Road America fans are eagerly purchasing pieces of the track's history, including cores from resurfaced asphalt and treads from an old bridge. The demand reflects a growing interest in the venue's legacy among enthusiasts and ticketholders.
Key points
Road America fans are buying pieces of track history.
Items include cores from resurfaced asphalt and old bridge treads.
The demand shows a strong interest in the venue's legacy.
A bigger frontstretch bridge is planned for 2025.
Road America
ELKHART LAKE – Where’s the line between history and kitsch?
Between a quirky impulse purchase and “You bought what!?!?”
Road America management isn’t sure, but one lesson learned the past few years is to err on the side of offering. To paraphrase the classic movie line, if you sell it, they will buy.
After the 4-mile course was resurfaced, the track offered cores pulled from the old asphalt two years ago. They were snapped up by corner workers, track history buffs and ticketholders. When a bigger frontstretch bridge was built for 2025, pieces of the treads from the old one sold briskly.
1955: The finish flag is flashed as Mike Ward, Jr., Lansing, Mich., ends his 10 mile trial in Saturday's Road America sports car races at Elkhart Lake. Ward drove an MG TD. The trials were held up Saturday morning by a heavy rain. A 150 mile race will be the feature of Sunday's closing program. Three other races also are scheduled.
1968: Jerry Hansen of Minneapolis whizzed down the track at the Road American June sprints Sunday at Elkhart Lake to win the 120 mile feature race. Hansen led from the start and averaged 96.597 miles an hour.
1975: Winner Mario Andretti had matters well under control as he led runner-up Jackie Oliver en route to an impressive victory in the Formula 5000 race at Road America in Elkhart Lake Sunday. Andretti won by a whopping 16.6 seconds.
Q&A
What items are fans buying from Road America?
Fans are purchasing cores from the resurfaced asphalt and treads from an old bridge.
Why are pieces of Road America selling out quickly?
The items are popular among corner workers, track history buffs, and ticketholders, reflecting a strong interest in the track's history.
What changes are happening at Road America for 2025?
A bigger frontstretch bridge is being built for 2025, which has led to the sale of treads from the old bridge.
How does Road America manage the sale of historical items?
Road America management has learned to offer historical items for sale, as fans are eager to buy them.
Related Articles
Sports·Feature
College softball: Week 11 Top 25 and how to watch
Check out the Week 11 Top 25 college softball rankings and how to watch!
ESPN News··1 min read
Sports
Five Championship players catching the eye of Premier League clubs
Five Championship Players Attracting Premier League Clubs Ahead of Transfer Window
Sky Sports··1 min read
Sports
Multa económica y dos años de sanción para los aficionados del Málaga detenidos en el derbi en Almería
Multa de 600 euros y dos años de sanción para aficionados del Málaga detenidos en Almería.
Marca··1 min read
NBA·Preview
Rockets vs. Lakers Best Bets: Same Game Parlay Featuring LeBron James, More
Rockets vs. Lakers Game 2: Best Bets and Parlay Insights
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL
Seahawks predicted to help Cardinals land new QB in Round 1 of NFL Draft
Seahawks predicted to trade down, aiding Cardinals in QB pursuit
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL·Injury Update
Colts' DeForest Buckner gives potential timeline to return from injury
Colts' DeForest Buckner shares timeline for injury recovery
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
1961: Thirty-nine sports cars roared away from the starting line Saturday at Elkhart Lake's Road America...from the bridge, across the course at the start of the main straight, to the cantilever starting platform are new to the four mile course this season.
1982: Actor Paul Newman, received a bit of help from a crew member after he ran a qualifying heat for the feature race in the 1982 June Sprints held at Road America in Elkhart Lake. Newman was flocked by fans after qualifying.
1965: This is the way they began in the rain shortened race for C, D, E, and F modified cars in the June sprints at Road America near Elkhart Lake Sunday, and in one respect, it was how they finished as well. Jim Hall of Midland, Texas, in car 66, won the race. He started it in rain and finished it in weak sunshine.
1986: Bobby Rahal raced for pole at Elkhart Lake.
1959: Vintage cars had their day of glory last week end at Road America in the sports car racing program there. Bentleys made an impressive line-up. The cars, from left, were driven by Augie Pabst of Milwaukee, Rollin Weary of Wilmette, Illinois, and Carl Mueller of Milwaukee. Pabst's car was the oldest, 1928, but it won the race.
