abandoned speedways
 

Any oldtimers out there remember the quarter mile dirt tracks at Chesterfield and Albany in Indiana? The Skyview Speedway was just south of Chesterfield is now a gravel pit. The Albany Speedway was located on the eastern side of the city of Albany and a very faint outline of the oval can still be seen. Both were in operation in the early 1950's but neither one of them lasted very long. Anybody remember them?

I don't remember them, but I've heard a lot of good stories from Carl Kinser, Ray Godsey and a lot of the other retired drivers that used to gather at Corey's cafe in Oolitic. I know there used to be a track in Mitchell and I think there was one in Eureeka, not sure.
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I grew up about five miles from where you said the Chesterfield race track was, that was in the 50's. But I never remember hearing about it. I do hope someone will have some information on it.

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the gravel pit is right behind my house. im only 16 so i have no clue.i do hope someone finds information about this track in chesterfield.

I read an article in flat out mag a couple of years ago about 1 just north of alexandria & I was at gas city for a race last year & I actually went lookin for the remains of it(as per article) to no avail.
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armscamp speedway. its there. light poles turns 3 and 4 and the front wall are all still there.

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GregD It has been many years since I drove through the area at Chesterfield but I think it was on highway 67 and not highway 32 where the Skyview Speedway was located. It was south of the railroad tracks and south of the hwy. The last time I drove by there was absolutely nothing left of the speedway replaced by a very big gravel pit. The track had no lights and events were held on Sunday afternoons and it was very, very dusty.

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Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea what years the track operated and what kind of cars ran there?

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GregD The track operated in the very early 1950's, I would guess 1950-1953 era. I also remember a block building sitting out in front of the race track that might have been a restaurant, truck stop or a bar. I THINK, but I am not positive, that the building had a sign that said SKYVIEW SPEEDWAY. The last time I drove past on hwy 67 that building was still there and appeared to a part of the constuction / gravel pit business. The only kind of cars we seen there were the modified coupes. A source that might have more information would be Bill Holloway who still lives in Muncie and might have run the place. Google Bill Holloways Racing Photos and a link at the bottom has a contact for Bill or his grandsons would constructed the very near page.

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that building is a bar now. and ever july the town has there fire works at the gravel pit.

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Cataract Speedway - Cataract, Indiana

http://picasaweb.google.com/vukie53/RaceTracks#

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That is one that I have never heard of. Where is it located? Is it abandoned?

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I believed they filled it up with water and it's a small lake these days. Cataract, Indiana, a short drive from Putnamville. Dickie Gaines won some sprint races there in the 1990's.

---------- Post added at 10:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 AM ----------

I just added some photos of I 69 Speedway when it closed, boy that was depressing to look at.

http://picasaweb.google.com/vukie53/RaceTracks#

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wow, that doesn't look as bad as it could for being closed for a while.

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I got this from Google Earth. It looks like it could be Cataract Speedway

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/...2fa7679c_o.jpg

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Tommy, I took those photos in 1998 and it was still running that year. I think that IRL driver Robbie Buhl was racing a legend car at Cataract in those years.

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We went over there for a prac. day when they first opened. It was to big and banked for the mini-sprints that we had at that time.

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AH... :) Thanks...

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I know you are looking for oval tracks but here are some photos of the old US 30 dragway up in Northern Indiana.

http://www.geocities.com/grc46250/reopen.html

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This might be a good place to ask this. Has anybody heard if they are doing the reunion at Jungle Park this fall?

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Pat Sullivan would know,as he has been involved in that in the past.

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yes they are it is on sept 26 or 27 it is on a saturday . have a great time every year alot of vintage race cars and a lot of good storys

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is there any way i can find out more info on Cataract Speedway? Like old racing stories or pictures? Looks like a fun joint!

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Green County Speedway: aprox 93-94: between Owensburg and Koleen Ind: ran Sunday afternoons I remember Dickie G running here: Track growed over but consession building still there last time thru aprox 2005 Also Sweet Owen raceway SR 46 west of Spencer south side of Hwy ran sundays also. Diehard Dave (Dirt Track Junkies Bud) dad ran or worked this track circa 1972 or so.

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Hey guys, Don't forget the weekend right after Jungle Park is the Winchester Old Timers weekend at Winchester Speedway. Two day event. Midgets on Saturday night and Sprint cars on Sunday with a bunch of Vintage cars on the track Sunday. Oct 3-4, 2009.

