Going to Road America - what do I need to know?

[FastCarFan]

A friend of mine & I are heading to Road America next week for The Hawk vintage races. We will drive my '88 Carrera from his house in Ann Arbor, MI north to the Upper Peninsula, then follow the Lake Michigan coast down into Wisconsin to Elkhart Lake. We plan to spend Friday afternoon in Elkhart Lake - drive the original road course, have a beer at Siebken's & await the vintage cars coming into town late afternoon. We will spend all day Saturday at Road America.

Neither of us have been to Road America, so what do we need to know? Where should we park? Will there be a Porsche parking area? Where are the best places to watch the on-track action? I expect to do a lot of walking, including the paddock.

Thanks in advance for your comments & advice. It will be the longest trip yet in my 911. BTW, we will take the high-speed ferry across Lake Michigan back to Michigan on Sunday.

[legion]

Park in the Porsche parking area. It's a fun facility. It's been years since I've been there, but make sure you have good directions.

[javadog]

I like watching the approach to turn 5 from the infield side. The area from 6 to 9 isn't bad. Sometimes sitting in the grandstand at turn 12 is worth it. Try and spend some time there Sunday, as well.

JR

[chicago_82sc]

Viewing from the inside of 6 is great. You can get really close as the cars pop out from the bridge. Grandstands in 12 is also good as you can watch the cars braking from top speed and head up the hill to Billy Mitchell. Getting to the inside of 1 can be fun, especially for the starts. For food, best recommendation is the Paddock Club. Reservations are absolutely necessary.

[intakexhaust]

Large facility so you might drive around and vary parking. Assuming the weather forecast, the event will be packed.

Viewing: Many excellent corners, but don't exclude the straights, especially the back where the old kink was. T5 is popular, inside and out. Same for T6 inside or out. T3 is cool (I think that's where the Vette clubies park.) Canada corner always has action and coming in hot, expect many vintage cars overestimating and cooked. If willing to hike, try the inside of Canada corner (t12). Nearly kiss them as they go buy and good photo op. Inside T8 is popular but hike all the way around and check it out from the outside.

Do not miss the parade of thunder from the track to downtown! Get there early enough. Great evening, laid back and where guys with grease under their fingernails can hook up with cuties....haha. Sorry, lost in time... back on track: For some nostalgia, take your 911 and do the old 1951 scenic road circuit. DO heed the speed limit. Have fun

[Dan J]

Schwarz's is not to be missed!! The steaks will literally make you drool
Schwarz Supper Club

[Vintage914Racer]

I'll be there running an orange 914-6, #129. As far as vantage points I like the inside of 6. Up on the hill above 7 is a good spot as you can see 6, 7 & 8 from there. Canada corner is always a good spot and you're sure to see a few people come in hot and hit the gravel trap. I also like to hike into the wooded area before 5 and watch the fast cars come flying down. On a humid day, which is inevitable at this event, you can see vapor trails behind the group 10 and 11 cars.

The Friday race car concours is also a must attend. Thousands of people line the streets waiting for the race cars to parade into town.

You can follow this link to see all the entries and view the weekend schedule. HAWK Competitor Information | Elkhart Lake's Road America, Inc.

Schwarz's is not to be missed!! The steaks will literally make you drool

Schwarz Supper Club

I agree with this. Plan on waiting at least an hour and a half if you go. Don't worry though, the setup is such that you order in the bar then wait there and enjoy an old fashioned (their specialty) or drinks of your choosing until your food and table are ready.

[FastCarFan]

Thanks for all of the great comments! I appreciate it. Keep them coming.

Question: @legion said to park in the Porsche parking area. Where will that be?

[Vintage914Racer]

There's a Porsche corral on the outside of turn one

[strupgolf]

IMO, the best vintage event in the midwest. I go each year and again this year. All 4 days. I like to park near the start/finish line and walk through to the pits. The Porsche lot is a nice viewing area. Get over to turn 3 to see the cars come down the long straight. I love canada corner, close by and loud. You will love it wherever you are. Stop by and say hello on Saturday night at the concours, I'll have my red bmw 635 csi, hoping to get an award. Schwartz's supper club cannot be missed, the prime rib is way overboard. Hope you have fun. Where are you staying?

