Forum Activity for @robert-mitchell

Mount Airy Speedway - Elusive Ghost Track Aerials

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Hi Margaret Sue,

I did look through all the Mount Airy News archives from 1946 to 1949. Unfortunately, the newspaper was only published on Fridays back then and race coverage was very spotty. Although they did occasionally have a small article like the ones above, you were lucky if they decided to publish the results of a race because by Friday it was five day old news. I just went and looked for anything on August 30-31, 1947 but I didn't find anything.

Here is the archives - http://news.google.com/newspapers

Mount Airy Speedway - Elusive Ghost Track Aerials

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

I forgot this one - not a race, but still history -

Mount Airy Speedway - Elusive Ghost Track Aerials

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Mount Airy Speedway - Elusive Ghost Track Aerials

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

I went through every issue of the 1946Mount Airy News to find all mentions of races at the track. Unfortunately, they only printed one issue a week (on Friday) and rarely did a write-up on race results.

First race May 26 was rained out-

Mount Airy Speedway - Elusive Ghost Track Aerials

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Thanks for checking it out, Dave. I wish I could take credit, but Bobby found the location a long time ago. That website is great, and I can spend way too much time there.

Mount Airy Speedway - Elusive Ghost Track Aerials

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Mount Airy Speedway was opened on May 26,1946 by Garnet "G.W." Golden (Real name Garnett Woltz Golding - still living as of 2013 age 94). It was possibly the first purpose made stock car track of the North Carolina & Virginia area after WWII and became legendary for where Curtis Turner watched and then drove his first race. Built in a crop field, 3/4 mile track was almost perfectly flat with no banking in the turns. Most of the early pre and post-war southern stock car legends raced there, along with early motorcycle and midget car greats. There was also horse racing on occasions, and at least one Hell Drivers Thrill Show.

Not wanting to give up any control, G.W. Golden never gave in to Bill France and NASCAR sanctioning. France started penalizing drivers for driving in non-NASCAR races and this ultimately squeezed out the independent tracks like Mount Airy, which closed by the end of 1949.

Bobby Williamson did an awesome job hunting down the location of the track, down to the very field where it once was. From there I was able to find a 1948 aerial of the track on the just recently updated HistoricAerials.com along with other gold from old newspaper archives.

This photo shows Glen Dunaway and Jimmie Lewallen heading the field at Mt. Airy in 1946 or '47 -

Glen Dunaway again leading the field -

Cars backed up on Lowgap Highway 89 -

Aerials from 1948 -

Here is an aerial from 2003 where you can still see the footprint of the track after the crops were harvested -

A clearer image from Google Earth from 2003 -

Also of interest is an article from 1948 about Mr. Golden's moonshine adventures -

Photo of G.W. Golden (Garnett W. Golding) -

updated by @robert-mitchell: 12/05/16 04:08:38PM

Tunis Speedway--1948-1983, Waterloo, Iowa

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

Jim,nice write-up and interesting history of Tunis Speedway. I love seeing these early tracks get the attention that they deserve. Could you post some photos of the track?

I did a quick look at HistoricAerials.com and found this - Is this Tunis?

Anybody Here Own A 1950 Or 1951 NASCAR Yearbook?

Stock Car Racing History

I would like to find one of each for my collection. Even if you have one you don't want to part with, I would like to ask what info and photos they have inside...if they have anything on the local tracks of my area, etc.

I do have a 1952 yearbook I would be willing to trade or bargain with for a '50 or '51, or even a '53 thru '56.

updated by @robert-mitchell: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

Check out the lower left of my Grave Marker!

Stock Car Racing History

May you Race In Peace, Jim.

"How Much Do I Owe You, Mr. Turner?" - A Tale from the Forgotten Richmond Speedway Ghost Track in 1952 - GHOST TRACK MYSTERY SOLVED!!!

Stock Car Racing History

Awesome research, Dennis. I hadcalled it Richmond High School according to the topo map I posted earlier.I'm not sure if you missed the second set ofaerials that Richard confirmedwherethe real Richmond Speedway, but check them out if you did.

And I was intrigued by the book you mentioned, so I just found a copy online and ordered it!