Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

Per another thread discussion about the fencing being removed at the track. I took these pictures while attending the Indy Fuel game on Saturday night. This is looking from Turn One.

Sad

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

I agree.

Lot of memories in that turn ,,

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

one of my all-time favorite places to just be at and take in the scene. 1974 Hoosier Hundred and didn't miss many races thereafter.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

Look at how short the wall is. One thing that made it easier for the state to sell out to the casino industry, is the reinvested nothing into the facility for decades. Sad indeed.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

Exactly, taking your "facility fee" for over 30 years and NONE of that money was spent on the facility you used. NONE. Bob Parker volunteered his folks just to come out and place guardrail on top of the concrete in front of the grandstands, just so insurance would allow motorsports to continue.

That track will be nothing more than a glorified parking lot.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

Indianapolis, the racing capitol of the world. It makes me sick to see whats happened at the fairgrounds. I don't go to the fairgrounds anymore.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

Question; Do they still use this track for horse racing or harness racing? If so it seems odd to me that they would be taking down the fence unless they were putting a different fence up.

SAD. The car racing on this track could never be better.
Champ Cars, stock cars and motorcycles. This was a highlight every year. So many great stories about life.
Memories like the USAC stock cars. I remember Foyt stole the pace car before practice. Three people in the convertible. Coming down the straight 80 mph. Never lifted and the right side digging into the cushion with dirt flying. The 3 guys didn't know to jump out. 2 laps was a site. Also the flat track motorcycles was always a pack going for the lead. Very hard for them to lead 2 straights in a row. Fun, fun. One time I met the promoter for racing. His rule was you have to be on the Fair Board to enjoy motor racing.
Lynn

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

They may harness race a little during the fair, but I doubt if they will anymore. I am sure the track will be used for parking during the fair. This will be a training facility. Saved the horse tracks in Anderson and Shelbyville from having to build one.

Is the Mini Indy quarter midget track gone?

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

I am not able to get to that part of the Fairgrounds during a Fuel game. Though I will try to see.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

Historically I am disappointed in seeing the track go away.

Financially I understand if they were not making a profit on the races. I do not how many tickets needed to be sold before making a profit.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

It will take a long time to make a profit off of barn rentals when you figure in the expenses. covering the track could not have been cheap.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

It would be interesting to know the stall rental. Along with what that includes. But, I would not think they would have converted the track if they did not think/know they could make a profit.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

You'd be surprised, Horse racing is a millionaires game. Knew a person who worked as a stable hand that made six figures. and this was thirty years ago.


We have a example of this here in Warren Co. Ohio. The races got moved to the new casino (Miami Valley Racing and Casino.) But the Warren Co. Fairgrounds kept it's stables and half mile track pea gravel. But lit.

Got to see a motorcycle flat track race on it last year. The riders pretty much duct taped all the bodywork on their bikes. The racing was the same as dirt.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

I thought it was. Not that USAC isn't. Just a more consistent income.

Re: Indiana State Fairgrounds
 

I used to make 7 figures by 2 were behind the decimal point.