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This website is a tribute to the early days of sports car
club racing, and how the small village of Elkhart
Lake, Wisconsin played a big part and still does
today.
In 1950, road racing happened upon the right place at the
right time for a town on its last legs. Sports car owners
and club members from Milwaukee and
Chicago were looking for a good venue to race.
The first race weekend was a huge success for the
fledgling Sports Car Club of America and local
residents of the village.
America's new love of European sports cars and road
racing, found a home in a remote Wisconsin
community, and hasn't left since. It gave birth to a
world-class racing circuit, Elkhart Lake's Road
America. |
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The
Village of Elkhart Lake is a small
town of less than a thousand residents and a quiet summer resort
area in east central Wisconsin. It is
about 1-hour north of Milwaukee, and some 2
1/2-hours north of Chicago.
In late 1949, a group of sports car enthusiasts from
the Chicago Region and Milwaukee Region of the
Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) began looking for
a location to hold a road race on public roads. There were
no permanent tracks for road racing at the time.
Jim Kimberly, a Chicago resident and SCCA member,
grew up in nearby Neenah, WI and suggested the roads
around Elkhart Lake. Kimberly arranged a flight for
several members to show them the roads.
Looking down from an airplane they studied nearby
roads, which seemed good for sports car racing.
The
group of sports car club members landed at a nearby
airport and hitched a ride into Elkhart Lake. They met
with village leaders and talked about hosting a road
race. At the time, Elkhart Lake was
in economic decay after the closing of a
canning factory put many villagers out of work. Local leaders
felt the races would help revive things.
Their answer to the car club group was a
resounding yes.
Planning quickly got underway for the very first
Elkhart Lake race and planned for the following year
on July 23, 1950. Many enthusiastic residents
pitched in and volunteered to
help and prepare the village for a sports
car race.
The open road sports car races held in 1950
through 1952 were conceived and conducted by
the members of the Chicago and Milwaukee
SCCA Regions. Jim
Kimberly is acknowledged as the person who
selected Elkhart Lake and was the driving
force behind organizing the races along with
Fred Wacker, Karl Brocken and C. Bayard
Sheldon.
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The
Road Circuits
Highways and streets used |
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In 1950, a series of roads were selected by
early SCCA organizers for race circuit that
was 3.35-miles long. The course was located
on the north side of the lake and County
Trunk Highway X in Section 19 of Rhine
Township. The start/finish line was on CTH P
for
Elkhart Lake's first race held on
Sunday, July 23, 1950. |
Following
the success of the first year, the circuit was
changed to make the race events more interesting.
The racing committee picked a new 5.3-mile route for
the upcoming year, which went through the village and
circumvented the lake on the south side of CTH X in
Section 30. But, the course was changed just before
the 1951 race, because CTH X was considered too
dangerous by drivers.
A revised
plan was developed and excluded the treacherous
highway, which was previously used on the old
circuit north of the lake. The decision was made to
add the old circuit to the new route, where it was
divided by CTH X. The total circuit length was
increased to 6.5-miles and traversed both Sections
19 and 30 through the Rhine Township. |
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1950 Circuit 3.35 miles |
Section 19 (green area) |
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The start/finish
line was
located on CTH P for the 1950 races
only. The course
went north to CTH J and made a right at Marsh Turn,
continued east-southeast on CTH J
directly toward the village but made
a sharp right at Ted's Turn
(about 130 degrees) onto CTH X (now
JP). The road swept through Peck's
Alley and Brigg's Bend onto a short
straight heading west. The last turn
was called the Hard Right, which
returned back onto CTH P and ran
north to the finish line. |
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The first Elkhart Lake circuit (3.35-miles)
was only used in 1950. Located west
of village in Section 19 of Rhine
Township. |
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1951 Proposed Circuit 5.3 miles |
Section 30 (orange area) |
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Start/Finish was going to be located in town on
Lake Street. Cars would run
south through streets and find their way onto CTH AJ, then west on CTH A,
north on CTH P, east on CTH X (now JP), right on CTH J
heading back into town on Gottfried Street,
then right on Lake Street across start/finish
to complete a lap.
However, the course was changed at the last minute
before the start of the 1951 races.
Drivers considered county Highway X too dangerous.
The previous year saw a few off-course incidents into
a hazardous landscape. Drivers protested officials
for a course change, which bypassed the perilous
highway. |
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The second Elkhart Lake circuit (5.3-miles)
in Section 30, was changed because
CTH X was too dangerous by drivers.
Start/Finish was initially located
on Lake St. but was moved. |
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1951-1952 Circuit 6.5 miles |
Sections 19 and 30 (green and orange
areas) |
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The 6.5-mile course incorporated part of the original
3.35-mile circuit. Start/Finish was relocated
in town on
Gottfried Street (CTH J) near the feed mill.
The course ran southeast and turned directly south onto Lake Street, then
into the Hard
Left and a right sweep near along the eastern shore.
A
right turn went onto CTH-AJ going south past Wacker's Wend,
then west onto CTH A past Hamill's Hollow along
Schoolhouse Straight. Next was a right turn at Kimberly's Korner
onto CTH P. The highway ran north 2.3 miles through a stretch called
Dickens' Ditch, a bend and the intersection
at the west end of CTH X.
Continuing north on P there is a bend before the
90-degree east onto CTH J at The Marsh Turn, an
immediate bend goes southeast back toward the
village, passing by Ted's Turn (east end of unused CTH X), back into
town on Gottfried
Street and across the finish line by the feed mill. |
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Elkhart Lake circuits used in 1951
and 1952, showing the 6.5-mile
course created by connecting the 3.35-mile (green)
with proposed 5.3-mile (orange).
