What was your favorite track growing up and why?

What was your favorite track growing up and why?

Though I never attended a race growing up it wasn't due to lack of interest rather it was lack of interest on my father's part. I always had a fascination with racing. As a kid I would tug at my Mom's coat tail to buy me matchbox car at the local dime store and then go home and have a race with my pot metal toys. Growing up in Michigan there is a track called Spartan Motor Speedway in East Lansing. From time to time I would hear promos on the radio announcing up coming races and how I longed to go see for myself but it just wasn't to be. I joined the Army at 21 and retired at 41 and pretty much stayed put where I retired in Fayetteville, NC. Luckily for me there is a dirt track not 30 minutes from where I live and that is where I attended my first dirt race and I was hooked. Over the years I've met a lot of people that speak so highly of the race tracks they attended and how I could only imagine the thrill of being a kid at the big "Matchbox Race". Many of you probably take it all for granted that you grew up going to the race track, you just don't know how good you had it. So, I'm curious, what was your favorite track and tell me why so I can imagine some more.

Jim, I never got to Spartan either, but went to a track just east of there in Birch Run, Michigan named Dixie Motor Speedway. It always attracted drivers from all over the state...not just local drivers. Joy Fair, Ed Howe, Jack Goodwin, Bob Senneker, Mike Eddy, Tom Maier, Donnie Roberts, Mickey Katlin, Benny Parsons and Danny Byrd all raced there. They raced both Supermodifieds and Super Stocks on the same program until the SuperMods went away in 1966. A great 5/16 mile low banked paved track with lots of action. BTW, both Dixie and Spartan are still going strong even though Spartan lost their long time owner and promotor "Poor Paul" Zimmerman last year. For your info, Marty Blume is working on a history of Spartan Motor Speedway book...should be really good!!

I saw my first race at Sportsman Speedway in Johnson City , TN at the age of 5. But, my favorite was Volunteer Speedway (The Gap) in bulls Gap, TN. "The Gap" is a half-mike clay oval with 33...or 36 degree banking....wide and fast! Still produces some of the best short-track racing around.

I would say the Columbia Speedway i growed up 3 miles from the track and allso i have to say Riverside Raceway in Cal because every Jan for years that was the first race and i would lesen to it on the raido and finely got to see the last race run there back in the 80`s

My favorite track growing up was New Asheville Speedway. It was a tight little bull-ring of a racetrack thatmade for some great racing. Also,some of the best Late Model racers made that their home track. When drivers like Bob Pressley,Harry Gant,Tommy Houstan,Morgan Shepard,Roy Trantham,Ned Setzer, Bosco Lowe,and Jack Ingram could be there on any given night it made for some great racing.Jack Ingram's garage was right beside the race track,so he would just throw his jack and tools inside his race car and driveit over to the track.I saw some amazing races "down by the river" on Friday nights. One time I saw Ned Setzer hold off Bosco Lowe off for 5 laps to win a race on just 3 wheels!

Like Leon, I have to go with Columbia Speedway because that is where I saw my first race in 1952. It was Columbia, Newberry, and a couple other small dirt tracks my Uncle Bobby took me to until 1957. In the spring of 1957 there was to be a 300 mile race at Darlington, about 70 miles from where we lived. I will never forget my first look at that track very early in the morning that spring day as we drove into the infield. Over all the years since, Darlington is the track that tugs at my heart, even moreso now that NASCAR has kicked it aside as an unwanted stepchild although they have allowed one event a year which, I admit, is better than none, but not having the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend just isn't right. But, those are the thoughts of an old man who remembers the best there ever was fighting that track and the heat to win those races. There probably will never be another sight in racing to equal sitting in turn three (the old turn three) and watching those cars come in up against the guardrail and slide along it. I know we were driving in one day when they were practicing and I noticed how the rail "wiggled" from outside the track. So, although Columbia Speedway is where it all started, where I saw my first race, where I met The King at HIS first race, and where I drove my first race, I guess it's Darlington that has this inexplicable hold over me.

I didn't attend my first race until 1964 at age 15. It was a GN(Cup) race at the Richmond 1/2-mile dirt track. As soon as my buddy, Frank and I got driver's licenses, though, we spent EVERY Friday night of the racing season at Richmond's Southside Speedway - the rugged 1/3-mile weekly NASCAR asphalt oval that began life as the dirt Royall Speedway for midget racing. Those Friday nights at Southside remain my favorite racing memories.

Because it ran on Friday night, Southside drew the really good modifieds from the Saturday night tracks and later the good Late Model Sportsman drivers. The great Bowman-Gray Stadium drivers, South Boston Speedway drivers, Langley Speedway drivers, Old Dominion, Beltsville (when it ran on Wednesday nights) and the eastern bandits from Stafford and Thompson, Connecticut all came together at Southside on Friday nights.

