The Preservationist The Member Newsletter of the Elkhart Lake Historic Race Circuits Preservation Society Volume 29 Winter 2016 In this issue: Page 1 - Annual Chairman’s Message Page 3 - 10th Anniversary of the Listing on the National Register Page 4 - Remembering Donald Healey Page 8 - Membership Program Summary A Message from the Chairman 2015 was another active year for HRC On the social side, Society members and I want to thank everyone who enjoyed three entertaining and made contributions to the Preservation educational dinner events. At the May Society and supported preservation of event held at Siebkens, Bob the Historic Race Circuits. Your Birmingham presented highlights, of participation is critical to our success. his personal recollections of Wisconsin motorsports during the 1950s and On the preservation front, HRC ‘60s. The July event held at the continued to monitor actions and Victorian Village Resort, featured proposed actions by Sheboygan County Gerry Bledsoe, the coordinator for US and the Village of Elkhart Lake and participants in the modern Carrera, their possible effects on the who covered the parallels between the characteristics of the roads and streets classic 1950s Mexican open road race, that comprise the historic race circuits. La Carrera Panamericana, and the We maintain close relations with the historic open road races held in Wisconsin State Historical Society and Elkhart Lake. Herschel McGriff, are working to build a positive and winner of the first Carrera in 1950 and cooperative relationship with the NASCAR legend was our special guest. Sheboygan County Highway The September event at Siebkens Department. Each year we meet with honored the 50th Anniversary of the Commissioner Greg Schnell to review opening of Road America. The event compliance with the Resource was highlighted by a film featuring Management Plan and to review plans George Tilp and his racing team that that may affect the Historic Circuits. owned and entered the Ferrari 750 Regular liaison is also maintained with Monza that Phil Hill drove to victory in the Village of Elkhart Lake. I am glad 1955, in the first-ever feature race at to report that no problems were Road America. encountered during the year. Continued on page 2 1 Continued from page 1 During 2015 we continued to work Dinner Events will again be held in with the Elkhart Lake Tourism conjunction with the vintage race Commission to communicate the weekends and are currently in the important role of the Historic Open planning stages. Announcements will Road Races in the history of Elkhart be mailed for each event when plans Lake and to educate those too young to are confirmed. In addition, we will have known of their existence. continue to evaluate ways to provide Presentations were made to groups of greater benefits to our membership. travel writers from all parts of North America. Over the years these The Membership program established presentations and related tours have in 2015 is carried forward to 2016. A resulted in articles promoting Elkhart brief recap has been included at the Lake as a tourist destination and the end of this newsletter for everyone’s role of the Historic Race Circuits in information. Dinner Event pricing will Village history that has reached tens of continue to be based on actual cost and thousands of readers around the membership discounts for dinners and world. In addition working in HRC logo merchandise will be cooperation with Road America, HRC unchanged. participated in the Sheboygan County Museum’s exhibition celebrating road HRC has become an important racing history in the County viewed by community and motorsport hundreds of visitors. preservation organization. Again, we sincerely thank you for your support Looking ahead to 2016 HRC will and if you have comments or continue to promote awareness of the suggestions for how HRC can better roll the historic circuits played in the accomplish its mission or better serve Village history and will, of course, its members, or if you would like to continue to monitor any proposed become more involved in HRC matters changes in the roads that comprise the we will be glad to hear from you. We Historic Circuits and for compliance look forward to seeing you at HRC with the Resource Management Plan*. events in 2016. John Calhoun 2016 HRC Chairman *The Plan, signed in March of 2010, defines actions required and prohibited by the Sheboygan County Highway Department that may affect the Historic Circuits. The plan was mandated by the Wisconsin State Historical Society after the highway department by its actions in 2007, was found to have violated Wisconsin state law regulating the preservation of historic properties listed on the National Register. 