Start/Finish was located in the
village on Gottfried Street. |
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On February 17, 2006, the Elkhart
Lake Road Race Circuits was placed
on the National Register of Historic
Places. This historic marker sign
was donated by the Milwaukee Region
SCCA, who helped organize the early
road races. |
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Circuit map with corner names. The only corner used
all three years was The Marsh Turn at CTH P & J on
the north end. |
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The entry form for the
1951 Elkhart Lake races included a
bird's-eye map of the 5.3 mile
course. It was printed before a last
minute course change. CTH X (highlighted in
yellow) proved unsafe for racing after a few
off-road incidents in 1950. Start/Finish is
shown on Lake Street, which was also not
used in '51..
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(LEFT)
A 5.3-mile route was planned for 1951 and
would use CTH X to circumvent the lake in
Section 30, Rhine Township.
Start/Finish was moved from CTH P
into town and is shown on
Lake Street.
The circuit ran south then turned onto CTH AJ, west on CTH A, north on CTH P, east to
CTH X (now JP) then right onto CTH J and
Gottfried Street, where it returned to the
village and to start/finish on Lake Street.
But, the new 5.3 mile course was changed at the last
minute before
racing began. County highway X
(highlighted in yellow) was considered too dangerous
by drivers, after some alarming off-road excursions.
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The map (right) shows the final revision made to the
Elkhart Lake circuit. The proposed 5.3-mile lake
route was connected to the original 3.35-mile
circuit at CTH P and J and eliminated the need for
the unsafe route down CTH X.
The result was a new circuit that was an impressive
6.5-miles long. It was the course used for racing in
1951 and 1952.
Start/Finish was moved from Lake St. to Gottfried St. when the route
was changed at the last minute before the
1951 race.
Corners were also given names to spur more interest.
(Some names of turns are misspelled.)
The Marsh Turn at CTH P and J was the only
corner used during all three years of racing
at Elkhart, from 1950 to 1952. |
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1950 Elkhart Lake Road Race
Circuit length 3.35 miles - July 23, 1950
Non-championship "trial event"
Organized by the Chicago Region & Milwaukee Region SCCA
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The first road race was a "trial event" organized
and conducted by the newly formed Chicago and
Milwaukee SCCA Regions. Car owners and drivers were
from the Milwaukee and Chicago clubs. Most of the
cars were driven to Elkhart Lake, raced and then
driven back home.
The
Chicago Region SCCA planned and conducted
the races with support from Milwaukee Region SCCA and local
residents of Elkhart Lake. Nationwide promotion of
the races attracted
race teams and celebrities from across
the country. John Fitch, Briggs Cunningham, Phil
Hill and a young driver named Carroll Shelby were a
few of the entrants. The 1950 race was very
successful with an estimated 5,000 or more
spectators in attendance, no count was taken. |
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Start/Finish line was located on CTH P,
was
only used in 1951, as was 3.35 mile
circuit. |
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race schedule |
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Sunday, July 23, 1950 |
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Elkhart
Lake 3.35 mile
circuit |
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Race 1 |
Novice Race |
Cars 1500 cc and under |
Ten
Laps (33.5 miles) |
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Race 2 |
Novice Race |
Cars over 1500 cc |
Ten
Laps (33.5 miles) |
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Race 3 |
Ladies Race |
Cars both classes |
Five Laps (16.8 miles) |
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Race 4 |
Main Event |
Expert drivers |
Twenty Laps (67 miles) |
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The
non-championship regional race was held on
a 3.35-mile circuit of county roads on
the north side of the lake. The
start/finish line was located on CTH P
and headed north, it turned right onto
to CTH J heading southeast, then right
onto CTH X (now CTH JP) heading west,
and right again where it returned back
onto CTH P. |
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MG's lined up in front of the milk
house at the Theel farm on
County highway P, before start
of race (either Novice or Ladies) on Sunday, July 23, 1950. In
middle is car #3 blue MG-TD of
Lawrence Whiting, Jr. from Lake
Geneva, WI. Behind it is car #18
black/blue MG-TD of George A. Seaverns from Lake Forest, IL. |
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On Sunday, July 23rd there was a total
of four
races. The first two races were 10 laps
each for Novice drivers, one car class
for 1500 cc and under and the second for
cars over 1500 cc. The third race was
Ladies, 5 laps for cars in both classes
of under and over 1500 cc.
