does anyone remember or have any photos of the old rutherfordton track - i cant remember it was considered a fairgrounds or not - i never went to this track - but i heard lots about it - i think it was a half mile dirt and may have run as late as the fifties or sixties . oh yeah just about everybody back then pronounced it - rulla-furd .
I've been told that the old Rutherford Co. Speedway was a fairground track, and the site is occupied by (Rutherford) county governmental offices.
the old fairground speedway was in the middle of spindale.........forest city it was one half mile and slick,,the county maintenance building sits where it used to be behind the old callahan -koone lumber building ...the fair was held there once a year and half of the stands were covered...if you want more info i think i can find a pic of it on this site.............johnny rogers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,son of a man who won many a race there welford {GOAT} rogers #47
this is the track - thank you very much - i remember goat rogers - thank you .
Located in near-by Gaston county, does the name "Lowell Fairground" Raceway ring a bell with anyone?
bobby- i never saw a race at this track either - but i know where it was at - it was in lowell but everyone called it gastonia fairgrounds or spindle city fairgrounds - the fair would come there once a year - i went to the fair but the track was not in operation - what i remember it was mostly gone then - but you could still see where it had been - it operated in the fifties and early sixties from what ive been told - i think nascar ran one gn race there - tiny lund pole - buck baker winner - if i am correct .
David, thanks, I'm familiar with "Spindle City Fairgrounds". Was wondering if "Lowell" was yet another track. You're right, NASCAR did run a GN event at Spindle City.
look hoss,,,,,,,,,i can tell you where the track was at ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,who ran there and why the track was closed down,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i can even tell you who climbed the pine trees to watch the race4 for free....;...do not doubt me.........................john rogersDRIVER (goat rogers . the sponsor bill turner & bill owens used auto parts,,,,,,,,,,,cousin to COTTTON OWENS
John, bring on the details, luv to hear 'um.
hello bobby.
this is john rogers son of welford ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,goat rogers i can tell you many stories about spindale county fairgrounds ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but please give me a couple of days to talk to goats living crewmen,,,,,.,,.who all were men who came back from the war (the big one) lookng for excitement....and they sure found it at rutherford fairgrounds....i promise you the truth.....thanks johnny rogers
BOBBY,.....THE SPINDLE CITY FAIRGROUNDS IS NOT THE SAMETRACK THAT WAS IN SPINDALE, NC......THE TRACK IN SPINDALE WAS THE "RUTHERFORD COUNTY SPEEDWAY"......A 1/2 MILE FAST DIRT TRACK...IT WAS LOCATED AT THE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS BETWEEN SPINDALE AND FOREST CITY, OFF HWY US 74. NASCAR NEVER RAN A CUP RACE AT THE TRACK BUT NASCAR DID RUN THE MODIFIED/SPORTSMAN CARS THERE AT SOME POINT. I HAVE CLIPPINGS OF RALPH EARNHARDT WINNING SEVERAL RACES IN SPINDALE IN HIS SPORTSMAN RACE CAR........PEOPLE LIKE BOBBY ISAAC, STICK ELLIOTT, CHARLIE BLANTON, SPEEDY THOMPSON, "GOAT" ROGERS, ELMO HENDERSON, BILLY SCOTT, FLOYD POWELL, SINGIN' SAM SMITH,"BURHEAD" NANCE, TOOTLE ESTES, PAUL GHOST, JOHNNY HALFORD, REX WHITE AND OTHER BIG TIME DRIVERS IN THE PAST WOULD RUN ON THE TRACK....SOME OF THE BEST DRIVERS AND BEST RACING THAT I EVER SAW..........SEE YA, RANDY
hey john - ask them about frank heafner - he built and owned cars driven by ned setzer and bobby issac - i know frank ran cars there - don beam may have driven for him also - his cars were mostly nc6 - thanks .
Randy, I must be thinking of the old Gastonia Fairgrounds. NASCAR ran a GN event at Gastonia in '58
I live about two miles from the old Lowell Fairgrounds,Gastonia Fairgrounds,Spindle City Fairgrounds property. i have some photos I took there and Humpey Wheeler promoted there one year. I loved the place. It was a quarter mile, just like the track two miles away called Robinwood. Great memories. I spent many hours there. I am open for any questions. Love to discuss what I can remember bout these places. Charlie
Hi David,
One of my FAV-O-RITE childhood memories is going to the Rutherford County Speedway on Friday nights. BTW- You're exactly right - it's pronounced "rull'-a-furd" and the town is pronounced "Rulf'-tun". It was such an awesome experience...my dad was with the Forest City Jaycees and they had a food and drink trailer there in the in-field. So we got to stay in the in-field to watch the races, and talk to the drivers, and get up close to the cars and all...not to mention free drinks and hot dogs...;)
My Mom used to have a fit trying to keep up with me and my 3 brothers. I used to dream of being able to drive that dirt track and race with the big boys ... but being a girl, my friends said it wasn't allowed. And for those who couldn't afford to get in ... or it was prohibited for church reasons ... they would climb up into the pine trees to watch.
The sound of those cars roaring around the track, spinning out in the curves, and all the red dust that just boiled up into the air was something to behold. It felt like THUNDER in your chest, and left me wide eyed every time. I would be so wound up by the time we headed back to Shiloh, my brothers used to tell me to "just shut up!" hahaha! I didn't care... my Dad would listen.
I moved away in the 9th grade and got a '67 Mustang when I turned 16... I loved that car, and drove it like a demon with her hair on fire... hahaha. When I came back in my early 20's, the race track was gone and there were buildings everywhere. I hated that ... sure hope someone has photos and the stats of who drove there. I would love to see them.
I still think about racing every time I drive throught the mountains ...swing high going in and stay low in the curves ... move to the inside when you see an opening and step on the gas half way through the curve ... it just slings you right through... what a thrill!
Thanks for asking and for the opportunity to share.
J. Benoy
