|
|
OLD SPEEDWAY TRACKS
|
|
|
This page takes a look back at some of the venues that staged speedway. In some cases a stadium remains and in others nothing is left so we have to guess about where the track used to be. You will find pictures, click on them to make them bigger and PDF files. You will need to make these bigger to read them. At the top of the page is a plus sign to magnify the print.
We start with Emeryville. Look down at the dense trees and houses to the left of the baseball diamond. That is the old site of Emeryville Speedway.
|
|
|
|
Two newspaper clippings from the day. The first is for the opening of this track in July of 1933. Oakland Tribune June 11th, 1933. The second story is from August of 1933. An up-coming race preview and advertisement.
|
|
|
| Neptune Speedway was in or around a fair/swimming complex in Alameda. In the picture is a park area next to the water. The track was around there somewhere.
|
|
|
|
|
| The year is 1935 and the sports section of the Fresno Bee has an advert (lower right) and race preview (lower left) for some hot August action at Baxter Stadium in Stockton. This stadium was at the University of the Pacific, it was torn down and I believe it to have been around the running track/baseball (upper left) area of the college.
|
|
|
|
|
The pictures on the right show what is left. Houses and empty lots. Airport Speedway was also known as the Kearney Bowl. It was eventually paved to help the four wheelers turn. This area was also known as the Italian Entertainment Park, it appears boxing took place and maybe there was a park too. Another fun place gone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kezar Stadium the former home of the San Fancisco 49'ers hosted cars and bikes. Situated on the south east corner of Golden Gate Park, what a place for speedway race. The Stadium has been neutered in the modern era, less seating and yes an all-weather running track!
|
|
|
|

Visalia's Recreation Park was the scene of speedway action on September 27th, 1933. The baseball diamond wasn't there back then and there used to be a swimming pool too. This park has changed quite a bit. The race article is on the left hand side of The Fresno Bee newspaper.
|
Hill Climbing was part of the scene for many speedway riders and dirt trackers. Here is an event from 1933 at Morgan Hill featuring many of the usual suspects. This event in 1941 has Lloyd "Sprouts" Elder as the A.M.A. Commissioner. Competitor Pee Wee Collum is flipping over backwards trying to win.
|
|
|
|
| Gilmore Stadium near La Brea tar pits and Moto Speedway in Long Beach had a 1935 double header featuring British star Eric Langton.
Below is Gilmore Stadium today bought by CBS Television. CBS gives us shows like Big Brother and The Young and the Restless. Here are more
pictures of what CBS TV property looked like with a stadium on it. What a superb looking venue.
|
|
|
| To the right, this is what Moto Speedway, 6665 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach looks like today. I think it was on the right where the business and parking lot are. This is the only picture/news clipping I have found. Class "C" racers crashing.
|
|
|
|
|
| 1937, New York Yankee Stadium. Benny kaufman sustains some nasty injuries. Article is midway down on the left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The picture on the left shows the scene today. The track was below Beach Blvd. Two links to what the track looked like in the '40s. Also known as Talbert Raceway this track used to be in the middle of nowhere.
Huntington Beach Speedway ran an 1/8th mile dirt track in 1948. I presume it was inside the paved circuit pictured. This circuit has been long buried under sixty years of what we are told is progress. This newspaper article is from 1948. It's July 15th, 1948 and Bob Feuerhelm is the man to beat.
|
|
|
Friday night at Saugus and Saturday at Whiteman
Sauguas Speedway website has a history page with the question. What would you like to see at Saugus Speedway? Errr
| In 1968 speedway was "Born Again" at Whiteman Stadium, Pacoima. This stadium that boasted the dirt track circled by a bank asphalt car track is now gone. Saugus followed on the heels of Whiteman both promoted by Dude Criswell. Saugus is still there, still called Saugus Speedway except there is no racing anymore. It was paved over for the roundy round car boys who need that asphalt to help them make the turns. Last race was in 1995.
On the right very rare film from Whiteman Stadium. I believe this is 1969. Can you spot Steve McQueen? I can't give credit on the film maker. I put it out there and tried to find out who did it. After 4 years, gave up and now share it here. If you made it and want me to remove it, email xtremesport
| News papers from the day
Van Nuys News January 24th, 1969
This article mentions Saugus and Whiteman. Van Nuys News May 2nd, 1969
Van Nuys News August 9th, 1969
Whiteman movie part 1
Whiteman movie part 2
Whiteman movie part 3
|
|
|
While waiting on the below tracks to appear check out the African connection
Coming soon:
Culver City
Gardena Stadium
Ascot
Carrell
Santa Monica
Carpinteria
Santa Barbara (again)
Goleta
Buellton
Santa Maria
San Luis Obispo
Arroyo Grande
Atascadero
|
All
Content © 1998 - 2008, xtremesport.org All Rights Reserved.
|