1931-2011
*80th Anniversary of American Speedway*
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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.
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We start at Griffth Park in Los Angeles. A very popular 4,218 acre oasis for residents of L.A. to get away from
city life.
Back in 1931 a group called the Breakfast Club headed by Maurice De Mond put on "Night Speedway" races. The bikes were 350
and 750cc
the riders hillclimbers and racers used to riding on 1/2 mile and mile dirt tracks.
The Broadsider Magazine from 1933 takes up the story of the Breakfast Club and the
introduction of real modern speedway to America.
 
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| At this time I cannot point to the exact spot for these Breakfast Club races.
The current equestrian center is not the original spot
L.A. Equestrian Center
much has changed since 1931. Best thing to do is Google 3115 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles (Breakfast Club HQ) look at the map and Satellite photo.
Then go to Historic Aerials and do the same.
If you go back to the oldest picture (1948) you will see arenas directly north of the Breakfast Club HQ.
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The old Breakfast Club building of the 1930s and '40s became a country music club called the Riverside Rancho.
Stars Spade Cooley and Tex Williams headlined the club.
The Los Angeles Fire Department burned down the building on Sept. 3, 1959 as a training exercise.
Two years later, Cooley murdered his wife and went to prison.
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Speedway's American roots go back to the early 1900s it was the Breakfast Club that defined it and recently returned globe-trotter Lloyd "Sprouts" Elder who leg-trailed it out of the ball park.
1501 East 41st St., Los Angeles, CA 90011 is the home of the Ross Synder Recreation Center. In 1931 this was White Sox Park where Elder showed off his style on a real speedway bike. This is the place where American Speedway was born.
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The rest of the Broadsider magazine is here along with more old track info. I like this issue of Broadsider Magazine as it came out within a couple of years of Elders ride at White Sox.
This is probably not tainted being so close and so a good way to set a time for when American dirt track racing spun off to become speedway. Remember speedway is called Class "A" a class of varing cc's going back to the earliest days of organized competition.
Modern American speedway is the only remaining original Class "A" class of dirt track from those early days.
It can be difficult tracking down this history and little nuggets appear in the strangest places. In the 1940s and '50s the music Bible magazine Billboard actually had a "Speedway Roundup" column.
This actually makes sense as celebrities were often seen at the races. The Breakfast Club was a hangout for Hollywood and early race co-promoter P.A. Bigsby not only worked for Crocker who produced a speedway bike he also
worked in guitar design. In the 1970's Hollywood actor Billy Gray also raced speedway and today he invents things including guitar picks. Let us not forget two times world champion Bruce Penhall.
Music, Hollywood stars and the stuntmen Eddie Mulder, John Hateley, Mike Bast and Dude Criswell through Lance King, Rick Miller and the still racing Shawn "Maddog" McConnell, the entertainment industry has always been around speedway.
What a boost it would be for the sport today if it was featured in a weekly Billboard column. Check out my other page for more on the Crocker.
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In 1941 a young Alex "Putty" Mills signed to ride former sidecar racer Harry Pelton's L.A. Softball Park at Slauson and Western. The park at the South West of the intersection has disappeared into history. A little over a month later the attack on Pearl Harbour would set Putty on a different track to the Battle of the Bulge in Patton's 3rd Army.
Here is a place where a friend of mine who is still alive raced and you can't even find a picture of it.
I have found two obscure references to the park one in an internal Boeing magazine concerning a softball game and one in an engineering newsletter in regards to the facilities at the park, both from 1940. The land is now a Foods 4 Less.
Below is the Foods 4 Less and sign-up entry plus envelope for Putty Mill's 1941 race entry. Putty is in the last picture, his ride is Ray Grant's 1932 National Championship winning Peashooter. The picture is taken in Santa Barbara at the old 1/2 mile Lemon Grove track.
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Emeryville, look down at the dense trees and houses to the left of the baseball diamond. That is the old site of Emeryville Speedway. Scroll down in the book and check out that crowd!
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 1937, New York Yankee Stadium. Benny kaufman sustains some nasty injuries. Article is midway down on the left.
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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.
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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
Historic Aerials can take you back to 1969.
| 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
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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
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All
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