EVERYTHING IS HERE--ALL IT NEEDS IS AN OWNER

Johnny Mallonee
@johnny-mallonee
9 years ago
3,259 posts

oh yeah a paver Im told

Bring a Paver: Historic Marlboro Motor Raceway For Sale

This racetrack located about 20 miles southeast of Washington D.C. seems to be Marlboro Motor Raceway, a track dating from 1952 and closed 17 years later when the local SCCA moved to Summit Point in West Virginia. Initially a dirt oval, 1954 saw a paved road course added while later additions included an infield karting track. Used for SCCA and NASCAR events among others, the site is notable as the starting point for Roger Penskes racing career and as the inspiration for Marlboro Maroon Metallic, a Corvette factory color in 1967 and 70. Find it here on Craigslist in Upper Marlboro, Maryland for $1k to $1,250 per acre and formerly listed for $9.98m outright. Special thanks to BaT reader Nick P. for this submission!

Bring a Paver: Defunct Marlboro Motor Raceway For Sale

Also used for Maryland state police training and motorcycle racing, the track is said to have been closed due to safety concerns and unspecified issues between the SCCA and track management. Heres a map detailing the track in its glory yearsit looks quite technical and very fast with a sizable straight and several long sweepers.

Some of the best info and pics can be found here on the BARC Boys site . This Autosport.com thread contains some good historical info on the track, while this Google maps aerial image shows it as-is todayanother, cached preview image highlights its former layout through overgrowth, though the larger original seems to have been deleted.

Bring a Paver: Defunct Marlboro Motor Raceway For Sale

Above is one of the better preserved sections of track as it remains today, and below is a compilation of some great color racing footage from 1960, with Alfas, 356s, a Deutsch Bonnet, Daimler SP250s, Cunninghams, Astons, MGs, Triumphs, Corvettes and even a Ferrari 250GT California shown competing in close quarters. Open wheel formula cars are also seenif only there was audio, too.

This final image shows the track even hosted endurance eventspretty cool. While researching we came across several somewhat recent mentions of efforts to reclaim and refurbish the track for use as a driving school, but no hard info could be found.

Bring a Paver: Defunct Marlboro Motor Raceway For Sale

Very little if any infrastructure seems to be salvageable, but wed still love to see it restoredor more accurately rebuiltas close to its original, expanded form as possible. Modern safety concessions like more and larger sand traps, runoff areas and the like would be important of course, but the area appears to remain largely rural meaning noise restrictions should be workable. Should we start a pool? Here are the rest of the present day pics from the listing:

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Cant you just see it --Big ole sign saying WELCOME TO RACERS REUNION SPEEDWAY


updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
bill mcpeek
@bill-mcpeek
9 years ago
820 posts

I remember this track very well, It was about 8-10 miles east of Andrews AFB where I spent 1957-1960. Several of the pilots in my squadron had sports cars and used to go over there. We had an older un-used taxi way that we used to hold road type rally's on the base. If memory serves me right (seldom does) this is where I saw Reds Kagle race...

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
9 years ago
9,137 posts

RR member, Larry Jendras, Jr. has a nice page at The Vintage Racer site that particularly covers stock car racing at Marlboro in the 50s-early60s:

http://www.thevintageracer.com/tracks/marlboro.htm

A number of nice John Ward and Bob Williams photos are featured:




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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
9 years ago
9,137 posts




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Johnny Mallonee
@johnny-mallonee
9 years ago
3,259 posts

Wonder if there are any old film of Elmo Langley running with the sports cars and finishing third in a 61 Ford It must have been in around January of 1962. said the race was called the refrigerator Bowl.Interesting name to say the least

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
9 years ago
9,137 posts

Johnny, there is some 8mm home movie footage posted of Saturday and Sunday practice and some Sunday racing for the 1962 Refrigerator Bowl at Marlboro, MD. The best shot I see of a full bodied stock car is during a Sunday morning practice session around the 6:28 mark very briefly showing a car #82 coming off the turn and passing in front of the main grandstand.Elmo drove a Ford #82 in the 1962 Southern 500 at Darlington. The brief clip "might" be Elmo.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
9 years ago
9,137 posts

Johnny, there is a second video posted that very clearly shows Elmo competing against 4 sports cars in two novelty races. The first race was on the road course and Elmo finishes 3rd. In the oval track race, more to Elmo's liking, he crosses the line in 2nd place on the tail of a Corvette taking the white flag and moves inside the 'vette for the lead coming out of turn 2 to the checkers. The 'vette didn't survive the impact with Elmo... but neither did Elmo! Only 1 car finished the novelty race of the NASCAR stocker against the 4 sports cars on the oval.

Beginning around the 6:29 mark in the video below is good footage of Elmo against the sports cars in January 1962 during the two novelty races during the Marlboro Motor Raceway Refrigerator Bowl series:




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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"