In the time I had for this paper, I was simply bogged down with just a select few tracks to try and highlight. From what I see, you are the guru of Peace Haven! I am sure that in the coming research times, I will find more on Peace Haven.
I will put it on the list to research more in-depth!
I also have evidence of another race at High Point Speedway to be held on September 7th, 1941, but only have found the advertisments leading up to the race. No results or stroies were found during inital research.
This race was slated to be 100 laps, and was to be called "Championship Stock Car Racing".
May or may not have occured.
SIMPLY AMAZING! I looked for many hours for pictures of the High Point Speedway, and here they are! Simply amazing! And from Raymond Parks of all people! What a treasure. I will say that I do not show a race on August 23, which was a Saturday.
The final confirmed race I had was one week later on Sunday, August 31st. It was featured as the "National Championship". The race was 100 miles and Promoted by Lindsay Baity. The race was won by Lloyd Seay. Intrestingly, Seay was killed thetwo dayson 9-2-1941 by his cousin in an argument over Moonshine.
Immediately after he won at High Point, he left the track and drove to Atlanta to compete in the race at Lakewood Speedway on 9-1. He missed qualifying, and was forced to start at the rear. He drove his way to the front quickly and won the race. Collected $450.
He then spent the night at his brother's house. He was confronted by his cousin the next day over a sugar order (moonshine) and was shot and killed.
Also - Forgot to say this...My research shows that the 5-11-1941 race was the FIRST STOCK CAR race at the track. An open wheel car race was held on Oct. 20, 1940. World War II caused the track to go silent, rationing and racing ban. Upkeep costs were the primary reasons for the Baity Brothers (owners) putting the track and land up for auction. Dealess Hedgecockbought the track and land, tore down the grandstand and sold the lumber. The land today has a housing development on it.
Hello All! Will Tate here. The William Tate refered to earlier in the posts! Why it took me so long to find this website is beyond me! Thank you all for seeing my thesis and considering it for your reference! I will be the first to say that it is somewhat incomplete and has many unknowns in it due to lack of records, but it was what I found at that time. I have since worked some on expanding my work, and hope to get more in depth. I do have a lot of articles from newspapers in the area regarding many races... Spent a lot of time scanning them. If there are questions about a race from that era, please ask and I will see what I have!
Unfortunately, I feel that there is hardly anything that would show exact location. As I said, I found an oldmap which showed where the golf course was, but not the speedway. If you go on Google Maps or Google Earth, head to where Interstate 85 and Hwy 150 meet... There are several "open" areas, where no trees are...They appear to be oblong and bending circles which I preceive (but not 100%) as the layout of some holes from the old golf course. There is a neighbor hood north of that location. You will see where the interstate, the highway and Old Salisbury Road come together. I have been told, that turns 1 and 2 actually were where hwy 150's access road is, and the rest of the track was more or less where the Interstate is now. The Large open area which has now been graded down on the opposite side of 150 (new exit lane from 85 South), is (my opinion based on pictures) the old parking lot. I will try and upload some of my pictures soon! I have asked some people I know that have affiliations with the highway reconstruction project if they have found any relics or artifacts from their digs and apparently they haven't found anything... Several people I spoke with recall the track in this area, much closer to the river from where Bobby thought... I also heard about the site behind the church, but there simply is not enough space for the track and the parking area, unless drastic land changes have occured. Ihavewalked several sites to attempt to find any trace, unsuccesfully. I have been up in an airplaneand have visually looked, and feel this is the likely area. Lakeview BaptistChurch is less than 2/10's of a mile from this site. I actually have a very grainy picture of Lakeview, which I found in an edition of the Sailsbury Post. It shows the track very close to the old highway (which is Old Salisbury Road). Look for my pictures and I will display my evidence to try and close this case!
Hello All, Will Tate here. I am from the Lexington, NC area, and have researched this track extensively. I have compliled information on at least 8 races comfirmed over 1948 (5 races)and 1949 (3 races). As far as the location of the racetrack, I tend to agree more with Billy Biscoe's account of where the track was located. I have found that the track was built on the old"Lexington Golf Course". I found a map from 1946/1947which shows the golf course further south than where you have it located. Today, the site is where NC Hwy 150 and Interstate 85 merge. Also, the picture above with an outline of where you think the track is, by my estimation is nota large enough area. Hard to get a 100% accurate scale, but the best I could find is that it is to small an area. Pictures that I have seen of the track and have in my possession show that a large parking area was next to the track, which I do not see any evidence of in this picture. I hope to get some pictures uploaded soon. Let me know if you need more information on this or other tracks in the Piedmont and Triad area. W
I was actually looking at some of my other photos today and thought the same thing... The fence looks similar...
I agree with the Greensboro comment. With the pictures I have, they most resemble Greensboro Fairgrounds. I do know that they are not Lexington/Lakeview Speedway. I have several photos that show this.
