Road Americas: American Le Mans Series

[03_uni-B]

Weekend of august 16th my dad and I are heading up there for the races. He went back in the 60's a lot with the can am races and wanted to return. I'm excited to see my first le mans race myself. Is there anything I should watch for specifically? And are there and tips for the Road America track anyone who has been would like to share?

P4C: my father son project

[Charlie84]

Enjoy! Road America is a beautiful track.

Personally, my favorite place to watch from is Canada Corner (turn 12 I think).

Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a lot of walking.

[greychinchilla]

Canada Corner is one of the best spots, but definitely don't limit yourself to one spot for the whole race. You can pretty much drive around the whole track if you wish to relocate, but your still gonna end up walking a lot.

You will be amazed at the access you have in the pits to the teams/cars. Some of the really cool teams let you go right in and paw up their stuff. I have a picture of my nephew sitting in the driver's seat of the Carsport Viper that ran a few years back.

Whatever you choose to do there, you'll have a good time. Unless, that is, you hate cars and hot chicks. If that's the case. I can't do nothin' for ya man.

[deepspeed12]

Another vote for Canada Corner. A group of my buddies and I used to stay up there every year for this series from qualifying through race day. My friend had a really nice RV setup with a seating area on top and we always camped trackside, next to the BMW corral.

Unfortunately we don't get up there anymore but that was always my favorite trip of the year. Make sure to take a stroll through the preferred lot by the stands, there are always some cool cars out there. Also spend some time wandering the pits, you can get right up to most of the cars.

[Jordan 191]

My last ALMS at RA was '08, but I've been to probably 20 race weekends there in my life. Like people have said, walk a lot and use your vehicle to move around. I like to sit on the hill between turns 5 and 6 because you can see action there plus 14 and the front straight. Also there should be some decent sponsor and manufacturer displays and unparalleled pit access. Turn 1 is always action-packed. There are some ways you can sign up to drive the course in your car or the Lance Armstrong charity bike ride if you have a bike along. It's cool to be on the track.

Also check out the scene in downtown Elkhart Lake to see more cool cars.

[patrikman]

Weekend of august 16th my dad and I are heading up there for the races. He went back in the 60's a lot with the can am races and wanted to return. I'm excited to see my first le mans race myself. Is there anything I should watch for specifically?

That sounds like a great trip with dad.

I have been going every year for the past 5 or 6 years, and it is so much fun! Something you should watch for? It depends on your interests and the mobility of you guys. Road America is a very large track and it sits on an incredibly beautiful and spacious parcel of land-most of which it is accessible with no credentials whatsoever.
I rely pretty much exclusively on my bikes for mobility, but I ride a lot and enjoy the short cuts and rapid elevation changes. Some of the best places to watch on track action are nowhere near bleachers or concessions. Anyways here are a couple things to keep an eye out for(no order):

-SRT now has a pair of cars in GT
-walk the paddock and take pics
-McDreamy
-Cosworth music by Evora. I hope this team gets the support it desperately needs to stick around.
-Tour De Road America, take a lap or five for a good cause. It's a ton of fun riding a bike on the track and racing your friends or just taking it all in.
-Trans Am Series
-grid girls & the grid walk
-the Kettle Moraine Forest and all of the great driving roads
-bratwurst
-friday night @ Siebkens and downtown Elkhart Lake
-Spotted Cow
-turn 5


Moraine Sweep parking by patrikman, on Flickr

Have fun!

[GLIguy]

As Patrikman mentioned, Turn 5. This is one of the closet spots spectators can get to the track. It is amazing watching the cars come down the hill toward t turn 5, at such a rate of speed you'd think it impossible for them to make the turn. Then watch them accelerate up the hill. Awesome stuff. Here are a few pics of that turn from a track day I attended:

Coming down the hill into Turn 5:


Turn 5:


Going up toward 6:

[03_uni-B]

Some great information guys. Thanks! I was considering throwing our bikes on my roof rack, thats a good idea. I love cars and who doesn't love hot women. I am excited to hear the pit access is really good because I like getting to see that sort of stuff. I will post a lot of pictures when I get back. Will also take the gopro and mess around with it some.

[RacingManiac]

-friday night @ Siebkens and downtown Elkhart Lake

And go hangout with David Hobbs....

Have fun!

[TJSwoboda]

I haven't been there in 25 years, but it looks like they added some fencing.

[GroovOn-SLC]

I still remember the chills of seeing Phil Hill. Anyways, try to get into the Touring. I've done it numerous times and it's always fun. These weekends are a bit tough because they let 200 cars of various and dubious make onto the track. More worrisome is the dubious skills of said 200 drivers. But...it's the best way to spend $75 and see the track. If everyone behaves, you'll get 8 good laps and about 65mph pace with speeds topping 100 in places.

[03_uni-B]

I still remember the chills of seeing Phil Hill. Anyways, try to get into the Touring. I've done it numerous times and it's always fun. These weekends are a bit tough because they let 200 cars of various and dubious make onto the track. More worrisome is the dubious skills of said 200 drivers. But...it's the best way to spend $75 and see the track. If everyone behaves, you'll get 8 good laps and about 65mph pace with speeds topping 100 in places.

Will definitely look into this.

[Jordan 191]

-Spotted Cow

[landstuhltaylor]

How far away is that from the Ann Arbor area? I'm moving to Michigan this weekend and would love to go to the race.

[03_uni-B]

That sounds like a great trip with dad.

I have been going every year for the past 5 or 6 years, and it is so much fun! Something you should watch for? It depends on your interests and the mobility of you guys. Road America is a very large track and it sits on an incredibly beautiful and spacious parcel of land-most of which it is accessible with no credentials whatsoever.
I rely pretty much exclusively on my bikes for mobility, but I ride a lot and enjoy the short cuts and rapid elevation changes. Some of the best places to watch on track action are nowhere near bleachers or concessions. Anyways here are a couple things to keep an eye out for(no order):

-SRT now has a pair of cars in GT
-walk the paddock and take pics
-McDreamy
-Cosworth music by Evora. I hope this team gets the support it desperately needs to stick around.
-Tour De Road America, take a lap or five for a good cause. It's a ton of fun riding a bike on the track and racing your friends or just taking it all in.
-Trans Am Series
-grid girls & the grid walk
-the Kettle Moraine Forest and all of the great driving roads
-bratwurst
-friday night @ Siebkens and downtown Elkhart Lake
-Spotted Cow
-turn 5

Have fun!

Will definitely keep these notes in mind.

How far away is that from the Ann Arbor area? I'm moving to Michigan this weekend and would love to go to the race.

looks like about 7 hours. our drive is about 9 hours.

[RacingManiac]

How far away is that from the Ann Arbor area? I'm moving to Michigan this weekend and would love to go to the race.

~7 hours:

http://goo.gl/maps/f4rkP

[SSLByron]

A friend of ours is racing in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge support series this weekend w/ Effort Racing. If you see Michael Mills (or his teammate, Bryce Miller), tell him Byron said to stop breaking Porsches.

[Zanardi.]

Anyone who would be interested in putting up some promotional banners (at track and road leading in) send me a IM between now and tomorrow 5PM. The exchange would be for free tickets.