Columbus

North America’s IMSA sports car championship visited Columbus, Ohio from 1985-88 on a challenging 2.3-mile street circuit. The event was part of newly elected city mayor Dana G. Rinehart’s ambitions to reposition Columbus as a modern city. He enlisted the support of local businessman and team owner Jim Trueman as chairman of his race committee task force. Alan Wilson was hired to design the track and work as executive director with his Desiré Wilson also employed. The paddock was the Veterans Memorial Center and pitlane was on either side of Broad Street. Cars threaded through very narrow railway bridges on the fast northern section with the purpose made Keyhole hairpin was immediately before the startline. Much of the track was on the banks of the Scioto River which it crossed twice. The race was held four times before it slipped from the IMSA calendar amid mounting loses.