I rode to Road America on Saturday.

[Rapid_Roy]

It's a Road racing track in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. It was around 90 miles, and the weather was warm.
The track is 4 miles long and they were having the American LeMans Series amongst others this weekend. Here is the schedule:

Saturday, August 15, 2009
7:00 am Gates open to the public (Children 12 and under are free)
7:00 am - 10:00 pm Camping Registration at Gate 4 (located on Cty. Rd. J)
7:30 am - 4:00 pm IMSA Registration
8:00 am - 5:00 pm SPEED Go-Kart Sweepstakes—Register to Win at the Time Warner Cable Digital Express display
8:00 am - 8:30 am Qualifying - Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
8:45 am - 9:15 am Qualifying - Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Spectator Karting $20 per ride or $250 unlimited weekend pass (must be 14 or older)
Located at Briggs & Stratton Motorplex - Prizes awarded for fastest laps each day
9:30 am - 9:50 am Qualifying - SPEED World Challenge Touring
9:55 am - 10:15 am Qualifying - SPEED World Challenge GT
10:00 am - 2:00 pm SPEED GIRLS Photo Opportunity at the Time Warner Cable Digital Express display
10:00 am - 3:00 pm Family Fun Zone (located north of the VIP tunnel)
10:30 am - 11:30 am Practice - American Le Mans Series (All Classes)
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Qualifying #2 - Formula BMW Americas
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm SPEED World Challenge Autograph Session (Location: TBA)
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Qualifying - Patr??n GT3 Challenge by Yokohama
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm IMSA Lites presented by Frisby Performance Tire Race #1 - 30 Minutes
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Practice - American Le Mans Series (All Classes)
3:10 pm - 3:30 pm Qualifying - American Le Mans Series (GT2/ALMS Challenge)
3:40 pm - 4:00 pm Qualifying - American Le Mans Series (P1/P2)
4:10 pm - 4:50 pm Formula BMW Americas Race #1 - 25 Minutes
5:05 pm - 5:35 pm Patr??n GT3 Challenge by Yokohama Race #1 - 30 Minutes
5:45 pm - 6:45 pm SPEED World Challenge Touring Race #1 - 50 Minutes
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Race - 30 Minutes
8:00 pm Drive-In Movie benefiting the United Way (Enter Main Gate) Movie Feature: E.T.
$3 per person or $10 per carload

I was on my RT but had to take the freeway to make time. I got there at 9:50, donated my bag of groceries, and headed to my buddy's spot by the "Hurry Downs."
I can't remember the series, so I'll just post the video and pics in some order.
These are at the Hurry Downs.
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<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American%20Lemans%202009/P8150079.flv">

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<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American%20Lemans%202009/P8150088.flv">

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Turn 5

These are outside the track on turn 5

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Next, we went to the beginning of the Carousel.

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American%20Lemans%202009/P8150119.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American%20Lemans%202009/P8150132.flv">

Next up, the Pits!

 

[Rapid_Roy]

No comments? I know it's cars people, but come on!

There may be a motorcycle pic or two coming up.

 

[cheesewhiz]

Great pics!

Hey!

I've an idea...let's all meet at Road America next year for the Superbike races.

(Pretty original huh, Roy )



No, really, AWESOME pics thanks for sharing.

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Great pics!

Hey!

I've an idea...let's all meet at Road America next year for the Superbike races.

(Pretty original huh, Roy )



No, really, AWESOME pics thanks for sharing.

Thank you.
That is a great idea. I wish I had thought of it.

Even meeting for something like I just went to would be fine.
It's pretty relaxed on Saturday, and not very crowded. It was 40 bucks if you brought 5 dollars worth of groceries, 50 if you didn't. Also, tickets were cheaper if purchased ahead of time. I am sure Sunday was a different matter, as far as prices and crowds.

 

[The_Veg]

Purty cars!

Great stuff Roy!

 

[108625]

Color me green with envy Roy!

I live too far from any of the great race tracks like Road America to take in such an event without planning a vacation around it.

 

[JohnM]

And the Rahal/Letterman M3 Bimmers came in 1-2 in their class! Their 1st win in the series.

