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'''Road America''' is a road course racetrack in ]. '''Road America''' is a road course racetrack located in ], ], one of two historical race landmarks in the ], the other being ] in ].


== Current track and facilities == == Current track and facilities ==
The track is just over four miles long and consists of fourteen turns. The track has many elevation changes, along with a long front stretch where speeds approaching 200 mph may be reached. The track is just over four miles long and consists of fourteen turns. The track has many elevation changes, along with a long front stretch where speeds approaching 200 mph may be reached. One of the best known features of this course is a turn on the backside known as "the kink." Many cars have prematurely finished their race on this section of road and solid concrete retaining wall.

One of the best known features of this course is a turn on the backside known as "the kink." Many cars have finished their race on this section of road and solid concrete retaining wall.


Non-reserved grandstand seating exists for 10,000 people, but there are numerous hillside spots where crowds of more than 150,000 may be accommodated. Non-reserved grandstand seating exists for 10,000 people, but there are numerous hillside spots where crowds of more than 150,000 may be accommodated.


The facility includes a 0.8 mile ] track called the ] Motorcomplex. The facility includes thirteen concession stands and allows camping onsite. In addition to the main course, the facility includes a 0.8 mile ] track called the ] Motorcomplex. The facility includes thirteen concession stands and allows camping onsite.


== 2006 major events at the track == ==History of Racing at Elkhart Lake==
===Open Road Course===
In ], CART (now ]) started going to the track. CART and Road America nearly ended their relationship in ] until ] worked out a deal between the two. This ] event will be held on September 21-24.
In the late 1940s, ] was gaining popularity, owing to the post ] economy, and the influx of sporting automobiles. The ]

was the main organizer of these races, and in 1950, the Chicago Region SCCA and the Village of Elkhart Lake organized the first road race at Elkhart Lake.
In ], the ] began and Road America was chosen as one of its tracks. This 2006 event will be held on August 20.

Road America also holds a variety of vintage racing events, including the ] International Challenge. The 2006 vintage event will be held on July 16. It features 4 days of vintage racing featuring some of the best cars and drivers. There is also a Concourse where all the cars drive into town in front of Siebkins restaraunt.

The Sports Car Club of America, ], (June Sprints) event will be held on June 22-25.

The ] AMA ] event will be held on June 4.

==History of the original street courses==
The original street races, called ], were organized by members of the Chicago Region of ] and the Village of Elkhart Lake. The road courses were generally triangular.


The 1950 circuit start-finish line was on County Road P. Competitors went north to County Road J, then South into the Village of Elkhart Lake, and West on what is now County JP (then called County Highway X), and reconnected with County Road P for a total distance of 3.3 miles. The 1950 circuit start-finish line was on County Road P. Competitors went north to County Road J, then South into the Village of Elkhart Lake, and West on what is now County JP (then called County Highway X), and reconnected with County Road P for a total distance of 3.3 miles.


A second course was used during 1951 and 1952. It was 6.5 miles long, on County Roads J, A, and P. To date, one may still drive most of the original courses. For the next two races, in 1951 and 1952, a different course was used. It was 6.5 miles long, on County Roads J, A, and P. To date, one may still drive most of the original courses.

== History of the current track ==
⚫ After the tragedy at ] in 1952, where twelve spectators were killed, the U.S. ruled to discontinue contests of speed on public highways. This was a major blow for competition auto racing and brought the end of a long-standing tradition. The current track was started in ] by ]. The addition of Road America as a private track meant a transition from racing through the streets of tiny Elkhart Lake to racing on a big, wide, dedicated race track.

==Location==
Road America is located in historic ] and the city is a significant landmark for automobile racing history in the United States. Visitors from affluent communities in Northern ] and ] traditionally vacationed in the community and held gentlemen's races along the city streets.

==Local impacts==
Recently the original track at Elkhart Lake has come under attack—as tourists and commercial interests demand wider, bigger roads—resulting in the destruction of the original course and streets. In response to the local governance push for this change George Bruggenthies, president and general manager of Road America, had the following to say:

"Road America draws some 500,000 to 750,000 race fans, teams, and tourists during the season. At a minimum, Road America has an annual direct economic impact of $50,000,000 to $75,000,000 on Sheboygan County."

Fortunately a resolution was recently found in dedicating the original track as a historical place and no such destruction will now be allowed to occur. Elkhart Lake will be preserved in its current state despite the push of local progress.


===Private Road Course ===
==Historic impacts==
⚫ After the tragedy at ] in 1952, where twelve spectators were killed, the U.S. ruled to discontinue contests of speed on public highways. This was a major blow for competition auto racing and brought the end of a long-standing tradition. This did not permanently stop road racing, however, it did shift it to private courses. In ], ] started what is now known as Road America, in a configuration that has changed little over the past 50 years. The addition of Road America as a private track meant a transition from racing through the streets of tiny Elkhart Lake to racing on a big, wide, dedicated race track.
The most significant impact of this course on the community is its extensive history. Books have been written centering on the life and culture of "sporty-car racing" in the ], , and—as with all historical places—it has an emotional hold on the hearts of many people.
<p>On July 13th, 2006 an open invite has been issued to anyone interested to come to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin for the dedication of the original road course as a historic place. Elkhart Lake will become the second location in America to become a historical race landmark, following Watkins Glen.</P>


===Racing at Road America===
==Trivia==
Many different racing series have had the occasion to race at Road America. The first was the Sports Car Club of America on ], ], but they were hardly the last. Other notable series have included ] in 1956, ] from ] until the present , ] from 1999 to the present, ], ], ], ], and ]. Road America also holds a variety of vintage racing events, including the ] International Challenge.
* The only ] event ever held at the track was won by ] in ].


