The Road America 500 from 1964

Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is one of the country’s great road circuits. First established in 1955, the facility carries on the tradition of races that used to occur around the old Elkhart Lake road course.

This incredible film documents the Road America 500 race that took place in 1964. The race included the legendary Carroll Shelby, who was there with his Cobra team and three cars. Also on the track was famed driver Roger Penske in a Ferrari. Penske ended up taking third place out of the 59 drivers who started the 500 mile event. And, although Penske didn’t win, another Ferrari did take the checkered flag: Walt Hangsen and Augie Pabst driving Ferrari 250 LM. One of Shelby’s Cobras took second place, but apparently the cars had difficulty with their brakes on the course and had to pit more frequently.

Nonetheless, Shelby already had the United States Manufacturers Championship locked up for that year and didn’t need a win in this final race of the season to earn that honor.