May 30, 2022

On June 2,1996, the CART Indy Cars came to the Milwaukee Mile. This was the good old days when the race was traditionally the weekend following the Indy 500.

That particular race had a bunch of caution flags, but it was really a race between Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr. and Paul Tracy who had the pole position. They finished that way and were followed by Emerson Fittipaldi and Greg Moore.

This was at the time when Michael Andretti basically owned the race wins at the Milwaukee Mile for several years. This 1996 race was no exception with Mario Andretti being an awesome father and mentor.

It was a nice 80 degree day but windy I recall which probably didn't help driver Parker Johnstone. He spun on the first lap and then crashed with 5 laps to go!

In 1996 Jimmy Vasser would become the series champion and Alex Zanardi was the rookie of the year.

Enjoy a look at that day and my 400th blog!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

May 16, 2022

In 1988, the Briggs and Stratton 200 Indy Car CART race was held at Road America. Danny Sullivan had the pole position but Emerson Fittipaldi won the race!

Road America looked a bit different back then, and I see the new media center was already built. Didn't think it was that old.

The short lived Porsche Indy Car was racing then with Teo Fabi. It was a beautiful car that never did very well and was only around a few years.

Must have been a combined weekend with the IMSA racing cars because I notice a photo I took of Walter Payton! Looks as if his #34 blew an engine in turn 5. He is standing next to it as it's smoking away.

Love the livery on Arie Luendyk's car!!!!

Enjoy a look back to 1988. Were you there that weekend?

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The Briggs and Stratton 200 held at Road America in 1988 where Emerson Fittipaldi won.

May 2, 2022

One of my most memorable days at Summerfest occurred on June 21, 1972 when I was photographing for the Bugle American newspaper here in Milwaukee.

George Carlin was opening the show for musician Arlo Guthrie that night.  It became a night known around the country if not most of the world because of what happened.  George Carlin was arrested for saying the "seven words you can't say on radio or television".

The show was great but Milwaukee Police Lieutenant ,Andrew Busalacchi, was just waiting for George to say the words and arrest him. I saw the lieutenant on the side of the stage as I was photographing George and you could tell something was going to happen.

George didn't care and did his show, including the famous seven words you shouldn't say on radio and television. He even finished his show and then they escorted him off the stage to be arrested and charged.

The promoter and stage manager emptied George Carlin's pockets before the Milwaukee Police got him. That was a good thing or he would have had drug charges too!

In the end, the charges were dismissed by a smiling judge and George even became friends with the policeman that arrested him.

Had to dig up these photos again and clean them up a bit for a documentary being done on George which is very cool! I will let you know when that documentary comes out.

Enjoy a look at a little Summerfest and George Carlin history.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

April 18, 2022

On June 3, 2007 the Indy Racing League came to the Milwaukee Mile for the ABC Supply A.J. Foyt 225 Race.

The Milwaukee race was run traditionally one week after the Indy 500.  Miss that race a lot.  Bring it back please Roger Penske now that you have control and own the Indy Car series.

Helio had the pole for this race but his rear wing broke during the race right in front of me!  He was done for the day and Sam Hornish had a similar situation and was out of the race a few laps later. Tony Kanaan won it with Dario Franchitti in second. Dan Wheldon finished third.

Danica and Dan Wheldon had a little track incident that had Danica steaming down to Dan Wheldon's pit after the race. They weren't friends anymore and fists almost came out!! Great seeing photos of Dan Wheldon again.  Fun guy that I traded some photos with for his helmet visor that year.  I also have Danica's visors in a photo trade I did every year she was in Indy Cars! I also have a Toyota Atlantic visor of hers from the early days.

Victory Lane was dedicated with a plaque now calling it the A.J. Foyt Victory Lane.  A.J. Foyt loved it and he received a Packers Jersey from A.J. Hawk!

Enjoy a look at the Milwaukee Mile and some great racers.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Sunday June 3, 2007 the Indy Racing League raced the ABC Supply A.j. Foyt 225!

April 4, 2022

In 2007 the Indy Car racing world was very divided. We had the Indy Racing League (IRL), formed by Tony George in 2003 with his Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the helm.  We also had the Champ Car World Series.

From 2003 through 2007 we had the IRL and Champ Car as two separate series. It was a mess and mistake by Tony George that Indy Car is just now recovering from. In 2008 it became one series again called Indy Car as it still is today.

I was photographing the IRL at the Milwaukee Mile and the Champ Cars at Road America each year for four years.

On August 12, 2007, the Generac Champ Car Grand Prix at Road America was held. Race driver Sebastien Bourdais won the race and end up winning his fourth straight championship at the end of the year. Seabass, as we call him, was fast everywhere then and still is now.

Dan Clarke finished second and a very young Graham Rahal finished third.

All of the Champ Car race cars were beautiful and fast looking with great paint jobs.

Enjoy a look at the guys and a young Katherine Legge racing around beautiful Road America.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The Champ Car and IMSA series at Road America in 2007.

Rise Against ROCKIN' the Summerfest stage on 9-4-2021.

March 21, 2022

Finally catching up with all the bands I photographed at Summerfest last September!

This is the band Rise Against, who I must say is the LOUDEST band I've heard in a long time and I've been doing this for over 50 years! Maybe they are the loudest ever as my body shook to the core at this show!

The punk rock band was formed in 1999 by bassist Joe Principe and has had a few versions through the years.

Joe recruited Tim Mcllrath and they were the band for years. The present band also includes Brandon Barnes on drums and Zach Blair on the second lead guitar.

Tim Mcllrath does the main vocals and lead guitar and powers up the band.

The stage setup was very interesting and a bit tough as a photographer to shoot. The guys had monitors that lit up with graphics in the very front of the stage. Plus, they had huge speakers in the photo pit to maneuver around.

Doesn't matter though because I always try to get'er done somehow even with only two songs to shoot!

Enjoy a look at the band. It's only 91 days until Summerfest gets going again!!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann