Road Races , 1950 – 1952 : 60th Anniversary Edition lays the blame for that at the feet of the Milwaukee Journal . “ In March [ 1951 ], the Milwaukee Journal , probably influenced by the designation as ‘ International ,’ raised the estimated attendance figures from the 1950 event to between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators . While it was an exaggeration , it did indicate what
Elkhart Lake could expect in spectator attendance .”
Drivers came from 24 states ; 50,000 spectators lined the streets . Once more , a tiny hamlet in Wisconsin swelled with car enthusiasts .
By 1952 , the Elkhart Lake Road Races expanded to two days , September 6 and 7 , and the Sheboygan Press crowed , “ Elkhart
Lake is becoming a road racing center and rival of Le Mans , France .” The village ’ s 700 hotel rooms were set , once again , to be filled to capacity , and newspaper headlines blared that more than 120,000 were expected to converge on the village .
“ They got close to 150,000 spectators [ in 1952 ],” said Øverland . “ But there is an issue that happens with the race . They ’ re
Road America founder Clif Tufte with Dan Gurney .
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