Southside Speedwaywas known as the "Toughest Track in the South" and if you could beat local drivers Ray Hendrick, Sonny Hutchins, Ted Hairfield, Runt Harris, Eddie Crouse, Bill Dennis, Al Grinnan,Lennie Pond and Tommy Ellis you could win anywhere. Bobby Allison and Donnie used to stay at the home of track promoter J.M. Wilkinson to race at Southside and had good success in the Virginia 400 races. Perk Brown, Carl Burris, Hank Thomas, Eddie Roysterand company came from North Carolina to run Southside on Friday night. From western Virginia came Paul Radford, the Hensley cousins Jimmy and Billy, and Joe Henry Thurman. The northern modified stars Denny Zimmerman, "Steady" Eddie Flemke, and Red Foote prepped their cars at Junie Donlavey's shop. From Tidewater Virginia came Gene Lovelace, Butch Torrie, Randy Hutchinsonand a host of others.

One year the first eight finishers, including winner Ray Hendrick,in the big NASCAR Modified Champions race at Trenton broadcast live on MRN Radio were all Friday night Southside Speedway regulars.

If you could win at Southside, you could win anywhere. When Southside added the Late Model Sportsman class, drivers like Darrell Waltrip, Harry Gant, Morgan Shepherd and Tommy Houston would show up. They all looked like monkeys trying to climb a flagpole at Ray and Sonny's house.

I have really fond memories, too, of Saturday nights in my 20s at Wilson County Speedway, but nothing will ever compare to seeing Friday night racing at Southside. Seeing our Friday night Southside drivers win really big races at Langhorne, Martinsville, Daytona, Charlotte, Talladega and even with regularity on the dirt at Wilson in the the cases of Al Grinnan and Bud Elliott was a special time that I shall always cherish.

I saw my first race in 1952 at age 16. This was at Palm Beach Speedway in West Palm Beach Florida. It was a 1/2 mile dirt/oil track. Very fast and with some of the best drivers in the country. Red Farmer, Bobby Johns, Al Keller, Frankie Schnieder, Bobby Malzahn, Banjo Matthews, Ralph Moody, Jack Choquette, and a slew of other well known talent. Later there was Bobby and Donnie Allison. This was a NASCAR Sanctioned track running Modified-Sportsman and Amateur Divisions. Also the Grand National tour ran there with all of the early NASCAR Stars. I feel in love with racing that first day and decided then and there that it was something that I had to do. My dream was realized in 1956 after Palm Beach had become a high banked asphalt 1/2 milevery fast track still running NASCAR and I ran my first race in the NASCAR Amateur Div. Palm Beach is my favorite track for more reasons than one. It is where I met Marilynn,my wife of 54+ years. Her father Bud Berry was a flagman, her grandfather, Walter Berry, was chief timer and her mother, Florene,ran a souvenier stand. Marilynn also wrote articles for a racing magazine and for the Palm Beach Post newspaper. Many good memories from Palm Beach---my favorite track.

Sounds just like a love story gone racing But if you knew these two you would know the real story .. It still is a love story with racing .............................................memories

For me the first race track I ever went to and a big favorite of mine is the Oswego Speedway in Oswego, NY. Home of the Supermodifiieds. The Big "O" or "The Steal Palace" as it is called was just down the road from where I lived. Where else can you see some of the fastest cars on a short track? Just talking about it I can smell the burning rubber, the methanol and Hoffman Hot Dogs. Can remember seeing many great Supermodified and Modified races. The racing there was always fun to watch. Something about walking into the covered grandstands and feeling the cars roar by you was great. First race I went to was at age 9 and I was hooked. From there I became a race fan and have been one ever since. For Christmas one year my parents got me Oswego Speedway Season tickets and my Saturday nights were always full of racing. Of all the tracks this one I felt you were very close to the action. One time I actually watched a race from the infield. That was something. I can remember going to alot of big races there. ISMA Winged Supermodifieds. NASCAR Modifieds, Midgets and at one time ASA Late Models. Classic Weekend I always looked forward to that weekend. One of the biggest races there. Can remember watching alot of greats race there. I can remember Joe Gosek, Bentley Warren,Eddie Bellinger, Steve Gioia, Pat Abold, Mike Muldoon and Doug Didero. Occasionally the Modifieds came to town and I can remember pulling for Lee Sherwood. My Uncle knew him real well. But man, I remember names like Jan Leaty, Tim Magnus, Tom Baldwin, Mike McLaughlin, George Kent, Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller and many others. The Mods always put on a great show too.

But across NY State I loved dirt track racing too. Brewerton, Fulton, Can Am, Rolling Wheels, Cayuga County Fairgrounds and Rolling Wheels always put on great shows. I always looked forward to the summer to see races. Just cannot see the kind of racing here in Florida.

