You Can Also Name The First Rocket Racer!

The Rocket Racing League announced Monday the company has issued Requests For Proposals (RFP) for race venues and teams. The RRL’s race events are slated to begin during the 2007-2008 racing season, after the inaugural public exhibition flight at the X Prize Cup in New Mexico in October 2006.

"The issuance of these RFPs is a significant milestone in getting Rocket Racing off the ground,” said RRL President and CEO Granger Whitelaw. "Efforts to assemble the teams, build and test rocket planes, and secure sponsorships and locations are steadily underway."

The RFP to host "RRL Series" sanctioned race events seeks competitive bids for four of the six races slated for 2007. Competing cities, airport authorities and other venues can submit bids outlining financial, land, tax credit, and in-kind services commitments to the RRL.

Through its partnership with the RRL, the winning venue provider will receive direct revenues through the sale of sponsorships, tickets, advertising, concessions, merchandizing and parking. The surrounding city or township can expect to see increased job creation as well as additional revenue generation through hotel and camping accommodations, restaurants, grocery and retail sales. The RFP also outlined its support efforts for venue providers, including local and national marketing and sales efforts.

RRL representatives tell Aero-News the RFP for independently owned race teams requires a deposit of $100,000, held in escrow, on a Mark-1 X-Racer. The team must also submit a signed RRL Master Team Agreement. Proposals must contain the backgrounds of the team owners, information regarding pilots and must demonstrate the financial ability to cover the estimated upfront cost of $1.2M and the estimated annual operating cost of $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year.

Teams are also asked to provide evidence of sponsorship sales and support capabilities.

Once accepted, race teams will be responsible for purchasing and maintaining their Mark-1 X-Racer and all necessary equipment as well as ensuring that the race vehicle remains in full compliance with the rules and regulations of the RRL. Teams will be charged with hiring and training their pilots and crew to the qualifications set by the RRL Governing Body and the FAA.

As was previously reported in Aero-News, the RRL has accepted its first independent team for the 2007 season. Leading Edge Rocket Racing, LLC is comprised of former F-16 jockeys Robert "Bobaloo" Rickard and Don A. "Dagger" Grantham, Jr.

Initial letters of intent are due March 31, 2006 and written proposals are due May 31, 2006.

The RRL expects to have 10 or more race teams for the 2007-2008 racing season.
Rocket Racing semi-finals will be held at the Reno Air Races in 2007 with the finals at the X Prize Cup.

Name The Mark-1 X-Racer!

The RRL also announced that it is launching a web-based contest for the naming of its first X-Racer rocket plane. The winner will receive a Prize package including an annual VIP access pass to the Mark-1 X-Racer Series events.

"Since our launch in October, we’ve received thousands of emails and millions of web site hits from fans around the world," said Granger Whitelaw, President and CEO of the Rocket Racing League. "We’re honored to have their support, and want to give them the honor or naming their first rocket plane."

The naming contest will occur in two phases. Phase I is the open submission of names through the league’s website. As names are submitted, they will be displayed in order of receipt for public viewing. In the event of duplicate name entries, priority will be give to first date of submission.

In Phase II, a committee appointed by the RRL will select 10 semi-finalists from among the total pool of name submissions.  These 10 semifinalists will be posted online and to be voted on by fans.

The winner will be announced at the X Prize Cup in October 2006 in Las Cruces, NM during the unveiling of the Mark-1 X-Racer. The winner will enjoy an annual VIP access pass to the Mark-1 X-Racer Series events, an astronaut-guided tour of the Mark-1 X-Racer, and a RRL bomber jacket.

FMI: www.rocketracingleague.com