On a note about some old speedways, how about the 'Hole" in Columbus, In. Careys Ranch south of Greenfield, Indian Lake NE side of Indy, and the New Castle Speedway ( not Mt Lawn) in New Castle.
Dusty

I was by the Green Cnty speedway last November. The concesion stand, a lot of the light poles, and I thing part of the stands are still there. I didn't even know about it before then, did they run sprints there? I just figured it was a go cart track or something like that.
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Dusty Goggles,was the Indian Lake track you mentioned the one that was east of Indianapolis on hwy 40, or the old National Road? The track was located on the south side of the hwy and I think it ran midgets in the immediate post-war years of 1946-1947. Do you have any information on the old Hoosier Motor Speedway that was located 'somewhere' on south Meridan Street in Indianapolis. In his book 'Gentleman Start Your Engines' Wilbur Shaw mentions this place.

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Dusty Goggles, I been tryin to get Butch to come up with the official name for the track, along Clifty Creek, at Columbus. It was called a lot of things, some not so nice, but I think the "official name" was Columbus Speedway, I know that sounds a "little" on the upside, but a lot of folks remember it as "the hole", and "the pit", which seems to fit better, but there were some good races held there. I raced there in the mid to late 50's, then sometime in the early 60's, we had a Kart race there. I was back there in the early 80's, the hillside is so grown over with briars, it's almost impossible to get down the hill, but the layout was still visible. Bob:31:

16th street speedway
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How bout richmond ft wayne 5/8 south anthony sweet owen muncie i/4 playland park

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Does anybody know how far it is from Jungle Park to T.H.A.T.? With the reunion at Jungle Park and the All-Star race on the same day that could workout.

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Only minutes from Jungle Park to THAT. Does anyone remember tracks at Mellot Waveland or Crawfordsville Ind.? Late 40's or early 50's. I doubt none lastiing more than a season. The one in C'ville was located just east on Us 136. Ran by a guy named Blacker, a friend of my Dad.

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The Ft Wayne 5/8, South Anthony also in Ft. Wayne, Playland Park and Muncie are completely gone with no trace of a speedway. Richmond however still contains some clues to the magic of the old Richmond Midget Stadium. Several years ago while driving through Richmond I decided to see if I could find the location of the old track. The area has grown so much that following directions was difficult but I did eventually find the remnants. The first and second turns are gone replaced by a new home. The third turn banking was very much in evidence and a portion of the fourth turn also remained. The former pit area reveled a section about two feet long of the old guard rail, several old rusty 'old style' beer cans that needed a church key to open and an assortment of bolts, nuts and other leftovers of another time. None of the asphalt remains but after walking the area for several minutes we, my son was with me, discovered all of the asphalt from the former racing surface had been bladed off and dumped into a nearby ditch. If you have the time and patience and if you walk around where the former big wooden grandstand was located you will find the 6x6 timbers that were sunk in the ground to erect the grandstand. They are cut off a little below the surface of the ground. You can also pick out the where the flagstand was erected also with timbers sunk in the ground. As a youngster many, many years ago my father and I spent a lot of time at this race track.

It's amazing to me all these old tracks that are gone now. It seems that almost every litttle town had some sort of track. I love hearing stories about these tracks, just wish I had been around to see them myself.
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How about the Cedar Lake Speedway, two miles south on Millhousen rd., just outside of Greensburg, Indiana. The (very old) ad that I have shows that they ran midgets and stockcars every Sunday afternoon, and a man named Art Tate was the manager.

I do not rememberbeing at this track, so it must have closed around the late 50's.
I also heard rumors of a track near St. Paul, Indiana from around this same time-frame...

Good luck in your quest,

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Anyone remember the old Andrews Speedway, it is just west of Huntington just off 24. It must not
of ran for very long. very small 1/4 dirt track that was along old hwy 24. Turn south of 24 at Andrews
intersection and go to 1st intersection (old 24) turn left and it is on the left. You can still see some
retaining wall and pit exit. Also some light poles and the small officals booth and some stumps where
seats must of been in the hillside. Cows now grazing where the track must of been and I think the pits
were in the small gravel pit just north of the farm house. Still fairly clear to see its layout..

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I know I've asked about this place before but I finally found it on google earth. I have passed this place a million times and have always wonder when it was openned and what the name was. If you go to intersection of 31/30 just north of Plymouth In and go north on 31 I'm guessing 7miles the track is located on the east side of 31 and south of Linkville In.It looks like there might be a pond in it. Like I said I've by there a million times and there is still buildings and light poles still up.Please check it for me.

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Champaign, IL, Dayton, OH, Bryan, OH?, Greenfield, IN, Cincinnati, OH (Tri-County & Speedbowl?)Crown Point, IN, Hammond, IN, Little Springfield, Aviila?, 1/2 pavement in Pittsburgh, Reading,. Lots of history

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Yes Bob, it was officially Columbus speedway, but I knew it as the hill.Went there many times in the early and mid 50's

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Thanks for the photos Vukie. I found one of my buddy Spike at Santa Fe.

For years the delapidated billboard for Santa Fe. sat by the road on the way to Chicago. I was surprised no one went and got it for a keepsake.