#TBT to the first June Sprints at Road America in 1956. Carroll Shelby put on a clinic with his CM 4.4 Ferrari, winning the race and setting a new track record.
From the September - October 1956 SportsCar Magazine
As the flag fell, Johnston was first away, but not without Shelby. The Flying Texan took the lead shortly thereafter, and that was the pattern for the race. Johnston held second, Brero third, Katskee fourth, Kilborn fifth, and Erickson sixth. On the second lap, Jerry Earl brought his Corvette Special into the pits and handed it over to Dick Thompson. One lap later, McAfee retired the 3.5 Ferrari with low oil pressure, and Shelby set a furious pace. Brero moved into second spot only to be unseated bv Johnston two laps later. Hansgen and Brero dusted for third many times going by the line overlapping nose and tail.
On the tenth lap, Johnston hit his home run over the fence and thus returned to the pits as a spectator. Hansgen, apparently ruffled bv the sight of Sherwood walking, spun out and lost valuable time. On the fifteenth lap, Shelby set a new lap record of 2:48:24, averaging 85.59 mph for the trip. Running well out in front, Carrol gave a brilliant performance of how it should be done.
On lap eighteen Louis Brero took his D Jag into the weeds after cooking a corner too much and returned to the circuit still in second slot, but with slightly altered body work. One lap later Walt Hansgen successfully completed his second try at inverting a D Jag, and the yellow flag went out for several laps. The all-clear found things still the same with Shelby having a real joy ride with no one to threaten him. Bill Lloyd and Phil Stewart had played a few games earlier in the race until Lloyd let a four-wheel drift end up in an eight-wheeled spin, thus losing him valuable time and
position.
Shelby's pit began slowing him down and Brero kept moving up until only 10 seconds separated the two cars. Brero continued to press and cut the distance down to about 5 seconds, but Shelby needed no more as he took the checkered flag at an average speed of 80.4 mph to end a weekend of wonderful racing.
Comment with your favorite June Sprints memory!
SportsCar Article by: Dave Allen
