Billy Mitchell Bridge at Road America is Gone

[Martin Zimmerman]

Hi Guys & Gals;

A note from Al Ribskis(Helmet Painter, worker at Road America). Champ Car has on their website a note that the Billy Mitchell Bridge at Road America will be gone next year, replaced by a tunnel. Oh My, different site pictures etc, coming up the hill at Thirteen.


http://www.champcarworldseries.com/N...64&print==true

All the best,

Martin

[rgreist]

Probably makes sense. One less thing to hit.

[Quentin]

Revere, you are the only guy I know that went under that bridge 2 by 2, when you did it on the last lap of the Nationals.

[rgreist]

It wasn't by choice, and it didnt' work out very well! But if that's the way I have to remember the Billy Mitchell Bridge, so be it.

[John Greist]

A great flat blind 4th gear corner. Sorry Sy missed it, but there's always something new at Road America that'll make it even more interesting.

[sydude]

Originally Posted by John Greist

A great flat blind 4th gear corner. Sorry Sy missed it, but there's always something new at Road America that'll make it even more interesting.

October will be the perfect time to make a return from a self imposed exile. And who needs a stinking bridge when you've got a pair of Greists!

[Slowhands]

Probably safer, but I'm sad to see it go. It was definitely old school.

I liked the way it looked as you came up out of Canada corner, and had to wait until you were almost under it to see what was on the other side.

But then I'm sentimental like that.

[JuicyGirl]

Great memories of Billy Mitchell Bridge. I hate to see it go. It was one of my favorite spots on track.

For those of you that know the bridge but not the Brigadier General check out the link below…very interesting individual and worth a read.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mitchell

[John Greist]

Actually there are at least two Billy Mitchells and the one for whom the bridge was named was not court marshalled for insubordination but was, instead, an early investor and sponsor of Road America.

Not even sure the bridge man was from Wisconsin, though General Billy Mitchell certainly was. Upset the between wars Navy a lot by sinking a WWI battleship at anchor with a few well placed bombs from a primitive bomber.

We'll claim them both and I hope the tunnel continues the naming tradition.

[chsutherland]

speaking of road america i saw this on youtube looks like shifter karts

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ThuJ9D4qu8U

craig

[DALhsm]

Here is the announcement on RA's website.

http://www.roadamerica.com/2006/news_ra.htm


Sounds like the bridge will dissappeare and for those that know the entrance that crosses the track, basically just before the turn in for 14, will be the location of the new tunnel. Possibly even closer to 14 where the Main spectator entrance is.

I can't wait to get up there at the beginning of May. We should be able to walk out of the shop and beable to see just after the exit of Canada all the way to 14 unobstructed. That'll be different. Should be fun.


P.S. Anybody else see the lack of any racing line being used in the first lap of the go-cart race?? hmmmm

[John Greist]

Originally Posted by chsutherland

speaking of road america i saw this on youtube looks like shifter karts

For sure. Lap times about 2:40, stay off the curbing and duck your head on straights to reduce drag.

Great Avatar. Could it be Watkins Glen or Road America from the road race days?

[chsutherland]

Those karts looked like a lot of fun! I was just trying to impress you doc, your avatar is way cooler, it is you after all. Fangio 290mm '56 i would guess targa floria or mille miglia maybe even le mans. I have a ton of old race car photos, i even have one picked out just for you the next time i see you. Road America should be a national treasure!
craig

[rocorerick]

Was at Road America today and the bridge is already gone with the track torn up and the tunnel started at the access road we used to use as a brake reference for 14.

By the way, there have been no motors delivered to the Skippy garage to date.

[John Greist]

Originally Posted by rocorerick

Was at Road America today and the bridge is already gone with the track torn up and the tunnel started at the access road we used to use as a brake reference for 14.

Bravo! What were you running there today? How did you negotiate the tunnel excavation?

By the way, there have been no motors delivered to the Skippy garage to date.

I bet there are enough crate Neon engines to see us through the next season or at least enough to make transition to Mazda engines more graceful than a rapid switch. Assume the powers that be are planning ahead.

[gurl rcr]

Oh, no ! I LOVED that corner

[WatertownNewbie]

The Road America website (http://www.roadamerica.com/) has a series of photos on the construction of the tunnel and the location relative to the track.