71 replies to this topic

[Ray Bell]

You also 'should have said' something about Buford's girls at Turn 5!

Come on Frank, out with it!

[Mark Beckman]

Originally posted by WDH74

The bridge at the top of Turn Six said Corvette until the mid 90's. It says Toyota now.


PS-Mark- do they have stands selling teenaged girls at your local track???

Doesnt every track around the rest of the World have stands selling Teenage Girls as well ?

Must be an Aussie thing.

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


There is more. I was there before Michigan and before the CART round at RA, and recall the improvements

As I mentioned, I should have never gone by reports from AP and ESPN. To them, it all was new (then again, they only were there for the CART race once a year - but checking their info might have been nice).

Hey, I can't have a faulty memory of something I never knew in the first place

[Mark Beckman]

I have recieved a fantastic on-car lap with a Brabham BT29, mid 90's (not the Brabham, the track!), very high quality.

It is however 33meg download because of the very high quality but I think well worth it including the Guy who spins off in front of him at Turn 3 !

http://www.maxdellor...29F2onboard.zip

[Gokart Mozart]

I live about two minutes from the track on the weekends, and I took photos at two events this year and last with a press-pass. Any corners in particular that anyone needs photos of?

Respectfully,

Jacques N. Dresang
www.miniwurx.com
McL-Miata #80

[Mark Beckman]

Things are going well with my 3D rendition of Road America circa 71.

Amazing circut and I have now a great collection of pictures from 70 to 75 which I will eventually get up on the net to show everyone.

One thing I have been having trouble with though is one reasonable picture of the Pagoda, especially front on - could anybody assist with this please ??

Thanks, Mark

[fbarrett]

Tom Warth and I leaning through Canada Corner, 2010 lunch hour "touring" group...



Frank

Edited by fbarrett, 27 January 2011 - 00:10.

[RA Historian]

I was there and I saw it. Something for the ages. I will have to tell my grandkids. The squeal of the tires, the smell of burnt rubber, the neck snapping acceleration out of turn 12, the crowd going wild, the chicks offering themselves to these descendants of Mercury, my inability to capture it on my camera because the sheer speed was faster than my ability to depress the shutter release, to be in the presence of such an event...

Oh, the humanity!



Tom

[E1pix]

I was there and I saw it. Something for the ages. I will have to tell my grandkids. The squeal of the tires, the smell of burnt rubber, the neck snapping acceleration out of turn 12, the crowd going wild, the chicks offering themselves to these descendants of Mercury, my inability to capture it on my camera because the sheer speed was faster than my ability to depress the shutter release, to be in the presence of such an event...

Oh, the humanity!



Tom

Yessir, Tom, those were the days!

I can still remember Kim Dyer's booming voice, hitting the deck when the 5- and 1-minute bombs went off, and the sheer anticipation of hearing the Can-Am cars leave the pits from far away on the circuit. We knew we'd see them, but not soon enough!

I remember when I first started shooting how much better my odds of success were on lap 10 compared to Lap 1.... the first few laps were just more than a kid could possible bear.... or certainly more than I could focus on focusing. I got over that, but thinking back I'm glad it took a while.

Man, I miss it! But Oh So Glad I have the memories.... Thanks for the Flashback.

[RA Historian]

Actually, I was making a tongue in cheek reference to Tom Warth and Frank Barrett in the Deux Chevaux.

But what you say is certainly true, and I do indeed share your memories. You may have been hanging on the fence right next to me on the inside of the rise from five to six, listening on the first lap as the thousands of horsepower came charging sight unseen down the Moraine Sweep, the exhaust notes rising to a crescendo of glorious sound echoing through the trees before they shot into view, out of the woods and into turn five. Wow! Took one's breath away!

Tom

[Bob Riebe]

Yessir, Tom, those were the days!

I can still remember Kim Dyer's booming voice, hitting the deck when the 5- and 1-minute bombs went off, and the sheer anticipation of hearing the Can-Am cars leave the pits from far away on the circuit. We knew we'd see them, but not soon enough!

I remember when I first started shooting how much better my odds of success were on lap 10 compared to Lap 1.... the first few laps were just more than a kid could possible bear.... or certainly more than I could focus on focusing. I got over that, but thinking back I'm glad it took a while.