2 10th Anniversary of the Listing on the National Register of Historic Places February 17th will mark the tenth State Historical Society for a Anniversary of the listing of the Historic Determination of Eligibility for Race Circuits on the National Register of preservation of the Historic Circuits Historic Places, an important milestone under the Act. In July 2004, the historic in the eight year struggle to preserve the circuits were declared eligible for Elkhart Lake Open Road Race Circuits. preservation and the balance of power Lest we forget, the following is a brief began to swing in favor of the recap of the struggle that began in 2002. preservation movement. In January of 2002 the Highway To circumvent the provisions of the Act, Department announced plans to the Highway Department withdrew its reconstruct the CTH A portion of the request for Federal Funds. This meant Historic Race Circuits. Protests of the that they could proceed with their plans concerned citizens and the HRC if they used local County or State funds. Founders seemed to fall on deaf ears However, the Founders knew that if the and the balance of power seemed tilted Circuits could be listed on the Wisconsin in favor of the Highway Department. State Register of Historic Places they Seemingly indifferent to the citizen would gain a new measure of protection protests, the Highway Department under Wisconsin law. began tree removal in the In the spring of 2005 the right-of-way and prepared HRC Founders funded the to proceed with its plans. nomination of the Historic More leverage was needed Circuits to the State if the circuits were to be Historical Register where preserved. they were listed on In the spring of 2004 Road September 23rd, 2005. The America suggested that State submitted the Circuits since the County was for listing on the National planning to use Federal Register and on February 17th highway funds to pay for 2006 the Circuits were added the project, the project to the National Register of would fall under the Historic Places, perhaps the provisions of the 1966 most significant event in the National Historic struggle to preserve the Phil Hill, John Fitch and Augie Preservation Act. Early in Pabst unveil the State Historical historic Elkhart Lake Open 2004, acting for HRC, Road marker commemorating the Road Race Circuits for the listing of the Historic Circuits on America filed a formal the National Register. enjoyment of current and request with the Wisconsin future generations. 3 Remembering Donald Healey and His Contributions to the Sports Car History Donald Healey is probably victory in the Alpine Rally of best known as the designer of the same year. the Austin-Healey 100 and 3000 sports cars but he was a Healey eventually joined designer of great talent and Triumph as the company’s made many contributions to “Experimental Manager”. One the automotive world prior to of his more interesting his creation of the car for contributions at Triumph which he is best known. came in 1934 with the development of the Dolomite Healey was born in 1898 in Donald Mitchell Healey, CBE Straight 8. Healey convinced Cornwall, England. From an the management at Triumph early age he was interested in things that they needed a big engine racing car, mechanical, aircraft in particular and in one that could compete with the likes of 1914, at the age of 16, was apprenticed the Alfa Romeo 8C. Given the green to the Sopworth Aviation Company. light, the resulting car closely copied the When WWI began he volunteered for Alfa but on a slightly reduced scale. the Royal Flying Corp and flew bombers until he was invalided out in 1917. Only 3 cars were built but one of the cars was entered in the 1935 Monte Following the war, Healey developed a Carlo Rally to be driven by Donald love for sports car rallying. He entered Healey himself. Unfortunately, the car every rally he could and success soon was withdrawn after a collision with a followed. He won the Bournemouth railway train on a level crossing in Rally in 1928, and so encouraged, Denmark. Healey was not injured. entered the 1929 Monte Carlo Rally. On While the cars his first try, he lost his way on the road themselves did from France to Monaco, and was not have a disqualified. He was back for another major impact attempt in 1930 finishing seventh on Triumph overall. Just one year later, he won the racing history, 1931 Monte Carlo, hands-down. The Triumph Dolomite they spawned Straight 8. the Dolomite In 1933, Healey got his start in the name used on many other Triumph design and improvement of British cars. models in future years. He went to work for Victor Riley, owner While still at Triumph, Healey was of the Riley car company, managing his making plans to build his own motor rally teams. The team would go on to cars. His ultimate goal was to build a Continued on page 5 4 Continued from page 4 sports car with excellent handling, Britain's then new Silverstone Grand capable of speeds greater than 100 Prix track.