Wisconsin Historical Society , WHI-142943
The starting and finish line for a race through Elkhart Lake , Wisconsin .
Pebble Beach in California , car enthusiasts combined their love of chrome and steel with the need for speed .
All of this was organized by the Sports Car Club of America ( SCCA ), originally formed in 1944 . As road racing gained popularity , the SCCA divided the country up into regions ; the Milwaukee region began in 1947 and Chicago followed in 1949 .
That ’ s how Jim Kimberly , who grew up in Neenah , Wisconsin and was living in Chicago , and who was heir to the Kimberly-Clark Corp , entered the picture . A member of the Windy City ’ SCCA region , he felt the roads around Elkhart Lake were perfect for a road race .
First , he convinced SCCA regional directors to check out the homey hamlet , and they shared his enthusiasm . He then brought together several Elkhart Lake leaders to gauge their interest in hosting such a thing . Jim Johnson of Elkhart Lake Bank ; Ray Kramer , the village fire chief ; Everett Nametz , who owned a local hardware
A statue of Jim Kimberly was dedicated in 2000 , commemorating his passion for racing and his vision for bringing road races to Elkhart Lake . store ; Paul Just and Floyd Dixon of the Osthoff Hotel , which is now the Osthoff Resort ; Olive ( Ollie ) Siebkens Moeller of Siebkens Resort ; Ed Levernz from Quit Qui Oc Golf Course ; dentist William Loos ; and highway engineer Clif Tufte , all part of the 1950 race committee , felt this was a fine idea . They set about making plans .
The race was set for Sunday , July 23 , on a 3.3-mile course just north of Elkhart Lake . Drivers from the nearby regions came to compete .
Shortly after the Sheboygan Press published a story in its June 19 , 1950 edition about the upcoming race , the enormity of it was felt throughout the little village . According to The History of the Elkhart Lake Road Races , 1950 – 1952 : 60th Anniversary Edition , published by the Elkhart Lake Historic Race Circuits Preservation Society , a letter went out to residents inviting them to a meeting about the proposed race and asking them to volunteer to make the race a success . Every volunteer spot was filled
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