Ghost Tracks....

#16 10-08-2008, 12:18 AM

Anybody remember the track used in 2 Lane Blacktop??

Lakeland International Raceway Ghost Track

#17 10-08-2008, 12:22 AM

Jeez I wish I was around to see all the awesome things that happened so close to the house in which I live in and write this message from. The DIMS property is literally five minutes from where I sit. My father has told me great things and I have seen many great photos from DIMS and this is as accurate a shot as we have.

This map from 1995 shows where the track once was accurately. It also
shows the layout of the 1969 Texas Pop Festival that featured Janis Joplin,
Led Zeppelin among others.

This area is now a combination of a huge car lot and numerous restaurants and a Super Target (at least there's a hooters). Little do any of them know how much 1320 history went down under their feet.

Below are some links to some DIMS action captured by my pops, David Graves, with the exact same 35 mm Minolta camera I used until 2004.
Poor camera has seen a lot of history go down on the strip, we still have it! Hope you guys enjoy the shots.

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

#18 10-08-2008, 12:29 AM

When I was in Phoenix back in January for Testing I went out to the old Beeline Dragway, the Tower still stands!

Kingnitro : photos : Phoenix Test and Tune '08 : Sunday I drove out to the old Beeline Dragway, the Tower still exists!- powered by SmugMug

#19 10-08-2008, 12:49 AM

Chris,

You caught the gold ring!!! I had seen that map before but could not remember where.

Paul, your site was too far away from the freeway. As you drove in the pit gate, you came across a small bridge spanning the creek channel next to I-35...drove a short distance to the gate with the starting line dead ahead of the other side of the back wall of the track. The pits were to the left...spectator area to the right.

There was a sizeable lake off the left hand side of the shutdown area...that is one area that was totally recontoured and a different lake constructed on the overall property.

In its original form, the entire piece of property was approximately 330 acres, with I-35 running through a corner of it. On the opposite side of the freeway, the property that had been owned by the race track was sold and became the site of that huge shopping mall....just down the freeway from the track, heading south. It was on the west side of I-35...the track was on the east.

Directly across the Interstate was a rather large piece of property that was the home of Jim Robb and Drag On products. He made a number of items, but one of the best was his traction compound...plus he sponsored a number of race cars for many years.

At the Springnationals in 1971...we had a bunch of rain and the track began to percolate. That's right...it was doing it as far back as '71. We went across the street...got a barrel of uncut traction compound...thinned it out just till you could pour it....then I had the track employees pour it into the cracks in the surface...till the crack would hold no more. It cured rather quickly with the heat (side note: over 15 people transported to the hospital suffering from heat stroke) and it slowed the water flow to a mere trickle.

We had track and safety safari crews manning towels and they would jump over the guard rail after a pair of cars passed their spot....dry the track till the next pair was about ready to stage. Got it usable to where we could finish the race.

As Steve Gibbs noted after the difficulties with traction one year in Gainesville, "Desperate Men Do Desperate Things".

You guys are having too much fun with what in reality is a rather sad subject...that of defunct race tracks...but I must say...we did have some fun in that era. Got the job done as well!

Thanks again for letting me ramble. Hope it is moderately accurate<VBG>.

MaC

#20 10-08-2008, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Sherwood

When I was in Phoenix back in January for Testing I went out to the old Beeline Dragway, the Tower still stands

Here's an aerial photo of Beeline today. I attended my first drag race here and have lots of memories from there.

#21 10-08-2008, 09:22 AM

D Mac thanks for the input on legendary the DIMS track. The track was totally graded over and gone by the late 1980's.

The last bit of Green Valley Race City was developed over (houses) more than two years ago. FYI, Google maps and or Live local maps are at least 3 years old.

Cool stories tho! Old Caddo Mills race track(airport) still exists north of Caddo Mills TX.
RP

#22 10-08-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat Barrios

Are we entirely sure that the first track shown in Louisiana is still not running sanctioned under the other HRA?

Just kidding, but, hard to imagine that it is still sitting there vacant for all these years - and suprisingly looks pretty good!

