Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

I caught this on the channel 13 news in Indy last night. The old stadium/track is being used as a junk yard holding place now. There is some video along with the story. Place looks terrible. Sure did have some good memories of the place.

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11472968

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

I seem to remember several nights, that it looked like that after the feature!!!Bob:3:

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

The nicest driver I think I ever met was at 16th Street Speedway. Ron Smoker - what a great guy. I remember he commuted by car every weekend fron New England to Indy and back just to race a midget. I was happy when he won the title in a real nail biter. IIRC, he was in the Parker Machinery 24 car.:6:

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

Man, that track was always rough, but unbelievably fast for it's size. Every time I drive past there, I wish it was still open for racing. I always wondered how many gazillion dollars were lost on that deal. Sad to see that entire property looking like it does now.

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

There was definately some real good racing there. If only somebody could afford to buy it and make it back into a racetrack and bring it up to be one of the nicest in the area, would take some money but would be pretty cool.

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

Funny I drove down by the race track just yesterday coming from the USAC office to see if it was still around as I thought the city was planning on tearing it down. Lot of memories watching the midgets run there. Seems like always a good show, like the night Jay Drake turned Tony Stewart over intentionally. The funny thing was Tony was letting Jay stay at his house while racing in the mid-west but Tony took it all in jest.:22:

REH

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

LMFAO!! Did nobody see the comments under the story?

UMAN -
"PIC-A-PART IS RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD SELL THE CARS TO THEM. PEOPLE STILL NEED PARTS. JUST PULL THE VEND. NUMBERS"


Guest -
"I know it may be difficult for you, but did you actually read the story??"


Thanks, JACKHOLE

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

the lead paint was the big problem their as far as being used now

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

The neighbors complained about the noise saying that the race cars drowned out the normal sound of gunfire in the surrounding neighborhoods.:18: Not a real great area of town....;)

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

My first trip there, was in the mid to late 40's, actually to a baseball game, my second trip there, was to opening night as a race track, close to 50 years later, surprising how sometimes your mind will recall things you thought were totally forgotten. We raced there off and on, until it was closed, a real momentum track, a slight lift, and you were history. Bob

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

It is a shame. That is such a unique place to race. I went to the Summer Sizzle in '99 and had a blast. I remember Leffler punting his way through Coons for the win. Every time I am in Indy, I drive by the place. Most times I'll stop and peek through the fence to see what shape it's in. It is very disappointing to see it now, but I have great memories of the races I attended. Here's to hoping it gets resurrected some day!:38:

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

that place was great. i too was at the summer sizzle for all 4 days. why was it not successful? i saw 6 or 7 shows there. 30 plus midgets on a regular saturday show. i remember thinking this is the final piece of the puzzle to move to Indy. then it was gone:13:

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

Yeah but Critter had them covered that night until he hit the big hole at home plate. Then they stopped the race to fix the hole :15: I really miss that place

Re: Just Sad - 16th Street Speedway
 

I have the interesting feat of attendance for Bush Stadium/16th Street Speedway. I was there for the last baseball game in 1996, the first race in '97 and the last race in '99.

Of course, I was there for many Indians baseball games when I was a kid and I was there many, many nights to watch midget racing.

I remember the old teepee past centerfield, daytime ballgames, ivy on the outfield wall and Raaaaa-zorrrrrrrrr Shines when it was a baseball park.

And I remember Brad & Pat announcing, Tommy Tipovers, Billy Shipman, the Leffler/Shelton victory lane fight, autographing Bruce "The Animal" Adkins straw hat, and having the belief that guys like Ron Smoker, Critter Malone, Andy Pierce and Michael Lang had a shot at making it to 16th & Georgetown someday.

Many great memories over the years that were shared with friends and family at that place. The grandstands and the brick walls may be deteriorating, but the everlasting memories never will. God, how I miss that place.