1988: Wes Cooley displays his winning form at Elkhart Lake's Road America
1968: Amateur movie stars put all the enthusiasm they could muster into a scene for the Hollywood production, "Winning" being filmed at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan county. The cheering group included area residents hired as extras, race track officials and actress Eileen Wesson, dressed in a white bathing suit.
1968: Under the watchful eye of the track physician, Paul Newman makes sure his helmet is in place before doing a race car scene for "Winning," being filmed at Road America near Elkhart Lake. The physician is Dr. Bill Semler, a Shorewood obstetrician who serves 24 days each summer as medical director for road races.
1968: Actor Paul Newman got a kiss from actress Eileen Wesson Monday as they rehearsed a scene from the movie "Winning," a portion of which is being filmed at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake (Sheboygan county). The fingers in the foreground are those of director James Goldstone.
1977: Molly Riley, Miss Road America, spent another part of the day in a red satin jumpsuit acting as queen of the road races.
1977: Wearing her official badge of office - a rainbow striped helmet - Miss Road America (Molly Riley) readied her race car on Sunday. Under the helmet she wears a white fireproof hood. She is the only woman to combine the roles of Road America queen and race driver.
1979: Jerry Hansen from Wayzata, Minnesota, led the parade on his way to winning the featured sports car race at Road America in Elkhart Lake Sunday. Trying gamely to pass Hansen, who was wheeling a Lola, was Frank Schultz (48), in an Eagle 755-001.
1961: The field began to string out even on the first lap of the feature race at Road America Sunday. The aerial picture shows the cars coming up to the top of the hill onto the main straight and going across the start-finish line. A crowd of about 40,000 watched the program at the Elkhart Lake sports car course.
1981: The beautiful rolling terrain at Road America offered race fans many natural vantage points from which to watch Sunday's June Sprints. There were no reserved seats, and a popular spot for fans was near Corner Five as the Formula Atlantic cars wheeled around the sharp curve. More than 25,000 fans turned out for the final day of the races at the scenic four-mile racing circuit.
1982: Jerry Hansen drove his Datsun 280 SX to victory in the SSGT, SSA, SSB, SSC class Sunday at Elkhart Lake. Hansen won this 52-mile race by 9.59 seconds, and won two other races at Road America.
1968: Chuck Parsons (left) and Skip Scott flash smiles while relaxing after sharing victory in Sunday's 500 miler at Road America's four mile course.
1982: A trio of Formula Atlantic/Formula Continental type cars were bunched together during Sunday's sixth race at the June Sprints. Carl Liebich in car #54 and from Plymouth, Wisconsin eventually won this race.
1983: Driver Teo Fabi (right) wore a perplexed expression Saturday, while his crew worked on the engine of his March-Cosworth during qualifying for Sunday's Provimi Veal 200-mile Indy-car race at Elkhart Lake's Road America. Fabi, who was sidelined with engine problems late in the first qualifying session, was forced to miss the second session because a new engine had to be installed. Mario Andretti won the pole position for the race, and Fabi ended up second-fastest for the other front-row spot.
1959: Gears grind and engines whine as sports cars hit this stage of the 500 mile race Sunday at Road America, Elkhart Lake. The cars quickly accelerated rounding station five. Walt Hansgen of Westfield, New Jersey, driving 62 in the left foreground, wheeled a Lister Jaguar with Ed Crawford of Northfield, Illinois, to victory in record time.
1983: Mario Andretti headed into the third turn at Road America Sunday.
1983: Fans cluster around Paul Newman at Elkhart Lake's Road America. But he'd just as soon be left alone to concentrate on racing.
1984: Mario Andretti (in car No. 3) tried to pass Danny Sullivan during Sunday's Provimi Veal 200-mile race at Road America in Elkhart Lake.
1973: Englishman Brian Redman didn't have too much room for error during Sunday's running of the L & M Formula 500 Championship at Elkhart Lake's Road America course. Redman negotiated the 12th turn and right behind was South African Jody Sheckter. But Jody couldn't overtake Redman, who held the pole at the start and went on to win before a crowd of 31,517. It was Redman's first win of the year.
1981: The racers made their way around Turn 1 Sunday at the start of the Pabst 500 classic at Road America race course at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
1977: Picnicking and visiting with friends is a part of attending a race at Road America.
1984: Mario Andretti drove his Lola-Cosworth to victory in the Provimi Veal 200 at Road America on Sunday. --- A Budweiser race car: targeting every kind of person in every part of the country.
