Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Years ago I used to race at sweet owen speedway. I tried to find a satelite view of the speedway to see what remains with no luck. Can someone refresh my memory exactly where was this track located. Is there any information on the web about it?
Thanks
Jack:confused:

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

My Dad and uncle also raced stockcars there. I think storage units are there now. Here's what I found on Google Earth.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

My dad also raced there. It's on SR 46 west of Spencer, IN.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by ajb6:
My dad also raced there. It's on SR 46 west of Spencer, IN.

I ALSO RACED AT SWEET OWEN IN ITS HAYDAY.LIKED THE TRACK BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH ROOM FOR FANS OR PITS.
I LIKED IT WHEN YOU HAD 1 WET LAP & 1 DRY LAP FOR QUALIFIYING.
HAD A LOT OF FUN BACK THEN.STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF MY OLD TROPHIES LAYING AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE. :Steer

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Yes the good old days! I won many races and had some of the best times racing at Sweet Owen. That was the days of the $5 pit pass. Many great stories came out of Sweet Owen. I was not always a Sprint Car racer.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Thanks for the info. I raced there in 1973 and 1974 had lots of fun. I remember there was no crash wall except in front of the grandstand. I also remeber a guy hitting the end of that wall and realy pushing his face in. I went off the back strech there and rolled about 6 times during a heat race and ran the car in the feature. Oh to be that young again

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

I ran there in a stock car in 74 I think.. I just remember going with a friend that was going to run.. made one lap and pulled off. he was so scared he wouldn't let go of the steering wheel for about 10 min's or so.. they asked me to drive so I did.. had a blast... If I remember right it was a 59 Stuewtabaker, ( I know that's not spelled right.. I was in to Drag racing then.. 18 I think... good time's....... cheep fun...:thumb

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by champcar50:
thanks for the info. I raced there in 1973 and 1974 had lots of fun. I remember there was no crash wall except in front of the grandstand. I also remeber a guy hitting the end of that wall and realy pushing his face in. I went off the back strech there and rolled about 6 times during a heat race and ran the car in the feature. Oh to be that young again

i also did the dipsy doodle on the backstretch.about that many times for me also.my wife through her purse in the air & cleared about 5 rows of seats before anyone could get hold of her.
Them was the good old days.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

you didn't want to go off turn 3, you were looking at the tree tops and it was a long way to the bottom!:Steer

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by babcock14d:
you didn't want to go off turn 3, you were looking at the tree tops and it was a long way to the bottom!:steer

been there - done that --- also ran in that big assed hole just off the back stretch ---- ( ouch )

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Sweet Owen Speedway, just west of Vandalia In on IN46W. Dale DuBois built and operated that track for a few years.I used to operate a wrecker there when it was open. Had I have known SHORTBUS at that time I would have drug him into the woods and left him:rolling. GO FAST who posts here, his Dad raced there when it was open.Dale DuBois raced a modified at Bloomington Speedway until just past three years or so.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Sweet Owen ... I went there once with Dad and Mike Johnson. Mike drove a car in every race they had that night . There was a 46 (maybe) Chevy sedan that didn`t have any back doors . I was 8 or 9 and I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Also the track owner must have been a Marty Robbins fan because I remember listening to "Big Iron" many times before the races started.

Dan Hurst

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by babcock14d:
you didn't want to go off turn 3, you were looking at the tree tops and it was a long way to the bottom!:Steer

In 68/69 sprint car racing was good I was driving Jim Waltz 21 charlie car following Bob Black he picked up a rock with rr and hit me above r eyeoff turn 4 got STOPPED in turn 1 BLOOD was so thick cant see where to stop, but it was FUN we think??????????? Butch Wilkerson#1

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

:checkered::checkered:

Originally Posted by babcock14d:
you didn't want to go off turn 3, you were looking at the tree tops and it was a long way to the bottom!:Steer

In 68/69 sprint car racing was good I was driving Jim Waltz 21 charlie car following Bob Black he picked up a rock with rr and hit me above r eyeoff turn 4 got STOPPED in turn 1 BLOOD was so thick cant see where to stop, but it was FUN we think??????????? Butch Wilkerson#1:checkered::checkered::checkered:

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Alan Barr won the race that day and Bob Black was 2nd.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by dirtfan:
sweet owen speedway, just west of vandalia in on in46w. Dale dubois built and operated that track for a few years.i used to operate a wrecker there when it was open. Had i have known shortbus at that time i would have drug him into the woods and left him:rolling. Go fast who posts here, his dad raced there when it was open.dale dubois raced a modified at bloomington speedway until just past three years or so.