The day was concluded with 20-lap race for
Expert drivers with the fastest cars. The
first Elkhart Lake Road Race weekend was very
successful with an estimated 5,000 or
more spectators attending. Planning for
a second event the following year had
already begun. |
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Jim Kimberly in his #20 red Ferrari
166 MM won the 20 Lap (67 miles)
main event race on Sunday, July 23,
1950. This was the only year the
races were on the 3.35 mile long
circuit, down CTH P, CTH J and
CTH X (now CTH JP). |
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RACE RESULTS |
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Elkhart Lake Race 4 - July 23, 1950
Twenty Laps (67 miles) - 3.35 mile circuit
Over and Under 1500 cc - Experienced drivers |
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Pos. |
No. |
Drivers |
Car |
Entrant |
Laps |
Time |
Dist. |
Mph |
PIC |
Class |
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1st |
20 |
Jim Kimberly |
Ferrari 166 MM |
Jim Kimberly |
20 |
56:13.2 |
67 mi |
71.5 |
1st |
+1.5 |
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2nd |
8 |
Fred Wacker |
Healey Silverstone |
Jim Kimberly |
20 |
57:12.2 * |
67 mi |
70.3 |
2nd |
+1.5 |
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3rd |
27 |
Jim Feld |
Jaguar XK120 |
B. Stevens |
20 |
57:12.2 * |
67 mi |
70.3 |
3rd |
+1.5 |
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4th |
2 |
Karl Brocken |
MG TD |
Karl Brocken |
20 |
59:23.3 |
67 mi |
67.7 |
1st |
-1.5 |
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5th |
6 |
C. Bayard Sheldon |
MG TC |
C. Bayard Sheldon |
20 |
59:30.8 |
67 mi |
67.5 |
2nd |
-1.5 |
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6th |
7 |
Corwith Hamill |
Allard - Mercury |
Corwith Hamill |
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4th |
+1.5 |
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7th |
5 |
Edward MacArthur |
MG TC |
Edward McArthur |
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3rd |
-1.5 |
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28 |
James Floria |
Super Swallow 100 |
James Floria |
DNF |
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fuel |
+1.5 |
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3 |
Larry Whiting |
MG TD |
Lawrence Whiting, Jr. |
n/a |
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-1.5 |
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18 |
Bud Seaverns |
MG TC |
George A. Seaverns |
n/a |
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-1.5 |
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22 |
Robert S. Dickens |
MG TC |
Robert Sidney Dickens |
n/a |
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-1.5 |
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29 |
Steve Briggs |
Jaguar XK120 |
Stephen Briggs |
n/a |
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+1.5 |
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elapsed time, Wacker's Healy was
judged to be in front of Feld's
Jaguar for the second place finish. |
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1951 Elkhart Lake Road Race
The 6.5 mile circuit - August 26, 1951
SCCA National Sports Car Championship
(round 4)
Organized by the Chicago Region & Milwaukee Region SCCA
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Race Schedule
Sunday, August 26
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6.5 mile circuit |
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Race 1 - Preliminary
Novice drivers - all classes
5 laps, 32.5 miles
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Race 2 - Ladies
all classes
(cancelled by weather
threat) |
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Race 3 - SCCA National
Expert drivers - all classes
30 laps, 195 miles |
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The 1951 races were on Sunday,
August 26th. There were three races scheduled with cars divided into four
SCCA classes. The first session was a
five-lap race (about 32 miles) for
novice drivers mixing all classes in the
same race. The second event was planned
as a ladies race but was cancelled due
to threatening weather. The third race
was a 30-lap race (about 200 miles) for
experienced drivers, again mixing all
classes. John Fitch, driving a
Cunningham CR2, won the race. Although
no official attendance records were
kept, spectator attendance was estimated
to be in the area if 50,000. |
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The Official Program
Elkhart Lake Road
Race
Sunday, August 26, 1951 |
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(LEFT) The 1951 entry form
included this map of the 5.3-mile road course.
The
route wasn't used because CTH
X (in yellow highlight) was considered too
dangerous by drivers.
Start/Finish line is shown on Lake St., but
was moved to Gottfried St. when the route
was changed at the last minute before the
1951 race. |
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The new 6.5-mile (third)
circuit traverses clockwise around Elkhart
Lake and through the sleepy village. It was used
for two years before the ban on public road
racing went into effect.
Eliminating CTH X was
accomplished by joining the 3.35-mile and
5.3-mile circuits together, which resulted
in a course length of 6.5 miles. |
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preliminary race |
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Race 1 - SCCA National
Sunday, August 26, 1951
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The
first SCCA National Sports Car Championship
race at Elkhart Lake was for novice drivers
with cars in all classes. It was five-laps
and covered a distance of 32.5-miles. The
winner was Roger Wing #56 in a Jaguar XK-120
in Class-III. Second place went to Frank
Bott #31 in a Jaguar SS100, who finished
only one-second behind Wing. Gordon Lipe
#126 also drove a Jaguar XK-120 to a third
place finish, just nine-seconds behind the
winner. |
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RACE RESULTS |
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Preliminary Race 1 - August 26, 1951
5 laps -
32.5 miles - 6.5 mile circuit |
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Pos. |
No. |
Drivers |
Car |
Entrant |
Laps |
Time |
MPH |
PIC |
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1st |
56 |
Roger Wing |
Jaguar
XK120 |
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6 |
29:56.0 |
81.19 |
1st |
3 |
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2nd |
31 |
Frank Bott |
Jaguar
SS100 |
Bill
Garroway |
6 |
29:57.0 |
81.13 |
2nd |
3 |
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3rd |
126 |
Gordon Lipe |
Jaguar
XK120 |
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6 |
30:05.0 |
80.57 |
3rd |
3 |
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4th |
130 |
Steve
Briggs |
Jaguar
XK120 |
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6 |
31:20.0 |
77.55 |
4th |
3 |
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5th |
11 |
Corwith
Hamill |
Allard L
Mercury |
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6 |
31:22.0 |
77.46 |
1st |
2 |
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6th |
29 |
David Felix |
Allard K2
Cadillac |
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6 |
32:15.0 |
75.35 |
2nd |
2 |
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7th |
144 |
Bill Victor |
Jaguar
XK120 |
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6 |
32:57.0 |
73.75 |
5th |
3 |
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8th |
34 |
R. D. Onan |
Jaguar
XK120 |
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6 |
33:21.0 |
72.86 |
6th |
3 |
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9th |
84 |
Robert
Fergus |
MG TC |
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6 |
33:48.0 |
71.89 |
1st |
6 |
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10th |
103 |
Dick Gent |
Bandini -
Fiat |
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6 |
35:29.0 |
68.51 |
2nd |
6 |
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11th |
98 |
Andy
Rosenberger |
MG TC |
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6 |
35:29.0 |
68.51 |
3rd |
6 |
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12th |
127 |
Robert
Quinn |
MG TD |
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6 |
35:30.0 |
68.45 |
4th |
6 |
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13th |
66 |
Hugh
Byfield |
Jowett
Jupiter |
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6 |
35:36.0 |
68.26 |
5th |
6 |
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14th |
109 |
Garrett
Fuller |
Lea Francis |
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6 |
36:13.0 |
67.28 |
1st |
4 |
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15th |
4 |
Robert S.
