txtom Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Historical Record - Closed Texas and Southwest asphalt tracks Recalling to most recent, the closing of San Antonio Speedway four years ago on Wednesday, March 28, 2007, TexTom and NeilTPS have combined their records and racing knowledge to develop the following asphalt track closure list. If other readers of this topic recall any asphalt tracks we missed, please add to this thread Thanks –Tex-Tom and NeilTPS Closed Texas and Southwest asphalt tracks: San Antonio Speedway Longhorn Speedway (aka Austin Speed-O-Rama) Twin Cities Speedway – Odessa Texas World Speedway (for short track car spectator events) Sooner International Speedway, Altus, Oklahoma Pan American Speedway (Austin Highway) – San Antonio 1956 to 1964. Ran as Mercury Speedway in 1965 Pan American Speedway (Toepperwein Road) - San Antonio 1965 to 1978 Meyer Speedway, Houston Lubbock Speedway Abilene Speedway (ran 1963 to 1980, 1/4 mile) Playland Park, Houston (1957 to 1960, 1/4 mile) Arrowhead Park Speedway, Houston (1947 to 1954, 1/4 mile) Channelview Speedway (ran a very short time in early 1952 as an asphalt track 1/4 mile) Salvage Speedway, Dallas, 1/4 mile. Southwest Speedway, Amarillo, (Located North of the airport, held 2 qualifying races for the 1977 TROC) Amarillo Modified Midget Speedway, Amarillo (1/8 mile track was paved from 1963 to 1980, located North of the Airport) Odessa Speed bowl, Odessa (1959 to 1986, was the first Twin Cities Speedway located about 6 miles west of the new Twin Cities, 1/4 mile) Raceway Park, San Angelo (ran about 1956 to 1975. May have also been known as Three Rivers Raceway) Arnold Speedway, Waco (ran 1951-1952 as asphalt, 3/8ths mile) Spillway Speedway, San Antonio (ran about 1947 to 1950) Compiled by: Thomas "Tex-Tom" Taylor (Racing Historian and Frequent Contributor to www.LoneStarSpeedZone.com) Neil Upchurch (Founder and Retired Former Driver, Race & Administrative Director, TPS & TIDA-LM) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byron Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I have a correction on the Channelview track, it was a dirt track not asphalt. I know someone who grew up with the track owners two son's and he told me years ago that they would work the track during the week. There was a track called North Houston Speedway that was built as an asphalt track that only ran for a season or two in the fifties. It is located on what is now Bush Intercontinental Airport property. Others on here will add info to this thread that know way more than me. thanks; Byron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Playland Park Spdwy/Houston did begin as a dirt track, but i'm thinking it was paved at least by 1955. But, the news seems to get worse, just outside of Texas the Baton Rouge Spdwy near Prairieville, LA, was at least a 1/2 mile and fast, and was operating in the '70s for sure but has been gone awhile. And, I believe the Monroe Motor Spdwy, a 3/8 mile concrete track near West Monroe, LA is now closed. It is just down I-20 a little ways from the long gone 1/2 mile paved Jackson Motor Spdwy near Clinton, MS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrodder Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Wrong again puppy breath PAS opened in 1946 Idont have the exact date in front of me but I do know that the week end that it opened there were 4 advertised race meets in San Antonio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted March 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I have a correction on the Channelview track, it was a dirt track not asphalt I am still trying to clarify that one; it was dirt almost all it's life, but I have two different references that state it was paved for a very short time in early '52; maybe only a couple race nights. But I will keep looking. There was a track called North Houston Speedway that was built as an asphalt track that only ran for a season or two in the fifties. I remember several of ya'll referring to that track, but I didn't recall if ya'll said it was paved. I will add it to the list tonight. PAS opened in 1946 Correct, the PAS on Austin highway opened as a dirt track, but was paved in 1956. There are several tracks on that list that started as dirt tracks; Playland, Arrowhead, Pan Am #1, etc. Several more are now dirt tracks; Abilene is one of them, Lubbock another. And I am compiling a listing of tracks in states that border Texas; i will get with Neil to see what he has there, and we'll get that up here. I looked at the Texas dirt tracks; not sure if I have enough time left on the planet to do that one......... Maybe a condensed version...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilTPS Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Tex-Tom: You posted the following on which I will add comments: “I am compiling a listing of tracks in states that border Texas. I will get with Neil to see what he has there, and we'll get that up here”. I pulled up all my personal memory regarding border states. Sooner International Raceway in Altus, Oklahoma was the only closed asphalt track upon which I have firsthand knowledge. SIR’s final closing was not due to the usual reasons ie: mismanagement, poor gate sales, low car count etc. The adjoining Altus Airport needed more end-of-runway space to comply with FAA regulations and bought SIR to comply. Tom: You also posted, “I looked at the Texas dirt tracks. Not sure if I have enough time left on the planet to do that one......... Maybe a condensed version”. Suggestion to Tom: We should pass this closed dirt track list topic over to our resident dirt track specialist “RebelRaceWriter”. JM Hallas can handle the list post without even breaking a sweat. Comment: The size of Closed Texas and Southwest asphalt tracks list is disturbing isn’t it? Is asphalt racing following the extinction path of outdoor Drive Inn Movies? Thanks to all who provided or will provide correct input (without callingTom and me “puppy breath”). Neil Upchurch Founder and Retired Former Driver, Race & Administrative Director, Texas Pro Sedans, TIDA-LM & TROC @ TWS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickracer Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 WOW! Tom.... nothing else to do! LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrodder Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Their lonely rickracer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Don't worry Neil, as more and more paved "local" speedways close down, the dirt tracks will follow. As the saying goes, "dirt tracks are more forgiving". But, to me that does not apply strictly to the racing itself. And, something tells me Neil Upchurch understands exactly what I am trying to say. The more slices in a pie, means smaller slices. So, without more pie, there will be less and less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPS18 Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 I agree, Neil. This is disturbing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Playland