ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Since 1955, sports cars have descended on this tiny village in the Kettle Moraine district of Wisconsin on the third weekend in July. More recently, the Kohler International Challenge has become a summer tradition for fans of vintage sports car racing.

Elkhart Lake and sports car racing have been synonymous since the Chicago Region of the Sports Car Club of America held its first race on the roads around this lakeside village in July of 1950. By 1952, racing on public roads stopped, but in 1955 a purpose-built track called Road America sprang up just outside of town and quickly became one of the nation’s most challenging and scenic tracks. The track, and the town, have been a racing mecca since. 

One of Elkhart’s grand traditions takes place on Friday night when vintage racers are driven into town for an impromptu car show. Fans gather along the curb on Lake Street as unmuffled race cars throb down the road. When parked, the cars smell of hot oil, and heat shimmers from their hoods. Many wear the stone chips and bug splats acquired at the track that afternoon. For fans, the effect is like going into a football locker room right after a game.

On Saturday night, some of the finest classic cars populate the same streets of Elkhart Lake in a Concours d’Elegance that is sponsored by Road & Track magazine. The atmosphere is so convivial and relaxed that it could be 1952. For more than two hours, connoisseurs stroll among the cars, shake hands with old friends, sip a cold drink or picnic on nearby front lawns. The parade of people is as interesting as the expensive sheet metal.

While racing at the track is the primary reason for coming to Elkhart each July, the real treat of the vintage weekend is walking Lake Street on Friday and Saturday nights. It feels like a time machine that has been turned back 50 years to a period when racing was a gentleman’s sport and not a business.

AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. — For a car enthusiast, one of the best ways to shake off the winter blahs is to head to this small island just north of Jacksonville and take in the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. There’s no better tonic than green grass, palm trees and shiny cars all in one place.

Amelia has become one of the top auto shows in the world, and it seems to mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring because it is held in early March. This year’s event was March 12-14. The show itself is on Sunday, but several collector-car auctions and driving events take place on the days before.

This year’s show was the 15th annual, and 18,000 visitors strolled among the cars that were parked on the golf course. (Click for more photos and the full story.)

Louis Myers describes himself as the “polisher,” but that simple moniker understates what he is able to do with a piece of metal.

For more than three decades, Myers, of Fort Osage, has been transforming automotive parts into works of art in his personal workshop. He started metal finishing in 1958, but went into it full time when he was laid off from work.

“I’ve been doing this for 50 to 60 hours a week for 35 years,” he said, followed by his characteristic chuckle, “and I’ve never caught up.”

Louis has been polishing chrome trim, engine parts and anything that will hold still -- including an egg, which he polished once just to see if he could. (Click for more photos and the rest of the story.)

Tom Strongman is the contributing editor of The Kansas City Star. He contributes to the St. Louis Suburban Journals, Columbus Dispatch, FamilyCar.com and Home and Away Magazine.

CLICK HERE to view video clips of his "Behind the Wheel" program shown weekly on NBC affiliate KSHB Channel 41. Send e-mail to tom@tomstrongman.com

All content copyright Tom Strongman.comSpace here

Click for a review by SpeedReaders.info.