Man, I miss it! But Oh So Glad I have the memories.... Thanks for the Flashback.

Road America is one of the few places that even though I do not live there, hundred of miles actually, when I do get there it is like going home again.

I have not been there since they took out the Billy Mitchel bridge and might be a bit sad when I do,.lLast time I was there I parked under THE TREE that I have parked under for decades by the bridge and now I am afraid it might be gone.

[E1pix]

Road America is one of the few places that even though I do not live there, hundred of miles actually, when I do get there it is like going home again.

I have not been there since they took out the Billy Mitchel bridge and might be a bit sad when I do,.lLast time I was there I parked under THE TREE that I have parked under for decades by the bridge and now I am afraid it might be gone.

Me too, haven't seen Billy gone yet. It'll be really weird. I think I know that tree (!), and hope to see it all at the Runoffs this year.... they just signed on for another three years.

[E1pix]

Actually, I was making a tongue in cheek reference to Tom Warth and Frank Barrett in the Deux Chevaux.

But what you say is certainly true, and I do indeed share your memories. You may have been hanging on the fence right next to me on the inside of the rise from five to six, listening on the first lap as the thousands of horsepower came charging sight unseen down the Moraine Sweep, the exhaust notes rising to a crescendo of glorious sound echoing through the trees before they shot into view, out of the woods and into turn five. Wow! Took one's breath away!

Tom

Still does, just thinking about it. I'm sure we bumped elbows!

One wish that has yet to come is an F1 race there.... but Brian French sure filled in part of the gap!

[RA Historian]

I have not been there since they took out the Billy Mitchel bridge and might be a bit sad when I do,.lLast time I was there I parked under THE TREE that I have parked under for decades by the bridge and now I am afraid it might be gone.

Me too, haven't seen Billy gone yet. It'll be really weird. I think I know that tree (!), and hope to see it all at the Runoffs this year.... they just signed on for another three years.

Actually, once you get over the visual shock of there being no bridge where one existed for 50 years, it is not bad at all. The track put a berm on the outside of the turn, and bleachers on the inside. Now one is not only elevated above the track at that point, but also has unobstructed viewing of the cars coming through Thunder Valley, up and past you, and into turn 14. In truth, a much improved place to shoot photos.

Still does, just thinking about it. I'm sure we bumped elbows!

One wish that has yet to come is an F1 race there.... but Brian French sure filled in part of the gap!

I am sure that we did! Brian French's various Ferraris and Benettons do sound wonderful, even if they are powered by Judd V-10s rather than the original units.

Tom

[E1pix]

Actually, once you get over the visual shock of there being no bridge where one existed for 50 years, it is not bad at all. The track put a berm on the outside of the turn, and bleachers on the inside. Now one is not only elevated above the track at that point, but also has unobstructed viewing of the cars coming through Thunder Valley, up and past you, and into turn 14. In truth, a much improved place to shoot photos.


I am sure that we did! Brian French's various Ferraris and Benettons do sound wonderful, even if they are powered by Judd V-10s rather than the original units.

Tom

I've heard that removing the Bridge was a good thing for spectating.... though I'll miss the thrill of shooting on the outside entrance under the bridge (mindful of the Titus and Gidley incidents....).

When I was at the BRIC in 2001-02, one of Brian's cars still had a V12 though I've heard he pulled it out (did he sell those cars?). I shot video of the 2002 event (a friend's vid camera and in my bag, so why not) while I shot stills. Someday I'll put it on YouTube, it is one sweet tape, a little over an hour of the F1 cars and Can-Am.

[SKL]

Kim Dyer... boy that name brings back memories!!! And watching Cliff Tufte walking back in the trees behind the pagoda... and NO cement barriers and catch fencing... been going there since the summer of '67- luckily the track itself is still essentially the same and the food is still great!! And a side trip to Lambeau isn't bad either!!

First time up the hill from Canada without the Billy Mitchell bridge (was there unfortunately when Jerry Titus hit it) looked really weird!!

