CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
p.1 #1CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Another scan series from Road America. CART was ended in 2002 due to bankruptcy because the public was so much into NASCAR that there wasn't enough interest left to sustain CART racing. Personally, I'd take CART racing over NASCAR any day--but that's just me. These were all shot with Nikon F2as bodies, 300mm f2.8, 600mm f4.0 and 24mm f2.8.
Brent
Warming Up
Bobby Rahal Getting Focused
First Turn
S Curve
From The Tower
Pit Stop
Brent
Warming Up
Bobby Rahal Getting Focused
First Turn
S Curve
From The Tower
Pit Stop
Sep 18, 2026 at 03:30 PM
p.1 #3CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
RWNPhoto wrote:
Nice ones from way back in the day
Thanks.
Brent
Sep 18, 2026 at 08:00 PM
p.1 #4CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Big Boy CARTS ... 
I've only shot Little Boy, carts.
But, hey they gotta start somewhere.
I've only shot Little Boy, carts.
But, hey they gotta start somewhere.
Sep 18, 2026 at 08:54 PM
p.1 #5CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Brent, was that one of the Unsers driving the Galles car in the third shot? I'm envious of your access and photography skills.
Sep 19, 2026 at 12:58 AM
p.1 #6CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
GoodEgg wrote:
Brent, was that one of the Unsers driving the Galles car in the third shot? I'm envious of your access and photography skills.
Thanks very much. Actually I'm pretty sure it was Adrian Fernandez driving that day. I'd love to have seen Al Jr. driving it.
Brent
Edited on Sep 19, 2026 at 11:31 AM · View previous versions
Sep 19, 2026 at 11:11 AM
p.1 #7CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
RustyBug wrote:
Big Boy CARTS ...
I've only shot Little Boy, carts.
But, hey they gotta start somewhere.
Thanks, Kent. They were definitely fun to watch. It's unreal how fast they come at you, even on the corners.
Brent
Sep 19, 2026 at 11:15 AM
p.1 #8CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Great photos Brent! I was a fan of CART back in the day, made it a point to watch the races on tv. It's been a while, but were these photos after CART and Indy Car split?
Sep 20, 2026 at 05:18 PM
p.1 #9CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Fantastic set, love the last shot, it shows the adrenaline of the moment.
Marcelo
Marcelo
Sep 20, 2026 at 05:51 PM
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p.1 #10CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
jcw1982 wrote:
Great photos Brent! I was a fan of CART back in the day, made it a point to watch the races on tv. It's been a while, but were these photos after CART and Indy Car split?
Thanks much. These were shot before the CART/IRL split. They were still cooperating with each other at this point.
Brent
Sep 20, 2026 at 08:23 PM
p.1 #11CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Lightsearcher wrote:
Fantastic set, love the last shot, it shows the adrenaline of the moment.
Marcelo
Thank you, Marcelo. I think my own adrenaline was peaking at that point, maybe more than theirs was. They do everything so fast in the pits that you barely have time to hang a camera over the rail for a couple of shots before they go screaming back out.
Brent
Sep 20, 2026 at 08:28 PM
p.1 #12CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Thanks for bringing back the memories, Brent.
Although not CART I used to hang around Upper Marlboro (suburbs of DC, now a subdivision) and Summit Point in WV for SCCA events: Bob Tullius GRP 44, Tr4; Bruce Jennings, Porsche 326, Dr. Dick Thompson, Corvette; Bob Sharpe, 240Z, Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Newman joined him but I never saw him race) and a host of others. Never had my camera but sight of an Austin Cooper on the banked portion of the oval with its front left tire off the ground is etched in my mind.
Although not CART I used to hang around Upper Marlboro (suburbs of DC, now a subdivision) and Summit Point in WV for SCCA events: Bob Tullius GRP 44, Tr4; Bruce Jennings, Porsche 326, Dr. Dick Thompson, Corvette; Bob Sharpe, 240Z, Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Newman joined him but I never saw him race) and a host of others. Never had my camera but sight of an Austin Cooper on the banked portion of the oval with its front left tire off the ground is etched in my mind.
Sep 21, 2026 at 12:06 PM
p.1 #13CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Bob Jarman wrote:
Thanks for bringing back the memories, Brent.
Although not CART I used to hang around Upper Marlboro (suburbs of DC, now a subdivision) and Summit Point in WV for SCCA events: Bob Tullius GRP 44, Tr4; Bruce Jennings, Porsche 326, Dr. Dick Thompson, Corvette; Bob Sharpe, 240Z, Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Newman joined him but I never saw him race) and a host of others. Never had my camera but sight of an Austin Cooper on the banked portion of the oval with its front left tire off the ground is etched in my mind.
I'm always happy when old photos like these bring back good memories for people who see them. They also bring a lot back to me. My first years at Elkhart Lake and Road America were in 1969, post Army, when the group I hung around with went up to camp out and party and never even made it to the track. The scene below was pretty typical. I recall waking up one morning with an unfamiliar woman in my sleeping bag and no memory of what had transpired. As I pulled myself out of the bag, I realized our heads were about one foot from fresh tire tracks on the dirt road through the campground.
When I went back many years later as a shooter, the experience was considerably more enjoyable and rewarding.
Brent
Campground, Elkhart Lake
Thanks for bringing back the memories, Brent.
