May 20, 2024
The world's oldest race track is 15 minutes from our house here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I have been there often since my first visit in 1968 with my Polaroid camera at 14 years old. I still have three of those photos!
Since 1876 the track has seen hot air balloon races, horse races and ostrich carriage races! Auto racing didn't start until 1903 with Indy Car/Champ Cars coming from 1933 to 2009. Then a little break and Indy Cars were back in 2011 to 2015.
Our Green Bay Packers played there a bit from 1934 to 1951 with the "Dairy Bowl" and in 1939 won the NFL Championship game 27-0 over the New York Giants. That had to be quite a game!
The July 17, 1933 race was rained out and Wilbur Shaw suggested a rain date for the following day. The term "rain date" was first used that day here in Milwaukee.
The track was dirt for many years and finally paved in 1954 which is the year I was born! Ha!!
Rock 'n' roll has been performed at the Mile and the Wisconsin State Fair for many years starting with the "Midwest Rock Festival" in 1969 with Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, Joe Cocker and others. My father didn't allow me to go...but I still became a rock 'n' roll and racing photographer.
The old track has seen many improvements since 1876 especially in the last two years with many more to come. It's looking better every day. Recent improvements include a new concrete pit lane, new inner walls, a lot of fencing and new safer barriers are coming soon.
The crews are getting the track ready for Indy Cars coming back on August 31 and September 1, 2024. It will be the first time Indy Cars are racing at the Mile since 2015. I had the opportunity to see Will Power running the first laps October 18, 2023 in an Indy Car at the Mile. It was awesome to see and hear him running a Firestone Tire test.
Jim Trewtow of the "Racing Roundup" radio and television show and race promoter Bob Sergent had a press conference with NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver Tyler Ankrum a few days ago. They announced the sponsor for the LiUNA! 175 NASCAR CRAFTMAN Truck Series Race.
The plan was to run some RC cars around the Victory Circle but rain had us running the cars in the newly remodeled Media Center.
We also have the Father's Day June 16th ASA tour racing and the Menards ARCA Sprecher 150 with the Liuna 175 NASCAR CRAFTMAN Truck Series Playoffs on Sunday August 25th.
The crews are working very hard to get the track ready and they very much deserve our gratitude and thanks as well as the State Fair board and the State of Wisconsin.
Here is a peak at some of the improvements being done. Come join us for some great racing at our awesome track, The Milwaukee Mile.
Time for this track to get rockin' again!
Thanks,
Rich Zimmermann
