Runners, start your engines, lace-up your sneakers and rev up for the all new Grand Prix Shakedown 8K race on Tuesday, August 26 at 6:15 p.m.

The event will be organized and hosted by Strategic Staffing Solutions, the Detroit IT Staffing firm, along with its event partner, the Downtown Runners and Walkers.

Formerly known as the Motor City Shakedown, the race is in its 15th year and, for the first time, will be run on a portion of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix race track.

The Grand Prix Shakedown will take place at shelter 7 (near the conservatory) on Belle Isle with registration at 4 p.m.  The 8k race will start at 6:15 p.m. and the fun walk, which is just under one mile, will begin at 5:45pm.  Registration entry free is $20 or $25 with a t-shirt. Children 12 and under are free with a registered adult. The fun walk is free to the public.

All proceeds from entry fees and corporate sponsorships will underwrite 2-1-1 On the Go!, a homeless outreach program that used resources from United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1-1 agencies.

The race will conclude with a party that includes a DJ, food, beverages and a drawing for two free round trip tickets on Northwest Airlines anywhere in the continental United States. Prizes will also be awarded for the first-place overall finisher as well as the top masters male and female runners. Awards will also be given to the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each five-year age group.

For more information about the Grand Prix Shakedown, call (888) 738-3261 or visit www.grandprixshakedown.org.

2-1-1 On the Go! began in October 2007 and officially launched in March 2008 through a partnership with S3, the Downtown Detroit Partnership and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The program employs two United Way caseworkers, who use bright yellow and white vehicles to assist Detroit homeless. The caseworkers conduct one-on-one interventions with individuals, assess their needs and help them gain the basic needs and access to living facilities so they can gain employment. 2-1-1 On the Go! offers services such as voicemail, prepaid calling cards, mailboxes and state-issued photo IDs.

S3, Detroit’s largest staffing company for IT services, operates 21 branches: Detroit, Atlanta, Charlotte, two in Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Richmond, New York, Tampa, New Orleans, Houston, Boston, Orlando, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tallahassee and two European offices; Vilnius, Lithuania and London, England.