by "shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
Published 06/26/2017 at 09:57
by "shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
Published 06/26/2017 at 09:57
Tags: Road America
STARS: 10
Last night I returned from three entire days of having fun with my friends at Road America for the IndyCar race. It also meant three whole days of no parental responsibilities. Thanks Mrs. Shop-Teacher!!!
I only have my phone as a Camera, so I didn’t take a ton of pictures of race car action, but I managed to get a few decent shots.
Saturday night, after eating copious amounts of meat at an old school supper club, we headed to the Stop Inn Tavern at Siebkens Resort in Elkhart Lake. I guess this place used to be THE place for race teams to hang out, back before there were many hotels in the area. The place is literally covered in racing and automotive related stickers. I found a Bill Caswell sticker.
While we were there, we met and hung out with a few Perrelli World Challenge officials (PWC was also racing there this weekend). They were super nice guys, and it was great to hear their stories. Here’s a few shots of their touring cars and a lower GT class running around the carousel. I’m leaving them uncropped, so you can see how pretty the scenery is.
I cannot recommend enough to anyone and everyone to go experience a race at Road America. The sites, the sounds, the fan friendly nature, the facilities, it’s all top-notch.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
06/26/2017 at 10:06, STARS: 1
Nice pictures! It was a fun race to watch on tv. The only IndyCar race I’ve been to was at Nazareth speedway back in 2003 (won by Helio), but I’m planning on going to Pocono this year.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/26/2017 at 10:29, STARS: 0
Nazareth was a cool track, it’s a shame it’s gone now. Have fun at Pocono, it should be a good show!
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
06/26/2017 at 10:45, STARS: 1
I work about 15 minutes away from Nazareth Speedway. It’s sad to drive by and still see the old signs for the gates.
I took my dad to Pocono for the NASCAR race a few weeks back, but we’ve never seen IndyCar race there. As someone who regularly goes to 1/3 mile dirt tracks, just the scale of Pocono is wild. 2.5 miles is a long lap, and that front straight is absurdly long.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
06/26/2017 at 10:46, STARS: 0
Come down to Gateway in a coupe months.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/26/2017 at 13:46, STARS: 1
Yeah, that would be sad for me too.
I love those little dirt tracks as well, but the big tracks are a amazing in their own right. I go to the Indy 500 every year, and I just love it. The four mile distance of Road America makes for some really long laps!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/26/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 0
I’d love to, and my buddy is trying to get me to go there with him, so we’ll see. We’d probably just cannonball it down there early in the morning, and head back that same night to save money.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
06/26/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 1
Someday I will make it to the Indy 500.
At Pocono, we were seated near the restart zone, and I had 2 observations:
1. When all 40 cars are bunched up for a restart and they all get in the throttle at once, the sound is both deafening and glorious.
2. When the cars are still bunched up, it’s amazing how quiet it is when they’re all over near turn 2. Once they spread out it’s a more constant done similar to a short track.
"XJDano" (xjdano)
06/26/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 1
Compared to the last two places you are, this will be like watching them race in a cereal bowl.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/26/2017 at 20:44, STARS: 1
You really must get there. The experience is like no other race I’ve been to. It’s kept me going back every year since ‘97. Luckily it’s only a couple hundred miles away for me, so it’s a pretty easy journey.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
06/26/2017 at 22:59, STARS: 1
It’s about 630 miles one way for me.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/26/2017 at 23:29, STARS: 0
It’ll be worth it!
"torque" (torque01)
07/01/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
Road America. The sites, the sounds, the fan friendly nature, the facilities, it’s all top-notch.
Some of the truest words ever spoken!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
07/01/2017 at 20:06, STARS: 1
It’s an amazing place, isn’t it?
"torque" (torque01)
07/01/2017 at 21:37, STARS: 1
While the Glen, Willow Springs and Mid-Ohio are both nice, and Laguna Secca, Indy & Sebring are legendary for me, I think Road America is the nicest of the classic road courses in the US.
"torque" (torque01)
07/01/2017 at 21:38, STARS: 1
Ha above should say “all” instead of “both” :-)
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
07/02/2017 at 00:09, STARS: 1
I hope to get to all those other courses one of these days, but I sure enjoy having Road America so close by.