Rockingham Speedway, 3/8 mile clay oval on the sandy ground of Richmond county, North Carolina. Spent most every Saturday night of my youth from March to October watching Wayne Andrews, Bobby Webb, John Sears, J.D. McDuffie, Jack Smith, Tom Usry, Bill Bostick, Walson Gardner, Tommy Bostick, Edsel Kiker, Archie Adams, David Munnerlyn, James Sears, Pat McMillian, Thermond Shelton, Al Rivers, Frank Sessoms, Glen McDuffie, Clyde Norton and many more.

My dad took me to my first race in 1962 at Rambi Raceway (then a 1/2 mile dirt track) in Myrtle Beach, SC. Dad was a huge fan, pulled for the Pettys and had attended the first Southern 500. The race was a 100 mile NASCAR Grand National race and Ned Jarrett won driving a '62 Chevy. I remember Joe Weatherly, starting a power slide-entry for the first turn at the flagstand. And I remember Jack Smith's car seemed louder than all the others. I really liked the Grand Nationals, but about a month later, dad took me back to Rambi, and my second-ever stock car race was a NASCAR modified-sportsman event! Coupes and coaches, Dink Widenhouse in "black 50' and Earl Moss driving a bright red coupe with the unusual number "300". It was love a first sight.........from that night 50 years ago this coming June, 'til now.

In 1964, dad built his own race car ('55 chevy) and began racing himself. It was the greatest childhood ever! Helping my dad build race cars, and going racing with him........in 1966, Grand Strand Raceway in Little River, SC opened. A perfectly proportioned high banked 3/8 miler. Dirt of course, and dad was really coming into his own as a racer. We built a beautiful '57 Chevy and won several races during the 1967 season. Our car was so competitive, it was 'protested' several times, and was always found to be 'legal'. Grand Strand was outlaw, of course, but it was my favorite track. The competition was always keen with drivers such as Hop Holmes, Lonnie Todd, Danny Smith, Billy Hardee, Bill Tysinger, Sam Ard, Jimmy Hatchell, and H.P Larrimore. I was very lucky to have such a father, and such a childhood. Dad was killed in 1976, flying home from the "American 500" in Rockingham, but he set me on a course that continues to this day!

So many great stories, this is a real treat that you share your stories, it's not just the old drivers that have a story to tell, you all tell it like it was yesterday which goes to show how much of an impression going to the track as a young kid or teen had on you. Again, I can only imagine what it would have been like, I know envy is an evil thing but I got to say, I do envy your experiences however, I'm so glad you had them and can share them with us.

I was wrong in saying Fayetteville Motor Speedway was my first race when if fact it was Spartanburg Speedway back around 1985 where an army buddy took me to his hometown of Spartanburg and we went to the a races. THAT was the first time I had ever been to a track and that is where I got my first taste of southern clay dust, the smell of racing fuel, and loud straight pipes. My biggest memory was of an early model Nova going off the center of turns 1-2 and rolling. "Whoa" I said, "This looks like fun!" Spartanburg Speedway is a ghost track now but it sure left an everlasting impression on young soldier from Charlotte...Michigan that is.

The next race I went to was Rockingham in 1993, Rusty Wallace was my driver and there, at my first Winston Cup, Rusty won the race. I never saw cars go so fast as when the green flag dropped and pole sitter Ernie Irvan took the #28 Texaco Havoline Ford Thunderbird down the front stretch, I lost my breath, what an awesome sight. During Rusty's Polish victory lap ( in honor of Alan Kulwicki) he also held a #28 flag out the window to honor Davy Allison, both of whom we lost in the spring of `93. That was a dark year of my young years as a NASCAR fan, besides Rusty losing the points battle to Earnhardt and ultimately the championship. But I'll never forget that race and I took a hundred photographs, not so many of Earnhardt as you can imagine.

JIM

My dad and i went to this track also.At that time my dad work for City Chevrolet in Charlotte he work in the parts department.We were there when Larry Wallace was driving for Ted Helms #20

Tommy Tuner also built the motor with Larry.I got a picture of us standing beside Ted's wrecker that's how he pull thier car.

I alway heard they closed due to the noise.

Old John Gaskey lost everything.The last time i'm remember seeing John had a small cleaning company he was cleaning park lots on Freedom Drive in Charlotte Nc

Well, this is a hard question - Favorite ? I liked them all ! I still like them all. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the great high banks of Dayton Speedway, in Dayton Ohio. I saw a greater variety of races there, over the years, than I did at most other places. It wasn't just the track - Dayton was blessed with some of the most clever promoters I've ever seen. They don't make promoters like that any more. An Honorable Mention would have to go to Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia Ohio, mainly because of the total number of races I attended there. (Was on the Infield Crew for many years). During my "real job" working years I have had the opportunity to live in just about every area of the country, with the exception of the northeast. There were great tracks in every state. My total track count is 86 different ones. Sadly, many of them are gone now. Even though my favorite, Dayton, is long gone, it still lives in a Web Site - check out the Dayton Speedway Lives web site sometime and you will be amazed at the list of talent that has driven there.

Steve