It is in all probability no shock to study that Motor1 readers are the very best. On the finish of January, we discovered a Fb group for Google Earth pictures that, amongst different issues, featured outdated race tracks. We wrote an article sharing the deserted circuits, and also you responded with even extra locations to go to. Nearly, anyway.
Under is a set of outdated deserted and forgotten tracks submitted by you, the readers. Be a part of us for an additional spherical of Google Earth excursions. Do not see an outdated street course or drag strip you are pondering of? Submit within the feedback or shoot over an e-mail. We might love to listen to from you and have them in a future installment of this digital sightseeing saga.
Observe: Speedworld RacewayLocation: Wittmann, ArizonaCoordinates: 33°43’12″N 112°28’34″W
Due to Timm for the tip on this wonderful multi-use observe in Arizona. Situated roughly 25 miles north of Phoenix, what began as a drag strip within the Sixties in the end expanded to incorporate a small dust oval and motocross programs, amongst different issues. The ability was pressured to shut in 2013 in line with Dragzine, but it surely’s not fully devoid of exercise. An area radio-controlled airplane membership operates from a small runway on the grounds.
Observe: Bee Line DragwayLocation: Fountain Hills, ArizonaCoordinates: 33°30’26″N 111°45’45″W
Motor1 reader Timm additionally shared one other defunct Arizona drag strip with us, positioned close to Fountain Hills within the jap suburbs of Phoenix. The ghostly stays of the quarter-mile observe are simply seen simply south of Freeway 87, although Dragstriplist.com states it has been closed since 1982. It was a thriving observe by way of the Sixties and Seventies, serving as a daily cease on the skilled drag racing circuit.
Observe: Amatol RacewayLocation: Hammonton, New JerseyCoordinates: 39°36’19″N 74°44’33″W
This observe despatched to us by reader Carl could be a bit robust to identify. So we have utilized our nifty compare-image device to assist. Click on or contact the arrows within the center to pull left or proper. We have highlighted in blue the place Atlantic Metropolis Speedway was once. Rows of bushes define the previous 1.5-mile oval, which was in-built 1926 and closed simply two years later. In keeping with SouthJersey.com, a handful of 500-mile races have been held on the wood observe, which was in the end torn down in 1933.
Observe: US 30 DragstripLocation: Merrillville, IndianaCoordinates: 41°28’33″N 87°16’55″W
Drag strips are hiding all over, together with this one despatched to us by Motor1 reader Frank. Situated roughly 10 miles south of the Lake Michigan shoreline and round 35 miles southeast of Chicago, the quarter-mile observe closed in 1984. Misplaced Indiana says it opened within the Fifties and allegedly noticed the very first humorous automobile race. Legends like Don Schumacher and Don Garlits raced there, and Google imagery from 2022 reveals the observe continues to be largely intact.
Observe: Cornhusker DragwayLocation: Omaha, NebraskaCoordinates: 41°10’41″N 96°08’02″W
We give an enormous shout-out to reader Captain Stu for the following two tracks. He regaled us with tales of attending races right here as a teen within the Seventies, although there is not a lot left of the outdated quarter-mile strip. Concrete corporations have arrange store on the land, leaving only a small portion of the observe and return street seen between them. It had a brief run, working from 1969 by way of 1973 in line with Dragstriplist.
Observe: Sundown SpeedwayLocation: Omaha, NebraskaCoordinates: 41°19’58″N 96°05’33″W
Captain Stu frolicked at this oval observe, too. Situated northwest of Omaha, it was once a quarter-mile dust observe for Late Mannequin, Modified, and World of Outlaw racing. Midwest Racing Archives states it opened in 1957 and stayed lively for 44 years. Because the close by metropolis of Omaha grew, Sundown Speedway grew to become the topic of noise complaints and closed for good in 2000. Now, it is solely recognizable by the bushes outlining the outdated observe.
