Why was Freemont closed down?

I believe the lease on the property ran out and the owner didn't want to renew. At least that's what I've always heard, if anyone knows different that is the truth, feel free to correct me.

I wish I knew how to post from another website... But here is what is said about WHY!!

The tracks demise came about as a rather rough end of the lease. Santa Fe Real Estate Corporation who still owns the land, decided to not renew the lease after the track had spent tons of money on improvements over the years. BRP-(Baylands Raceway Park) was kicked out, and the city of Fremont was pissed to say the least. In fact to this day I haven't heard anything changing in that relationship. The property is still somewhat vacant. Rumors abound as to why, but it sure would make a good place for a racing facility. A few years ago, it was offered back to Kniss- (Former Owner) and he told them to shove off...

Google- Fremont Dragstrip
#21 Baylands Raceway Park

They had a great winged sprint show at the 3/8 mile oval there along with a glider show that was second to none... Small airport right next to the track... And the green mountains off to the left of the track, made it one of the most beautiful places I have ever been... Plus they ran NITRO and Alky cars, like every other weekend... I spent a lot of time there... And enjoyed every minute...

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theDARKSIDE- TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER*

Thanks Kel,
Apparently after they shut down the Drag Strip for development, they discovered that there was a burrowing owl, or blue spotted sea snake... And the EPA put a no-build clause down on the land... And there you have it!!
MEMORIES-

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theDARKSIDE- TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER*

One a sight dedicated to Orange County raceway, they took the Present day photo and Superimposed an old photo over it to show where the actual track was. That would look awesome in this case

DISCLAIMER: I have no specific knowledge of this particular venue.
Often, especially during the 80's and 90's the discovery of the least bit of pollution spells the end of"re-development" (and/or sale) of any property. Toxic site was broad-brushed over lots of minorly polluted places.
I understand (however, have only limited knowledge of specifics) recent utilization of "brownfields" has been encouraged by various state and federal authorities where the use makes sense (i.e. non-residential - non-school use). Judging by the prior use and lack of apparent development <and sufficient buffer from cranky residents>, re-use as a race facility would seem a no-brainer.
I wonder if anybody will approach the Railroad (must be their land arm) to get it "off-their-books"? Hey, we can dream can't we?

Unfortunately Jon makes a couple good points here regarding safety issues that revolve around track promoters and their attempts to cut corners.

There should NEVER be a corner cut when it comes to the safety of the people competing in the sport. During our teams match race days in the '80's I remember visiting more than one track where the ambulance was no more than a retired version of a once working unit, now hoisted on cinder blocks with weeds growing around it. I saw a man burn for nearly five minutes because a promoter was too cheap to have a fire truck on site as required when running the type of match race that was occuring.

Dont get me wrong though, the onus should also be accepted by the racers themselves. If you are running a vehicle that is not safe and one that could potentially cause a situation that may injure others, you need to give your head a shake. And if you are a competitor competing at an event that you feel the safety standards are not up to par then you have the right to walk away from that situation.

In the end it comes down to morals and peoples abilities to rationalize somewhat unappropriate behviour in their heads. Just use your head and you shouldnt have any problems.

https://www.nitromater.com/lounge/44...lked-away.html

(I put it in The Lounge back then, because I didn't think it was NHRA. )

I didn't realize the Fremont track was that close to 880... I lived in San Jose for 2+ years and had no clue there was a track in Fremont.

Both the Renfrow wreck and "Baylands Last Drag Race" are well documented in the Jackson Bros. 1989 video "Shoebox Dream". Great video that I have watched at least 100 times in my life.

The last pass ever down that strip was my dad's then-world-record 7.09 at 198 mph to take the win over Wayne Torkelson. Awesome footage if you watch the video.

I spent the summer of 1973 visiting my Uncle and Aunt who lived in Milpitas. Spent quite a few Wednesday evenings during their "grudge nights." Even got a timing slip or two in my uncle's '63 Dynamic 88. (Sshhhhh!) (Wish I still had them. The wallet I had them in got picked.) There was one guy who was running a '69 Charger who, in my opinion, from the snap of his exhaust and the color from his open headers at night, was definitly "tipping the can." He eventually, toward the end of that summer grenaded his engine but good.

