-9 on the rolling, 1.125-mile course that weaves its way in and out of the colorful landscape of South Park.

“I’ve raced all over the U.S., and the Grand Prix in Quincy was always one of my favorites,” said Scharf, 62.

Scharf, who has long been one of the major names in karting in the Midwest, has been an active racer for 50 years — not only in world-class karting but other disciplines, too.

Scharf, whose day job is general manager of Gateway Kartplex in Madison, Ill., has nothing but kind words for Jeff Scott and his crew for resurrecting the Grand Prix. Scott took over the event following Terry Traeder’s decision to retire. Traeder had coordinated the rebirth of the Grand Prix since its return in 2018 (minus the 2020 cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Terry Traeder’s late father, Gus Traeder, founded the event and ran it from 1970 through 2001.

Scharf said he is ecstatic to see Quincy’s unique setting and long history as a major U.S. karting site return to prominence.

“I know the challenge (Scott) is facing in just being willing to take on such a task,” Scharf said. “It’s a monumental thing and I wish him nothing but success.”

Scharf says karting has always served as a stepping to stone to numerous other brands of motorsports. 

“Success in karting can lead to success in other (divisions of) motorsports,” he said.

Scharf himself is a perfect example. His early accomplishments in karting led to championship honors in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA).

Scharf feels karting in general may be readying for another boom period in popularity. His sentiment is based on first-hand experience as a business owner in the karting industry to a competitor at the world-class level, including success in the most recent World Karting Association event in Daytona, Fla.

“I’m very optimistic, although the economy over the past 18 months has not helped,” he said.

Scharf says events like the Grand Prix in Quincy help create a solid framework for the future of karting — and he’s looking forward to being a part of that new foundation.

“I commend Jeff for what he is trying to do,” Scharf said. “There is no magic formula — it takes a lot of hard work to make a first-class event like the Grand Prix.”