From a press release issued by Road America:

Elkhart Lake Service Club: Save the Original Elkhart Lake Street Course

Elkhart Lake, Wisc. — The Elkhart Lake Service Club unanimously voted to support efforts to stop the Sheboygan County Highway Department from rebuilding County Roads A and P, which will destroy the character of the original street course. Elkhart Lake hosted the first street races in 1950, 1951 and 1952 and today is synonymous with road racing, generating more than $50 million in the area each year. Supporters are encouraged to contact the Sheboygan County Board 508 New York Ave., Sheboygan, WI, 53081 or via e-mail at www.co.sheboygan.wi.us/html/contact.html and ask them to halt the construction.

Consultants hired by the Sheboygan County Highway Commission failed to find adverse historical or economic impact by altering the road, according to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Further a dated Highway Commission plan calls the road a “major feeder,” but in fact traffic has declined between Glenbeulah (Pop. 375) and the Village of Elkhart Lake (Pop. 1100).

Art Parry, of Elkhart Lake, Wisc., introduced the resolution, which passed unanimously.

“While we don’t expect historians to be experts in motorsports, we do think they should have at least checked with the local historical group,” said George Bruggenthies, Road America president and general manager. “They missed on the historical impact and they missed on the economic impact. We think that’s enough of a reason to stop the construction before the road graders destroy an important part of the United States’ racing heritage.

“We have visitors from all over the world who come here and drive the original courses,” said Bruggenthies. “It’s an important part of our three vintage races and it’s an important point of interest.

“We encourage the Sheboygan County Board of Supervisors to revisit their decision and to look for another project that makes sense and that benefits Sheboygan County.”

Road America attracts between 500,000 and 750,000 visitors each year. Using a conservative metric of each guest spending $100 for one day results in a direct economic impact of between $50,000,000 and $75,000,000 annually. Road America race weekends are three or four days long.

“The State and County are losing manufacturing jobs,” Bruggenthies said. “Let’s work on our strengths, which includes tourism generated by Road America and Elkhart Lake. Let’s not destroy our assets because of a faulty Environmental Impact Statement.”

Road America’s 2004 spectator race dates are:

May 14-16, Sports Car Vintage Racing Assoc.; Road America Tailgate Party May 15

June 3-6, American Motorcyclist Assoc. Suzuki Superbike Doubleheader

June 17-20, Kohler/SCCA June Sprints® One of SCCA’s biggest races.

July 15-18, Brian Redman International Challenge featuring Historic Grand Prix F-1 cars, Formula Junior and the Nickey Chevrolet Reunion.

Aug. 5-8, Grand Prix at Road America featuring Champ Cars, the Motorock Trans-Am Tour for the BF Goodrich Cup, Toyota Atlantics and Formula BMW

Aug. 19-22, the Road America 500 featuring the American Le Mans Series, plus STRANA, the Super Truck Racing Assoc. of North America, racing 18-wheeler cabs

Sept. 17-19, the Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival, featuring Morgan cars and a tour of one of the original Elkhart Lake race circuits held on public roads.

The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

Road America hosted its first official race in 1955 and will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2005.