Ghost Track? State-of-the-art local track, another victim of the rapidly changing short-track culture and economy, the plush Southampton Motor Speedway in Capron, VA has been sitting idle since 2004.
@jack-carter13 years ago
I really enjoyed going to this dirt track from 1992 thru 1997. A real family race track, I got to know a lot of the owners and drivers. I saw many good races there and almost never missed a race there in five years before it was paved. I lettered several of the race cars at Southampton Speedway. This is the best designed short track that I have ever seen and I have been to many tracks over the years. The turns were banked 18 degrees and sometimes the cars would go into the turns racing three abreast. Very fast race track. If it were located closer to more race fan population maybe it would still be open.
@bobby-williamson13 years ago
If it was still dirt, it may be open too. The economics of pavement racing have always been a stretch...now more than ever.
@butch-knowlton13 years ago
Heck of a nice looking track, I like the tri-oval.
@kos-s-jackson12 years ago
I was interested in seeing if there were comments about Southampton Speedway on line. I have fond memories of this great little track. I was the original promoter there and was involved in its planning sessions from conception to reality and beyond. The owners/ investors succeeded in offering a first class family friendly facility with a top notch show. I was always of the opinion that it should be built and run as a dirt track. It was highly successful in it's initial years, while dirt. I'm not sure how well it did after being paved. A dirt surface requires a good quality clay and intense preparation unlike asphalt.Southgate Lee was in charge of track prep and always gave 100%. There were many exciting races and very stiff competition. The car count was outstanding and some nights we had a tough time making sure that all drivers got a chance to compete.s/investors
@bill-mcpeek12 years ago
What a neat looking track. Would have loved to race there.....
Nice looking track!
I really enjoyed going to this dirt track from 1992 thru 1997. A real family race track, I got to know a lot of the owners and drivers. I saw many good races there and almost never missed a race there in five years before it was paved. I lettered several of the race cars at Southampton Speedway. This is the best designed short track that I have ever seen and I have been to many tracks over the years. The turns were banked 18 degrees and sometimes the cars would go into the turns racing three abreast. Very fast race track. If it were located closer to more race fan population maybe it would still be open.
If it was still dirt, it may be open too. The economics of pavement racing have always been a stretch...now more than ever.
Heck of a nice looking track, I like the tri-oval.
I was interested in seeing if there were comments about Southampton Speedway on line. I have fond memories of this great little track. I was the original promoter there and was involved in its planning sessions from conception to reality and beyond. The owners/ investors succeeded in offering a first class family friendly facility with a top notch show. I was always of the opinion that it should be built and run as a dirt track. It was highly successful in it's initial years, while dirt. I'm not sure how well it did after being paved. A dirt surface requires a good quality clay and intense preparation unlike asphalt.Southgate Lee was in charge of track prep and always gave 100%. There were many exciting races and very stiff competition. The car count was outstanding and some nights we had a tough time making sure that all drivers got a chance to compete.s/investors
What a neat looking track. Would have loved to race there.....