Park Spdwy/Houston did begin as a dirt track, but i'm thinking it was paved at least by 1955. But, the news seems to get worse, just outside of Texas the Baton Rouge Spdwy near Prairieville, LA, was at least a 1/2 mile and fast, and was operating in the '70s for sure but has been gone awhile. And, I believe the Monroe Motor Spdwy, a 3/8 mile concrete track near West Monroe, LA is now closed. It is just down I-20 a little ways from the long gone 1/2 mile paved Jackson Motor Spdwy near Clinton, MS. I can't believe I failed to recall the Louisiana Fairgrounds/Shreveport paved 1/2 mile speedway, just barely out of Texas. A dirt track as late as '64, but paved at least by '72. Not sure when the facility was deconstructed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 I can't believe I failed to recall the Louisiana Fairgrounds/Shreveport paved 1/2 mile speedway, just barely out of Texas That track had been around as early as 1910 in various configurations; it was paved in 1968 and ran it's last race in 1980. I went by it in 1985 while attending a school there; and they were in the process of tearing out the corner asphalt. The pit area was intact, as it became part of the big parking lot that it is now. The grandstands were left for about 3 to 5 more years. Living in Fort Worth, and travelling by it several times on the way to the southeast for All Pro racing, I would look over at the remains. As late as 1999, there was a small area of the frontstretch asphalt in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTech Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 ok which is the oldest asphalt track running in texas ...is it cc ..open 1945..and still running ..it started out as a dirt track ..not sure what year it was paved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilTPS Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 OK Mike McCain - aka – HiTech (formerly “Oldtimer”), even though this thread was supposed to be a Texas/Southwest closed asphalt tracks article and since you changed the subject, following is the short list of currently surviving Texas/Southwest asphalt tracks, in the order of their seniority: 1. CC Speedway, Corpus Christi 2. Altus Speedway, Oklahoma 3. Red River Speedway, Wichita Falls 4. Houston Motorsports Park 5. Thunderhill Raceway, Kyle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAPA Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 HaHa...Mike got put in "Timeout" by Neil.lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrodder Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Thanks to all who provided or will provide correct input (without callingTom and me “puppy breath”). Neil Upchurch Founder and Retired Former Driver, Race & Administrative Director, Texas Pro Sedans, TIDA-LM & TROC @ TWS Take a break Neil in this instance "PUPPY BREATH" was a term of endearment not an insult, it was not directed toward you just my friend Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilTPS Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Hrodder: Any friend of Tom’s is a friend of mine. Thanks for reading and participating in this topic. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTech Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 HaHa...Mike got put in "Timeout" by Neil.lol ...nah no time out here ..just asked the wrong question .on the wrong thread ..neil could have just pointed that out and not answer the question .or give me a big intro. but seeing he answered it ..thanks neil ..... BUT I WILL SAY IM SORRY TO TOM .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 OK Mike McCain - aka – HiTech (formerly “Oldtimer”), even though this thread was supposed to be a Texas/Southwest closed asphalt tracks article and since you changed the subject, following is the short list of currently surviving Texas/Southwest asphalt tracks, in the order of their seniority: 1. CC Speedway, Corpus Christi 2. Altus Speedway, Oklahoma 3. Red River Speedway, Wichita Falls 4. Houston Motorsports Park 5. Thunderhill Raceway, Kyle Have these speedway operators, and racers, gotten together to have a common championship series? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Have these speedway operators, and racers, gotten together to have a common championship series? THR and HMP have since they both run the NASCAR Trucks and NASCAR Modifieds in common. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtom Posted March 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 BUT I WILL SAY IM SORRY TO TOM For What? Nothing has been said here that needs to be addressed. Hrodder is an old friend who is having a little fun, and it looks like Neil had a little fun with you about hijacking the thread. No issues or worries here, now let's get back to talking about asphalt race tracks..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastoval Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Was there an asphalt track in Navasota at one time ? Is it still running? Spent a couple summers with an aunt and uncle in the 70's and went to the races several times, and I think it was in Navasota. WOW that was a long time ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilTPS Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 fastoval: During the early 70’s, I went to the Navasota oval to help Paul Jett with his sprint car. The surface of the track was clay. Thank you for participating in this topic. Neil Upchurch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETrott Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Have these speedway operators, and racers, gotten together to have a common championship series? THR and HMP have since they both run the NASCAR Trucks and NASCAR Modifieds in common. Nick So you're saying there is a South Texas NASCAR Truck Championship Series, and a South Texas NASCAR Modified Championship Series? I wasn't aware. My point is the added prestige for a regional championship series would be beneficial to the racers and fans, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickHolt Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Well, I am not a spokesperson for either THR or HMP, but that is my understanding. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. There have been several attempts over the years to work towards common rules accross the Texas asphalt tracks. For a wide variety of reasons those attempts have not resulted in common rules across all tracks. A few years ago I formed the Texas Track Owners and Promoters Association (TTOPPA) and several meetings were held, but the issues involved in attempting to compromise on a set of rules for each class became points of contention rather than points of compromise. The bottom line was that each track wanted the other tracks to utilize their rules. Very understandable when you consider the amount of money teams have to spend whenever the rules change - even it's for the good in the long run. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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