To think how far cars and that track has come in the past 60+ years. It’s still the longest natural terrain road course in North America and one of the best. Turn 5 is still one of the best corners in racing, right up there with the cork screw or Eau Rouge at Spa!
Went to RA for the first time in 1960. I was 8 years old. I went with my Dad who worked at the Greenbush Fire Department concession stand. Have hardly missed a year since then, even though I now live in ND, about 900 miles away. RA has been a big part of my life, and I will keep driving back until they take my keys away.
I was there for this race. My first year at RA. The rules says two seats. In the early 60's Roger Penske had a car with just a little tiny second seat so he could sit in the middle. This may have been the first example of the Penske advantage that he is known for.
I attended this race in 1958. I attended a YMCA Camp near RA, and we had a choice to attend a car race or do another camp activity! I chose the race. I am still racing and will race again at RA in 2021!
It's now 2022, I have been to most tracks in North America, including Laguna Seca, Sebring and Daytona. RA remains my favorite as does this old documentary film.
Beautiful cars! I am 69 yrs. old, entranced by sports cars since riding in my uncle's TR 3 as a kid and drive a 2001 Miata now. Sports car racers of this era were true amateurs.
Hey Tim- I discovered my dad at 6:06 behind the wheel of his "Gadfly Special." I was thrilled to see this for the first time...Tom was a family friend.
Nice footage of R/A's track at the June Sprints SCCA National. Film narrator is classroom classic. Note the clip (at 14:20) you'll see a few 1959 Chevrolet sedans and wagons parked in the paddock. Typically, GM released new models in the fall of previous year. The '59 Impala would not have been out yet, not until around October of 1958. This would have to be 1959 or later for the June race. Thanks for posting.
Always wondered, what's the structure seen at 22:19 on the right side? Interesting enough, the ruins/foundation of this thing is still there to this day.
I kept noticing how close the trees were. I guess that's why racing belongs to the young. As Phil Hill (quoted by John Sarti in GRAND PRIX) "To do something really dangerous requires an absence of imagination."
It's only within the last decade that they installed walls with catch fencing around both sides of the entire track. Kind of spoiled the atmosphere for drivers and fans alike, but my guess is insurance & legal dictated it.
@@kclark0395 Also to prevent deer collisions, as there is daily track activity, not just the big race weekends. Way more 'corporate' than in days of yore, for better or worse, my good man.
The story of this video is great as the race. Thank you! Anyone know if that hauler @6:16 is a Porsche Works factory hauler? Crazy thing, w/a VW Transporter cab. And there's another somewhat similar white one @14:15.
To think how far cars and that track has come in the past 60+ years. It’s still the longest natural terrain road course in North America and one of the best. Turn 5 is still one of the best corners in racing, right up there with the cork screw or Eau Rouge at Spa!
Went to RA for the first time in 1960. I was 8 years old. I went with my Dad who worked at the Greenbush Fire Department concession stand. Have hardly missed a year since then, even though I now live in ND, about 900 miles away. RA has been a big part of my life, and I will keep driving back until they take my keys away.
What weekend(s) do you look forward to these days?
@@RG-od8ri I like the Cart series a lot, but to be honest, I enjoy the vintage weekends most. To see the cars I grow up watching is really cool.
I was there for this race. My first year at RA. The rules says two seats. In the early 60's Roger Penske had a car with just a little tiny second seat so he could sit in the middle. This may have been the first example of the Penske advantage that he is known for.
,,, NEVER GETS OLD ,,, 👍
Thanks Gordon a classic story Ta
I attended this race in 1958. I attended a YMCA Camp near RA, and we had a choice to attend a car race or do another camp activity! I chose the race. I am still racing and will race again at RA in 2021!
It's now 2022, I have been to most tracks in North America, including Laguna Seca, Sebring and Daytona. RA remains my favorite as does this old documentary film.
2 Studebakers in city traffic !!! They ruled the world.
I found the hillside where i sat in 1964 . Same 🌲 tree on other side of the track.
Great video, the 4:15 mark I saw my father is his Ferrari 500 TRC
Was this 1958. Or 1959. June or sept?
1958, or not. This is beauty at its finest!
This is a wonderful film. Amazing track, and still has the same layout. The only thing missing is the Sargento cheese!
Lucky enough to live within earshot of #RoadAmerica
Been going to RA since 1975.
Beautiful cars! I am 69 yrs. old, entranced by sports cars since riding in my uncle's TR 3 as a kid and drive a 2001 Miata now. Sports car racers of this era were true amateurs.
Me too pacific raceways 1967 have a 2010 with the 6 speed
This movie is killer and totally explains why RA is my favorite track and Porsches my favorite cars!
Countryman was a great guy. He made some great motor sports films over the years. Never saw this one, but enjoyed it thoroughly.
Hey Tim- I discovered my dad at 6:06 behind the wheel of his "Gadfly Special." I was thrilled to see this for the first time...Tom was a family friend.
This is awesome keep this video up! Shows so much history
Amazing stuff. How many other tracks are still running on what is the identical layout to what they had in 1958?
Never been re-paved either!
Mosport is pretty much the same, just widened at some point
Nice footage of R/A's track at the June Sprints SCCA National. Film narrator is classroom classic. Note the clip (at 14:20) you'll see a few 1959 Chevrolet sedans and wagons parked in the paddock. Typically, GM released new models in the fall of previous year. The '59 Impala would not have been out yet, not until around October of 1958. This would have to be 1959 or later for the June race. Thanks for posting.
Always wondered, what's the structure seen at 22:19 on the right side? Interesting enough, the ruins/foundation of this thing is still there to this day.
It may date back to the gravel pit that was around the Carousel and Kink area before the track was built, but that’s just a guess.
I kept noticing how close the trees were. I guess that's why racing belongs to the young. As Phil Hill (quoted by John Sarti in GRAND PRIX) "To do something really dangerous requires an absence of imagination."
It's only within the last decade that they installed walls with catch fencing around both sides of the entire track. Kind of spoiled the atmosphere for drivers and fans alike, but my guess is insurance & legal dictated it.
@@kclark0395 Also to prevent deer collisions, as there is daily track activity, not just the big race weekends. Way more 'corporate' than in days of yore, for better or worse, my good man.
The story of this video is great as the race. Thank you!
Anyone know if that hauler @6:16 is a Porsche Works factory hauler? Crazy thing, w/a VW Transporter cab. And there's another somewhat similar white one @14:15.
Saw that too! State of the art 'transporter' of the day. Sans sponsor lounge.
I like to hear a string orchestra playing when I race too. 😀
Nice advertising for Onan.
They don't do product placement like they used to ;)
Glad he was slow enough to see allcorners.