Tracks I have been to

[Statsman]

  I remember they changed the name of the track in its last year to Satellite Speedway (1975) and I think its last race was on Labor Day weekend . We had given up on the Late models at the end of 74 and went pavement modified racing at Lancaster and Fulton on a weekly basis so I am not sure of the exact date it closed . I do recall some great racing there with Ralph Book , Terry Kitchen , Jack Cook , Bruce Van Dyke and Andy Brown . For those of you who dont remember Andy he was an NHL goalie with the Detriot Red Wings at the time and he was a stock car racer in the summers . Andy was also pretty good in a super at Oswego in the late 60s early 70s.

 Andy was the last goalie in the NHL to play without a mask and when he left the Detroit Red Wings he went to play in the WHL for a team called the Indianapolis Racers

While he was with the Indianapolis Racers they signed a young kid named Wayne Gretzky to play for them. Pretty sure more people remember the hockey talents of young Wayne over Andy Andy drove a USAC sprint car at that time as well  when he was with the WHA Racers and it was the only Ford powered car on that circuit. He was the only Indianapolis Racer that was actually a racer.


I remember one Wednesday night at Sunset when Andy was there with his #16 Chevelle and his buddy and better known goalie, Jim Rutherford was supposed to drive a Chevy II in the 6-cylinder division. Rutherford was with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the time and the car was painted in their blue and black. Someone got wind of it though and put the kibosh on their starting goalie running a racecar. Rutherford was from Beeton, fertile ground for some pretty stout 6 cylinders from the likes of Kerry Coburn, Grant Broome and later Garry Reynolds who's uncle Lloyd was involved as well as an engine builder. And who can forget LM and Diamond racer Big Bad Bev Bye of Beeton

Here's Andy in the #16 Chevelle at Cayuga chasing Earl Ross in the McKichan Brothers #13 Bardahl Chevelle.


Just for fun his a shot of Bruce Van Dyke's fast Ford Torino at Flamboro in 1970:




Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26735#msg26735

[Statsman]

For the record this is my list the only local track that I didn't see anyone list is the old Grand River Speedway in Elora and the Diamond invitational we went to got rained out the one time I was there:
Atlanta Motor Speedway   Atlanta, GA
Barrie Speedway        Barrie, ON
Bristol Motor Speedway   Bristol TN
Brookside Speedway NB
Butler Motor Speedway MI, dirt
Cayuga Speedway  Nelles Corners, ON
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
CNE 1964 confguration
CNE 1990 configuration
CNE Molson Indy
Concord Speedway, Concord NC (the old dirt track in 1973)
Danny's Speed Bowl NB
Darlington Speedway
Daytona International Speedway  Daytona, FL
Delaware Speedway   Delaware, ON
Detroit Downtown street circuit (F-1)
Dirt track outside of Minto NB late 60s
Dover Downs, Dover Delaware
Dragway Park Cayuga
Flamboro Speedway   Freelton, ON
Grand River Speedway Elora ON
Hialeah Speedway, Miami Florida
Hideaway Speedway*   New Hamburg, ON
Holland International Speedway   Holland, NY
Indianapolis Speedway
Kawartha Raceway         Peterborough, ON
Martinsville Speedway   Martinsville, VA
Michigan Int'n Speedway   Irish Hills, MI
Mid Ohio
Mosport Road course
Mosport Speedway       Bowmanville, ON
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville, TN
Nazareth Superspeedway
New Symrna Speedway   Samsula, FL
Peterborough Speedway   Peterborough, ON (incl the Westgate years)
Pinecrest Speedway*  Toronto, ON
Pinecrest Speedway*  Toronto, ON
Pocono Raceway       Long Pond, PA
Richmond Speedway, Richmond VA (the old Fairgrounds configuration in 1987)
Sauble Speedway       Sauble Beach, ON
Some forgotten red clay dirt track in South Carolina
Sunset Speedway     Stroud, ON
Sutton Speedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Toronto International Dragway (Georgetown)
Varney Speedway     Durham, ON
Wasaga Beach
Watkins Glen International   Watkins Glen, NY
West Palm Beach Speedway, West Palm Beach Florida


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26736#msg26736

[mike32]

thanks for the photos Statsman. I remember the car that really piqued my interest was in 1971, Ken Stewart  of Oakville built a gorgeous 1963 Ford Fairlaine LM (built to Nascar Sportsman specs) and it was on display at Kennedy Ford in Oakville where Ken's dad "Lin" was a sales rep. My father was seeing Lin re buying a new T-bird at the time. (I think LIN+kEN became Linken Engineering)
 Ken had a matching Ford cabover ramp truck to haul the #75. His driver at the time was Don Goodale (sp???) and I believe later in the season he had Pete Hudson wheel the car at Speedway Park. (Don fixed a hobby car I had part interest in after my younger brother cracked it up.)For the next few seasons, he had realy sharp Fords (Torinos and Mustangs)that saw Hollis, Hanley and Scannell behind the wheel.
 I think the #16 Dodge that ran at Flammy the last few years was one of Ken's creations and I know he did work on Micksy's Cascars. Ken is still well known for his street rod fabrication.
d