dan,
do you remember the old freedom - new hope speedway.it was located right next to the drag strip.only ran about two years.
Won the biggest feature there.beating denny cambell in a 50 lapper.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

My dad raced there.:Steer He grew up in Owen County. One time after the army he and some of his army buddies parachuted out of a plane and landed in the middle of the track and went racing.:respect::O: How cool. We also watched super 8 movies this weekend of dad and his brother racing at Eureka Speedway down here by Bedford. The ol' pond in turn 3 and 4 was hit a couple of times.:applaud:

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by SHORTBUS:
dan,
do you remember the old freedom - new hope speedway.it was located right next to the drag strip.only ran about two years.
Won the biggest feature there.beating denny cambell in a 50 lapper.

Sure do, the Wise family opened the New Hope Speeedway back in the early 70'S

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

My dad ran there in stock cars and sprints in the early 70's. A violent sprint car crash caused him to loose interest in further driving duties. He later fielded cars for Jack Dubois, "Shorty Deckard" and a few others. At one time the track had a 6 cylinder class running some pretty hot in-line Chevys.

As a kid my normal Saturday was loading up and heading to Sweet Owen in the
early afternoon. Playing with some Matchbox cars in the dirt behind the grandstand until the racing started. Then after the races, stopping at the El Patio motel/restaurant for a Pizza Burger at 1 AM.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Hey Sam Sr, Wasn't Rosie in charge at Sweet Owen?

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Yes, Rosie ran the pits when Paul Sizemore was the promoter. She was head "ref" in stopping fights. The trouble is I was usely the one she had to stop and I paid for it when I got home. My youngests daughter famous words were, "Mom, Dads in it again!". Back then I like to win races and win the fights. Old age stop that scilliness. Sam

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by SamSr32:
Yes, Rosie ran the pits when Paul Sizemore was the promoter. She was head "ref" in stopping fights. The trouble is I was usely the one she had to stop and I paid for it when I got home. My youngests daughter famous words were, "Mom, Dads in it again!". Back then I like to win races and win the fights. Old age stop that scilliness. Sam

SAM,
DID YOU EVER HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE PIT STEWART AT PVILLE ? LOL :wink :wink

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by Dirtfan:
Sweet Owen Speedway, just west of Vandalia In on IN46W. Dale DuBois built and operated that track for a few years.I used to operate a wrecker there when it was open. Had I have known SHORTBUS at that time I would have drug him into the woods and left him:rolling. GO FAST who posts here, his Dad raced there when it was open.Dale DuBois raced a modified at Bloomington Speedway until just past three years or so.

LOL YOU COULD WORK WITH THE WRECKER GUYS AT PVILLE:doh:

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=3703

This is the aerial available from HistoricAerials.com. I wish they had an older aerial photo available but the site is pretty new so I guess we'll just have to wait for them to update it with older images.

The track is located on W State Road 46, Spencer, Owen, Indiana 47460. The GPS coordinates are: 39.332629,-86.888053.

Thanks for the great information on the old tracks. Does anyone have a list of the tracks in Indiana and their location, etc.?

-Nick

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by mod134:
<a href="http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=3703"><img src="http://www.historicaerials.com/featuredPOIImage.aspx?poi=3703" /></a>

This is the aerial available from HistoricAerials.com. I wish they had an older aerial photo available but the site is pretty new so I guess we'll just have to wait for them to update it with older images.

The track is located on W State Road 46, Spencer, Owen, Indiana 47460. The GPS coordinates are: 39.332629,-86.888053.

Thanks for the great information on the old tracks. Does anyone have a list of the tracks in Indiana and their location, etc.?

-Nick

i found it on google earth but couldnt figure out how to post it

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

i ended up 2nd place in a bicycle race about 25 yrs ago....my bike was stuck in 3rd gear so it was a b$%^& taking off but when i got her wound up look out....and my older brother had put the chain back on a kids bike right before the race...GUESS WHO BEAT ME....ME AND THE KID ARE GOOD FREINDS TO THIS DAY

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by Go Fast:
My dad ran there in stock cars can sprints in the early 70's. A violent sprint car crash caused him to loose interest in further driving duties. He later fielded cars for Jack Dubois, "Shorty Deckard" and a few others. At one time the track had a 6 cylinder class running some pretty hot in-line Chevys.

As a kid my noraml Saturday was loading up and heading to Sweet Owen in the
early afternoon. Playing with some Matchbox cars in the dirt behind the grandstand until the racing started. Then after the races, stopping at the El Patio motel/restaurant for a Pizza Burger at 1 AM.