Dickens |
MG TC |
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6 |
38:15.0 |
63.53 |
6th |
6 |
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16th |
117 |
Luke
Sherman |
MG TD |
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6 |
39:02.0 |
62.25 |
7th |
6 |
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17th |
105 |
Max Goldman |
MG TD |
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4 |
DNF |
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6 |
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18th |
104 |
Bernard
Kerner |
MG TD |
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4 |
DNF |
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6 |
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19th |
83 |
George
Harris |
Jaguar
SS100 |
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3 |
DNF |
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3 |
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20th |
111 |
Kenneth Ahr |
MG TC |
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3 |
DNF |
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6 |
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21st |
87 |
Howard
Raftery |
MG TD |
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2 |
DNF |
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6 |
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22nd |
72 |
Bob McManus |
MG TD |
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2 |
DNF |
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6 |
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23rd |
78 |
William
Infantino |
MG TC |
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2 |
DNF |
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6 |
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24th |
137 |
John R.
Wood |
Crosley |
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1 |
DNF |
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6 |
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25th |
88 |
Thomas J.
Rosso |
Simca V8-60 |
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0 |
Overheat |
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4 |
| (Race results from
RacingSportsCars.com) |
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the elkhart
lake cup |
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Race 3 - SCCA National
Experienced drivers - 30
Lap, 195 Miles
Sunday, August 26, 1951
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The race was for those who
qualified as "experienced drivers". John Fitch drove #128, a
Chrysler V-8 powered Cunningham C2-R racing
sports coupe. He won the 30-lap, 195-mile
race with a time of 02:30:20. The Briggs S.
Cunningham racing team brought three C2-Rs
to Elkhart Lake's SCCA National the weekend
of August 26, 1951. |
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Winner John Fitch #128,
Chrysler powered Cunningham C2-R with
teammate in tow. Elkhart Lake SCCA National
race on August 26, 1951. (Photo possibly taken on CTH
P north of A and south of CTH X, looking
southeasterly.) |
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Mid-pack cars by the feed mill on
Gottfried Street, following start of
the 1951 Elkhart Lake Cup race. The
start/finish line is located at the
banner in background. Cars shown are
Robert Dickens #4 MG-TC (DNF, oil
pres.), Kurt Hildebrand #47
Volkswagen Special (black flagged),
Larry Whiting #51 MG-TD (17th
overall/5th in class. Paul O'Shea
#94 MG later went on to win the
second race at first year of Road
America. |
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A disturbing example why road racing was banned
on
public roads after 1952. A spectator strolls across
the "hot" course directly in
the path
of a Cunningham C2-R racecar, during The Elkhart
Lake Cup 30-lap race. Race officials and
course workers knew enough not to attempt
such a stunt. |
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RACE RESULTS |
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Elkhart Lake Cup (race 3) - August 26, 1951
Experienced drivers -
30 laps, 195 miles
Circuit length 6.5 miles |
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Pos. |
No. |
Drivers |
Car |
Entrant |
Laps |
Status |
PIC |
Class |
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1st |
128 |
John Fitch |
Cunningham C2-R |
Briggs S. Cunningham |
30 |
Running |
1st |
2 |
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2nd |
63 |
Michael Graham |
Allard - Cadillac |
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30 |
Running |
2nd |
2 |
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3rd |
134 |
Phil Hill |
Jaguar XK120 Silverstone |
Chas Hornburg, Jr. |
30 |
Running |
1st |
3 |
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4th |