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26748#msg26748

[racingwrench]

Tracks I have been to wrenching (i'm sure I'm missing a couple)
Crystal Mi
Hartford Mi (dirt)
South Buxton
I-96, Ionia county  Mi (fast hard on motors rpm stays way up)
Cherry Mi (up north abrasive dirt)
Merrit Mi (also up north)
Owendale  Mi (huge pit loud fans)
Ohsweken
Brighton
Ransomville
Auto City Mi (on big track)
Dixie Speedway Mi
Berlin Mi (great drink cups at concession)
Cayuga
Delaware
Peterboro
Kawartha
Freemont Oh
Barrie
St Croix (driveway down the cliff backstretch right on the sea level)
Sunset
Sauble
Butler Mi (the tree house is awesome)
Holland Ny (just plain fast)
Mosport Oval
Sandusky Oh (gotta love a track right in town just cross the street to tsc for supplies)
Merritville (turn four makes the lap)

I know I'm missing some but that's all for now.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26767#msg26767

[SRAMA]

Hi Pinecrest
I have been away for a few days.
Bluebird speedway was located on Howard ave north of Hwy. 3 which would put it about 5 miles north of Windsor, It ran for two perhaps 3 years and was basically put out of business by Checker flag when it got running.

Dayus Speed way was located in what is now and industrial area of Windsor between Howard ave and McDougall, north of Jackson Park.  Its funny but as I drove by there last week I was thinking about the track and took a peek and it appears that ther is a redi-mix plant sitting on the site.  The Dayus family still has a business located on part of the property.  Remenants of the track could bee seen in the 70's.  Maybe I will see if it can still be seen.

I could go downstairs and look at my 1971 or 1972 diaries of our racing and see if the track had another name, I just remembered it as St Clairsville Ohio.  It was dirt at that time.

SRAMA

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26865#msg26865

[Statsman]

thanks for the photos Statsman. I remember the car that really piqued my interest was in 1971, Ken Stewart  of Oakville built a gorgeous 1963 Ford Fairlaine LM (built to Nascar Sportsman specs) and it was on display at Kennedy Ford in Oakville where Ken's dad "Lin" was a sales rep. My father was seeing Lin re buying a new T-bird at the time. (I think LIN+kEN became Linken Engineering)
 Ken had a matching Ford cabover ramp truck to haul the #75. His driver at the time was Don Goodale (sp???) and I believe later in the season he had Pete Hudson wheel the car at Speedway Park. (Don fixed a hobby car I had part interest in after my younger brother cracked it up.)For the next few seasons, he had realy sharp Fords (Torinos and Mustangs)that saw Hollis, Hanley and Scannell behind the wheel.
 I think the #16 Dodge that ran at Flammy the last few years was one of Ken's creations and I know he did work on Micksy's Cascars. Ken is still well known for his street rod fabrication.
d

I remember that Fairlane quite well, I don't have any pics of it from when Stewart owned it but here are  a couple from when Ted Watson drove it at Barrie in 1976.




I know Glenn Watson peeks in from time to time and he might recall what happened to the car after his dad raced it.

Here is an "instamatic" pic I took of Howie Scannel in the Mustang at Barrie in 1974:


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26871#msg26871

[duken]

Great pics statsman. We are fortunate for guys like you to preserve the history of short track stock car racing in our province . Any chance you might have a pic or two of a 68 or 69 Torino racecar that ran locally ?

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26882#msg26882

[MID]

Okay memory lovers... who has a picture of the 89 car, lime green Cuda that just about everyone drove including, Jack Cook, Terry Kitchen just to name a few. This was a very fast car and everyone that drove it either won, or wrecked.
Another good photo would be Scooter Scannel in the Dart- not the Super Bee. The Dart tried to take the fence down at Flamboro and I dont think it ever ran again.
How about Earl Ross in the Wild Mouse, or Zavitz in his always pretty Ford.
What about the likes of Ralph ' the racing farmer' Book, and his Teamate Rich ' Hey Donny watch me do a Polka on the roof of your car' Grady, or the late Kenny Smith- wasn't dead just always late, or Kenny' I dont race on Sundays' Riemer. Art Clark in the 7 car, Stormin Normin in the 57, or Jerry ' I walked through the valley of death' McAkara.
The photo's are cool and should have ther own site on this deal Evan.
You can call it- When racing was Fun !! 


