Anyone know if this track is still active? I understand some kart races still take place, but when was the main track used for car or bike racing? And does anyone recall if it was clockwise/anti-clockwise or have a decent track map?
A scour of the Internet has so far only found a few low-quality images and very little in the way of history details.
Lake Afton, Kansas
Started by
Speed Demon
, Nov 26 2003 22:02
9 replies to this topic
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#2
Joe Fan
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Posted 26 November 2003 - 22:39
This is somewhat close to my neck of the woods but not too close. Yes, it is still used for karting events twice a year. I called the man who operates the track and he said it was once used for SCCA sports car events in the 60s and he thought up until the late 70s, though you would have to check with SCCA to be sure. It is essentially a 1.8-mile road course around Lake Afton that is owned by the county. I forgot to ask him if was run clockwise.
Anyhow, here is its layout: http://www.kart.org/KART%20Tracks.htm
Anyhow, here is its layout: http://www.kart.org/KART%20Tracks.htm
#3
Speed Demon
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Posted 26 November 2003 - 22:44
Thanks for that, Joe Fan. Info very useful and I didn't realise it was laid out on parkland roads. Map on their site is similar quality to the ones I've seen already though. Not sure whether to trust it or not, as the map of Gateway below it is definitely not too accurate!
#5
Mike Argetsinger
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Posted 26 November 2003 - 23:53
Originally posted by Speed Demon
Thanks for that, Joe Fan. Info very useful and I didn't realise it was laid out on parkland roads. Map on their site is similar quality to the ones I've seen already though. Not sure whether to trust it or not, as the map of Gateway below it is definitely not too accurate!
Just curious. What's wrong with that map of Gateway? Looks pretty good to me. Or were you thinking of the original Gateway that opened in 1985 and was replaced - but on the same site - by the present track? I have raced on both.
#6
Rob Semmeling
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Posted 02 June 2011 - 11:39
Hope someone can help: I'm looking for the date of the first-ever race at Lake Afton, which was either in 1964 or 1965. The last race was on August 11, 1991, while the 1992 event was cancelled.
And while I'm at it, I'm also looking for dates of the...
... last race at Ponca City, Oklahoma, which was in 1992 - perhaps the 4th of July?
... first race at Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico, which as far as I can see was in 1964
... first race in Austin, Texas, which was around 1966 or so.
Any help greatly appreciated!
And while I'm at it, I'm also looking for dates of the...
... last race at Ponca City, Oklahoma, which was in 1992 - perhaps the 4th of July?
... first race at Bottomless Lakes, New Mexico, which as far as I can see was in 1964
... first race in Austin, Texas, which was around 1966 or so.
Any help greatly appreciated!
#7
jjordan
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Posted 02 June 2011 - 20:11
Just got back from the 50th anniversary go-kart races there. Have run the track in both cars and karts, it has always been run clockwise.
#8
jjordan
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Posted 02 June 2011 - 20:25
My records show that the first car race there was in 1964. Let me go through my stuff on Ponca City.
#9
E1pix
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Posted 02 June 2011 - 22:43
I was the sign painter for John Barker's Performance Development & Racing throughout the '80s, they ran SCCA Nationals, June Sprints, Runoffs, etc.
I am quite sure that Nationals ran there throughout most or all of that period.... and know who to ask if of interest.
There's a chance I may be thinking of Ponca City.... I guess I'll use "quarter-century plus" as my excuse!
I am quite sure that Nationals ran there throughout most or all of that period.... and know who to ask if of interest.
There's a chance I may be thinking of Ponca City.... I guess I'll use "quarter-century plus" as my excuse!
Edited by E1pix, 03 June 2011 - 02:56.
#10
pdgodwin99
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 17:53
Rob perhaps I can add a little to your inquiry about Midwest and Southwest tracks, since this was my stomping ground in the '50s and '60's.
Lake Afton was probably run before and after my races there in 1965, 1966 and 1967. I retired from racing in 1967 so I don't know what transpired after that but it seems like a lot of the old tracks I enjoyed so much just fell by the wayside.
Austin, Tx was run at two different venues. The street course (around some sort of colosseum) I ran in 1963, 1964 and 1965 and then it was moved to a drag strip converted to road course where I ran in 1967. I missed most of 1966 so I don't know what took place then. I enjoyed the street course, except for the curbs and lamp posts, but didn't much care for the drag strip.
Ponca City, Ok was one of my favorites, a small but fun natural road course through a park beside a lake. Lots of trees, which posed an obvious natural hazard but very pretty none-the-less.
I ran at Ponca in 1962 through 1967.
Bottomless Lakes, NM was a natural road course in a state park (named for a series of very deep sink holes in the lower section) The very long (over 8 miles) of winding roads ran through a canyon then climbed up to the canyon rim and ran along the edge to descend once again to complete the lap in the canyon. I drove an Alfa Veloce which just wasn't fast enough to make all the high speed bends exciting (it was mostly flat out all the way). The only race I ran there was 1964.
I've seen references that Rattlesnake Raceway at Midland, Tx was only run one time. I may be able to add a note about this since I ran there in the late fall of 1962. I remember this race well since the trophy I got there (a pewter stein) is one of only two trophies that I kept from ten years of racing.
The race was cancelled after Dave Fawcett's fatal accident in 1963. After that the race moved back to the airport.
Hope this will fill some of the gaps.
Phil Godwin
Lake Afton was probably run before and after my races there in 1965, 1966 and 1967. I retired from racing in 1967 so I don't know what transpired after that but it seems like a lot of the old tracks I enjoyed so much just fell by the wayside.
Austin, Tx was run at two different venues. The street course (around some sort of colosseum) I ran in 1963, 1964 and 1965 and then it was moved to a drag strip converted to road course where I ran in 1967. I missed most of 1966 so I don't know what took place then. I enjoyed the street course, except for the curbs and lamp posts, but didn't much care for the drag strip.
Ponca City, Ok was one of my favorites, a small but fun natural road course through a park beside a lake. Lots of trees, which posed an obvious natural hazard but very pretty none-the-less.
I ran at Ponca in 1962 through 1967.
Bottomless Lakes, NM was a natural road course in a state park (named for a series of very deep sink holes in the lower section) The very long (over 8 miles) of winding roads ran through a canyon then climbed up to the canyon rim and ran along the edge to descend once again to complete the lap in the canyon. I drove an Alfa Veloce which just wasn't fast enough to make all the high speed bends exciting (it was mostly flat out all the way). The only race I ran there was 1964.
I've seen references that Rattlesnake Raceway at Midland, Tx was only run one time. I may be able to add a note about this since I ran there in the late fall of 1962. I remember this race well since the trophy I got there (a pewter stein) is one of only two trophies that I kept from ten years of racing.
The race was cancelled after Dave Fawcett's fatal accident in 1963. After that the race moved back to the airport.
Hope this will fill some of the gaps.
Phil Godwin