 

[wezul]

The Rahals used to live right here in the Glen. Cool stuff, my main Melman!

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Thanks all. 2 Wheel Tuesday interfered, but I am back.

I will perforce post my pit post with pit pictures presently.

 

[Rapid_Roy]

The rides and the pits.

Ok. We jumped in the car and headed over to the pits.
There is all kinds of machinery around, the Corvette Corral had at least 8 stingrays from the 60's. Cobras, Porsches, Audis, and many other Euro and American exotica were parked all over.

Oh, and motorcycles too!
A Hot Rod!

There were plenty of pit bikes and other oddities to see.
Looks to be a Chinese copy of a Honda Mini-trail.

Finally, the sights of the pits themselves:

More pits to come.......

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Here are some pit videossorry about the quality, camera doesn't video sun well)
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<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s86.photobucket.com/flash/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American Lemans 2009/P8150152.flv"></embed>
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s86.photobucket.com/flash/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American Lemans 2009/P8150156.flv"></embed>
Back to the track!

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Next, we went back to camp and then to Turn 5 on the inside of the track.
At Base Camp
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Turn 5:

On to Canada Corner.

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Canada Corner

SPEED World Challenge Touring Race #1 - 50 Minutes
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Further down the track:

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<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American%20Lemans%202009/P8150205-1.flv">
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i86.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid86.photobucket.com/albums/k113/mrbeemerman/American%20Lemans%202009/P8150206-1.flv">
That race concluded at 6:45 pm and I had already left at 6:30. I took Hwy 57 south, instead of freeway (a little bit) then I took Hwy 60 to Hwy J, which runs south right into Waukesha. It added 15 minutes but it was better than freeway.
I hope you enjoyed this, have a good one.

 

[redclfco]

Now that I've wasted a perfectly good morning looking at Roys report

Great shots Roy! I felt like I was actually there!

 

[jeremell]

RA is a great track! The facilities are nice and it is easy to walk around to different turns to watch the races. Camping on the infield and partying at night is fun too, I've heard. For anyone who hasn't attended, I highly recommend the superbike races.

 

[henzilla]

Nice to have that close to home. No large facilities like that anywhere close to us.

Thanks for sharing

 

[Rapid_Roy]

Now that I've wasted a perfectly good morning looking at Roys report

Great shots Roy! I felt like I was actually there!

That wasn't you?
Thank you. Luckily, I had some bad batteries go dead or I would have taken even more pictures.

 

[barryg]

Nice pics. I got the oppurtunity to be on a vintage car racing team back oin the '90s and we raced at a lot of the historic road race tracks all over the country. Road America was one of my favorites, very beautiful track and area. The legundary Leo Goff, who advertises in the ON's was our race team manager. Our team had a lot of success. The organization we raced in most was the Sports Car Vintage Racing Association, SVRA. We probably raced more different types of cars than any one else. Several different types of Allards, Ol Yaller #7, Maserati's, Model B Ford, 50's era Champ Indy car, Keck/Vukovich Indy Streamliner, Lincoln Panamerica rally car, and more I can't think of at the moment without going to my archives. It was quite an exciting time in my life, traveling America. We also did Watkins Glen, Moroso, Leguna Seca, Phoenix International, to name some of them and most of these several times. We also did quite a few of the 1000 mile car rallies. Copper State 1000, Colorado Grand, New England 1000. In the '98 New England 1000, I had the oppurtunity to drive a 1950 Kurtis Sport in the rally. Quite an honour. I would be remiss, If I didn't mention that Leo got the mechanic and car builder of the year in SVRA. Can't quite remember which year. This was due to Leo building so many different cars for the team and all were successful. Leo became somewhat of a celebrity in our race circle in group 7 and exhibition class racing. We were famous for checking our cars then practicing in a couple of the practice sessions, then being gone for a day to sight see the area or go to a movie. Leo was so prepared we very seldom had to work on the cars at the track. Most of the time loading/unloading the cars was the hardest job we had at the track. We had a lot of famous racers come by our pit to talk and visit with Leo. Max Balchowsky, Smoky Yunick, Zora Arkis Duntov to name a few. Seeing those pictures brought back a lot of memories. Didn't mean to go on so long.