1043 replies to this topic

[HistoricMustang]

Green Valley Raceway - North Richland Hills, TX (USA)

Had a road circuit and drag strip.

1995 Image



2007 Image



Best memory of Green Valley and it hangs on my wall:

http://www.shelbyame...flyingr2002.jpg

[HistoricMustang]

Need help on this mystery track for me.

Heard there was a triangle track in Goshen, New York (USA).

Name and history would be appreciated.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Small track in Gilford, New Hampshire (USA)

Sorry no information but it is just at the end of a runway at airport. Interesting location.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

This "may" and I stress "may" be the former midget track is Alviso, California (USA).

Any help appreciated so we can get corrected if necessary.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Feather River Raceway - Oraville, California (USA)

This may be the track. Only description I have was that it was a 5/8 mile triangle track near the river.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Rhythm Inn Speedway - Millers Falls, MASS (USA)

No information on this track.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Cheshire Fairgrounds Track - Kenne, NH (USA)

No information on this former facility.

Henry

[fines]

Originally posted by HistoricMustang
Need help on this mystery track for me.

Heard there was a triangle track in Goshen, New York (USA).

Name and history would be appreciated.

Henry

That's the old "Good Time Driving Park", mainly for horses, but held a few Big Car events in the thirties and forties.

1936-06-13 pp 20, 100m, Rex Mays, Sparks-Weirick/Miller, 1:18'31.47"
1936-10-03, 35m, Rex Mays, Sparks-Weirick/Miller, 26'12.58"
1946-09-29 pp 10-06, 100m, Tony Bettenhausen, Petillo/Offenhauser, 1:17'16.52"
1947-08-17, 100m, Tony Bettenhausen, Belanger/Offenhauser, 1:14'56.54"

[lil'chris]

Originally posted by Barry Boor

When would works Ducatis have been at Brands?

Possibly the World Superbikes during August 2008

[HistoricMustang]

Blue Spur Speedway in Lakeville, MASS (USA)

Henry

http://yankeeracer.c...september-30-2/

And, there is hope:

http://seniortouraut...lle_phase_i.htm

[Mark A]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
Definitely not O.T. but away from the recent trend of this thread, I wonder if anyone has had occasion to look at Brands Hatch on Google MAPS?

There is obviously quite a big event going on - the car parks are very full and there is a line of trucks pulled up to the back of the pits; the main paddock looks very full but there is no sign of a racing car, or for that matter, a racing bike.

There seems to be a person on the track just before Graham Hill Bend and a red vehicle approaching the bridge before Hawthorn's. There is also a lorry near Dingle Dell Corner.

I suppose the clue is that I have just spotted the word DUCATI on the roof of one of the transporters.

When would works Ducatis have been at Brands?

Picture was taken in 2001.

[Barry Boor]

Really? That long ago? I thought Google reckoned they were no more than 3 years behind.

[Mark A]

Some of the images are very old. Once Brands went Hi Res it's never changed.

Go North to the Dartford Crossing and that Pic is from Sept 2006.

Image dates can be found at the bottom of the screen.

It's very variable.

[HistoricMustang]

Vacaville Track - Vacaville, California (USA)

Henry

http://seniortouraut...lle_phase_i.htm

http://www.tamsoldra...alleyToday.html

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by HistoricMustang
Feather River Raceway - Oraville, California (USA)

This may be the track. Only description I have was that it was a 5/8 mile triangle track near the river.

Henry

Unfortunately, I can't view imageshack photos on my computer. So, I can't say for sure unless it's glaringly obvious (as I can only see the thumbnail posted here). Alviso does not look right...unless there has been a lot of recent change there. Alviso Speedway can be found using HistoricAerials.com

Henry, I've sent you a PM.

[HistoricMustang]

Hi Jim!

This is a GE image and I have several more in color if it will help.

PM me an e-mail address so I can attach them full size.

Henry

[Paul Hurdsfield]

Not quite a racetrack but if you search Google Earth by UK postcode M125BH and zoom in, It's an industrial area and shows the factory where I work, and you can see my Yellow Westfied in the car park, It's not the clearest view, and It's at least two years ago.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Paul Hurdsfield
Not quite a racetrack but if you search Google Earth by UK postcode M125BH and zoom in, It's an industrial area and shows the factory where I work, and you can see my Yellow Westfied in the car park, It's not the clearest view, and It's at least two years ago.

