Indianapolis had one of the most exciting dirt tracks ever built, the NEW 16th Street Speedway, and guess what? Nobody came! Opening night was packed, along with a few special promotional nights, but other then that, a few hundred of us were able to enjoy some of the closest racing ever seen, apologies to car owners, cause the track did take it's toll on cars (and flagmen). Alot of stories about why no one came, mostly the neighborhood, but we never had any trouble there.
And as far as central Indiana having NO race tracks close, that's hooey, yes i said hooey, pardon my language. From my home in beautiful downtown Speedway, In., 45 minutes to LPS, 1 hour to Bloomington, Paragon, Kokomo, 90 minutes to Gas City, 10 minutes to IRP, and a 2 minute walk to IMS. Try that ANYWHERE else in the USA! And as far as a "kid" walking 60 miles to a race track, most kids only walk to the video stores these days for the latest copy of some bloody video game. Even a dirt track at IRP is not "walking distance" for anyone living outside of Cleremont, IN. Central Indiana is the place to be for dirt track racing, just check the line-up sheets of drivers and see where they all come from. They have all moved to Indiana to be able to race 3 or 4 nights a week. IRP doesn't need a dirt track unless they want to lose money, even now, the grandstands for the paved oval are hardly occupied on a race night. Just like the final opinions on building a wall around Bloomington's track...just leave it alone. Things are fine the way they are...and of course, jmho, bob