1982: Al Unser had the lead Sunday at Road America but finished in second place.
1988: Football player Walter Payton got ready to run again, but this time he was in a sports race car at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake
1961: Typical of the action in the first half of the Road America 500 mile race Sunday at Elkhart Lake was this line of cars coming through turn No. 12. Jim Hall (6) of Dallas, Texas, led Walt Hansgan (61) of Westfield, Jew Jersey, with Dr. Dick Thompson (62) of Washington, D.C., right behind. Hansgen and Augie Pabst of Milwaukee won the fifth annual event, facing no serious competition in the final stages.
1983: 1st - Budweiser Canadian-American - Road America. John Fitzpatrick.
1964: Start of 200 mile race, opening day feature on Road America program at Elkhart Lake Saturday. The winner was Dan Gerber (19) of Fremont, Michigan, in an A.C. Ford Cobra.
1959: Roaring away from the starting line, a field of 45 cars began the 120 mile first race at Elkhart Lake's Road America Saturday afternoon. The winner was Briggs Cunningham of Green Farms, Connecticut, in an Osca.
1968: Jerry Hansen of Minneapolis sat in the cockpit of his Lola, which is powered by a big formula A Chevrolet engine, as he won his second straight race Saturday at Road America. Hansen won the Badger 200 kilometer event by 58 seconds over Hank Candler of Lakewood, Colorado.
1975: Sunday's story from start to finish: Mario Andretti (5) leading Oliver in Formula 5000 race at Road America.
1984: It'll be a vintage racing weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake July 20-22, highlighted by the Great American Road Race. Some drivers (above) got together for some practice laps Tuesday, and Augie Pabst (right) went cruising in a Porsche 356. A Ferrari vs. Porsche Challenge and a Sports 2000 race are included on the fourth annual program. The Great American Road Race will be open to the public, and partial proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Maryville City of Youth.
1985: Bruce Lind, with passenger Jack Hart, took a turn ahead of John Daliley and Art Dailey during the sidecar race Sunday at Road America.
1986: Robert Patterson led Bill Morrison and Paul Canary as a trio of Corvettes topped the pack during Sunday's Vintage Auto Race Weekend at Road America.
1981: Eddie Lawson showed the form that led him to the Superbike victory Saturday at Road America.
1987: Lyn St. James (right) and Deborah Gregg have teamed up in racing, but have not found the going easy. The pair had to leave the 500-mile Lowenbrau Classic at Road America in Elkhart Lake Sunday when the transmission broke with St. James behind the wheel on the 29th lap.
1981: Those fans who wanted a close view of Sunday's races at Road America in Elkhart Lake were packed in close to a fence.
1981: Steve Thomson's car (7) skidded off the track coming out of a turn, but got back into the Formula Vee race at Road America Saturday afternoon.
1988: Augie Pabst hops on a motor scooter next to his metallic blue Scarab racer at Road America during a vintage car race on a recent weekend. Pabst drove the car, which is one of only three of its type ever manufactured, to a second place finish against a similar model. A bright red 1930s Talbot (left) was exhibited during the vintage car weekend at the Elkhart Lake track.
1958: Jim Jeffords took the checkered flag after winning Road America.
1978: Greg Pickett, driving no. 6, sat on the pole for Monday's Phase I race he won. He also went on to win the 100 mile Trans-Am race at Road America.
1982: Al Holbert drives his Chevrolet-powered VDS Lola to victory Sunday in the 160-mile Can-Am race at Road America. He averaged 113.227 mph and finished 20.24 seconds ahead of Danny Sullivan, who placed second.
1981: Australian Geoff Brabham popped the cork on a freshly chilled bottle of champagne Sunday after winning the Canadian-American Challenge Cup 160-mile race at Road America.
1981: Geoff Brabham, in car No. 3, was in the middle of a pack at this stage of Sunday's Can-Am race at Road America. He was flanked by Randy Lewis, left, and by Jeff Wood (1), with Al Holbert (14) bringing up the rear. But Brabham was alone well out in front at the finish.
1986: Mario Andretti was ahead of the pack and on his way to victory in the 200-mile race for Indy championship cars Sunday at the four-mile Road America course in Elkhart Lake.
1 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1955: The finish flag is flashed as Mike Ward, Jr., Lansing, Mich., ends his 10 mile trial in Saturday's Road America sports car races at Elkhart Lake. Ward drove an MG TD. The trials were held up Saturday morning by a heavy rain. A 150 mile race will be the feature of Sunday's closing program. Three other races also are scheduled.