Yes Paul. One of my recent searches produced an interesting image. It actually produced a Boeing 727 which appeared to be in the middle of a field. I must assume the aircraft was simply on approach to a nearby airport when the image was produced by Google.

Henry

[Terry Walker]

On another thread some time ago, we were all directed to a particular spot in UK by Google Earth, and there was a four engine WW2 bomber flying over the city. I wish I'd kept a copy of the shot. Apparently the coverage has since been updated and the plane is gone. But what are the odds?

[kayemod]

Originally posted by Terry Walker
On another thread some time ago, we were all directed to a particular spot in UK by Google Earth, and there was a four engine WW2 bomber flying over the city. I wish I'd kept a copy of the shot. Apparently the coverage has since been updated and the plane is gone. But what are the odds?

It was a Lancaster flying over the town of Huntingdon. The pic was doubly interesting for me, as the plane was about to fly directly over the house I lived in when I worked at Specialised Mouldings. The Lanc appeared to be heading for RAF Alconbury where something like a car boot sale was taking place on one of the no longer used runways. I bet that shook them up, especially if they'd just been softened up by strafing runs from the BOB Flight Spitfire and Hurricane.

[Mark A]

Originally posted by Terry Walker
On another thread some time ago, we were all directed to a particular spot in UK by Google Earth, and there was a four engine WW2 bomber flying over the city. I wish I'd kept a copy of the shot. Apparently the coverage has since been updated and the plane is gone. But what are the odds?

[HistoricMustang]

I guess there are individuals who simply are not interested in motorsports heritage and would rather spend hours searching for aircraft images in GE.

Henry

http://www.gearthblo...s_in_fligh.html

[Terry Walker]

Wow, thanks Mark A. I have saved a copy of the image now.

[Andre L M]

Hi

Mark

I got your updated file. I would like to add a little contribution. In Porto Alegre, Brazil, there was another 6,5 km street track near the Cavalhada-Pedra Redonda you have. In fact, a section was common to the two tracks (the left section of the layout bellow). This other track was known as Cavalhada-Vila Nova and was used between 1958 and 1968. The last race was 12 Hours of Porto Alegre and was won by Emerson Fittipaldi and his brother Wilson, in december 1968.

Here is the track layout (thanks to Sandy). I didn't learn to draw directly in GE; so I hope that it can be well viewed.



Andre

[Andre L M]

Another one!

The track called Autodromo do Eusebio (or Euzebio), in Ceara, Brazil, is behind clouds in the last update of the GE. But with the "Historical Images" of the GE 5 it is possible to see the track (2003 image). Formerly the track was known as Virgilio Tavora and I think the layout is approx. the one I draw (yes, I think I learn).

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by HistoricMustang
Feather River Raceway - Oraville, California (USA)

This may be the track. Only description I have was that it was a 5/8 mile triangle track near the river.

Henry, thanks for the photo from Oroville

I think that despite the shape, based on color photos from Google Maps and what I recall from driving by it, it may be a retaining basin of some sort. There are some tell tale signs on the rounded bank.

Feather River Speedway was described as being located "across from the airport on the Oroville-Gridley Road." So, I think likely it was S-SE of the airport in the open area. Of course, neither road that passes the airport is known as Oroville-Gridley Road now (another road S. of town has that designation). The current Oro Dam Rd. had to have been known by something else before the dam was ever planned, let alone built.

I'll check with the historical society in Oroville and see what they can turn up.

[HistoricMustang]

Jim, this almost identical feature (to the previous one posted) is SE of the airport. Perhaps?

Henry









I will e-mail these to you full size!

[HistoricMustang]

After another look and finding an additional "tear drop" type feature I am more confused!

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Circuito Di Asti - Asti, Italy

Believe this is the layout from racing in the 1940's. Additional information appreciated.

Henry

[TheStranger]

Jim and Henry:

I've started a thread over at the Hoserforums Northern California Sprint Car forum after seeing your posts and got a little more information on the Oroville track from one of the members there:

http://www.hoseheadf...tm#thread140990

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by TheStranger
Jim and Henry:

I've started a thread over at the Hoserforums Northern California Sprint Car forum after seeing your posts and got a little more information on the Oroville track from one of the members there:

http://www.hoseheadf...tm#thread140990

Thanks Chris!

Surely the members are not stumped on this simple track?

