Indiana Open Wheel - View Single Post - What's up with Chicago Motor Speedway/Sportsmen's Park

DonMoore10 · 1/11/09, 12:57 PM

Just north of Chicago Midway Airport on Cicero Ave. are two one mile race tracks, Hawthorne, a horse track and the former Chicago Motor Speedway/Sportsmen's Park, originally a horse track but converted to a duel facility for pavement racing and horses. These two race tracks are back to back. I think Hawthorne is still operating, but it was my understanding that CMS/Sportsmen's Park was to be torned down.

I recently downloaded, for free, Microsoft Virtual Earth which gives you a birdseye view of literally any area/city/street/landmark/etc etc, just as if you were hovering over anywhere in the country in an airplane. This is one of the most facinating computer/internet programs I have ever experienced. Google also has one, but IMO is not as good as the Microsoft program. If you're traveling to an unknown area, this program can give a first hand look at exactly where you are going, a preliminary look at the actaul roads, landscape, buildings, etc etc. Just type in an address or place/location and you will see the area in seconds.

I've been having fun with this, exploring some of the old and new speedways around the country. One of them is the Chicago Motor Speedway. What's up there anyway? The Microsoft program ( and it's unkonwn when they took the aerial photos ) shows that the track is still there, but most of the grandstands on the main stretch have been torn down. There is still a significant grandstand left near the first turn along with a large clubhouse type structure. Wow... if a race car flipped out of turn one, it would land on the busy street which is just a few feet away.

I've also checked out some other former race track sites: Michigan State Fairgrounds one mile track where you can still see the outline of where the track was, New Bremen Speedway, New Bremen, OH, Fresno Fairgrounds mile track where at one time they were going to race SC cars, Bainbridge, OH mile track where they held a NASCAR race in 1957,champ and midgets... part of the track is still there, the other part is now a Home Depot, Del Mar mile track, CA.

If you'd like to do some virtual traveling and enjoy exploring from your easy chair, you will really enjoy this program!

1/11/09, 12:57 PM	#1 What's up with Chicago Motor Speedway/Sportsmen's Park
DonMoore10 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,474	Just north of Chicago Midway Airport on Cicero Ave. are two one mile race tracks, Hawthorne, a horse track and the former Chicago Motor Speedway/Sportsmen's Park, originally a horse track but converted to a duel facility for pavement racing and horses. These two race tracks are back to back. I think Hawthorne is still operating, but it was my understanding that CMS/Sportsmen's Park was to be torned down. I recently downloaded, for free, Microsoft Virtual Earth which gives you a birdseye view of literally any area/city/street/landmark/etc etc, just as if you were hovering over anywhere in the country in an airplane. This is one of the most facinating computer/internet programs I have ever experienced. Google also has one, but IMO is not as good as the Microsoft program. If you're traveling to an unknown area, this program can give a first hand look at exactly where you are going, a preliminary look at the actaul roads, landscape, buildings, etc etc. Just type in an address or place/location and you will see the area in seconds. I've been having fun with this, exploring some of the old and new speedways around the country. One of them is the Chicago Motor Speedway. What's up there anyway? The Microsoft program ( and it's unkonwn when they took the aerial photos ) shows that the track is still there, but most of the grandstands on the main stretch have been torn down. There is still a significant grandstand left near the first turn along with a large clubhouse type structure. Wow... if a race car flipped out of turn one, it would land on the busy street which is just a few feet away. I've also checked out some other former race track sites: Michigan State Fairgrounds one mile track where you can still see the outline of where the track was, New Bremen Speedway, New Bremen, OH, Fresno Fairgrounds mile track where at one time they were going to race SC cars, Bainbridge, OH mile track where they held a NASCAR race in 1957,champ and midgets... part of the track is still there, the other part is now a Home Depot, Del Mar mile track, CA. If you'd like to do some virtual traveling and enjoy exploring from your easy chair, you will really enjoy this program!