[billyb]

Anybody know whats going on at the 16st ball park, I went by Sun.on the way to the World of Wheels and seen all kinds of construction and building going on what used to be the grandstands? looks pretty amazing, all glass. Going to ba a ball park or what. Last time I was there was when they was running the Midgets.(Tony George & Ed Carpenter) Somebody spending some bucks.

[Mud Packer]

Originally Posted by billyb Anybody know whats going on at the 16st ball park, I went by Sun.on the way to the World of Wheels and seen all kinds of construction and building going on what used to be the grandstands? looks pretty amazing, all glass. Going to ba a ball park or what. Last time I was there was when they was running the Midgets.(Tony George & Ed Carpenter) Somebody spending some bucks.

I went by there a couple of months ago. They are building condos from what I have been told. Certainly is improving the looks of the neighborhood. However, I still wish that they could have made a go of that. Good midget racing and the ole ball yard provided a scenic backdrop. However, you never knew if your car would be there when you returned to the parking lot.

[bike]

condos

[racefan20]

Originally Posted by Mud Packer I went by there a couple of months ago. They are building condos from what I have been told. Certainly is improving the looks of the neighborhood. However, I still wish that they could have made a go of that. Good midget racing and the ole ball yard provided a scenic backdrop. However, you never knew if your car would be there when you returned to the parking lot.

I went to damn near every race they had there. Loved it! It was close to home and the racing was great. It was dreadfully mismanaged though and thats the biggest reason they closed it. Mike I never had a single problem after the races in the parking lot. That neighborhood has a bad reputation but I cant remember any problems. Even after they shot off fireworks at 2AM

[Mud Packer]

Originally Posted by racefan20 I went to damn near every race they had there. Loved it! It was close to home and the racing was great. It was dreadfully mismanaged though and thats the biggest reason they closed it. Mike I never had a single problem after the races in the parking lot. That neighborhood has a bad reputation but I cant remember any problems. Even after they shot off fireworks at 2AM

I certainly didn't make as many shows there as you did John, but the neighborhood wasn't the best even back then. The neighbors didn't complain about the fireworks because they thought it was just regular gun fire.

I personally didn't have any problems either John. However, I have heard some of the stories from others that did. Even when the Indians played there, that area was not the best.

Your comment about mismanagement is right on. To bad since it could have been a real nice facility with some proper leadership.

[racefan20]

Mike if you remember the Speedway basically owned the place and it was the very end of the era where the Speedway had to do zero promotion to sell out IMS. Naturally they figured that 16th st would sell itself out just as easily. The nights they did promote, UAW night etc they packed the joint. The nights they didnt you could have shot a machine gun and not hit anyone. By the end they were drawing 200-300 a night and I knew half of them. In fact a bunch of people I know in racing I met there. Still the racing was exciting as hell, car count was never a problem and it was in the heart of open wheel racing. Such a damn shame.
Here is a race that was on Speedvision in 97.

http://w...

[Bruce Harrison]

Originally Posted by racefan20 Mike if you remember the Speedway basically owned the place and it was the very end of the era where the Speedway had to do zero promotion to sell out IMS. Naturally they figured that 16th st would sell itself out just as easily.

I seem to remember an article in Open Wheel Magazine where Dave Cassidy admitted that very thing. I was there for opening night (that was the biggest trophy I've ever seen), and for the final night of Summer Sizzle. A racy little joint

[HARFprez]

Just like John, Vicki & i hardly ever missed a race, 15 minutes from home & racey as he11! the only folks who hated the place were the car owners and the crack dealers, the owners for all the repairs they had to do afterwards and the dealers for not being able to hear the prices offered. Mis-management was the problem 100%, with the promotions guy spending his whole week just driving around in the convertible pace car and not hitting the radio & tv stations. I do remember Tony G.'s last words about the speedway, he said "with our huge p.r. dept. right down the street (at IMS) we could have done alot more to promote the track." To little, too late! We were only one lottery drawing away from saving the joint, cause if i would have hit a big powerball drawing, we would have still been racing there, bob.
p.s. NEVER had 1 problem in the parking lot, maybe cause they had good lighting and would leave them on awhile after the racing...unlike speedrome!

[Mud Packer]

John & Bob,

I agree totally. Mismanagement and lack of PR sent this track to an early grave. Sure wish that it could have worked because the racing was great.

Mr. President, when you do win that big lottery, please buy any one of a number of speedways that are currently shuttered. God only knows what the future of some of these places might be.

[DAD]

Originally Posted by Mud Packer John & Bob, I agree totally. Mismanagement and lack of PR sent this track to an early grave. Sure wish that it could have worked because the racing was great. Mr. President, when you do win that big lottery, please buy any one of a number of speedways that are currently shuttered. God only knows what the future of some of these places might be.

It served it's purpose ,(seat time for a certain kid) and was closed.

Honest Dad himself