The Southland track in Houma, Louisiana was my submission. I took the picture of C&H in 1971, the others were taken in 1984. It's all torn down now, but the track surface is still there, although completely overgrown with weeds.

Mark Oswald moved down there after the track had shut down.

Google Earth Today:

1984:
View from Grandstands:

View from top of Tower:

#23 10-08-2008, 05:53 PM

Houston International Dragway, also know as Gulf Freeway Drag Strip. I remember going here on a warm summer night in 1977 and watching Johnny White kick some Funny Car Booty his "Houston Hustler" Mustang II. NHRA also ran the Sportsnationals there for a few years.

Today there's a WalMart and Best Buy there.

Stephens & Venables Dragster Restoration by Rip & Natalie Wiley

#24 10-08-2008, 06:03 PM

My contribution is Aquasco Speedway. I've been working on a story about it, won't have it ready until Winter though. But I'll share my pictures.

Aquasco Speedway today - Southern Maryland Online MultiMedia Gallery

Aquasco Speedway today - Control Tower - Southern Maryland Online MultiMedia Gallery

Aquasco Speedway today - control tower, starting grid - Southern Maryland Online MultiMedia Gallery

Aquasco Speedway today - bathrooms - Southern Maryland Online MultiMedia Gallery

Aquasco Speedway today - Southern Maryland Online MultiMedia Gallery

Aquasco Speedway today - Southern Maryland Online MultiMedia Gallery

If you have a sharp eye, you'll notice my avatar is an old shot from Aquasco. Richard Petty racing against (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong I don't have the enlarged picture and caption in front of me) Gene Mori.

Aquasco ran NASCAR Drag Racing and some NHRA. It closed in the late 1960s. Budds Creek became the big track in town ever since. Any attempts to reopen the track would fall flat. It's in terrible shape now, would take millions to rebuild and would never be able to return to prominence because MIR has become a world class facility.

I have a few interviews on it along with other content that I'll be uploading when I'm done. Like I said, it's something for the offseason but it'll be featured in ECDN and on my site.

#25 10-08-2008, 06:25 PM

Did someone mention Green Valley raceway?

Stephens & Venables Dragster Restoration by Rip & Natalie Wiley

HECHO EN TEXAS: Green Valley Raceway

Google Earth Today:

#26 10-08-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Coyle

Niagara Drag

Here it is. Went there prob, 5 years ago.What a great place even in its current condition.

We have an anual Niagra Video reunion in March, Some of the original racers come. Dean Johnson (the owner) is always there as well. Its always interesting to watch the vids and see the legends race. Dean usaly has a storie or two as well

#27 10-08-2008, 07:03 PM

And I spent a few Sundays at this place as well, the 1st CajunNationals were held here, LaPlace Dragway:

Google Earth Today:

This is cool too, decals from all of the old strips:
Decals:

#28 10-08-2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance Peltier

And I spent a few Sundays at this place as well, the 1st CajunNationals were held here, LaPlace Dragway:

Google Earth Today:

This is cool too, decals from all of the old strips:
Decals:

That picture of the Competiton class with the Freeman dragster in it with the black dragster in the far lane was our old car. That is also the same dragster in the NHRA website with the photo at Green Valley. The pictures of the Houston and Green Valley track are mine, because when I did the website for Stephens & Venables we had enough server space for me to add some other Division 4 stuff. I was also at the 1st Cajun Nationals at LaPlace, if you browse through that site you will see many pictures of Houma, LaPlace, Green Valley and Dallas as they scattered throughout.

#29 10-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Like Lance I virtually grew up at Southland Dragway and DMAC is right when those Fuelers or Funny Cars would run if you were sitting under those covered grandstands it was almost unbearable......almost! ... Now at the site of the old Laplace strip is a car dealership. If I'm not mistaken parts of the strip is still there. I too have a good bit of photos from the old Soutland strip which I have posted here from time to time. In a way its sad that these great old tracks are mostly gone, but it sure is fun looking back!

#30 10-09-2008, 10:11 AM

A few more from Southland!!!