Ghost Tracks

[#9Chris]

I had a friend send me this awhile ago maybe some of you guys out there know of some old tracks
  http://www.motorsportscentral.com/old-tracks.asp. This is a link to the page it shows tracks from all over Canada, some have pics with info on the track.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7373.msg41438#msg41438

[25_JLM_13hp]

That's really neat. I wish we still had some of these old tracks in operation. My grandfather always talks about a dirt track in the Port Elgin/Southampton/Kincardine area that he used to go to before Sauble, wish I could remember the name.

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[Thunder6]

Yes this site is very cool, there are a few I know where they are, and a few I would like to check out.

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[jcrashm2]

As you drive by Bismark you can still see the pit tower.
And one day I was on a drive and decided to walk old Speedway Park. An old fellow was walking his dog and he said the only reason they tore up 1/2 the track was because people were going there at nite during the summers, having a few beers and doing their own "king of the hill" races.

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[#9Chris]

If you went to the bottom of the page it would list tracks that have been talked about or rumored to have evidence of there existence, I know where Orillia Speedway is I just never have the time to go check it out.

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[Thunder6]

Yeah I know where it is too, been by there and it seems to still be there. I did not approach anyone or go on the property.
I know where Wasaga Beach Speedway is too and how to get there. It's part of the Provincial Park now, so anyone can go there.
I heard about one by Orr Lake too, and apparently you can see it from the road, but don't go on the property, the owner doesn't like that.
I think there is one by Sutton too, but I have no idea where that is.

When I was a kid there was a gravel pit near Carthew Bay that some guy raced his own stock car in, he had his own little track, but I can't figure out where it was now. Bottom of the 12th somewhere. I think I would have been about 6 or 7 when I saw that.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7373.msg41446#msg41446

[CanadianRacer.com]

Sutton is located on the north side of Baseline Road (8A), west of the town of Sutton and just west of the intersection of McCowan Road and 8A. It's near the cement plant. The property is being used for storage units. Here is the Google maps coordinate: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=44.300525,-79.390694&spn=0.003755,0.009978&t=h&z=17

Link to the Sutton page on my site: http://www.canadianracer.com/sutton.asp

25_JLM_13hp: The track near Port Elgin that your grandfather was talking about was probably Bluewater Speedway. Here's the like to its entry in the track database: http://www.canadianracer.com/track-display.asp?trackid=bluewater&querytype=detail&extra=history



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[Thunder6]

Cool, maybe this summer I might swing by the site of Orillia Speedway and see if anything is still there. There is a gate, possibly two entrances to the site and a high hill right by the road, so some investigation is required. I am reluctant to trespass on other people's property, so I would rather talk to some residents in the area first... Every time I am in the area I either have no time or it isn't an appropriate time to talk to anyone.

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[Thayne]

Kev, lemme know i love seeing ghost tracks..i went out to wasage...its super cool...makes me want to grab the quad and go pavement oval racing on it with the bro


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[25_JLM_13hp]

Yep Bluewater was it. I'm going to start looking to find this "natural amphitheater".

Edit: A dirt track located directly next to a fast moving river... man guys were fearless back then!

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[Thunder6]

Sure Thayne, will do, I dunno if there is much left there it closed in the 50's but it might be interesting. It really is too close to home not to check out.

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[Thayne]

u gotta see wasaga kev, the track is still like intact..ikts pretty neat and eary

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7373.msg41458#msg41458

[CanadianRacer.com]

Cool, maybe this summer I might swing by the site of Orillia Speedway and see if anything is still there. There is a gate, possibly two entrances to the site and a high hill right by the road, so some investigation is required.

I saw some photos of Orillia taken in the early 1990's. There was a light tower standing in the old infield at the time.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7373.msg41459#msg41459

[Thunder6]

Didn't see anything like that, but it is all heavy pine brush area... and I didn't go on the property.

We'll have to see what is there this summer.

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[CanadianRacer.com]

The best time to go ghost track hunting is in the early spring after the snow has melted and the ground has hardened but before the grass and weeds have really started growing. It's easier to find things.

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