|
|
|
|
First race on the new Road America course in September 11, 1955.
Cars race toward Turn 6 beyond the top of Fireman's Hill. The
pedestrian crossover was
built on the hillcrest the following year and became know as
Corvette bridge. |
|
|
(ABOVE) Cars from a small production class are racing up the
hill to turn six, before the crossover bridge was built.
Fireman's Hill has not been cleared for spectator viewing. Also
absent are any guardrails or hay bales to stop a wayward car
from flying into trees. The photo was taken of race four during
the SCCA National Sports Car Championship on Sunday, September
11, 1955. Bob Ballenger #14 drove a Porsche 356 in F-class
production and won the 45-minute race with an average speed of
67.7 mph. The bridge wasn't built until the following year in
1956. |
|
|
The newly completed
bridge at turn 6. You can see the embankment was recently filled.
The bridge is sided with vertical corrugated aluminum panels.
It was also the inaugural year for the annual June Sprints SCCA
National Road Races on June 20-24, 1956.
|
|
|
|
Another view of the bridge during the SCCA
National Championship 4-hour endurance race on Saturday, September 8, 1956. Hay bails line
the edge of the track at turns. They were thought to offer good
protection to drivers on off-course excursions, but tended to flip cars. |
|
|
(ABOVE) Cars exiting turn 5 are charging the hill up to the
bridge, and then brake for turn 6, which suddenly appears to
drivers. The corner bends sharp to the left before the trees,
seen in the background beyond the bridge. The covered bridge has
fencing on the approaches at both ends. This is to keep
spectators from getting to close to the track's "hot" areas. The
bridge has essentially remained the same all these years and is
an icon of the track. |
|
|
|
|
View (looking west) from camera with Briggs Cunningham
driving a C-Modified Lister Jaguar #62. The car is charging up
the hill toward T 6 beyond the bridge on Fireman's Hill. The Road America 500 - September 10-11, 1960.
|
|
|
|
|
Part of what gives Road America its natural charm is
the Wisconsin Kettle Moraine
landscape of rolling hills, trees and grass knolls
all
situated on the 640 acre site. The lush landscape, roar of cars, smells
of grilled brats and roasted corn all present a
unique ambiance. Clif Tufte's remarkable creation of
the 4-mile circuit followed the natural topography
and transformed the site into an enchanted forest of
sorts. The world-class road circuit is truly
one of Wisconsin's hidden wonders and is revered
by motorsport professionals and fans alike. |
|
|
|
|
Looking west-northwest at pedestrian crossover bridge on
Fireman's Hill. The marquee displays Pepsi advertisement before
field of small Production cars during
Road America's June
Sprints SCCA National on June 17, 1961 |
|
|
The
photo (above) is a wider view taken outside of Turn 5 during the 1961 June
Sprints SCCA National. The race group includes F, G, and H Production
cars. The crossover pedestrian bridge in the background
was adorned by Pepsi advertisement and slogan, "Have a
Pepsi." It later became known as Corvette Bridge when
the sponsor changed. |
|
|
On race weekends, it can be hard to tell if it is
smoke coming from cars or brats grilling. Turn 5 action near Fireman's Hill
during the June
Sprints - June 17, 1961
|
|
|
This is Turn 5; the small building on
Fireman's Hill is one of
several concession stands around the Road America
grounds and
4-mile course. Brats, burgers,
corn-on-the-cob and beer are served. Turn 5 area has an
excellent vantage point where cars brake the hardest. There is
an aroma of outdoor food as well as heated
brakes. |
|
|
The first Corvette bridge marquee on
Fireman's Hill at the 1963 SCCA June Sprints |
|
Production cars rounding Turn 5 heading uphill to Corvette Bridge and
Turn 9
beyond. Looking west
during the 1963 June Sprints SCCA National. |
|
A color photo of same Corvette bridge marquee two-years later.
Production cars enter and exit Turn 5 (out of view at right)
heading uphill to Corvette Bridge. The view is looking northwest
during the 1965 June Sprints SCCA National. |
|
|
(ABOVE) A crowd of spectators is seated across the track on wood
benches at Fireman's Hill. Ten years previously, trees occupied
what is now a popular viewing area, which also has it's own
concession stand.
|
|
|
|
The second-generation Corvette sign first
appeared in 1970. Photo is looking west from Turn 5 at spin action
during SCCA Tran-Am, Over-2-Litre, race on Sunday, July 19,
1970. Cars from left: Parnelli Jones #15 Mustang, Sam
Posey #77 Challenger and Warren Agor #13 Camaro. |
|
|
|
Second Corvette bridge marquee at Fireman's
Hill with turn 6 beyond. The SCCA Rabbit/Bilstein Cup - July 19-20, 1980 |
|
|
The
bridge saw an updated version of the Corvette marquee applied to
the siding about 1971.
It remained in place for a
decade but was beginning to fade (as seen above) during its last season
in 1981. |
|
|
Third generation Corvette bridge sign was short-lived and only saw
one year in 1982. (Photo by Stacy Scharch)
|
|
|
The
third Corvette bridge title was an improvement over the
previous two-tone block letter version. Fans were glad to see
the improvement and new graphics, however the marquee
only lasted for one-year. Fans were greatly disappointed the
following year when the Corvette name disappeared and was
replaced by Nissan in 1983. |
|
|
This was the first of two Nissan bridge marquees.
It was applied in 1983 and included a Datsun-like logo on left.
Also, other advertising began to accompany the bridge marquee.
Photo taken during Kelly American Challenge weekend
of August 24, 1985. |
|
The second Nissan marquee is shown here during
the 1989 SCCA S2000 pro race, but absent the old Datsun/Nissan
logo. (Photo by Mark Windecker) |
|
|
By
1983, it was becoming evident that the track was interested in
more corporate sponsorship to finance increasing costs of track
operation. The bridge at turn 6 also became the target of
additional trackside advertising. This calls into memory The
Highway Beautification Act of 1965 passed by Congress,
spurred by the wife of then President Johnson. You begin to
wonder if there's a distraction factor for drivers pushing their
cars to the absolute edge. |
|
|
Fourth Corvette marquee at turn 6 bridge on
Fireman's Hill existed from 1992 through 1995. You can also see the aqua colored Armco steel
guardrail on both side of the track. |
|
|
The
Corvette bridge reappeared in 1992, somewhat reminiscent of the
original Corvette bannering. It saw four seasons then was
replaced by new corporate sponsor Toyota in 1996. The
Corvette name eventually returned again. |
|
|
Sports Racing Prototype race cars at the Road
America 500 on July 8, 2001 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series (round 7)
|
|
Toyota badge saw fifteen seasons between 1996 and 2010. Photo taken Wednesday, March 24, 2010 during a
NASCAR Nationwide Series test day. |
|
|
The
bridge's concrete abutment stem and wing walls are original to
the 1956 construction. About the only thing that has changed are the vegetation
and the presence of barrier walls and additional advertising
boards. |
|
|
The fifth Corvette bridge marquee at Fireman's
Hill in 2011. The stretch between turns 5 and 6is
bombarded with advertising along the track edge. So much for the
beauty of the track's landscape and the appearance of safety. |
|
|
Corvette Bridge has long been a signature landmark among the
others at Road America. Even under a different name, you
couldn't quite get racing enthusiasts to stop referring to it as
Corvette bridge. On August 21, 2011, it was given a proper
re-dedication ceremony as Corvette Bridge. It was the fifth time
America's legendary sports car made the crossovers marquee. It
is king of the hill once again, and said to be a permanent
designation. Only time will tell. |
|
|