Shorty Deckard is my uncle. Just talked to my dad on the phone and he said that was a pretty good car Davey drove. He said Davey always wore dark sun glasses around at the track he thought he was Richard Petty. lol :kookoo Gary whats your dads first name dad couldn't remember?

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

My Dad told me a while back that one night (1960's) driving for Karl in the 22 that he set fast time, won the heat, dash and feature at Sweet Owen and they won a total of $65.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Any of you guys remember the track north of Mitchell on the west side of 37 about where Briscoe Mobil Homes is?

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by jd1sprint:
Shorty Deckard is my uncle. Just talked to my dad on the phone and he said that was a pretty good car Davey drove. He said Davey always wore dark sun glasses around at the track he thought he was Richard Petty. lol :kookoo Gary whats your dads first name dad couldn't remember?

Charlie. I remember the dark sunglasses now that you mention it. I always thought he was cool, but I was just a kid!!!

It's been 30 years so I am a little foggy on the cars, but I remember that we had a lot of Chevy II's. They were usually school bus yellow cause that was a cheap color and the parts store kept it in stock. Usually number 61. There were some other cars in there. I recall a green Ford that was really fast but they couldn't keep it from overheating and a 55 Chevy that came from Kenny St John.

A car dealer in Cloverdale bought the 55 and a Camaro that were both Figure 8 cars from St. John and my dad converted them to run dirt ovals. We ran the 55 and a guy who owned a gas station at 231 and 40 took the Camaro to run. I don't remember his name.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...=17&iwloc=addr

Anyone remember this track? Guess Where?

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by KKinser99:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=...=17&iwloc=addr

Anyone remember this track? Guess Where?

That was Godseys Greene County Speedway... Close to Crane..

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Open maybe one season? If this is the same place seems to me that Randy Kinser won an All-Star race there.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Originally Posted by Butch47265:
:checkered::checkered:In 68/69 sprint car racing was good I was driving Jim Waltz 21 charlie car following Bob Black he picked up a rock with rr and hit me above r eyeoff turn 4 got STOPPED in turn 1 BLOOD was so thick cant see where to stop, but it was FUN we think??????????? Butch Wilkerson#1:checkered::checkered::checkered:

My dad still has pictures of that car and several other cars that grandpa had back in the day, he even has a picture of uncle mike's #56 car that he drove for Herold Myers, even got killed in that car at bloomington speedway back in SEPT 78 I was 4 months old. I was there on the hill with mom, jason, lisa waltz.

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

I remember the track, I was probably 7 or 9, Going with my stepdad DAVE KERR, I remember him and SHORTY always used to beat-n-bang on each other for the lead. I still have pictures, tropheys from when dad would win in his old chevelle, that he had ran in enduos, at bloomington, brownstown, that car was beat all to he!!, the old #81. I REALLY MISS THAT MAN :crying::crying::crying:

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

sweet owen speedway is located at 6439 w st hy 46 across the hy it is a church now and thre is a garage on the old back stretch. we sold it to motorama about 20 some years ago we gave it up after my grandpa died in84 it was leased out for a few years ater that and my grand mother sold it. it still has turns 1 and 2 that goes up to the pits 3 and 4 is dosed over and the concrete wall in front of the grand stand is still there.

---------- Post added at 01:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------

nobody parrachuted in sweet owen. iv been here 33years and my dad the co owner thats been here 57 years will say that never happend.

---------- Post added at 01:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------

Originally Posted by SamSr32:
Yes, Rosie ran the pits when Paul Sizemore was the promoter. She was head "ref" in stopping fights. The trouble is I was usely the one she had to stop and I paid for it when I got home. My youngests daughter famous words were, "Mom, Dads in it again!". Back then I like to win races and win the fights. Old age stop that scilliness. Sam

when was this?

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

I found it cant post it

---------- Post added at 03:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=39.332976,-86.887161&spn=0.003817,0.006856&t=f&z=17&ecpose=39.33286623,-86.88716157,651.71,0.08,1.657,0

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

man i must be gettin old, first race i ever ran was at sweet owen 79 dad quit racin to flag there and putnamville , also raced at freedom dan check the years dont think it opened until 80 or 81have raced there one nite with trucks parked around turns for lights, also raced at green county speedway a guy named helton built that and later built the track at caterac falls, anybody remember the old bedford speedway turn west at stoplite at 50 and 37 dad and uncle raced there

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

Wish we could get back to the old days of racing seems like it was alot more fun and laid back then, or maybe i'm just getting older!!:3:

Re: Sweet Owen Speedway
 

I love hearing you guys talking bout the old days of racing Thanks everyone :8: