Highlights Archives
Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Mile: A Century of Racing History
For more than 125 years, Wisconsin has played a significant role in the history of American auto racing. In July 1878 the state hosted what is believed to be the first auto race in the nation. Two steam-powered vehicles competed on wagon roads stretching 200 miles from Green Bay to Madison. The Wisconsin Legislature awarded $5,000 to the winner for finishing the race in 33 hours at an average speed of 6 mph. The competing vehicle broke down.
Wisconsin's racing legacy handily made the transition to the age of gasoline engines. Menomonie native Harry A. Miller (PDF, 394KB) became one of the most visionary designers in auto racing history. His innovations in engine design in the 1920s revolutionized the sport and set new records for speed. For years the top competitors at the Indianapolis 500 were cars with Miller engines. Today the Harry A. Miller Club congregates annually at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, home of the Milwaukee Mile, which is itself a landmark of American auto racing.
The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest racetrack in continuous service in the United States. Originally built as a horseracing oval on a West Allis farm, the track hosted speeding automobiles by 1903. In the century since then, the Milwaukee Mile has become one of the premier venues of American motor sports and has helped shape the face of auto racing.
From January 10 through February 4, 2006, the Wisconsin Historical Museum is hosting The Milwaukee Mile: A Century of Racing History. This colorful, nine-panel wall display, organized by the Milwaukee County Historical Society, traces the history of the race track. It features vintage photographs that show early "speed contests," 24-hour endurance races, Depression-era open wheel car duels, USAC stock car events, midget racing, and CART and NASCAR competitions. Barney Oldfield, Rex Mays, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti and other racing legends competed at the Milwaukee Mile and are represented in the display.
On January 17 at 12:15 p.m., the museum hosts Wisconsin Auto Racing, a special 90-minute program by the Rev. Dale Grubba, racing historian and columnist for Midwest Racing News and FasTrax Magazine, and author of the book, The Golden Age of Wisconsin Auto Racing. Grubba will be joined by drivers from many eras, including Miles Melius, Bill Engelhart, Owen Schneider, Marv Marzofka, Tom Reffner, Al Schill, Jerry Eckhardt, Fred Bender and Johnny Ziegler.
In conjunction with the display, the museum is showing "Race 'Em," a 10-minute segment from Car Show, an episode of the television series, Wisconsin Stories, produced by Wisconsin Public Television and the Wisconsin Historical Society. "Race 'Em," which features the Milwaukee Mile, will be shown in the museum's theater at noon and 2 p.m. every day from January 24 through January 28.
:: Posted January 9, 2006
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