=== 2006 major events at the track ===
* June 4, AMA ]
* June 22 - 25, ] June Sprints
* July 16, ] International Challenge.
* August 20, ]
* September 21 - 24, ]


==Champ Car race history== ===Champ Car Race History===


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
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| ] | ]
|} |}

===NASCAR Race History===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Date
! Winning Driver
! Make/Model
! Earnings
|-
| ], ]
| {{flagicon|US}} ]
| 1956 ]
| $2,950
|}



==External links== ==External links==
* *
* *
*
* *



{{Template:Champ Car World Series}} {{Template:Champ Car World Series}}
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] ]
] ]
]

Revision as of 15:37, 4 August 2006

Template:Infobox Nascar Racetrack

Fans looking east at Turn Five at the 1995 June Sprints at Road America

Road America is a road course racetrack located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, one of two historical race landmarks in the United States, the other being Watkins Glen in New York.

Current track and facilities

The track is just over four miles long and consists of fourteen turns. The track has many elevation changes, along with a long front stretch where speeds approaching 200 mph may be reached. One of the best known features of this course is a turn on the backside known as "the kink." Many cars have prematurely finished their race on this section of road and solid concrete retaining wall.

Non-reserved grandstand seating exists for 10,000 people, but there are numerous hillside spots where crowds of more than 150,000 may be accommodated.

In addition to the main course, the facility includes a 0.8 mile go-kart track called the Briggs & Stratton Motorcomplex. The facility includes thirteen concession stands and allows camping onsite.

History of Racing at Elkhart Lake

Open Road Course

In the late 1940s, road racing was gaining popularity, owing to the post World War II economy, and the influx of sporting automobiles. The Sports Car Club of America was the main organizer of these races, and in 1950, the Chicago Region SCCA and the Village of Elkhart Lake organized the first road race at Elkhart Lake.

The 1950 circuit start-finish line was on County Road P. Competitors went north to County Road J, then South into the Village of Elkhart Lake, and West on what is now County JP (then called County Highway X), and reconnected with County Road P for a total distance of 3.3 miles.

For the next two races, in 1951 and 1952, a different course was used. It was 6.5 miles long, on County Roads J, A, and P. To date, one may still drive most of the original courses.

Private Road Course

After the tragedy at Watkins Glen in 1952, where twelve spectators were killed, the U.S. ruled to discontinue contests of speed on public highways. This was a major blow for competition auto racing and brought the end of a long-standing tradition. This did not permanently stop road racing, however, it did shift it to private courses. In 1955, Cliff Tufte started what is now known as Road America, in a configuration that has changed little over the past 50 years. The addition of Road America as a private track meant a transition from racing through the streets of tiny Elkhart Lake to racing on a big, wide, dedicated race track.

Racing at Road America

Many different racing series have had the occasion to race at Road America. The first was the Sports Car Club of America on September 10, 1955, but they were hardly the last. Other notable series have included NASCAR in 1956, CART from 1982 until the present , ALMS from 1999 to the present, USAC, CanAm, Trans-Am, IMSA, and AMA. Road America also holds a variety of vintage racing events, including the Brian Redman International Challenge.

2006 major events at the track

Champ Car Race History

Season Winning Driver Chassis Engine
1982 Mexico Héctor Rebaque March Cosworth
1983 United States Mario Andretti Lola Cosworth
1984 United States Mario Andretti Lola Cosworth
1985 Canada Jacques Villeneuve March Cosworth
1986 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi March Cosworth
1987 United States Mario Andretti Lola Chevrolet
1988 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lola Chevrolet
1989 United States Danny Sullivan Penske Chevrolet
1990 United States Michael Andretti Lola Chevrolet
1991 United States Michael Andretti Lola Chevrolet
1992 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor
1993 Canada Paul Tracy Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor
1994 Canada Jacques Villeneuve Reynard Ford-Cosworth
1995 Canada Jacques Villeneuve Reynard Ford-Cosworth
1996 United States Michael Andretti Lola Ford-Cosworth
1997 Italy Alex Zanardi Reynard Honda
1998 Scotland Dario Franchitti Reynard Honda
1999 Brazil Christian Fittipaldi Swift Ford-Cosworth
2000 Canada Paul Tracy Reynard Honda
2001 Brazil Bruno Junqueira Lola Toyota
2002 Brazil Cristiano da Matta Lola Toyota
2003 Brazil Bruno Junqueira Lola Ford-Cosworth
2004 Canada Alex Tagliani Lola Ford-Cosworth

NASCAR Race History

Date Winning Driver Make/Model Earnings
August 12, 1956 United States Tim Flock 1956 Mercury $2,950


External links


2008 Champ Car season
NHL Forsythe/Pettit Minardi Australia Rocketsports Coyne PKV PCM Conquest
1 Wilson
2 Rahal 		3 Tracy
7 TBA 		4 TBA
14 Doornbos 		5 Power
15 TBA 		8 Bernoldi 11 TBA
19 TBA 		21 TBA
22 Servià 		28 TBA
29 Figge 		24 Perera
34 TBA
Long Beach - Houston - Laguna Seca - Zolder - Jerez - Cleveland - Mont-Tremblant - Toronto - Edmonton - Portland - Road America - Assen - Surfers Paradise - Mexico City
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