Road America and Chicago Region Dedicate Officials Park

On Friday October 4th, 2024, Chicago Region members and Road America staff met to dedicate the opening of “Officials Park” at Road America. Officials Park is located just across the road, to the south, from the medical building at Road America.

From Steve Laske, Chicago Region Member…

I want to say thank you to all of you that are joining us here today as we mark this event and remember a part of our history here at Road America.   Projects like this don’t happen quickly, however this one came about quicker than the Clif Tufte statue project that took four years to come to completion in 2020.  I had the pleasure to work on the statue project with Mike Kertscher, President and General Manager of Road America and we had many conversations as the project progressed.  Fast forward to 2023 June Sprints® and Mike approached me and inquired if I had any ideas for a project.  I responded yes, and the conversations began.  There were several ideas and with conversations with Mike and Greg Wieser, VP of Operations about locations, spaces usage during race events, and infrastructure, this location became the site of choice.

Bench #1

 “Officials Park”   Identifies the area

Historical perspective:

Some history leading to the choice of this site.  When Road America first opened in 1955 the center of all activities took place at the south end of the paddock at the Pagoda.  Officials would meet and park their vehicles in the grassy area between the pagoda and St. Johns concession stand (now Parker Johns).  As race operations grew over the years the area just south of the then souvenir stand (now the Paddock Shop) became the new parking area known as Official Park.  This area was used for parking into the 1990’s.  In 1991, following the removal of the Pagoda, and expansion of the paddock changes were necessary.  The new washroom was constructed as well the current medical building.  Official Park was no more.  Many of the race officials parked behind the media / race control building, others in areas in and around the paddock that met their needs for the race weekend.  As part of the recognition of this area, therein lies the play in words / twist of tongue (if you will) with the name, “Officials Park” paying homage to the many race event officials over the many years that gathered in this area.

Bench #2

Chicago Region SCCA and Road America wish to thank and recognize founding Chicago Region members Fred Wacker Jr., Jim Kimberly, Dave Garroway and C. Bayard Sheldon for their desire and motivation to bring sports car road racing to Elkhart Lake in 1950.

 Fred Wacker, our founder and first Regional Executive, and later president of the Sports Car Club of America.  Jim Kimberly, Chicago Region Member and also served as President of SCCA.  Dave Garroway, radio and television personality and sports car enthusiast. These three individuals were among the group that found this area of the Kettle Moraine and Elkhart Lake as a site for road racing.  Last but certainly not least, C. Bayard Sheldon, the Chicago Regions first Activities Chairman whom Fred Wacker tasked to negotiate an agreement with the business leaders of Elkhart Lake.  Without their drive and desire none of this would have happened and the Chicago Region SCCA and Road America thought it proper to recognize these gentlemen for what they accomplished.

Bench #3                                                                                                                                                                        

Thank you to the Sports Car Club of America race officials and volunteers who have supported road races at Road America from the first SCCA National Road Race in September 1955 to present. Thank you for your time and commitment. Road racing at Road America could not have happened without you.

 Chicago Region and Road America thought it imperative to recognize all the race officials and volunteers, not just those that helped and supported the beginnings of Road America with Clif Tufte, but all of those that followed from Chicago Region and all of the surrounding regions.  Without their commitment, drive and desire none of this would have happened and lasted all of these years.

On behalf of Road America and the Chicago Region Sports Car Club of America, our Regional Executive Roger Vilmur, and our Board of Directors, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved with this recognition project.  This would not have happened without your support.

Steven Laske
Chicago Region SCCA
Past Regional Executive   1987 and 1991