Just saw that 2 more Tracks closed...

[JackpotJim]

I'm geographically probably the luckiest guy here, I live 6 miles from a large track that the community supports here in Minnesota. Up until a few years ago I was still driving my car to the track with open headers on Wednesday night racing.

 

[Moparfever65]

In my lifespan so far (since 1959), I was young when many closed
been to them all, seen or raced most of them too
We used to have 28+ (IIRC) maybe more Dragstips here,
a couple are or were 1/8th mile, most are or were 1/4 mile,
all started in 1947-1948, birth of drag racing
IIRC we now have 7 sanctioned dragstrips/tracks
& 2 dry lakebed races, very limited access

encroachment from development/urban sprawl
insurances, or property taxes/are big deal
even with Prop 13
you only ever pay 1% of org. purchase price annually to the county
But;
people usually from points east, that move in by
or near & a long-standing existing racetrack
& then bitch about the noise, they knew it was there when they bought
it's always disclosed
&
we still have plenty of wide open country, a shitload of open/rural land here
70% of the state is still rural open country, much of it flat valley bottomland
plenty of places they could still run/build easily
except for the red-tape, govt. BS, makes it almost impossible now

Insurance co.'s, it the legal extortion/especially liability
is a huge part of the costs to operate, probably 35%-45% of every dollar
then paying for $2500+ a day mandatory ambulance services,
anytime the gates are open
T&T sessions are a wash if only 20 people show,
it all goes to the ambulance co.

Sacramento isn't too long off either, been for sale forever it seems now
urban sprawl catching up
Famoso/Bakersfield, Sears Point/Infinity, I think are safe for now
not too close to town/s
Redding probably too, but it's too close to the city now also

all closed/gone
NorCal
Baylands/Fremont, Lake Oroville (me & 2 buddies tried to buy it, no go),
Vaca Valley, Lodi Airstrip, Kingdon (Lodi), Halfmoon Bay, Cotati/Santa Rosa

SoCal
Riverside, Santa Ana, Ontario Motor Speedway, Orange Co. International,
Fontana (recently new closed & the old), Lions, Long Beach, LACR,
Irwindale (the org. & new is questionable), San Fernando
I'm sure I've missed quite a few too

Sacramento's already closed. I read there was a stipulation in the sale by the county that the new owner could not reopen it as a race park. Lots of great childhood memories there. Makes me sad.

 

[Budnicks]

Sacramento's already closed. I read there was a stipulation in the sale by the county that the new owner could not reopen it as a race park. Lots of great childhood memories there. Makes me sad.

Thanks
Wow
I knew it was coming, I didn't know it happened already
I have some fond memories there, from back in the 60's a kid
with my stepdad & my days in HS in the mid-late 70's,
way into the the 1990's to about 2007
it was my home track, made a crapload of runs/rounds there
& T&T passes there...
Except for Dave Smith the old owner/mngr, he was something else,
screwed over a lot of people in agreed payouts & promises...
I'll just leave it at that...

 

[65coronetAFX]

Thanks
Wow
I knew it was coming, I didn't know it happened already
I have some fond memories there, from back in the 60's a kid
with my stepdad & my days in HS in the mid-late 70's,
way into the the 1990's to about 2007
it was my home track, made a crapload of runs/rounds there
& T&T passes there...
Except for Dave Smith the old owner/mngr, he was something else,
screwed over a lot of people in agreed payouts & promises...
I'll just leave it at that...

Really a sad day to see Sac raceway go , first track I ever raced on when I was a kid in 1984 , and the first bracket race I ever won was there too , when I read the news it was emotional.
I feel very lucky to live in idaho and have for many many years and race at Firebird raceway .
We have a unique situation here as the track is a Historical landmark and cannot be shut down , and I wonder if some of these tracks shouldn’t follow suite so they won’t be in danger as well ?
I feel it is some real good food for thought and would like to hear discussion

 

[beanhead]

Major bummer.
We're clinging to Famoso! Luckily it's still BFE territory around there....

 

[Splangj]

Oh man, Sac closed? That’s going to make Sears point unbearable.when I raced there in the eighties, it was almost all V8s, inexpensive and not too crowded. I was there about eight years ago, it was jam packed. Mostly average street cars, tons of imports, no open headers allowed and super expensive food and drink.
I’m glad I was there decades ago, because it’s lost its soul….

 

[Spare Parts]

In my lifespan so far (since 1959), I was young when many closed
been to them all, seen or raced most of them too
We used to have 28+ (IIRC) maybe more Dragstips here,
a couple are or were 1/8th mile, most are or were 1/4 mile,
all started in 1947-1948, birth of drag racing
IIRC we now have 7 sanctioned dragstrips/tracks
& 2 dry lakebed races, very limited access

encroachment from development/urban sprawl
insurances, or property taxes/are big deal
even with Prop 13
you only ever pay 1% of org. purchase price annually to the county
But;
people usually from points east, that move in by
or near & a long-standing existing racetrack
& then bitch about the noise, they knew it was there when they bought
it's always disclosed
&
we still have plenty of wide open country, a shitload of open/rural land here
70% of the state is still rural open country, much of it flat valley bottomland
plenty of places they could still run/build easily
except for the red-tape, govt. BS, makes it almost impossible now

Insurance co.'s, it the legal extortion/especially liability
is a huge part of the costs to operate, probably 35%-45% of every dollar
then paying for $2500+ a day mandatory ambulance services,
anytime the gates are open
T&T sessions are a wash if only 20 people show,
it all goes to the ambulance co.

Sacramento isn't too long off either, been for sale forever it seems now
urban sprawl catching up
Famoso/Bakersfield, Sears Point/Infinity, I think are safe for now
not too close to town/s
Redding probably too, but it's too close to the city now also

all closed/gone
NorCal
Baylands/Fremont, Lake Oroville (me & 2 buddies tried to buy it, no go),
Vaca Valley, Lodi Airstrip, Kingdon (Lodi), Halfmoon Bay, Cotati/Santa Rosa

SoCal
Riverside, Santa Ana, Ontario Motor Speedway, Orange Co. International,
Fontana (recently new closed & the old), Lions, Long Beach, LACR,
Irwindale (the org. & new is questionable), San Fernando
I'm sure I've missed quite a few too

Abandoned Santa Rosa speedway

 

[Al Alguire]

Sac raceway has always had a non transferrable lease. Dave has not been doping well health wise and that got worse last year. So the decision was made to pull the plug on the racetrack. Why its been on a "countdown clock" for the last few years. Sonoma may as well be closed. I saw what 5 races for the year there, and no divisional. You can still run a street/quiet car n Wednesday nights. Next option is Redding or Samoa or Bakersfield.

 

[cj's mopar]

If insurance company's keep pricing tracks out of business eventually they won't have anything to insure .
The insurance companies have gotten fat off of people betting.againt themself in this country and everyone being told go to college and get lawyers degree.
We need more young people to be into motor sports .

 

[OldGuyGTX]

Very sad to see this happening in so many places

Tucson is open for everyone, including snowbirds.

Home | Tucson Dragway

www.tucsondragway.com

It was 48F at 4:00AM when I left Tucson this morning.

 

[padam]

Another one dammit!

 

[cdr]

Houston Raceway Park closed last year, GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[Some Car Guy]

I’ve made a lot of passes at Owingsville. Made my first ever pass on that track. Sad to see it gone.

I was there the day the guy in the corvette hit the trees. Was a wild scene.