It is in all probability no shock to study that Motor1 readers are the best possible. On the finish of January, we discovered a Fb group for Google Earth photographs that, amongst different issues, featured outdated race tracks. We wrote an article sharing the deserted circuits, and also you responded with even extra locations to go to. Nearly, anyway.
Beneath is a set of outdated deserted and forgotten tracks submitted by you, the readers. Be a part of us for an additional spherical of Google Earth excursions. Do not see an outdated highway course or drag strip you are pondering of? Put up within the feedback or shoot over an e mail. We would love to listen to from you and have them in a future installment of this digital sightseeing saga.
Observe: Speedworld RacewayLocation: Wittmann, ArizonaCoordinates: 33°43’12″N 112°28’34″W
Due to Timm for the tip on this superb multi-use observe in Arizona. Situated roughly 25 miles north of Phoenix, what began as a drag strip within the Sixties in the end expanded to incorporate a small dust oval and motocross programs, amongst different issues. The ability was compelled to shut in 2013 in keeping with Dragzine, nevertheless it’s not fully devoid of exercise. An area radio-controlled airplane membership operates from a small runway on the grounds.
Observe: Bee Line DragwayLocation: Fountain Hills, ArizonaCoordinates: 33°30’26″N 111°45’45″W
Motor1 reader Timm additionally shared one other defunct Arizona drag strip with us, positioned close to Fountain Hills within the jap suburbs of Phoenix. The ghostly stays of the quarter-mile observe are simply seen simply south of Freeway 87, although Dragstriplist.com states it has been closed since 1982. It was a thriving observe by means of the Sixties and Seventies, serving as a daily cease on the skilled drag racing circuit.
Observe: Amatol RacewayLocation: Hammonton, New JerseyCoordinates: 39°36’19″N 74°44’33″W
This observe despatched to us by reader Carl could be a bit robust to identify. So we have utilized our nifty compare-image device to assist. Click on or contact the arrows within the center to tug left or proper. We have highlighted in blue the place Atlantic Metropolis Speedway was. Rows of bushes define the previous 1.5-mile oval, which was in-built 1926 and closed simply two years later. In accordance with SouthJersey.com, a handful of 500-mile races have been held on the picket observe, which was in the end torn down in 1933.
Observe: US 30 DragstripLocation: Merrillville, IndianaCoordinates: 41°28’33″N 87°16’55″W
Drag strips are hiding in every single place, together with this one despatched to us by Motor1 reader Frank. Situated roughly 10 miles south of the Lake Michigan shoreline and round 35 miles southeast of Chicago, the quarter-mile observe closed in 1984. Misplaced Indiana says it opened within the Nineteen Fifties and allegedly noticed the very first humorous automotive race. Legends like Don Schumacher and Don Garlits raced there, and Google imagery from 2022 exhibits the observe remains to be largely intact.
Observe: Cornhusker DragwayLocation: Omaha, NebraskaCoordinates: 41°10’41″N 96°08’02″W
We give an enormous shout-out to reader Captain Stu for the subsequent two tracks. He regaled us with tales of attending races right here as an adolescent within the Seventies, although there is not a lot left of the outdated quarter-mile strip. Concrete firms have arrange store on the land, leaving only a small portion of the observe and return highway seen between them. It had a brief run, working from 1969 by means of 1973 in keeping with Dragstriplist.
Observe: Sundown SpeedwayLocation: Omaha, NebraskaCoordinates: 41°19’58″N 96°05’33″W
Captain Stu frolicked at this oval observe, too. Situated northwest of Omaha, it was a quarter-mile dust observe for Late Mannequin, Modified, and World of Outlaw racing. Midwest Racing Archives states it opened in 1957 and stayed energetic for 44 years. Because the close by metropolis of Omaha grew, Sundown Speedway turned the topic of noise complaints and closed for good in 2000. Now, it is solely recognizable by the bushes outlining the outdated observe.