I also remember watching the Mallicoat Bros running their twin turbo Barracuda funny car. <-----LINK! It was much quieter than a normal car, and you could hear the slicks squalling away during the burnouts and launch.

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AKA DrRocket

Don, I can remember back in the 70's, running some heads-up races on a track that had no return road. You had had two lanes to slow down in, then you simply turned around and drove back down the racetrack to the pits! I think this was probably better than a one-lane shutdown, though.

Sorry for the "late" response.

The point raised about there being numerous tracks, mostly back in the day, that were less than safe is very true. Technically speaking, NHRA once had a rule for tracks that stated the spectators had to be a minimum specific distance from the racing surface. But when a track they wanted on their list became available, that "rule" was often ignored.

Down through the years there have probably been dozens of outlaw tracks that weren't sanctioned by any legitimate racing organization. There were also others that had recognized sanctioning body signage that weren't really sanctioned. Someone painted a sign to make participants and fans believe they were legit when they weren't.

I'm not trying to badmouth anyone's facility, but places like Summerduck Dragway in Virginia was no wider than a suburban driveway -- and not much longer, either, yet famous doorslammer runners like Nicholson and Sox match raced there all the time. Capital Raceway had a steep tree-covered hill at the end of the shut-off area (what there was of it!). U.S. 30 Dragstrip in Gary, IN had a railroad tie wall at the end. Oswego Drag Raceway was an elevated track on a berm with almost no quardrails of any kind. Heck, the old Beeline Dragstrip outside of Phoenix had single rail Armco guardrails located so far off the racing surface that an errant car would have built up more than enough speed to make it into the spectator stands had someone gotten loose. And the photographers stood IN FRONT of, not BEHIND those guardrails!

I went to Puyallup Raceway (did I get that right) in Washington years ago for a Funny Car show with the late Steve Evans and Bill Doner. I asked them about a photo pass and Evans said, "Hell, just go on out there. No one's gong to stop you."

The crowd was almost standing on the racing surface. "Who sanctions this place?" I asked.

"OHRA," replied Evans.

"What the hell is that?"

"Our Hot Rod Association!"

When you really think about it, and compare some of those old places to venues like The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, or Bristol, or the Motorplex, or Route 66 Raceway, or Norwalk, it's a wonder everyone wasn't killed long ago.

As to the ambulance issue, one of the responses was dead on (an unfortunate word choice, that!). I witnessed a fatal Top Fuel crash at an Illinois track where the ambulance was literally a relic from the late 40s (this incident took place in the late 60s). Not only did it take them almost 20 minutes to get it going, the "attendant" was just some kid working at the track. Had the driver still been alive there was absolutely no way he would have received life-saving assistance. The coroner had to be called before the car and body could be removed from the racing surface.

Safety is an on-going issue that can never be ignored. When I was lucky enough to do some driving in association with the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School I always wore far more gear than was required for Super Comp. Everything from full Nomex underwear to a suit that was "approved" for much faster classes to an eye-hole Belaclava underneath a full face Bell helmet. Even though those cars don't run 300 MPH, they can crash (Just ask young Ms. B. Force about that), and gasoline does burn.

The "It'll-never-happen-to-me" theory doesn't work in racing, and the list of injured drivers that DRAW assists every year attests to that.

Two years ago I watched the winning Super Comp driver at a POWERade race climb out of his car at the top end -- with no socks on! I don't know where the staging lane people werre when the guy climbed into his car, but what, if anything, was the guy thinking? "It'll-never-happen-to-me," probably.

Some years ago a Comp racer sued NHRA after getting burned because he didn't have his firesuit bottoms on. Who's at fault in that situation, NHRA or the idiot who climbed behind the wheel?

You know my answer.

Don't just make sure about yourself. Keep an eye ouut for what the other people are, or in this case aren't doing. It could save your life.

Jon Asher