1 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1955: The finish flag is flashed as Mike Ward, Jr., Lansing, Mich., ends his 10 mile trial in Saturday's Road America sports car races at Elkhart Lake. Ward drove an MG TD. The trials were held up Saturday morning by a heavy rain. A 150 mile race will be the feature of Sunday's closing program. Three other races also are scheduled.
2 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1968: Jerry Hansen of Minneapolis whizzed down the track at the Road American June sprints Sunday at Elkhart Lake to win the 120 mile feature race. Hansen led from the start and averaged 96.597 miles an hour.
3 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1975: Winner Mario Andretti had matters well under control as he led runner-up Jackie Oliver en route to an impressive victory in the Formula 5000 race at Road America in Elkhart Lake Sunday. Andretti won by a whopping 16.6 seconds.
4 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1961: Thirty-nine sports cars roared away from the starting line Saturday at Elkhart Lake's Road America...from the bridge, across the course at the start of the main straight, to the cantilever starting platform are new to the four mile course this season.
5 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1982: Actor Paul Newman, received a bit of help from a crew member after he ran a qualifying heat for the feature race in the 1982 June Sprints held at Road America in Elkhart Lake. Newman was flocked by fans after qualifying.
6 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1965: This is the way they began in the rain shortened race for C, D, E, and F modified cars in the June sprints at Road America near Elkhart Lake Sunday, and in one respect, it was how they finished as well. Jim Hall of Midland, Texas, in car 66, won the race. He started it in rain and finished it in weak sunshine.
7 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1986: Bobby Rahal raced for pole at Elkhart Lake.
8 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1959: Vintage cars had their day of glory last week end at Road America in the sports car racing program there. Bentleys made an impressive line-up. The cars, from left, were driven by Augie Pabst of Milwaukee, Rollin Weary of Wilmette, Illinois, and Carl Mueller of Milwaukee. Pabst's car was the oldest, 1928, but it won the race.
9 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1988: Wes Cooley displays his winning form at Elkhart Lake's Road America
10 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1968: Amateur movie stars put all the enthusiasm they could muster into a scene for the Hollywood production, "Winning" being filmed at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan county. The cheering group included area residents hired as extras, race track officials and actress Eileen Wesson, dressed in a white bathing suit.
11 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1968: Under the watchful eye of the track physician, Paul Newman makes sure his helmet is in place before doing a race car scene for "Winning," being filmed at Road America near Elkhart Lake. The physician is Dr. Bill Semler, a Shorewood obstetrician who serves 24 days each summer as medical director for road races.
12 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1968: Actor Paul Newman got a kiss from actress Eileen Wesson Monday as they rehearsed a scene from the movie "Winning," a portion of which is being filmed at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake (Sheboygan county). The fingers in the foreground are those of director James Goldstone.
13 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1977: Molly Riley, Miss Road America, spent another part of the day in a red satin jumpsuit acting as queen of the road races.
14 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1977: Wearing her official badge of office - a rainbow striped helmet - Miss Road America (Molly Riley) readied her race car on Sunday. Under the helmet she wears a white fireproof hood. She is the only woman to combine the roles of Road America queen and race driver.
15 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1979: Jerry Hansen from Wayzata, Minnesota, led the parade on his way to winning the featured sports car race at Road America in Elkhart Lake Sunday. Trying gamely to pass Hansen, who was wheeling a Lola, was Frank Schultz (48), in an Eagle 755-001.
16 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1961: The field began to string out even on the first lap of the feature race at Road America Sunday. The aerial picture shows the cars coming up to the top of the hill onto the main straight and going across the start-finish line. A crowd of about 40,000 watched the program at the Elkhart Lake sports car course.
17 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: The beautiful rolling terrain at Road America offered race fans many natural vantage points from which to watch Sunday's June Sprints. There were no reserved seats, and a popular spot for fans was near Corner Five as the Formula Atlantic cars wheeled around the sharp curve. More than 25,000 fans turned out for the final day of the races at the scenic four-mile racing circuit.
18 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1982: Jerry Hansen drove his Datsun 280 SX to victory in the SSGT, SSA, SSB, SSC class Sunday at Elkhart Lake. Hansen won this 52-mile race by 9.59 seconds, and won two other races at Road America.