135 |
Jorge Malbrand |
Jaguar XK120 Special |
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30 |
Running |
2nd |
3 |
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5th |
132 |
Bill Spear |
Ferrari 340 America |
Bill Spear |
30 |
Running |
3rd |
2 |
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6th |
123 |
Cunningham / Walters |
Cunningham C2-R |
Briggs S. Cunningham |
30 |
Running |
4th |
2 |
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7th |
119 |
Steve Lansing |
Ferrari 166 MM |
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30 |
Running |
1st |
4 |
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8th |
7 |
Ted Boynton |
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica |
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30 |
Running |
2nd |
4 |
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9th |
74 |
Sherwood Johnston |
Jaguar XK120 |
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30 |
Running |
3rd |
3 |
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10th |
32 |
Karl Brocken |
Jaguar XK120 |
|
30 |
Running |
4th |
3 |
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11th |
45 |
John Bentley |
Jaguar XK120 |
|
30 |
Running |
5th |
3 |
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12th |
64 |
Eddie Jones |
Healey Silverstone |
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30 |
Running |
3rd |
4 |
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13th |
62 |
Roger Barlow |
Simca Special |
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30 |
Running |
1st |
6 |
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14th |
143 |
Breeze / Gillespie |
MG TD |
|
30 |
Running |
2nd |
6 |
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15th |
99 |
Herbert Jacques |
MG TC |
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30 |
Running |
3rd |
6 |
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16th |
42 |
Hector Scheffer |
Siata 1400 Gran Sport Fiat |
|
30 |
Running |
4th |
6 |
|
17th |
51 |
Larry Whiting |
MG TD |
|
30 |
Running |
5th |
6 |
|
18th |
28 |
Bill Lloyd |
MG TD |
|
30 |
Running |
6th |
6 |
|
19th |
77 |
Norman Carlson |
MG TC |
|
29 |
Black-flagged |
|
6 |
|
20th |
47 |
Kurt Hildebrand |
Volkswagen Special |
|
27 |
Black-flagged |
|
6 |
|
21st |
22 |
Mike Abendroth |
Allard - Cadillac |
|
26 |
Lost water |
|
2 |
|
22nd |
94 |
Paul O'Shea |
Fitch O'Shea |
|
26 |
Unknown |
|
6 |
|
23rd |
104 |
Bernard Kerner |
MG TD |
|
25 |
Unknown |
|
6 |
|
24th |
93 |
Bud Seaverns |
MG TC |
|
23 |
Bearings & oil |
|
6 |
|
25th |
138 |
Robert Magenheimer |
MG TC |
|
18 |
Wheel bearing |
|
6 |
|
26th |
39 |
Otto Linton |
Siata Sport Crosley |
Tony Pompeo |
17 |
Engine |
|
8 |
|
27th |
67 |
John Gordon Bennett |
Simca |
|
15 |
Oil line |
|
6 |
|
28th |
4 |
Robert S. Dickens |
MG TC |
|
13 |
Oil pressure |
|
6 |
|
29th |
103 |
George Weaver |
Fiat |
|
13 |
Oil pressure |
|
6 |
|
30th |
43 |
Guy Atkins |
MG TD s/c |
|
12 |
Head gasket |
|
5 |
|
31st |
2 |
Jim Kimberly |
Ferrari 340 America |
|
11 |
Clutch |
|
2 |
|
32nd |
81 |
Henry Szamota |
MG TD |
|
11 |
Accident |
|
6 |
|
33rd |
124 |
Phil Walters |
Cunningham C2-R |
Briggs S. Cunningham |
8 |
Bearing |
|
2 |
|
34th |
139 |
Roy Scott |
Allard - Mercury |
|
5 |
Fan belt |
|
2 |
|
35th |
37 |
Edgar Fronteras |
Porsche 356 |
|
4 |
Unknown |
|
6 |
|
36th |
59 |
Max Marsh |
Altemus Special |
|
2 |
Ditched |
|
3 |
|
37th |
109 |
Arthur Iselin |
Lea Francis |
|
2 |
Unknown |
|
4 |
|
38th |
5 |
Ralph Knudson |
Veritas |
|
2 |
Clutch |
|
4 |
|
39th |
48 |
James Simpson |
Healey Silverstone |
|
1 |
Damaged fender |
|
4 |
| (Race results from
RacingSportsCars.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1952 Elkhart Lake Road Race
The 6.5 mile circuit - September 6-7, 1952
SCCA National Sports Car Championship (round 6)
Organized by the Chicago Region & Milwaukee Region SCCA
|
|
 |
Race Schedule
(Sheldon Cup moved to
Saturday)
|
|
|
Saturday - September 6
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sheldon Cup - 15 laps, 97.5
miles
1950 cc to 4000 cc |
|
|
Sunday - September 7
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Kimberly Cup - 15 laps, 97.5
miles
1950 cc and under |
|
|
Sunday - September 7
12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Elkhart Lake Cup - 31 laps,
201.5 miles
1950 cc and over |
|
 |
The Official 1952 Program
The 1952 races were held over the course of two
days.
However,
the schedule was changed.
After the
Official Program
had been printed the drivers
protested that holding the Sheldon Cup Race on
Sunday would mean that cars entered in both the
Sheldon Cup Race and the Elkhart Lake Cup Race
(such as the C-type Jaguar driven by Phil Hill)
would have no time to prepare for the second
