Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

Out roaming today before the races and came across a small town named Cataract about 10 miles south of Cloverdale. We stopped to check out the old school house being restored and found out there was an old dirt track that had been built in town. Supposedly it had the steepest banks of any dirt track and was a 1/4 mile. Only ran one season because of lawsuits from towns folks. Guy who built it got so mad he filled it with water and wanted to bulldoze the entire town.

Great old stories, and we actually found the track that is now a pond, but you can definitely tell it was a track.

Anybody remember the track or had been there when it operated!

Mike Reed was the promoter. I think it was 99 or 2000 when it ran.

Ya track was awesome. Swamp off three and four saw a few cars get into it. And a big hill outside of one. Saw a car flip up the hill then roll back down it onto the track. Also laughed as a rather portly track worker repeatedly slide down the banks on his face and ass while watering it. Also watched Tony Stewart Robbie Buhl and Tony George run legends cars there. I think Dickie Gaines was track champ.

What was the name?

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

this would have to be it then huh?

Yes that is it. We had to trespass to find it. ( we drove down the driveway and turned around)

I remember when they ran there i was a kid but my cousin donnie took a bad crash there and went up in the stands

This is literally my back yard, it would explain why I found old fenders and late models wheels in that "swamp".

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

So Adam, is that your house in the picture?

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

Never went. Wish I had. Only heard stories. From what I was told, the track only had one concession stand. It was on wheels – a trailer or a van? They moved it back and forth between the pits and the grandstand throughout the afternoon. If you were in the stands and you wanted to something to eat or drink, and the trailer was in the pits, you had to wait until they were ready to pack up and head your way again!

I believe it was only in operation in ’98. I remember seeing their ad in NSSN claiming to have the steepest banking of any dirt track in the US.

I had the pleasure of racing there once. The banking was incredibly steep. They tried to start the cars going down an equally steep gravel hill, then thought better and rolled the cars down the hill and started them on the track.

Dickie Gaines won that night and I believe it was the night Donnie flipped. They were pooling cash together from track workers pockets to pay the purse, so that was our only trip there.

Good times!

When they had there first practice day it was bad fast for a mini-sprint.

you could run as hard as you wanted going into turn one and two slid off of 3&4 push truck couldnt get to us had to use our 4 wheeler to get us out fun times lol tim helton is who i believe built it he also did the track in green county

Those are all great stories.

Yes, that would be it

Originally Posted by amiller24m:
This is literally my back yard, it would explain why I found old fenders and late models wheels in that "swamp".

That is so weird! Looking at the satellite image I can totally see it now! How strange that you live there now, and it was a dirt track just years ago. Hah.

Okay, I've looked at Google Earth until I'm cross-eyed, and I can't find it. Can someone list the GPS coordinates or some landmark I can look for or something? I'm just curious. Thanks!

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

Just look up cataract, IN 47460. it should be easy to spot on the google map, just south west of the pin point on google by maybe a mile.

Here is the closest address: 2710 S Cataract Rd, Spencer, IN 47460

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

To: Tim Hilton, Owner
Cataract Raceway
R. R. 2
Spencer, IN 47460

Cause No. A-3747

Designated representatives of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
(IDEM) investigated a complaint of fugitive dust on October 13, 1996 which indicated that Raceway located at Cataract, Indiana, has violated the following provisions of the Indiana Code (IC) and/or the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC):

Rule 326 IAC 6-4, in part, prohibits the escape of fugitive dust from the boundaries
of the property of the source.

On October 13, 1996, an inspector from OAM observed fugitive dust generated by race cars cross the property line.

In accordance with IC 13-30-3-3, the Commissioner is required to notify you in writing that the Commissioner believes a violation exists and offer you an opportunity to enter into an Agreed Order providing for the actions to correct the violation and for the payment of a civil penalty, if appropriate. The Commissioner is not required to extend this offer for more than sixty (60) days.

If settlement is not reached within sixty (60) days of your receipt of this Notice, the Commissioner may issue an Order pursuant to IC 13-30-3-4, containing the actions you must take to achieve compliance, the required time frames, and an appropriate civil penalty. Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, the Commissioner may assess penalties of up to $25,000 per day of any violation.


