Augusta International Speedway Drivers Reunion

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Henry Jones
Thursday September 3 2009, 4:36 PM

As we get ready for the Augusta International Speedway drivers reunion in just a few days (September 12th) please allow me to share some facts about this eight track complex that operated between 1960 and 1970 and was the largest motorsports facility in the world.First................please go to this web link. You may have to copy and paste to your browser:http://www.augustainternationalraceway.com/augustainternationalspeedway.html More to come.

@henry-jones 15 years ago
Hey, Rex is going to be here.We do not need a whole lot more!His name is in granite and he will be around a lot longer than most of us!He told me that the Augusta International Speedway 1/2 mile oval was one of the best he ever drove on.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The 3 mile road circuit, which is being developed into Diamond Lakes Regional Park, is as big as the Daytona International Speedway and it is still in place.In the photograph Daytona is on the right.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The pit lane, which sits just behind the Diamond Lakes Community Center/Library Complex, was 3000 feet long and the grandstand area took up 2500 feet of the pit lane.The pit wall shown in photograph is still in place behind the Community Center.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The 1/2 mile oval stared out as dirt in 1960 and was paved for the 1962 NASCAR season. It was located just north of the road circuit.The very first race on the oval, shown in the photograph, was for motorcycles. A seperate scramble track was soon constructed for motorcycles.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

A section of the 1/4 mile drag strip is still in place and it stretched for over 1/2 mile and was also used as a landing strip. The big boys came to town on a regular basis, including the likes of Big Daddy Don Garlits and Art Afrons.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The Micro-Midget's also had a seperate track and it was used a great deal.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

Another track was constructed for the Go Karts.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The two mile tri-oval was started but not finished.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The lakes, for which Diamond Lakes Regional Park is named, were to be used for Hydro-Plane boat races. They are still in place and used for fishing and eventually swimming and boating.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) also used sections of the paddock and drag strip for events. In the background of this photograph you can see the famous entrance wall with hugh concrete letters on top saying "Where the Masters Race". A section of the wall not pictured said "Augusta International Speedway". AIRPS has located these letters and they will be used for future memorial expansions.

@pete-banchoff 15 years ago
What a history lesson, Henry. Thanks!!Pete

@henry-jones 15 years ago

The developers in Augusta wanted the largest and the best racing facility in theUnited States. For a short period of time that dream was a reality. From the 3000 footlong pit lane, to the grandstand area that stretched for over a quarter of a mile to thegarage area that was longer than a football field to an elevation change of 110 feetand banking up to forty degrees. This place was Grand and it is still in place and being developed into Diamond Lakes so future generations can enjoy.

@henry-jones 15 years ago

All of the great stock car and sports car drivers came to Augusta.

@henry-jones 15 years ago
All of the above drivers names are on the granite memorial in Motorsports Memorial Plaza next to the Community Center/Library Complex. Just a few feet away is the former track.

@henry-jones 15 years ago
Take a modern day lap around the 3 mile road circuit. You will need to copy and paste this link into your browser.http://www.augustainternationalraceway.com/lap.html

@henry-jones 15 years ago
Here are directions if you are coming on September 12th.Copy and paste into your browser. If you have GPS just plug in the coordinates.http://www.augustainternationalraceway.com/directions.html

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