race. The Race Committee agreed, as a result,
The
Sheldon Cup race was moved to Saturday and
The Kimberly Cup was moved to the first
race session on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
|
the sheldon cup |
|
First race - Saturday, September 6, 1952
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
|
|
The first race was held on Saturday, a
15-lap (about 100 miles) event for cars between
1950cc and 4000cc. The race was for the Sheldon Cup,
named for one of the race founders C. Bayard
Sheldon. Future F1 World Champion Phil Hill won in a
C-type Jaguar. |
|
|
Phil Hill #41 won the 1952 Sheldon Cup race in
this Jaguar XK120C
entered by Charles H. Hornburg, Jr. |
|
|
Hill was the only American-born driver to win the Formula
One World Drivers' Championship. He was described as a
"thoughtful, gentle man" and once said, "I'm in the wrong
business. I don't want to beat anybody, I don't want to be
the big hero. I'm a peace-loving man, basically." |
|
RACE RESULTS |
|
Sheldon Cup - September 6, 1952
15 laps -
97.5 miles - 6.5 mile circuit |
|
|
Pos. |
No. |
Drivers |
Car |
Entrant |
Laps |
PIC |
Class |
|
1st |
41 |
Phil Hill |
Jaguar XK120C |
Charles H. Hornburg, Jr. |
15 |
1st |
Class 3 |
|
2nd |
42 |
Phil Walters |
Ferrari 212 Export |
Allen S. Guiberson |
15 |
1st |
Class 4 |
|
3rd |
100 |
George Weaver |
Jaguar XK120C |
Charles H. Hornburg |
15 |
2nd |
Class 3 |
|
4th |
74 |
Sherwood Johnston |
Jaguar XK120 Special |
Sherwood Johnson |
15 |
3rd |
Class 3 |
|
5th |
38 |
John Urbas |
Jaguar XK120 |
John E. Urbas |
15 |
4th |
Class 3 |
|
6th |
6 |
Larry Kulok |
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica |
Larry Kulok |
15 |
2nd |
Class 4 |
|
7th |
77 |
John Bentley |
Jaguar XK120 |
John Bentley |
15 |
5th |
Class 3 |
|
8th |
7 |
Ted Boynton |
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica |
Ted Boynton |
15 |
3rd |
Class 4 |
|
9th |
103 |
M. R. J. Wyllie |
Jaguar XK120 |
Dr. M. R. J. Wyllie |
15 |
6th |
Class 3 |
|
10th |
32 |
Roger Wing |
Jaguar XK120 |
Roger H. Wing |
15 |
7th |
Class 3 |
|
11th |
20 |
Jerry Borden |
Jaguar XK120 |
Jerry Borden |
15 |
8th |
Class 3 |
|
12th |
105 |
Robert Edmison |
MG s/c |
Robert Edmison |
15 |
4th |
Class 4 |
|
13th |
25 |
Oliver Dee Joseph |
Jaguar XK120 |
Oliver Dee Joseph |
15 |
9th |
Class 3 |
|
14th |
34 |
Charles Wallace |
Jaguar XK120 |
Jack Pry |
15 |
10th |
Class 3 |
|
15th |
98 |
Andy Rosenberger |
Jaguar XK120 |
Andy Rosenberger |
15 |
11th |
Class 3 |
|
16th |
44 |
Bob Goldich |
Jaguar XK120 |
Robert Goldich |
15 |
12th |
Class 3 |
|
17th |
94 |
Jack Ensley |
Jaguar XK120 |
Jack Ensley |
15 |
13th |
Class 3 |
|
18th |
29 |
Tom Newcomer |
Jaguar XK120 |
E. Tom Newcomer |
15 |
14th |
Class 3 |
|
19th |
35 |
Reade Tilley |
Jaguar XK120 |
Reade Tilley |
15 |
15th |
Class 3 |
| (Race results from
RacingSportsCars.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
the kimberly cup |
| Second race - Sunday, September 7, 1952 10:00 am - 12:00 noon |
|
|
There were two races on Sunday. The first event, the Kimberly Cup
Race, was 15 laps
(about 100 miles) on the 6.5 mile open-road circuit. The race was
open to experienced and novice license holders and cars with an
engine displacement of 1950 cc and under. The race started
in town by the feed mill.
|
 |
|
|
(LEFT) The green flag is waved for the start of
the 1952 Kimberly Cup
Race on Sunday morning. The start/finish line is located
in Elkhart Lake village on Gottfried St. where CTH J
arrives.
Cars pictured are Gordon Bennett
#50 driving a MG TD s/c who did not finish. Norman Carlson #66 MG TD s/c,
finished 1st in Class-5 and 9th overall.
Starting third is Virginia Schleicher #96 MG s/c.
She was the only woman in the race and finished 28th
overall.
Bob
McManus #108 MG, finished 11th in Class-6 for 12th
position overall. |
|
|
|
|
|
A nice color photo of Sunday's Kimberly Cup Race on
September 7, 1952. The feed mill with Blatz beer
sign is on Gottfried Street (CTH J) and was an
iconic symbol for the 1951 and 1952 Elkhart Lake
road races.
The three sports cars shown are in
order of finish. The three-car pack is
entering the circuit's first turn from Gottfried St.
onto Lake
St. after crossing Start/finish about a block down
the village's main street. Leading the pack
(ABOVE) is William C. "Bill" Spear of
Southport, Conn. driving #21 a beautiful red Osca MT4 1350
sports coupe, which won the race. Karl Brocken #117 in a
blue Porsche Le Mans, who finished second and 15.2 sec.
behind the winner, closely pursues him. In third position is John von
Neumann #11 of North Hollywood, Calif. in a red Porsche 356
Le Mans Special. Spear's race time was 01:25:10.2 with an average lap time
of 00:05:40.66. His average speed was 68.69 mph on the
6.5-mile public road circuit.