Observe: Meadowdale Worldwide RacewayLocation: Carpentersville, IllinoisCoordinates: 42°06’55″N 88°18’16″W
Roughly 40 miles northwest of Chicago you will discover Raceway Woods Forest Protect. This was Meadowdale Worldwide Raceway, a sprawling 3.27-mile highway course that opened in 1958 and closed 10 years later. However not like most locations on this checklist, this outdated observe hasn’t been deserted. Your entire structure nonetheless exists as a part of the protect, simply seen by means of the bushes. You will not see automobiles crusing across the corners, nevertheless it’s open to hikers and bicyclists. The Midwest Racing Preservation Affiliation is devoted to retaining the observe’s reminiscence alive, as are Motor1 readers Gajoseric and Joseph – each of whom emailed us about this cool location.
Observe: Marlboro Motor RacewayLocation: Higher Marlboro, MarylandCoordinates: 38°48’24″N 76°44’20″W
In accordance with North American Motorsports, Marlboro Motor Raceway in Maryland opened in 1952 as a small dust oval observe, in the end increasing to incorporate a number of ovals and a 2.4-mile highway course by the late Nineteen Fifties. It was the location of quite a few endurance races and SCCA Trans-Am occasions earlier than closing in 1969, due partly to the opening of close by Summit Level. Whereas Marlboro’s oval is well seen, we outlined the structure of the outdated highway course which is essentially gone. Shout out to Motor1 reader Steve for the tip and historical past on this cool ghost observe.
Observe: Granite State Park Speedway (AKA Dover Speedway)Location: Dover, New HampshireCoordinates: 43°14’00″N 70°53’42″W
We’ve got some unanswered questions on this observe, despatched to us by reader Channing. Situated close to the border with Maine, this spot as soon as had a fifth-mile, half-mile, and one-mile oval layouts. Satellite tv for pc imagery suggests the mile-long observe was truly a tri-oval, however historic photographs on the Catamount Stadium web site present solely a standard oval as we have outlined above in blue. In any case, the power began with horse racing within the Nineteen Thirties, then expanded to auto racing till it closed down in 1962.
Observe: Augusta Worldwide RacewayLocation: Augusta, GeorgiaCoordinates: 33°21’10″N 82°05’28″W
You possibly can nonetheless carve some corners that have been a part of this 3.0-mile highway course, albeit at sluggish speeds whereas driving round baseball fields. In accordance with Racing Circuits, Augusta Worldwide Speedway was envisioned as the most important motorsports complicated on this planet, with a big oval in addition to a quarter-mile drag strip. That by no means occurred, however a strip and a smaller oval joined the highway course throughout its 10-year run from 1960 by means of 1970. These are seen on the high of the photograph (above proper), intermingling with subdivisions, church buildings, and a faculty. Shout out to Motor1 reader Mitchell for the tip on this one.
Observe: Rattlesnake RacewayLocation: Midland, TexasCoordinates: 31°54’42″N 102°02’40″W
At a look, this observe seems to be prefer it may nonetheless be used as we speak. Despatched to us by reader Andrew, what you see here’s what stays of the outdated Chaparral Vehicles two-mile take a look at observe utilized by firm co-founder and racing driver Jim Corridor. Constructed within the late Nineteen Fifties, it was used for under a brief time period. Apart from testing, North American Motorsports mentions choose SCCA races and Porsche Membership occasions happening right here. Zooming in by means of Google, the floor seems to be a bit tough however nonetheless intact.
Observe: Nazareth SpeedwayLocation: Nazareth, PennsylvaniaCoordinates: 40°43’42″N 75°19’08″W
Whereas investigating a small observe close to Pittsburgh despatched to us by Eric (sorry, we could not discover something) we came across Nazareth Speedway. This observe existed in numerous types for practically 100 years, beginning life as a half-mile dust oval for horses. In accordance with Deserted On-line, car races started in 1910 earlier than ultimately rising right into a paved one-mile tri-oval within the Nineteen Eighties. As you may think, every kind of automobiles raced right here by means of the a long time, together with these from NASCAR and IndyCar. Nazareth was additionally dormant for a number of stretches of its life, which lastly got here to a detailed in 2004.