Road America Vintage Races?

[FastCarFan]

I have a question about Road America, & I know someone in the Pelican brain-trust will know the answer. I am seriously considering a road-trip in my Carrera with a good friend from NE Ohio, up the east coast of Michigan, through the UP & down into Wisconsin to Elkhart Lake

I see that there are 2 vintage race weekends at RA: The Hawk in July & Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival in September. Which is "the big one"? I'm thinking it is the Vintage Festival. I have never been to RA & want to go for the bigger/better of the 2 vintage weekends.

Thanks in advance for your help. I appreciate it. I'm sure I will have more questions as the trip gets closer.

[Vintage914Racer]

The July event is the big one. It is a great event with upwards of 400 race cars entered across ten race groups. Groups 2 and 8 are Porsche heavy with many a 356, 914-6 and 911s. A couple of the more contemporary groups have been known to have 935s, 956/962s and an occasional 917k. The event is known to draw close to 35k spectators.

There is a race car concours Friday night in the village of Elkhart Lake that is a must attend. Roughly 100 of the competing cars get a police escort into town and back and thousands of people flock the streets to see the parade into town. Saturday night there is a street cars concours in downtown and both nights include live bands and a lively party atmosphere. I've attended every one since 1992 and participated every year since 2000.

For any car person I think it's something that you have to add to your bucket list. Even my non-car friends have a blast attending.

[Vintage914Racer]

Oh and if you want to find a hotel close to town you should look into it now. We book our place January first every year and the Pickens are often pretty slim by then.

[intakexhaust]

Both venues are super. Probably the 'Hawk' is the bigger of the two (and hotter in July).

Worth seeing is a nostalgia parade of vintage big bore GT, CanAm, etc. thundering on the road into Elkhart. It was once part of the old race track. Siebkens for the party. Enjoy -

[pavulon]

Go. unless it rains or is hotter than the hubs of hell, it's great!!

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

I see that there are 2 vintage race weekends at RA: The Hawk in July & Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival in September.

To clarify, there are 3 vintage events at RA each year, the two above and the annual Spring Vintage weekend in May.

If you've never been, the July event is certainly the largest of the 3, which is both good and bad.

[flipper35]

The Hawk is the largest and I have not had the right schedule to make it, but I hope to this year.

Dad and I have taken my kids to the fall one a few times and the car owners are very personable and several asked our daughter to sit in the cars for pictures. Our son was a little young, though he loved the Roush cars and got a picture standing by them. The pics are at home or I would post them.

We haven't been to the spring one. There are several threads here with pics from the Hawk the last couple years.

[FastCarFan]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I was wrong. I have been to many vintage races, including the Monterey Motorsports Reunion & 2 of the Rennsport Reunions (Daytona & Laguna Seca), but I have never been to Road America.

Perhaps instead of "big" I should have asked which is "better" - & why - or which has the most significant cars.

I am aware of Siebkens & the "reenactment" in Elkhart Lake on the original road course. I plan to drive the old course myself, as I did a couple years ago at Watkins Glen.

Any recommendations about lodging within 30 minutes or so? I don't need fancy, but I do want clean! I have heard that I probably don't want to stay at Siebkens, & it's probably sold out anyway.

Thanks again. I appreciate the comments/recommendations.

[intakexhaust]

Tough call to say which has the most significant cars, but I suppose would lean towards an international flair with Brian Redman's venue.

Staying at Siebkens old portion of the hotel is a time trip. I might be wrong and not sure if all the rooms have A/C.

The American Club in Kohler is choice.

[flipper35]

The fall festivals I have been to haven't had a GT40, Cobra or much in the fast Can/Am cars so if those of are interest, go to the Hawk. They did have a Cheetah which was interesting and there is decent Porsche content. One of the Trans Am class 911 drivers was seriously abusing all four tires, as in four wheel drifts.

[t-tom]

Originally Posted by Vintage914Racer

The July event is the big one. It is a great event with upwards of 400 race cars entered across ten race groups. Groups 2 and 8 are Porsche heavy with many a 356, 914-6 and 911s. A couple of the more contemporary groups have been known to have 935s, 956/962s and an occasional 917k. The event is known to draw close to 35k spectators.

There is a race car concours Friday night in the village of Elkhart Lake that is a must attend. Roughly 100 of the competing cars get a police escort into town and back and thousands of people flock the streets to see the parade into town. Saturday night there is a street cars concours in downtown and both nights include live bands and a lively party atmosphere. I've attended every one since 1992 and participated every year since 2000.

For any car person I think it's something that you have to add to your bucket list. Even my non-car friends have a blast attending.

This This This! It is such a good time. Friday and Saturday nights downtown are some of the best car related times I've ever had. Lots to look at both cars and people. When we where there in 95 the only F50 in the country was there. I was looking at it and taking pictures when the owner gets up an says jump in.

[FastCarFan]

Thanks again. Keep the comments coming! I appreciate them.

My thinking is we will arrive mid-day on Friday, drive the old course, have a beer at Siebkens & then await the reenactment. We will then spend all day Saturday at the track & head home on Sunday.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by FastCarFan

Thanks again. Keep the comments coming! I appreciate them.

My thinking is we will arrive mid-day on Friday, drive the old course, have a beer at Siebkens & then await the reenactment. We will then spend all day Saturday at the track & head home on Sunday.

Remember that the public can drive the course over the lunch hour for a fee!! For this, I'd think that Friday would be better (less congested) than Saturday or Sunday.

[flipper35]

They are parade laps but you can take the corners fairly fast. I thought about doing that this year so the kids could see the course.

The biggest problem is that it is a large course surrounded by hills and trees so viewing in some places can be problematic. There are some good vantage points though.

[strupgolf]

I also go every year to the July event, the biggest. I had a car in the sat. night concourse for the last 4 years, took awards in 2. Its the best of times. You can "drive" the old course, but its just a few streets in and out of town. I stay at Lakeland college, the best kept secret around, about 15 minutes east of town. AC, clean rooms, tv, nice breakfast included. You cant beat it for price, about 75 -100 per night. Cheap when you split it. Ask for Jim Dicheck. Usually plenty of rooms. Look for my red BMW 635 in the sat night show this year, hope you have fun.

[FastCarFan]

Thanks everyone for the comments & advice. I appreciate it. Still waiting to see if my friend can make it.

[intakexhaust]

May 15-17, 2014

SAAC-39 - Road America - May 15-17, 2014 - Club Cobra

[strupgolf]

Oh oh, I just added ANOTHER event I have to go to. Thanks for posting, I wondered where it was this year.

[pavulon]

doh!!! gotta go to that!

[FastCarFan]

Just heard from my friend - the road-trip is on! Let the planning begin.

Thanks again for the comments/recommendations.