Elkhart Lake became a road racing destination and home to Road America after key 1950 decision

ELKHART LAKE - Sheboygan County might not have become the hotspot for road racing it is today had not a racing visionary selected the village for road races in 1950-1952.

In 1950, the Chicago Region of the Sports Car Club of America conceived a race course to be used by the club, according to the Elkhart Lake Historic Race Circuits website.

SCCA member Jim Kimberly was the force behind the selection of Elkhart Lake for the location of the races along with Fred Wacker, Karl Brocken and C. Bayard Sheldon. Without Kimberly's efforts, the races could have happened elsewhere and racing in Sheboygan County would never have materialized.

They picked Elkhart Lake because its road layout almost seemed like it was designed for road racing.

At the time, Elkhart Lake was in a bit of an economic downturn and needed a big shot in its arm. With races taking off in distant cities like Watkins Glen in New York, Elkhart Lake received its medicine for its economic doldrum when road races were announced in 1950.

Elkhart Lake leaders knew the impending closing of a canning company and the limited months of the tourist season would limit the potential for the village, according to "The History of the Elkhart Lake Road Races 1950-1952," published by the Elkhart Lake Historic Racing Circuits Society.

The post-war era produced a demand for road racing and automobiles in general. Cars were snapped up almost before the paint on them had dried, replacing worn ones from the war years. Returning servicemen got the sports car bug after seeing these kinds of cars during their time overseas.

Jim Johnson, president of the Elkhart Lake Bank, felt the races would bring a burst of new energy to the area. Johnson was joined by Fire Chief Ray Kramer and resort owner Ollie Siebken Moeller in a community drive that resulted in the dozens of volunteers needed to pull off the races.

That very first race, run in 1950, didn't have much press coverage at all before the event. In fact, only a month before that race did the Press run an article and photo about the event.

Volunteers for that first race were organized with a meeting in the high school band room only a week before the historic event in July 1950.

The first road course covered 3.35 miles in a triangular-shaped course using roads around the village.

One tiny wrinkle could have upended the entire idea of road racing in Elkhart Lake — an obscure law called "Right of Access." The law said any citizen could petition the governor to maintain access to his or her property. However, all the owners along the proposed route were in agreement, so that was not an issue.

The early 1950 race was considered a "test" race and was measured to be a success. In 1951 and 1952, the course was expanded to 6.5 miles.

Road racing in the United States pretty much came to a screeching halt when a 7-year-old boy was fatally injured at a race in Watkins Glen, New York.

The Wisconsin State Legislature ban of road racing on public roads was another nail in the coffin of the races.

Forward-thinking Elkhart Lake gravel pit operator Clif Tufte quietly bought up farmland and he designed what is known today as Road America. The track opened in 1955.

The track was financed by 300 stockholders from across the USA.

When that track opened, according to a Press clipping from Katie Reilly from Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, famed racer Phil Hill described the course as "the greatest natural road racing circuit in the world."

Today, the internationally known 4-mile road course has seen countless races featuring top drivers from around the globe.

However, without that big decision in 1950, Elkhart Lake would not have the fame in racing or the events such as June Sprints it sees today.

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This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Elkhart Lake road racing, Road America came after key 1950 decision