[FastCarFan]

@strupgolf, we're staying at a Hampton Inn in West Bend.

Thanks again everyone for the advice. It would be cool to meet the previous owner of my car. I don't know his name, but he lives in Madison, WI.

[ddbach]

Depending upon one's travel route this may affect some of you heading to Road America next weekend. More likely when leaving on Sunday. I-94 east/west closed at Zoo Interchange west side of Milwaukee, I-894/US 45 north/south remains open.

Starts Friday night at 11pm ends Monday morning at 530am

Resources - Wisconsin 511 Construction Projects

Road America rebuilt the bridge at turn 6 this past off season.

Porsche Park is adjacent to the braking zone for turn one. When facing the track mobile home parking and assembly area for track tours is to the right and turn one to the left.

Have fun, I hope to be there Fri-Sun

[t6dpilot]

Thanks for the road updates. That will definitely affect me coming home - crap.

All great suggestions for viewing areas. I like the outside of turn six and the inside of turn seven as unique viewing spots. The old standards are turn 5 and Canada Corner. Outside of turn 1 and 14 are good spots also. I'll be there in my BRE Datsun 510 #55 running in group 2.

Definitely go to both the Friday and Saturday concours events. They are the hot "ticket" in town and the race car event is a riot.

West Bend is a haul. Why so far? Was there nothing else available? Sheboygan is closer and has plenty of choices if no rooms in the Plymouth area.

[pavulon]

FWIW, I intend to be there Friday and/or Saturday if the weather looks good. I typically spend too much time wondering around the infield taking pictures and occasionally talking to the 'merican V8 crowd or friendly appearing P-car folks.

Infield first-timers should know that some of the cars approach 30MPH at idle and the pavement is rather narrow and crowded. Amazing that folks are not regularly run over.

Have fun and consider the noon-hour track touring!

[ddbach]

Scott,

The Zoo interchange closure shouldn't affect you if you are taking Hwy 57 > I-43 > I-94 south. That is on the west side of Milwaukee heading for Madison.

I would worry more about the lane reduction on I-94 south at Hwy 20 in Racine county. I was headed north last Sunday around 4pm and south bound was backed up 4-5 miles to the Milwaukee/Racine county line. The lane restriction at Hwy 142 in Kenosha county seems to have less of an effect.

Home - Wisconsin 511 Construction Projects

Doug,
There are extended length golf carts running a regular route around RA as a shuttle too. I usually park and hike around the track.

Cheetahs are doing a 50yr celebration too at RA. I thought I saw something about them being in the garages inside turn 14 but I can't find it now.
Cheetah 50th Anniversary

[FastCarFan]

My car is gassed, washed & loaded. I will head to my friend's house in Ann Arbor after work today, & tomorrow morning we head north to the UP. My friend was in charge of the weather & it looks like he did his job - the forecast looks near-perfect!

Thanks again for the comments & suggestions. They are very helpful.

We tentatively plan to park in the Porsche parking area. Stop by & say hi if you see us. Look for the red '88 Carrera with Ohio plates.

[cstreit]

Stay away from Siebkins bar if you value your liver... That's all I can think of.. ...or remember...

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by Dan J

Schwarz's is not to be missed!! The steaks will literally make you drool
Schwarz Supper Club

There's a semi-dive joint called "The Depot" that has some pretty damned good steak.... Get the KC Strip if they offer it.

[FastCarFan]

I plan to only have a beer, maybe 2, at Siebken's. I HAVE to go there because racers have been drinking there since the '50s. Same reason I stopped at the bar at Seneca Lodge in Watkins Glen. It still has laurel wreaths from the Grand Prix winners on the wall!