2 replies to this topic

[rossfos]

Check out http://www.homestead...adowdaleraceway

This is a new website dedicated to Meadowdale International Raceway, a long defunct road racing course in Carpentersville, IL. For newbies out there, Meadowdale was 3.27 miles long with a 4,000' straight, exciting elevation changes and a steeply banked 180 degree turn called the Monza Wall. It operated from 1958 to 1968. Pro and club races for sports cars, USAC, NASCAR, motorcycles and karts were held there.

A course sim for the Grand Prix Legends F1 racing simulation game is under construction. Details are on the site.

In addition to vintage photos, the site has pictures of a lap of the track taken this month. Unlike most old tracks, Meadowdale has not been taken over by tract houses or industrial subdivisions. The property is intact. In fact, 90 acres of it are now a public nature preserve, open for you to visit!

If you raced or worked races at Meadowdale, and are able to contribute a few words or pictures to the site, they would be most appreciated. The site may also be used to contact Bill Pohnan of Streamwood, IL, who is writing a book on the track.

RossFos
Ottawa, IL USA

[Buford]

Great! That was the first place I ever saw a sports car race in 1959 and I almost got killed there when a USAC stock car hit the pit wall and threw concrete chunks everywhere. One flew past my head and smashed the windshield on a car I was sitting on behind the pits.

My father and some guys from SCCA were going to put the money together in the 1970s to buy it and upgrade it but it never happened.

[Jim Thurman]

Quote

Originally posted by rossfos
Check out http://www.homestead...adowdaleraceway

This is a new website dedicated to Meadowdale International Raceway, a long defunct road racing course in Carpentersville, IL. For newbies out there, Meadowdale was 3.27 miles long with a 4,000' straight, exciting elevation changes and a steeply banked 180 degree turn called the Monza Wall. It operated from 1958 to 1968. Pro and club races for sports cars, USAC, NASCAR, motorcycles and karts were held there.

A course sim for the Grand Prix Legends F1 racing simulation game is under construction. Details are on the site.

In addition to vintage photos, the site has pictures of a lap of the track taken this month. Unlike most old tracks, Meadowdale has not been taken over by tract houses or industrial subdivisions. The property is intact. In fact, 90 acres of it are now a public nature preserve, open for you to visit!

First, great site. Nice to see something on Meadowdale.

But, as far as "unlike most old tracks"...I am continually amazed at the sheer number of old tracks still sitting idle and undeveloped. Most are small ovals, but there are five or six defunct road courses sitting just like Meadowdale...which I find amazing.

I'll post the URLs to aerial photos in another thread. I'll probably call it "Abandoned U.S. road circuits".

Thanks again for the Meadowdale URL and website.


Jim Thurman