[E1pix]

Kim Dyer... boy that name brings back memories!!! And watching Cliff Tufte walking back in the trees behind the pagoda... and NO cement barriers and catch fencing... been going there since the summer of '67- luckily the track itself is still essentially the same and the food is still great!! And a side trip to Lambeau isn't bad either!!

First time up the hill from Canada without the Billy Mitchell bridge (was there unfortunately when Jerry Titus hit it) looked really weird!!

I, too can picture Clif walking the Backstretch into 5. Very few great things in life never change.... save for a few troublesome fences (Thanks a Million, CART!), the place is remarkably similar to my first visit in 1963. I was 3, and likely still diapered (should I have admitted that?). Back then it was real tempting to jump the balsa-like snow fences to get even closer.

Just don't tell your Doc you've been dipping a corn cob into a vat of butter all weekend, in between double brats, and an excess of PBR.... he may well join you next time!

Yep, was there for Titus' crash as well, but thankfully elsewhere along the circuit. I'd still shoot on the outside entrance of 13 today if they'd let me.

Edited by E1pix, 28 January 2011 - 06:54.

[S A Dunbar]

I, too can picture Clif walking the Backstretch into 5. Very few great things in life never change.... save for a few troublesome fences (Thanks a Million, CART!), the place is remarkably similar to my first visit in 1963. I was 3, and likely still diapered (should I have admitted that?). Back then it was real tempting to jump the balsa-like snow fences to get even closer.

Just don't tell your Doc you've been dipping a corn cob into a vat of butter all weekend, in between double brats, and an excess of PBR.... he may well join you next time!

Yep, was there for Titus' crash as well, but thankfully elsewhere along the circuit. I'd still shoot on the outside entrance of 13 today if they'd let me.

My first race weekend at Road America was in 1959 - in diapers for sure. And I've been back as least once a year - sometimes up to 5 or 6 times a year - for every year since. For the first 20 years or our family stayed with the Jim Johnson family in town. Jim was the Elkhart Lake Bank President and was Treasurer of Road America. And have stayed at the many resorts in town. Nowdays, a condo at Seibkens is our choice... Was fortunate enough to make the June Sprints, the Nationwide Nascar/Trans Am weekend, the Kohler International Challenge vintage weekend, the SCCA runoffs, the AMA Superbike and the AHRMA vintage motorcycle weekend in 2010. Hoping to do much the same in 2011....

Edited by S A Dunbar, 28 January 2011 - 18:35.

[RA Historian]

I almost hesitate to say how many times I have been to Road America since my first trip which was to the 1958 June Sprints. The only times I have missed since were when I was in the Army. Even then, while I missed some Sprints, I always was able to arrange it so that I could fly back from wherever I was to catch the 500, Can Am, and F-5000 events. I have been to the track hundreds of days. I suspect that if I ever added them all up it would total a few years.

Now, of course, I am up there for all three days of all open weekends, plus at least the Sundays of the non-spectator weekends. Helps that the track is exactly 60 miles from my home.
Tom

[E1pix]

My first race weekend at Road America was in 1959 - in diapers for sure.

That's okay, but weren't you born in '52? I thought I had worn diapers too long!

Seriously, it's great you can still go back so often. I was at every race from '63 to '81, only a dozen times since. I miss it terribly, it'll be nine years this BRIC. (KIC) That's gotta stop.

[E1pix]

I almost hesitate to say how many times I have been to Road America since my first trip which was to the 1958 June Sprints. The only times I have missed since were when I was in the Army. Even then, while I missed some Sprints, I always was able to arrange it so that I could fly back from wherever I was to catch the 500, Can Am, and F-5000 events. I have been to the track hundreds of days. I suspect that if I ever added them all up it would total a few years.

Now, of course, I am up there for all three days of all open weekends, plus at least the Sundays of the non-spectator weekends. Helps that the track is exactly 60 miles from my home.
Tom

Lucky Guy! Actually, you've earned all of that.

[S A Dunbar]

That's okay, but weren't you born in '52? I thought I had worn diapers too long!

Seriously, it's great you can still go back so often. I was at every race from '63 to '81, only a dozen times since. I miss it terribly, it'll be nine years this BRIC. (KIC) That's gotta stop.

Sorry, Eric....but I was born in 1958!!