From the TrackForum.com members:

"Not to veer a bit OT, but as far as photos of California tracks, there is only one known photo apiece of Ash Can Derby near San Bernardino and Feather River Raceway in Oroville. The Oroville shot was a demo run taken by the photog for the Mercury-Register. A 5/8 mile dirt triangle."

Lets find a photograph of this track for Jim! the Mercury-Register is the local newspaper for Oroville, California (USA).

This is a real mystery track so begin digging gentlemen! I necessary we will start a seperate thread to locate information.

Henry

[Jim Thurman]

Originally posted by HistoricMustang
Thanks Chris!

Surely the members are not stumped on this simple track?

From the TrackForum.com members:

"Not to veer a bit OT, but as far as photos of California tracks, there is only one known photo apiece of Ash Can Derby near San Bernardino and Feather River Raceway in Oroville. The Oroville shot was a demo run taken by the photog for the Mercury-Register. A 5/8 mile dirt triangle."

Lets find a photograph of this track for Jim! the Mercury-Register is the local newspaper for Oroville, California (USA).

This is a real mystery track so begin digging gentlemen! I necessary we will start a seperate thread to locate information.

Henry, yes...there are many tracks so obscure as to be all but forgotten except by a few old timers in the area at the time. It's sadly common, and getting more so as time passes.

I'm finding this kind of amusing in a way, almost surreal. Hopefully after I explain, it will be shared or at least understood...

Henry, check who posted that message to TrackForum ;)

I've seen the photo from looking at microfilm of the Mercury-Register when I was doing research many, many years before TNF existed. As a matter of fact, despite poor reproduction quality, I had a copy of that photo, but seem to have misplaced it after a few moves.

That particular research was for "The History of America's Speedways" and done at the State Library in Sacramento.

Is a pattern developing here?;) Ok, it gets more bizarre...

The post at the Northern California Sprint Car Forum quoting the info from "The History of America's Speedways"...that information came from me! That was one of my contributions to the book.

I also ran across the airport race, but did not get that into the book (the error of a then novice researcher). For pete's sake, I was actually in the Oroville library and had found the airport race when I ran out of time (I had spent too much time earlier at the Marysville library, looking up the Peach Bowl and Sierra Mesa!)

I wrote down race results for every race at Feather River Speedway that made the Mercury-Register (all but one as it turns out).

And the timing of all of this is amazing...

Just a couple of weeks ago, thanks to some kind folks at the Oroville library, I received a copy of the airport race report.

And as of a week ago Saturday, I have a request in for a inter-library loan to receive microfilm of the Oroville Mercury-Register for further research. Which came before I discovered the large microfilm holdings at a UC-Riverside library. I see trip(s) to UCR in my future.

All of this before Henry randomly posted to this thread.

All I can say is there should be some interesting developments in this area shortly ;)

Chris and Henry, I greatly appreciate the thought and effort I just find it amusing that my own info and research has reached far enough to come back to me! I guess I've accomplished something.

[HistoricMustang]

Interesting story Jim.

Several more images SE of the airport from 1998 GE. These are East of the Feather River and about 5/8 miles in size.

Henry

[Andre L M]

Another contribution to Mark's work.

Some years ago I heard about an old circuit in Rio de Janeiro, older than the "new" Jacarepagua that opened in 1978. That circuit also was known as "Autodromo da Guanabara" or "Autodromo da Barra da Tijuca", but I don't find much more information about its location and lenght. Motor Racing Circuits Database informs that the track works between 1967 and 1977 and presents the layout that follows:



Last week I find this photo in http://fotolog.terra.com.br/bfg1:562



It is possible to see that this old circuit was located at the same location of the "new" Jacarepagua; the old circuit was demolished in 1977 (or before, according GdeCarli) and the new one was built to receive F1 races. With the photo above, I think that the old circuit was in this position, but I'm not sure about how large it was.



Some interesting videos can be seen in Youtube, like this one

http://www.youtube.c...feature=related

Finnaly, it is sad to inform that the "new" Jacarepagua will disappear, as a result of the olimpic plans of some brazilian politicians.

[Mark A]

Thanks Andre, another one added.



For those of you viewing GE I've come across an interesting one tonight regarding what you are actually looking at.


This is a view of Hialeah Speedway in Miami. The picture states it's from 2005, and shows up as the latest picture.



Spotting the old oval on the inside I thought I'd trace back through the old images as you can now do on the latest version of GE.

Therefore it was a bit of a surprise to find a 2007 image. No more Hialeah Speedway.