|
|
|
|
RACE RESULTS |
|
Kimberly Cup - September 7, 1952
15 laps -
97.5 miles - 6.5 mile circuit |
|
|
Pos. |
No. |
Drivers |
Car |
Entrant |
Laps |
PIC |
Class |
|
1st |
21 |
Bill Spear |
Osca MT4 1350 |
William C. Spear |
15 |
1st |
6 |
|
2nd |
117 |
Karl Brocken |
Porsche Le Mans |
Karl Brocken |
15 |
2nd |
6 |
|
3rd |
11 |
John von Neumann |
Porsche 356 Le Mans Special |
John Von Neumann |
15 |
3rd |
6 |
|
4th |
62 |
Roger Barlow |
Simca Special '52 |
Roger Barlow |
15 |
4th |
6 |
|
5th |
67 |
Bill Lloyd |
MG - Offenhauser |
William B. Lloyd |
15 |
5th |
6 |
|
6th |
120 |
Jack McAfee |
MG |
John McAfee |
15 |
6th |
6 |
|
7th |
87 |
Bob Salzgaber |
MG |
Robert Salzgaber |
15 |
7th |
6 |
|
8th |
68 |
Briggs Cunningham |
MG |
Briggs Cunningham |
15 |
8th |
6 |
|
9th |
66 |
Norman Carlson |
MG s/c |
Norman E. Carlson |
15 |
1st |
5 |
|
10th |
57 |
Fred Allen |
MG |
Fred Allen |
15 |
9th |
6 |
|
11th |
106 |
William A. Fleming |
MG |
William A. Fleming |
15 |
10th |
6 |
|
12th |
108 |
Bob McManus |
MG |
Robert J. McManus |
15 |
11th |
6 |
|
13th |
92 |
Bill Cook |
D.B. |
Hobart A. H. Cook |
15 |
1st |
8 |
|
14th |
54 |
Jack Wherry |
HRG |
Jack Wherry |
15 |
12th |
6 |
|
15th |
78 |
James Riley |
MG |
James B. Riley |
15 |
13th |
6 |
|
16th |
76 |
Denver Cornett |
MG |
Denver B. Cornett, Jr. |
15 |
14th |
6 |
|
17th |
111 |
Robert Gary |
MG |
Robert J. Gary |
15 |
15th |
6 |
|
18th |
89 |
George Schrafft |
Fitch-Schafft - Crosley |
George C. Schrafft |
15 |
2nd |
8 |
|
19th |
84 |
Orlo Koenig |
MG |
Orlo H Koenig |
15 |
16th |
6 |
|
20th |
83 |
Bruce Montgomery |
MG |
Bruce H. Montgomery |
15 |
17th |
6 |
|
21st |
73 |
Bill Andrews |
MG |
William Andrews |
15 |
18th |
6 |
|
22nd |
119 |
E. S. Meredith |
MG |
E. S. Meredith |
15 |
19th |
6 |
|
23rd |
82 |
Duncan McRae |
MG |
Duncan Mc Rae |
15 |
20th |
6 |
|
24th |
51 |
Daniel Parker |
MG |
Daniel Parker |
15 |
21st |
6 |
|
25th |
77 |
John Bentley |
MG |
John Bentley |
15 |
22nd |
6 |
|
26th |
86 |
Ben Harris |
MG |
Ben F. Harris III |
15 |
23rd |
6 |
|
27th |
112 |
James Puckett |
MG |
James Neill Puckett |
15 |
24th |
6 |
|
28th |
96 |
Virginia Schleicher |
MG s/c |
Virginia C. Schleicher |
15 |
2nd |
5 |
|
n/a |
17 |
Rees Makins |
Osca |
Rees T. Makins |
|
|
|
|
n/a |
99 |
Bob Gillespie |
MG Special |
R. G. Gillespie |
|
|
|
|
DNF |
61 |
William B. Taylor |
MG |
William B. Taylor |
|
|
|
|
DNF |
90 |
John Mays |
Crosley SS |
John C. Mays |
|
|
|
|
DNF |
110 |
Norm Patton |
MG |
Normand K. Patton, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
DNF |
|
Randy McDougall |
Osca 1100 |
|
|
|
|
|
DNF |
97 |
Paul Gougelman |
Nardi |
Paul Gougelman |
14 |
|
|
|
DNF |
113 |
Frank Fisher |
MG |
Frank B. Fisher III |
1 |
|
|
|
DNF |
50 |
John Gordon Bennett |
MG TD s/c |
C. G. Bennett |
0 |
|
|
| (Race results from
RacingSportsCars.com) |
|
|
|
|
|
the elkhart lake cup |
| Third race - Sunday, September 7, 1952 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm |
|
|
This was the last race held on the open roads of Elkhart
Lake.
The Elkhart Lake Cup was a 30-lap
(about 200 miles) race was open to SCCA experienced
license holders with cars over 1950 cc. The green flag was
dropped at 12:30 pm
on Sunday, September 7, 1952.
The
winner was John Fitch driving #3 Cunningham C4-R, he
also
won the previous year with a Cunningham C2-R. There
were a total of 238 cars entered in all three races
for 1952,
which were 205 cars more than the 33 entries at
Elkhart Lake's 1950 race. Attendance
was estimated to exceed 100,000 in 1952. |
|
 |
|
|
Irving W. Robbins, Jr. #18 of Palo Alto, California
in a Cunningham C2-R. Photo looking northeast during
Sunday's main race for the Elkhart Lake Cup.
Robbins', who finished 10th overall, gets sideways at The Marsh Turn, where CTH P
turns east onto CTH J. |
|
|
Phil Walters #2 finished second in a
Cunningham C4-RK Chrysler. B. S.