Although not CART I used to hang around Upper Marlboro (suburbs of DC, now a subdivision) and Summit Point in WV for SCCA events: Bob Tullius GRP 44, Tr4; Bruce Jennings, Porsche 326, Dr. Dick Thompson, Corvette; Bob Sharpe, 240Z, Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Newman joined him but I never saw him race) and a host of others. Never had my camera but sight of an Austin Cooper on the banked portion of the oval with its front left tire off the ground is etched in my mind.
I'm always happy when old photos like these bring back good memories for people who see them. They also bring a lot back to me. My first years at Elkhart Lake and Road America were in 1969, post Army, when the group I hung around with went up to camp out and party and never even made it to the track. The scene below was pretty typical. I recall waking up one morning with an unfamiliar woman in my sleeping bag and no memory of what had transpired. As I pulled myself out of the bag, I realized our heads were about one foot from fresh tire tracks on the dirt road through the campground.
When I went back many years later as a shooter, the experience was considerably more enjoyable and rewarding.
Brent
Campground, Elkhart Lake
Sep 21, 2026 at 04:39 PM
p.1 #14CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
bnfotografie wrote:
Although not CART I used to hang around Upper Marlboro (suburbs of DC, now a subdivision) and Summit Point in WV for SCCA events: Bob Tullius GRP 44, Tr4; Bruce Jennings, Porsche 326, Dr. Dick Thompson, Corvette; Bob Sharpe, 240Z, Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Newman joined him but I never saw him race) and a host of others. Never had my camera but sight of an Austin Cooper on the banked portion of the oval with its front left tire off the ground is etched in my mind.I'm always happy when old photos like these bring back good memories for people who see them. They also bring a lot back to me. My first years at Elkhart Lake and Road America were in 1969, post Army, when the group I hung around with went up to camp out and party and never even made it to the track. The scene below was pretty typical. I recall waking up one morning with an unfamiliar woman in my sleeping bag and no memory of what had transpired. As I pulled myself out of the bag, I realized our heads...Show more →
Brent,
To add - '69 or '70 a group of us went to the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glenn. I, being a CPT in the Army at the time, was amazed by the infield crowd: mini wine cellars in the trunk of the Rolls, very high-end audio kit - tape deck, MacIntosh amp, pre-amp and generators, add whatever else you might imagine, plus. Mud everywhere - always rains in upstate NY. One can only imagine the circus that night; we stayed at one of the group's family cottage on Lake Keuka - sorry to disappoint.
I returned in 1973 for TransAm practice but shortly after arriving rain cancelled practice and qualification. A long day-trip from Syracuse.
Bob
Bob Jarman wrote
Thanks for bringing back the memories, Brent.Although not CART I used to hang around Upper Marlboro (suburbs of DC, now a subdivision) and Summit Point in WV for SCCA events: Bob Tullius GRP 44, Tr4; Bruce Jennings, Porsche 326, Dr. Dick Thompson, Corvette; Bob Sharpe, 240Z, Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Newman joined him but I never saw him race) and a host of others. Never had my camera but sight of an Austin Cooper on the banked portion of the oval with its front left tire off the ground is etched in my mind.
Brent,
To add - '69 or '70 a group of us went to the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glenn. I, being a CPT in the Army at the time, was amazed by the infield crowd: mini wine cellars in the trunk of the Rolls, very high-end audio kit - tape deck, MacIntosh amp, pre-amp and generators, add whatever else you might imagine, plus. Mud everywhere - always rains in upstate NY. One can only imagine the circus that night; we stayed at one of the group's family cottage on Lake Keuka - sorry to disappoint.
I returned in 1973 for TransAm practice but shortly after arriving rain cancelled practice and qualification. A long day-trip from Syracuse.
Bob
Sep 21, 2026 at 09:06 PM
p.1 #15CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Beautiful Brent! A look back in time.....
Lots of history in your compositions brother!
Dan
Lots of history in your compositions brother!
Dan
Sep 23, 2026 at 10:38 AM
p.1 #16CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Danpbphoto wrote:
Beautiful Brent! A look back in time.....
Lots of history in your compositions brother!
Dan
Thanks much, brother. Sure seems like a long time ago.
Brent
Sep 23, 2026 at 02:26 PM
p.1 #17CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
bnfotografie wrote:
Lots of history in your compositions brother!
DanThanks much, brother. Sure seems like a long time ago.
Brent
Your last post sure gives a bad rap to young people! I NEVER would leave an area as junky as they have here. I am sure they didn't want to attract a Park Ranger but what do you expects having the campsite look like this!?
Their parents should be scolded!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote
Beautiful Brent! A look back in time.....Lots of history in your compositions brother!
Dan
Brent
Your last post sure gives a bad rap to young people! I NEVER would leave an area as junky as they have here. I am sure they didn't want to attract a Park Ranger but what do you expects having the campsite look like this!?
Their parents should be scolded!
Dan
Sep 24, 2026 at 12:56 PM
p.1 #18CART Racing, Elkhart Lake, WI
Danpbphoto wrote:
bnfotografie wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
Beautiful Brent! A look back in time.....Lots of history in your compositions brother!
Dan
Brent
Their parents should be scolded!
Dan
Hi Dan,
I was actually part of that group. I should have probably added that it was NOT left that way. Before clearing out at the end of the weekend we thoroughly policed the area and left it as we found it. Admittedly, there was excessive drinking and drug use, but that was the norm for the late '60s.
Brent
Sep 24, 2026 at 01:57 PM