Notice of Violation
Page 2

The timely entry into an Agreed Order will prevent the necessity of an Order of the Commissioner being issued or the filing of a civil court action. Advantages of entering into an Agreed Order are:

1. You may not be required to admit that any violation occurred.

2. The civil penalty may be less than that imposed under an Order of the Commissioner.

To discuss this matter further, please contact the Enforcement Case Manager, Eric Larsen, at (317) 233-1133 within fifteen (15) days after receipt of this Notice to schedule a conference. If settlement is reached, an Agreed Order will be prepared and sent to you for review and signature.

For the Commissioner:

Date: _______________ Signed on 1/10/97
Patrick Carroll
Director
Office of Enforcement

cc: Owen County Health Department
C. Edward Taylor, Office of Legal Counsel
Gene A, Kelso, Office of Air Management
Eric B. Larsen, Office of Enforcement
Enforcement File

Converted by Andrew Scriven

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

"fugitive dust"

Darned ole fugitive dust anyway.

If they want your a$$, they will have your a$$

The EPA already has a plan for dust control. It will come right after they control rivers, streams,ditches and all water on land. I was just at a elevator in Cloverdale and the young wipersnaper there told me he knew exactly were the old track was.

In Indiana, it's hard not to find an old race track, kinda like cow pies, they're everywhere! Bob

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

^^^^^ the trick is though to try to get them back in working order. Maybe not to actually host races at, but at least to make a good place to practice. Or better still hold a type of driver training school (I know I'd sign up).

Originally Posted by Unlucky#9:
^^^^^ the trick is though to try to get them back in working order. Maybe not to actually host races at, but at least to make a good place to practice. Or better still hold a type of driver training school (I know I'd sign up).

A test or training track sounds like a good way to retire a track but the red tape to start a business and the insurance would stop that right in its tracks.

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

This is from Google Historical Imagery March 1998

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

I ran a legend there twice in 98. First time we pulled in the pits I couldn't figure out where the hell the track was, till I looked down the hill in front of the pits. It was a pretty cool track to race on for as little as they had to work with. Second time we ran there the water truck had broke in the infield and they weren't going to run due to dust ordinance from city. A few drivers got together and got an old fire truck on the hill running and took it down to the track in granny gear cause it had no brakes. They got it watered and we got to run though. I have some old pictures from there somewhere. I also went before the LPS sprint week race last week. Crazy how much its grown up.

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

Originally Posted by cale1421:
I ran a legend there twice in 98. First time we pulled in the pits I couldn't figure out where the hell the track was, till I looked down the hill in front of the pits. It was a pretty cool track to race on for as little as they had to work with. Second time we ran there the water truck had broke in the infield and they weren't going to run due to dust ordinance from city. A few drivers got together and got an old fire truck on the hill running and took it down to the track in granny gear cause it had no brakes. They got it watered and we got to run though. I have some old pictures from there somewhere. I also went before the LPS sprint week race last week. Crazy how much its grown up.

I would love to see some of those photos. Thanks for the stories.

Another little thing, there is the small general store there in Cataract. Turns out the lady running it had a father that raced sports cars all over the US. He was hitched up with Mazda. If you go in the store ask her to see the photo of him and his friends, it's really cool.

Re: Old race track in Cataract, IN
 

Went to a bunch of races there, and shot a bunch, unfortunately the fire took care of the photos. Dickie Gaines won a bunch of shows. I saw Donnie Gentry flip into the stands, and Robbie Buhl drive a legends car race there. My kids also got to know Dick Gaines from going there. It was bad fast, and if you were in the infield and it rained, they would have got you out the next week.It was a STEEP climb out of the infield.

Originally Posted by racephoto1:
Went to a bunch of races there, and shot a bunch, unfortunately the fire took care of the photos. Dickie Gaines won a bunch of shows. I saw Donnie Gentry flip into the stands, and Robbie Buhl drive a legends car race there. My kids also got to know Dick Gaines from going there. It was bad fast, and if you were in the infield and it rained, they would have got you out the next week.It was a STEEP climb out of the infield.

Yeah, and it hurt too!!!