Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races: Annual tradition on a Lake Erie island

The unique Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races runs on a small airport on an island in Lake Erie, a 20-minute ferry ride from the U.S. mainland. It pays homage to the road races held during the 1950s on South Bass Island with a big annual event at Put-in-Bay Airport. It also takes place during the week as the population of 150 or so expands dramatically during the weekend with an influx of tourists.

Malcolm Ross. Photo by Bill Stoler/Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races.

Former CART Toyota Atlantic team owner Malcolm Ross won the Put-in-Bay race and Group 1 with a Lotus 23b. His prize? A 2024 King of the Rock ball cap.

Photo by Bill Stoler/Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races.

Here are the rest of the race winners:

• Group 2: Doug Bruce, Bloomington, Ind., 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite
• Group 3: Connor Byrnes, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1951 MGTD
• Porsche Cup: Brant Giere, Brecksville, Ohio, 1991 Porsche 964 Carrera Cup

Photo by John Rees/Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races.

The car show winners, as determined by popular vote:

• Best Race Car: Kevin Maehling, Brighton, Mich., 1971 Porsche 911
• Best Street Car: Kevin McLemore, Ambler, Pa., 1953 MGTD
• “Island” Entrant: Brad Ohlemacher, 1966 VW Beetle
• Best in Show: Charles Loper, Richfield, Ohio, 1950 Allard J2
• Spirit of the Crawford Award, presented by the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum: Dick Snyder, Chillicothe, Ohio, Porsche 356A Convertible.

If you missed out on this year’s edition of the Put-in-Bay Sports Car Races, grab your 2025 calendar. The next edition is tentatively scheduled for September 16-18, 2025, with Austin Mini as a featured marque and the event being the host for the 70th anniversary of the Elva marque.

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Comments

Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/25/24 10:47 a.m.

Is it bad that I think that the winning prize of a hat is actually really cool?

I don't even have a vintage race car, but now I want that hat.

RadBarchetta New Reader
9/25/24 2:24 p.m.

You guys gonna have the Elva ready by then?

elvacarsdallas New Reader
9/26/24 2:29 p.m.

In reply to RadBarchetta :

Would love to make 70th.

Made 30th, 50th with my orginal owner 1960 Courier number 122. At my age don't know about the trip from Dallas, but will mark it it in. The Courier is not a show car, but retired racer Sunday afternoon toy.

elvacarsdallas New Reader
9/26/24 2:32 p.m.

In reply to RadBarchetta :

Would love to make 70th.

Made 30th, 50th with my orginal owner 1960 Courier number 122. At my age don't know about the trip from Dallas, but will mark it it in. The Courier is not a show car, but retired racer Sunday afternoon toy.

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