19 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1968: Chuck Parsons (left) and Skip Scott flash smiles while relaxing after sharing victory in Sunday's 500 miler at Road America's four mile course.
20 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1982: A trio of Formula Atlantic/Formula Continental type cars were bunched together during Sunday's sixth race at the June Sprints. Carl Liebich in car #54 and from Plymouth, Wisconsin eventually won this race.
21 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1983: Driver Teo Fabi (right) wore a perplexed expression Saturday, while his crew worked on the engine of his March-Cosworth during qualifying for Sunday's Provimi Veal 200-mile Indy-car race at Elkhart Lake's Road America. Fabi, who was sidelined with engine problems late in the first qualifying session, was forced to miss the second session because a new engine had to be installed. Mario Andretti won the pole position for the race, and Fabi ended up second-fastest for the other front-row spot.
22 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1959: Gears grind and engines whine as sports cars hit this stage of the 500 mile race Sunday at Road America, Elkhart Lake. The cars quickly accelerated rounding station five. Walt Hansgen of Westfield, New Jersey, driving 62 in the left foreground, wheeled a Lister Jaguar with Ed Crawford of Northfield, Illinois, to victory in record time.
23 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1983: Mario Andretti headed into the third turn at Road America Sunday.
24 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1983: Fans cluster around Paul Newman at Elkhart Lake's Road America. But he'd just as soon be left alone to concentrate on racing.
25 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1984: Mario Andretti (in car No. 3) tried to pass Danny Sullivan during Sunday's Provimi Veal 200-mile race at Road America in Elkhart Lake.
26 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1973: Englishman Brian Redman didn't have too much room for error during Sunday's running of the L & M Formula 500 Championship at Elkhart Lake's Road America course. Redman negotiated the 12th turn and right behind was South African Jody Sheckter. But Jody couldn't overtake Redman, who held the pole at the start and went on to win before a crowd of 31,517. It was Redman's first win of the year.
27 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: The racers made their way around Turn 1 Sunday at the start of the Pabst 500 classic at Road America race course at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
28 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1977: Picnicking and visiting with friends is a part of attending a race at Road America.
29 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1984: Mario Andretti drove his Lola-Cosworth to victory in the Provimi Veal 200 at Road America on Sunday. --- A Budweiser race car: targeting every kind of person in every part of the country.
30 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1982: Al Unser had the lead Sunday at Road America but finished in second place.
31 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1988: Football player Walter Payton got ready to run again, but this time he was in a sports race car at the Road America track in Elkhart Lake
32 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1961: Typical of the action in the first half of the Road America 500 mile race Sunday at Elkhart Lake was this line of cars coming through turn No. 12. Jim Hall (6) of Dallas, Texas, led Walt Hansgan (61) of Westfield, Jew Jersey, with Dr. Dick Thompson (62) of Washington, D.C., right behind. Hansgen and Augie Pabst of Milwaukee won the fifth annual event, facing no serious competition in the final stages.
33 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1983: 1st - Budweiser Canadian-American - Road America. John Fitzpatrick.
34 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1964: Start of 200 mile race, opening day feature on Road America program at Elkhart Lake Saturday. The winner was Dan Gerber (19) of Fremont, Michigan, in an A.C. Ford Cobra.
35 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1959: Roaring away from the starting line, a field of 45 cars began the 120 mile first race at Elkhart Lake's Road America Saturday afternoon. The winner was Briggs Cunningham of Green Farms, Connecticut, in an Osca.
36 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1968: Jerry Hansen of Minneapolis sat in the cockpit of his Lola, which is powered by a big formula A Chevrolet engine, as he won his second straight race Saturday at Road America. Hansen won the Badger 200 kilometer event by 58 seconds over Hank Candler of Lakewood, Colorado.
37 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1975: Sunday's story from start to finish: Mario Andretti (5) leading Oliver in Formula 5000 race at Road America.
38 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1984: It'll be a vintage racing weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake July 20-22, highlighted by the Great American Road Race. Some drivers (above) got together for some practice laps Tuesday, and Augie Pabst (right) went cruising in a Porsche 356. A Ferrari vs. Porsche Challenge and a Sports 2000 race are included on the fourth annual program. The Great American Road Race will be open to the public, and partial proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Maryville City of Youth.
39 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1985: Bruce Lind, with passenger Jack Hart, took a turn ahead of John Daliley and Art Dailey during the sidecar race Sunday at Road America.
