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8/26/09, 10:25 PM |
#41
Re: abandoned speedways
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 267 |
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8/27/09, 2:56 AM |
#42
Re: abandoned speedways
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Posts: n/a
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About a dozen ago I sent out in search of Mellott Speedway with my son. Mellott held AAA midget races in the late 1940's- early 50's (I don't have the exact date and I'm because I can't sleep - but I'm still too tired to be precise) right after the AAA created a championship division for midgets and counted things toward the championship other than 1 mile tracks- Troy Ruttman ran there and apparently drivers who - many who lived at Lake Monticello - would decide to race there instead of Walsh Stadium in St Louis. The late Dave Cassidy told me that it had great dirt and told me a story about the first time Forrest Parker showed up there with an Offy powered midget and didn't account for the additional power and launched off the backstretch. So I head off to Mellott on a cold Sunday in the late fall - hit the town and drove around and essentially see nothing and nobody. Suddenly I saw this guy walking around the corner of his house and I rolled down the window and said "Excuse me, I know this is a reach, but would you know where the race track used to be here in the 1940's?" He said - know about it? I was the promoter. He showed me the field where it was (plowed) and then said ..."You know, I remember the first time Forrest Parker showed up in an Offy!". He said the big issue was crowd control, there was a railroad grade and people would stand on it and watch without paying.
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8/27/09, 7:05 AM |
#43
Re: abandoned speedways
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 173 |
Andrews ran in 1964, I think. One part of a summer. Great location. Track was a 1/4, but a full size stock car could hardly set sideways in the infield. For some of you old timers I think maybe CORA ran there. I still miss Warsaw the most.
There used to be a track just north of Columbia City, by one of the lakes. I never remember the name (possibly big lake). Triton's football field sets on the old Bourbon fairgrounds. I saw the cars run there on a 1/2 mile horse track in the 50's. JohnG, the track near Plymouth was built for motorcycles. I'll try to find more information. |
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8/27/09, 7:59 AM |
#44
Re: abandoned speedways
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 172 |
Greene County had some really high banking and was a blast to race at. Surface had its share of creek rock in it and we would always walk the track throwing out pieces. If memory serves me correct, the rerouted a creek in the making of the place and that was also its demise. The DNR came in and cracked the whip....at least this is what i was told.
We had a guy come into the shop a couple of years back trying to sell advertising saying he was bringing it back to life....glad I didnt buy into that. Martin County Speedway can be added to the list too....a fun little track that died in the mid 90's. |
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8/27/09, 8:03 AM |
#45
Re: abandoned speedways
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 184 |
The track north of Columbia City was indeed Big Lake Speedway. There was talk of reopening it
maybe 15-20 years ago but nothing came of it. I believe it was promoted by Howard Rex but I'm not sure. If you know where you are looking they say you can still see parts of it. |
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8/27/09, 8:27 AM |
#46
Re: abandoned speedways
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,441 |
Jackson Motor Speedway, Jackson Michigan. The track is still there. My grandfather, uncles and dad built this in the mid 40's and it was a 1/2 high bank oiled dirt track. i think it opened in 1948. They would later make into a 3/8 paved for safety reasons. 1 and 2 high banked like Winchester and 3 & 4 semi banked. i heard stories of turn away crowds in the 50's when they had special shows. the feature event used to be on live from the local tv station back then i was told. Nolan and Gordy Johncock, Beale, Sessions, Benny Parsons, Kenyon, were some that raced there. i think it closed for good around 1973.
Randy Stull
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Last edited by duel; 8/27/09 at 8:41 AM. Reason: signed name |
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8/27/09, 9:20 AM |
#47
Re: abandoned speedways
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Posts: n/a
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![]() This is one of those things that has just bugged the heck out of me for 20+ years.Thanks again.
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Last edited by john3g; 8/27/09 at 10:16 AM. |
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8/27/09, 9:49 AM |
#48
Re: abandoned speedways
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Posts: n/a
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Does anyone remember the old speedway that was about 1/2 mile west of Dunkirk? It had to be in the early 50's. Don't think there is anything at all left of it since there is now a house setting there. I remember going there one time in 52 or 53.
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8/27/09, 11:38 AM |
#49
Re: abandoned speedways
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Senior Member
Race Count This Year: 48 Race Count Last Year: 31 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 302 |
Champaigns track is totally gone.. over run by construction, ... i always heard good things about little springfield, wish i coulda gone... still waiting for fayette county speedway at the fairgrounds in brownstown il to open back up, that was a fun place...
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8/27/09, 1:15 PM |
#50
Re: abandoned speedways
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Posts: n/a
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My dad won a race at the little springfield in like '74 I think. Second place was Rich Vogler third was Tommy Stiener.It was a big deal for us. Is Brownstown Il really going to re-open? That would be AWSOME!! Neat little track and fun to race on.
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Last edited by john3g; 8/27/09 at 1:17 PM. |
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