[Great Zapper]

I tried that with Brands the other day - and there's a lovely shot of the new Sheene curves that doesn't show up as the default. Likewise the old Louisville speedway - it still shows as default the remains of it but move the slider back a bit and you can see it in various levelled states before they whacked a warehouse over it.

My best guess from looking at the shots is that Google uses the best combination of resolution and lighting/exposure. Sometimes it appears they tweak the pictures too - I've spotted a couple of shots where the dates are different by a year or two but they are clearly the same picture from the traffic. All that's different is the colour balance, contrast and/or brightness are tweaked. Odd.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Great Zapper
I've spotted a couple of shots where the dates are different by a year or two but they are clearly the same picture from the traffic. All that's different is the colour balance, contrast and/or brightness are tweaked. Odd.

Yes, I also noticed this.

And, if you move the "slider" too fast Google Earth seems to get a bit confused and sometimes just gives up by providing a "green" image.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

I believe this is the former Anthracite Speedway in Mount Carbon, PA (USA)



And, just a few miles away in Minersville, PA is Big Diamond Raceway which I believe is still in operation.



Henry

[HistoricMustang]

I believe this is the former Circle M Speedway in Auburn, PA (USA).

Henry

[Doug Nye]

OK - does much remain of the Marlboro 12-Hour race venue? Or has this been presented here already?

DCN

[markpde]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
OK - does much remain of the Marlboro 12-Hour race venue? Or has this been presented here already?

DCN

If you search for 'marlboro race track road, upper marlboro, md', on maps.live.com, you'll find that the oval and most of the old track is still there or thereabouts (click on 'Aerial' first, then 'Bird's eye' and you'll get the clearest, most recent view). Henry's the expert, though, so I'll leave him to post the image - these searches for the old raceways are fascinating!

Interesting article (published only last Sunday), with video, from the Washington Post:

http://www.washingto...9022101633.html

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Doug Nye
OK - does much remain of the Marlboro 12-Hour race venue? Or has this been presented here already?

DCN

Hi Doug!

We have already paid homage to this track.

http://forums.autosp...hlight=marlboro

Is this what you were asking?

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Fort Lebanon Speedway near Auburn, PA (USA).

The track only ran events for one year (1955) and apparently was put out of business by the Circle M Speedway shown earlier which is only three miles away.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

I believe this may be the former Berne Speedway in Hamburg, PA (USA).

Someone please correct me if wrong as it appears to still be in great shape for a track than ran in the mid 1950's. Some doubts by me on this one.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Shenandoah Speedway - Shenandoah, PA (USA)

Information said a school sits atop this former Speedway. It appears some banking and some of the straights are still with us.

Please share anymore information the members may have.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

WOW, More PA racing.

Ringtown, PA had a pre-WWII (that is the big one) track that sat just West of a current track used for horse training. I believe this is it. Any more information would be appreciated.

Henry




Note: Thanks to the Vintage Racer for giving information on these tracks. It has been a ton of fun trying to locate via GE.

[HistoricMustang]

Brandonville Speedway - Brandonville, PA (USA)

No information on this one just a few miles from the Ringtown, PA track.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Blue Mountain Speedway - Linglestown, PA (USA)

Not much information on this one near Linglestown, PA.

Henry



These GE images are based on information supplied by The Vintage Racer. Thanks!

[markpde]

Originally posted by HistoricMustang


We have already paid homage to this track.

http://forums.autosp...hlight=marlboro

Henry

Henry - I was just trying to help out last night, but I was away off on the wrong tack (/track!) - the wrong side of Route 301! I didn't know you'd already covered it, but I see where it is now. From the image posted by Mark A on the other thread and the link you posted, it's all still there, right enough. Here's a recent photo of the oval centre section from maps.live.com - the raceway is sadly neglected, but almost entirely intact:



The problem with the 'Bird's eye' views on maps.live.com is that they won't download (you have to press CTRL + Prnt Scrn, crop the image in Paint then send it to My Pictures, then to ImageShack, or at least, that's the way I've learned (well, been taught by a 17-year-old...) to do it). Also, they're often too recent to show up any 'history' - there are excellent views of the Amatol ('Atlantic City') site, for example (the last track Doug showed any interest in! ), but no visible trace of the track.

Anyway, sorry to interrupt - keep 'em coming!

[HistoricMustang]

Mark, that is a nice image. Lets keep pounding away!

Henry