Cunningham Company of West Palm
Beach, Florida built the V-8 powered
sports car. Briggs Cunningham
entered three cars in the race. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
RACE RESULTS |
|
Elkhart Lake Cup - September 7, 1952 31 laps -
201.5 miles - 6.5 mile circuit |
|
|
Pos. |
No. |
Drivers |
Car |
Entrant |
Laps |
|
1st |
3 |
John Fitch |
Cunningham C4-R Chrysler |
B. S. Cunningham |
31 |
|
2nd |
2 |
Phil Walters |
Cunningham C4-RK Chrysler
coupe |
B. S. Cunningham |
31 |
|
3rd |
1 |
Briggs Cunningham |
Cunningham C4-R Chrysler |
B. S. Cunningham |
31 |
|
4th |
41 |
Phil Hill |
Jaguar XK120C |
Charles H. Hornburg, Jr. |
31 |
|
5th |
100 |
George Weaver |
Jaguar XK120C |
Charles H. Hornburg |
31 |
|
6th |
22 |
John Gordon Bennett |
Allard - Cadillac3 |
M. E. Abendroth3 |
31 |
|
7th |
77 |
John Bentley |
Jaguar XK120 |
John Bentley |
31 |
|
8th |
34 |
Charles Wallace |
Jaguar XK120 |
Jack Pry |
31 |
|
9th |
13 |
Frank Bott |
Jaguar XK120 |
Frank Bott |
31 |
|
10th |
18 |
Irving Robbins |
Cunningham C2-R |
Irving W. Robbins, Jr. |
31 |
|
11th |
65 |
Phil Stiles |
Jaguar XK120 |
Philip H. Stiles |
31 |
|
12th |
24 |
Shelby |
Jaguar XK120 |
Richter |
31 |
|
13th |
43 |
Ed Lunken |
Ferrari 166 MM |
Edmund P. Lunken |
31 |
|
14th |
27 |
Ernie Erickson |
Jaguar XK120 |
Ernest C. Erickson |
31 |
|
15th |
104 |
Jim Feld |
Alfa Romeo MM 2.9 |
J. F. Magin |
25 |
|
16th |
19 |
Fred Warner |
Allard - Ford |
Fred Warner |
17 |
|
17th |
5 |
Jim Kimberly |
Ferrari 340 America Touring
Barchetta |
James Kimberly |
13 |
|
18th |
8 |
Fred Wacker |
Allard - Cadillac |
Fred G. Wacker, Jr. |
13 |
|
19th |
95 |
Jack Ensley |
Allard - Cadillac |
Jack Ensley |
12 |
|
20th |
12 |
Bill Spear |
Ferrari 340 America |
William C. Spear |
10 |
|
21st |
6 |
Larry Kulok |
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica |
Larry Kulok |
5 |
|
22nd |
74 |
Sherwood Johnston |
Jaguar XK120 |
Sherwood Johnson |
5 |
|
23rd |
14 |
Hal Ullrich |
Jaguar XK120 |
Harold E. Ullrich |
2 |
|
24th |
42 |
Roy Scott |
Ferrari 212 Export |
Allen S. Guiberson |
1 |
|
25th |
45 |
E. J. Tobin |
Ferrari 166 MM |
James Simpson, Jr. |
1 |
|
26th |
47 |
Ralph Knudson |
Excalibur J |
Brooks Stevens |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DNS |
7 |
Ted Boynton |
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica |
Ted Boynton |
|
|
DNS |
9 |
Eddie Jones |
Allard |
Eddie Jones |
|
|
DNS |
15 |
Paul O'Shea |
Allard |
Paul H. O'Shea |
|
|
DNS |
|
Tobin |
BMW |
|
|
|
DNS |
|
Kip Stevens |
Excalibur |
|
|
| (Race results from
RacingSportsCars.com) |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
End of Elkhart Lake Racing
Uncertain future of sport and community
hangs in balance |
|
|
|
In general, street racing afforded very little
protection for spectators and drivers. Snow
fence was not enough to deter an errant car or
protect the spectators watching from the shoulder of
a road. Hay bales did little to stop or absorb the
impact of speeding cars. |
 |
|
The Milwaukee Journal gave mention of the manner in
which spectators were allowed to watch the 1951
Elkhart Lake races.
"The thousands of spectators who lined the
Village streets to watch the Midwest's biggest
sports car road races were forbidden to sit down.
This was intended to give them the advantage of a
standing start in case an errant Cadillac-Allard
started to chase them."
(LEFT) The very last race in Elkhart Lake
was the 200-mile
main event on Sunday, September 7,
1952. Photo shows the snow fence
separating spectators from speeding
cars, by a couple of feet. |
|
|
Although there were a few injuries, there wasn't a
single fatality in the three years of racing at
Elkhart Lake. Despite the attention to safety given
by race organizers, the car club knew the days of
public road racing were numbered.
Along with other states, the Wisconsin legislature
adopted a ban on public road racing after 1952. One
could argue that it was a timely decision. Just
three years later, the worst disaster in motorsports
history occurred in France during the 24 Hours of Le
Mans. Eighty-three spectators and one driver died,
while 120 more were injured, when a car catapulted
into a crowded grandstand, where it broke apart and
burst into flame. The only barrier that separated
the track and spectators at the time was a 5-foot
high wall of hay bales.
In three short years, Elkhart Lake's road races had become a
major event for the growing Sports Car Club of
America's national championship series, which
attracted drivers and celebrities from everywhere.
But, the Elkhart Lake area
would not see another race for three more years.
The big challenge of what to do next was faced by
the car club and local business leaders. The same
group of individuals who brought motorsports and a
second life to small village was not ready to quit.
It would not be the end of road racing for the Elkhart Lake
area, or the disappearance of thousands who came to
watch. A new venue was needed for the growing
popularity of organized competitive road racing.
In 1955, one of the first purpose-built, premier
road racing circuits in America opened its gates.
Understandably, the track was given the name Road
America, and was located just two-miles down the
road from the old lake circuit. Road racing returned
to the area once again, where it has remained since.
The Village continued as a center for gatherings of
sports car enthusiasts. Concours and car club events
are often held on the streets where sports cars once
raced. These events frequently include formal
police-escorted reenactment tours of the historic
circuits. Many car clubs and individuals informally tour
the circuits throughout the year. The rumble of
sports car engines are still heard, where vintage
racecars once roared. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Map
showing vicinity of Elkhart Lake and Road America in
eastern Wisconsin.
Road
racing moved just 2-miles south on State Highway 67.
See Google map of
Elkhart Lake and Road America circuits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