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26909#msg26909

[racenut]

 I have old photos and photo buttons of the following drivers:
Rich Grady, Don Hawn, Jerry Makara, Norm Lelliott, Brian Setterington, Earl Ross, Art Ross, and more.
I don't know how to add pix to this site though. One of my favourite drivers was Kenny Nichols in the blue #1 '57 Chevy. I don't know if I have any photos of it but I do have a photo button of Kenny in the Hamilton Radiator Roadrunner prior to Booky getting in it. He switched to a Camaro the following year.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg26913#msg26913

[CanadianRacer.com]

Here's my list:

Canada
CNE (1990)
Sutton Speedway
Brighton Speedway (old paved track)
Brighton Speedway (the dirt track)
Barrie Speedway
Sunset Speedway
Peterborough
Varney
Flamboro
Mosport Speedway (oval)
Mosport International Raceway (road course)
Exhibition Place (Molson Indy)
Ohsweken Speedway
Shannonville Motorsports Park
Kawartha Speedway
Cayuga Speedway
Race City, AB
Delaware Speedway
Humberstone Speedway
Merrittville Speedway
Capital City Speedway (just added on Aug 22, 2007)


USA
Road Atlanta, GA
Senoia Speedway, GA
Auburndale Speedway, FL
Owosso Speedway, MI
Lancaster Speedway, NY
Alamaba International Motor Speedway (Talledega), AL
Michigan International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway


I know my site has been mentioned already but if anyone wants to share their old photos or info feel free to send them to me at webmaster@canadianracer.com and I'll eventually get them posted in the track database.

All the now-closed tracks are interesting to me.

Racechaser - what can you tell me about Blezzard Valley Speedway and Fisher Farms Speedway? I've never heard of either of them.


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg27087#msg27087

[hogg]

I've been to 2 that haven't been mentioned although it was so long ago i barely remember.
Jackpot speedway and Model T speedway near Williamsford Ontario.
Both dirt tracks that lasted only a couple of years. I remember only a few cars. A blue slant six valiant (sponsored by Chatsworth Motors?) that won lots. an orange mustang fastback (i think) #4, a red car with an 8 ball on the side that i always cheered for. I think Jim Lipskie may have been the announcers name.
Danny Kotiuk and Merv Keller (died in a snowmobile race i think) ring a bell but they may have been Sauble names
Why i remember some of the stupidest details after almost 40 years and not what i did this morning...

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg28078#msg28078

[veilleux]

Quebec tracks

Circuit Ste-Croix
Autodrome Montmagny
Autodrome St-Eustache
Autodrome Drummond (dirt)
Autodrome Chaudière
Autodrome St-Félicien
Sanair Super Speedway
Stadiaume St-Guillaume (dirt)
Autodrome Granby (dirt)
Autodrome Val-Bélair (closed)
Autodrome Ste-Thérèse (closed)
Autodrome Mont-Carmel (closed)
Autodrome Saguenay (closed)
Autodrome St-Grégoire (dirt) (closed)
Autodrome St-Lambert (closed)
Hippodrome de Québec (dirt)

Ontario
Mosport Speedway
Capital City Speedway

New-Brunswick
Centre For Speed (Shediac)

USA
Beech Ridge Speedway (Scarborough, ME)
Oxford Plains Speedway

Road course:
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Grand-Prix de Trois-Rivières
Mont-Tremblant
Mosport International Raceway
Grand Prix de Québec

   


Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg28148#msg28148

[Greasemonkey]

Here's one I bet not many of you have been to:

Ontario, just outside of Pembroke: Golden Lake Speedway (Dirt) more like rocks though. 1994 was the opening year I was the Chief Tech Inspector and the Track Flag man as well. I was only there for the first season actually they asked me to do it "For a couple of weeks only", turned out to be the whole season.

I lost touch with the track but heard it closed down after a few seasons.

Greasemonkey.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg28150#msg28150

[Thunder6]

This is very interesting, I also like to go by some of the old tracks, to see if there is anything still there if I am in the neighbourhood. I know where Wasaga Beach Speedway is, I just haven't got a chance to go there yet, and I have found the site of the old Orillia Speedway (ran in the 50's it's about 6 miles from Barrie Speedway), again I was going by and saw it, but didn't want to nose around and I was running out of time in the day. I have found lots of information on a ghost tracks site on the internet.

As to operating tracks I have been to:

Barrie
Sunset
Mosport Oval
Kawartha
Sauble
Delaware
Varney

I haven't made it to Peterborough or Cayuga yet. I am planning to go to Autumn Colours so maybe I'll check that one off this year.

Some of you guys have been to a lot of tracks... I thought I had been to a few...

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=6263.msg30999#msg30999

[thecrowdpleaser]

Ontario

Peterborough/westgate speedway
mosport speedway oval
mosport road course
kawartha speedway
brighton speedway
cayuga dragway
cayuga oval
sunset speedway
barrie speedway
cornwall speedway
deleware speedway
pinecrest speedway
merritville speedway
varney speedway
sauble beach speedway
skydome (legends racing)
deseronto dragway
shannonville road course
brockville speedway
capital speedway
varney speedway
flamboro speedway

Quebec

sanair speedway

States

michigan international speedway
pocono
dover deleware
las vegas
rockingham
rockingham dragway
atlanta
charlotte
daytona
darlington
talledega
new smyna
volusia county
orange county speedway, durham North Carolina
concord motor speedway, quarter and half mile
hickory motor speedway
caraway speedway
charlotte dirt track
holland speedway
lancaster speedway
new york state fairgrounds, dirt
ransomville speedway
rolling wheels speedway
cayuga county speedway
niagra falls convention center, indoors
evan mills speedway

there's more, just can't remember them all



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