4th Annual Rockabilly Grand Prix rolls through Hub City

JACKSON, Tenn. — The two day bike race, that attracts hundreds of riders from all over to the Hub City, kicked off Saturday.

“It’s by far the best way to stay in shape,” Rockabilly Grand Prix Race Director Matt Joiner said.

Hundreds of cyclist, beginners and professionals, sped through North Jackson Saturday for the 4th Annual LIFT Wellness Center Rockabilly Grand Prix.

“This is a fun somewhat local race that’s put on every year and it’s a good time to get out there and ride our bikes and race the local competition,” competitor Wendy Fejfar said.

The Grand Prix director said this race started years ago with only 80 riders. It has expanded each year and now attracts more than 350 competitors from across the country to Jackson, competing for $12,500 in cash.

“This is an amazing event to have in this area,” amateur world champ Kirsten Sass said. “It’s well put on, the route is great. We’ve got some of the best cycling in Tennessee out here.”

“We have racers from New York state, we had racers from Texas from Florida and everywhere in between,” Joiner said.

Joiner says the oldest rider is 80 years old, and kids can compete once they turn nine.

“I think its a more competitive sport, but it doesn’t get as crazy as football,” junior rider Zach Lowe said.

With hundreds of families in town for the race, Joiner says the grand prix is a great way to show off the Hub City.

“It’s great that we’ve gotten people in Jackson into racing, but the second benefit is a lot of these people have never been to Jackson,” Joiner said. “So people who never knew downtown was cool, now knows Jackson has a cool downtown.”

The high speed bike portion of the Rockabilly Grand Prix begins Sunday in downtown at 7 outside the LIFT Wellness Center. Everyone is welcome to watch what organizers call “NASCAR on bikes.”