|
Road Race Circuits Listed On National Register Of Historic Places
Elkhart Lake, Wis., May 16, 2006 – The Historic Road Race Circuits of Elkhart
Lake used in 1950, 1951 and 1952 were listed on the National Register of
Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior and the
National Park Service on February 17, 2006. The listing came about through the
combined efforts of Road America and Historic Race Circuits of Elkhart Lake
“HRC,” an all-volunteer organization of local preservationists and sports
car enthusiasts. The Elkhart Lake race circuits were one of the last of the
great open road sports car road racing circuits in America and brought
national and international racing prominence to the State of Wisconsin,
Sheboygan County and the Elkhart Lake area.
The 3.35 mile 1950 circuit traversed a closed loop comprised of county roads
located just north of the Village of Elkhart Lake. Jim Kimberly, event
co-founder and heir to the Kimberly paper fortune, drove a Ferrari tipo 166
barchetta to victory in the 60-mile main event.
The 6.5-mile 1951- 52 circuit circled Elkhart Lake using both county roads and
village streets. A Cunningham C2R driven by John Fitch won the 200-mile main
event in 1951. In 1952 future World Formula-1 Champion Phil Hill, won the
100-mile Sheldon Cup race in a Jaguar “C” type while John Fitch returned
in a Cunningham C4R to win the 200-mile Elkhart Lake Cup race.
Due to concerns for spectator safety, the Historic Race Circuit was no longer
used after 1952. However, the races held on these circuits led to the
establishment of the 4-mile Road America closed course road racing circuit
just south of the Village of Elkhart Lake in 1955. Today Road America is
recognized as one of the premier race circuits in the world and draws hundreds
of thousand of race fans to the area each year.
With the listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic
Race Circuits joins the American Club, The Old Wade House, the Sheboygan
County Court House and others as historically prominent sites worthy of
preservation. The Elkhart Lake Historic Race Circuit also joins the Watkins
Glen Historic Race Circuit in Watkins Glen, NY as the only other preserved
open road race circuit in the United States.
HRC has announced plans to place historical roadside markers identifying the
thirteen named locations on the Historic Circuits; i.e. Wacker’s Wend,
Kimberly’s Korner, Dickens’ Ditch, Peck’s Alley and others. A Wisconsin
State Historical Marker will also be erected in the Village of Elkhart Lake.
The markers have been funded thru individual donations and a grant from the
Milwaukee Region of the Sports Car Club of America. A dedication ceremony in
Elkhart Lake is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, July 13, 2006 leading up to
the Kohler International Challenge with Brian Redman and vintage car festival
the following weekend.
George Bruggenthies, Road America general manager speaking for HRC, stated,
“Our goal is to honor our history and to add to the enjoyment of motor
sports enthusiast visiting Road America and the Elkhart Lake area.”
For additional information contact Road America at 920-892-4576 or Elkhart
Lake Chamber of Commerce at 877-355-3554.
|
|
|