40 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1986: Robert Patterson led Bill Morrison and Paul Canary as a trio of Corvettes topped the pack during Sunday's Vintage Auto Race Weekend at Road America.
41 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: Eddie Lawson showed the form that led him to the Superbike victory Saturday at Road America.
42 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1987: Lyn St. James (right) and Deborah Gregg have teamed up in racing, but have not found the going easy. The pair had to leave the 500-mile Lowenbrau Classic at Road America in Elkhart Lake Sunday when the transmission broke with St. James behind the wheel on the 29th lap.
43 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: Those fans who wanted a close view of Sunday's races at Road America in Elkhart Lake were packed in close to a fence.
44 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: Steve Thomson's car (7) skidded off the track coming out of a turn, but got back into the Formula Vee race at Road America Saturday afternoon.
45 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1988: Augie Pabst hops on a motor scooter next to his metallic blue Scarab racer at Road America during a vintage car race on a recent weekend. Pabst drove the car, which is one of only three of its type ever manufactured, to a second place finish against a similar model. A bright red 1930s Talbot (left) was exhibited during the vintage car weekend at the Elkhart Lake track.
46 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1958: Jim Jeffords took the checkered flag after winning Road America.
47 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1978: Greg Pickett, driving no. 6, sat on the pole for Monday's Phase I race he won. He also went on to win the 100 mile Trans-Am race at Road America.
48 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1982: Al Holbert drives his Chevrolet-powered VDS Lola to victory Sunday in the 160-mile Can-Am race at Road America. He averaged 113.227 mph and finished 20.24 seconds ahead of Danny Sullivan, who placed second.
49 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: Australian Geoff Brabham popped the cork on a freshly chilled bottle of champagne Sunday after winning the Canadian-American Challenge Cup 160-mile race at Road America.
50 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1981: Geoff Brabham, in car No. 3, was in the middle of a pack at this stage of Sunday's Can-Am race at Road America. He was flanked by Randy Lewis, left, and by Jeff Wood (1), with Al Holbert (14) bringing up the rear. But Brabham was alone well out in front at the finish.
51 / 51
How racing at Road America looked in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s
1986: Mario Andretti was ahead of the pack and on his way to victory in the 200-mile race for Indy championship cars Sunday at the four-mile Road America course in Elkhart Lake.
So when the “false grid” staging area was rebuilt, sections of the green guardrail from that area – the type that had flanked the entire track in a day before concrete became the safety standard – were offered up at $130 apiece. Buyers will pick them up during spring vintage weekend, which runs May 15-17.
The guardrail sale was one of the myriad topics Mike Kertscher, the track’s president and general manager, discussed in his annual preseason interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in April.
Question: Why was that still lying around? And the second, where does that land on the nostalgia vs. “there’s a sucker born every minute” continuum?
Kertscher: It wasn’t just lying around. That was all the old guardrail between the old false grid and pit lane. So it was coming out anyway, because it’s concrete now. So that was going away, and we hated to have the scrapper just come and give us 50 bucks for these things. It’s got more history than that.
I think we initially had visions of cutting it up and selling it in smaller chunks, but we wanted to get word out. We had a lot of it. I mean, there was close to 1,000 feet. I think it was over 1,000 feet. And we put it online. I think [the Paddock Shop gift store] listed the 13-foot sections, just because people were calling, and they wanted a piece for their garage, or their man came, or whatever else. We don’t have any left. So for those that were waiting to buy smaller segments, sorry, we sold out already.
Fans watch from behind the guardrail as Robert Patterson leads Bill Morrison and Paul Canary during the 1986 vintage races at Road America.
Fans watch from behind the guardrail as Robert Patterson leads Bill Morrison and Paul Canary during the 1986 vintage races at Road America.
But it’s pretty remarkable. Instead of some of that stuff over the years going to the landfill, it’s just like [it’s] going to get recycled. We’re able to recycle in our own sort of fun way.
I mean, the bridge treads were huge, were well received. The year before that, I think we did the cores, or two years, whatever it was when we were paved. I think the cores really started the trend and now I don’t know where it ends. I don’t know what we’ll have next.
I wouldn’t even think that somebody would want a piece of guardrail, but there was a heck of a lot of people out there that proved me wrong, and it’s great to see that the history will live on, maybe not here, but somebody else’s man cave. It’s pretty cool. Just continue to reinvent ways to grow our retail base but more importantly, to preserve our history.
