Page 45 - AreaNewsletters "Sept2022" issue

the racetrack, but nancing the project remained a problem that couldn’t be solved.
In 1958, a hill climb was organized on the dirt roads that had already been built and a large number of spectators showed up!
This may have been
the event that persuaded
Denver millionaire
Sid Langsam that
there was a future in
the un nished sports
complex after all.
Langsam had owned a
nance company in Texas when he sold a majority of the business in 1952 and moved to Denver, where he continued in commercial business nance. He had recently bought a Jaguar and had the idea of building a course that allowed spectators to see the entire race.
In March of 1959 Langsam bought the controlling interest in CMR and renamed the project Continental Divide Raceways (CDR).
After a swift construction program, the half-mile drag strip was the rst to open on July 19, 1959,
when a crowd of
8,600 fans ocked to watch the opening drag race. With
250 entries, it was clear that Langsam had tapped into something exciting.
The road course followed just 19 days later, stretching over 2.66 miles, and using the drag strip for its main straight and also incorporating a half-mile oval.
The nished result was challenging and entertaining--for both drivers and spectators. Mario Andretti reputedly held Continental Divide among his favorites, while the crowds enjoyed unparalleled views of the whole course on the huge grassed spectator banking which overlooked the pits. A 5,000 seat concrete grandstand was added in 1960, further boosting the amenities.
The rst event on the road course was a sports car race on August 8-9, 1959. Road racing and drag events tended to play out on alternate weekends, and initially there was no shortage of series wishing to race at the new venue.
Sid Langsam
The Continental Divide 100 was held as part
of the USAC Road Racing Championship in 1960. Carroll Shelby was the victor, with Bob Holbert and Ken Miles winning in
subsequent years. SSCA and
Carroll Shelby and the Trophy Girl, his future wife, actress Jan Harrison
USAC
Stock Car events were also held,
with Parnelli Jones winning the latter in 1964.
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Castle Rock “AreaNewsletters” • September 2022