Observe: Meadowdale Worldwide RacewayLocation: Carpentersville, IllinoisCoordinates: 42°06’55″N 88°18’16″W
Roughly 40 miles northwest of Chicago you may discover Raceway Woods Forest Protect. This was once Meadowdale Worldwide Raceway, a sprawling 3.27-mile street course that opened in 1958 and closed 10 years later. However in contrast to most locations on this listing, this outdated observe hasn’t been deserted. All the structure nonetheless exists as a part of the protect, simply seen by way of the bushes. You will not see automobiles crusing across the corners, but it surely’s open to hikers and bicyclists. The Midwest Racing Preservation Affiliation is devoted to preserving the observe’s reminiscence alive, as are Motor1 readers Gajoseric and Joseph – each of whom emailed us about this cool location.
Observe: Marlboro Motor RacewayLocation: Higher Marlboro, MarylandCoordinates: 38°48’24″N 76°44’20″W
In keeping with North American Motorsports, Marlboro Motor Raceway in Maryland opened in 1952 as a small dust oval observe, in the end increasing to incorporate a number of ovals and a 2.4-mile street course by the late Fifties. It was the positioning of quite a few endurance races and SCCA Trans-Am occasions earlier than closing in 1969, due partially to the opening of close by Summit Level. Whereas Marlboro’s oval is well seen, we outlined the structure of the outdated street course which is essentially gone. Shout out to Motor1 reader Steve for the tip and historical past on this cool ghost observe.
Observe: Granite State Park Speedway (AKA Dover Speedway)Location: Dover, New HampshireCoordinates: 43°14’00″N 70°53’42″W
We now have some unanswered questions on this observe, despatched to us by reader Channing. Situated close to the border with Maine, this spot as soon as had a fifth-mile, half-mile, and one-mile oval layouts. Satellite tv for pc imagery suggests the mile-long observe was truly a tri-oval, however historic pictures on the Catamount Stadium web site present solely a conventional oval as we have outlined above in blue. In any case, the power began with horse racing within the Thirties, then expanded to auto racing till it closed down in 1962.
Observe: Augusta Worldwide RacewayLocation: Augusta, GeorgiaCoordinates: 33°21’10″N 82°05’28″W
You’ll be able to nonetheless carve some corners that have been a part of this 3.0-mile street course, albeit at gradual speeds whereas driving round baseball fields. In keeping with Racing Circuits, Augusta Worldwide Speedway was envisioned as the most important motorsports advanced on the planet, with a big oval in addition to a quarter-mile drag strip. That by no means occurred, however a strip and a smaller oval joined the street course throughout its 10-year run from 1960 by way of 1970. These are seen on the high of the picture (above proper), intermingling with subdivisions, church buildings, and a college. Shout out to Motor1 reader Mitchell for the tip on this one.
Observe: Rattlesnake RacewayLocation: Midland, TexasCoordinates: 31°54’42″N 102°02’40″W
At a look, this observe appears to be like prefer it may nonetheless be used right this moment. Despatched to us by reader Andrew, what you see here’s what stays of the outdated Chaparral Vehicles two-mile check observe utilized by firm co-founder and racing driver Jim Corridor. Constructed within the late Fifties, it was used for under a brief time frame. Except for testing, North American Motorsports mentions choose SCCA races and Porsche Membership occasions going down right here. Zooming in by way of Google, the floor appears to be like a bit tough however nonetheless intact.
Observe: Nazareth SpeedwayLocation: Nazareth, PennsylvaniaCoordinates: 40°43’42″N 75°19’08″W
Whereas investigating a small observe close to Pittsburgh despatched to us by Eric (sorry, we could not discover something) we stumbled on Nazareth Speedway. This observe existed in varied types for almost 100 years, beginning life as a half-mile dust oval for horses. In keeping with Deserted On-line, vehicle races started in 1910 earlier than ultimately rising right into a paved one-mile tri-oval within the Nineteen Eighties. As you may think, all types of automobiles raced right here by way of the many years, together with these from NASCAR and IndyCar. Nazareth was additionally dormant for a number of stretches of its life, which lastly got here to a detailed in 2004.
