Ghost Tracks....

#1 10-07-2008, 02:19 PM

The NHRA Insider has a great feature on tracks from the past, pictures too!

The DRAGSTER Insider

#2 10-07-2008, 03:17 PM

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!

#3 10-07-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Sherwood

The NHRA Insider has a great feature on tracks from the past, pictures too!

The DRAGSTER Insider

Some of those are almost enough to make you cry.

The Dallas track looks way ahead of its time and appears as if it is a case of "what could have been" with the right people at the helm......

#4 10-07-2008, 03:55 PM

Thanks Joe, some sweet shots there.We sure have lost a lot of track over time, and not gained hardly any. - Thats another reason I think they will stay at 1,000 ft. Some tracks can't lengthen, and we can't afford to lose any more.

#5 10-07-2008, 05:04 PM

Hi all,

Since I had first hand knowledge of both tracks, Southland and DIMS...thought I might jump in.

Southland was one of the nicer facilities anywhere in the country and the comparison with OCIR is very valid. The layout were quite similar...round tower, return road, pits etc....but Southland had it over Orange County with the grandstands. All fiberglass seat surfaces...and a large portion with a roof.

The covered grandstands were kinda like a two edged sword...on one hand...it was great when the South Louisiana sun beat down in the middle of the summer...but the other side of the coin revealed one of the most noisy environments I have ever been in. Nitro cars...leaving the line with the sound trapped by the roof could get downright unpleasant. Maybe that's why I have to wear hearing aids today to just be able to carry on a conversation!!!that and standing between them on the starting line with no hearing protection. Talk about stupid macho!

The Dallas track was the showpiece of drag racing in its era...from its grand opening in 1969...thru the remainder of its life. I was there for a brief time before the owner leased the facility to IHRA...and because of my long term relationship with NHRA, I was not part of the deal. That eventually led to my joining NHRA in the fall of '71.

If you never had the chance to experience DIMS....you can't quite grasp how far ahead of its time it was. From the four story tower, complete with elevator....with a private club on the top floor...race operations and offices on the first three...to the fully paved pit areas to extensive grandstands to the most remarkable lighting system, comparable to a college or pro football stadium. Needless to say, it was a tragic loss to the sport when it shut down...never to reopen.

Gosh, I didn't mean to get so wordy...but hey...isn't that what old announcers are supposed to do!!!!!!!!

Take care and it is a heart rending but most interesting look back to some of the earlier race tracks across the country.

Everyone stay well.

MaC

#6 10-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Great post Mac....

I did some research on the Dallas track, and came up with a slightly different location then the map on NHRA.com. If I am not mistaken, this shot from google earth shows exactly the spot where the strip was/is today.

Do you guys see what I see?

#7 10-07-2008, 05:27 PM

Very cool. Thanks Joe, you always find the good stuff. Mark Oswald lives in Houma. I bet he has some stories from that track...

#8 10-07-2008, 05:36 PM

Hey Mac, was losing the Dallas track a major set back for all of drag racing?

#9 10-07-2008, 06:11 PM

Tony,

I certainly can't see it as a positive...it was a few years till a comparable track was constructed...now there are several.

The unfortunate accident involving Art Arfons that claimed three lives in October of 71 at the IHRA event certainly didn't help a great deal. After that event, it seemed to me that things went downhill...eventually leading to the departure of IHRA and the subsequent transfer of property ownership.

What was unique was the imposition of a covenant on the property when it changed hands that it could not be used for auto racing. I had a close friend that I joined in a survey of the facility in about 1976 give or take a year, who had some interest in attempting to resurrect it. After consulting with real estate experts...the covenant was the major obstacle to overcome...and they held little hope for success in the courts.

Anytime you lose any race track...for whatever reason...my personal belief is that action is detrimental to the sport. All too often...they are never replaced. You must remember, when DIMS closed in 1973...it followed by several years the closing of Ontario Motor Speedway in 1980...but the handwriting had been on the wall for some time with OMS. That was a double header hit as both facilities were the best at their respective times.

As I say...it is never good to see a race track close. One of the saddest days of my life was when my friend and I toured the remains of DIMS. Only thing missing was the black ribbons on everything, expressing deep sadness.

MaC

#10 10-07-2008, 06:31 PM

DIMS reminds me of Ontario, not that OMS was much of a dragstrip obviously. But just the fact that such a HUGE Investment was gone after just 10 years!

I was told by people who live near it that Green Valley is still there! Not the Tower or stands, but the track is used as a street in that area, or so I was told.

#11 10-07-2008, 08:05 PM

Paul S.,

I also feel that the markings on the DIMS aerial photo are a bit off the mark.

One thing everyone must realize, with the exception of I-35...everything about DIMS was re-contoured...from the lake to the overall property appearance.

The shot you have is a little too close for me to tell for sure that the marked portion is the race track. I do know it was much closer to I-35 than indicated in the original post.

If you could find a wider shot...might be easier for me to spot. When I was traveling so much for NHRA for so many years, the approach to DFW took us over DIMS about 70 percent of the time. It was fascinating to watch how it was reshaped. Now, from that vantage point, unless you knew exactly where to look, you would never guess.

MaC

#12 10-07-2008, 08:09 PM

I'd like to add one to the list of what I believe are Closed Noteable tracks... Niagra Dragway in Niagra fallls NY. Some of the biggest in the sport raced there.

#13 10-07-2008, 08:20 PM

D-Mac, here is a shot from farther out. I marked it in pink.

#14 10-07-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Stevens

I'd like to add one to the list of what I believe are Closed Noteable tracks... Niagra Dragway in Niagra fallls NY. Some of the biggest in the sport raced there.

Niagara Drag

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

#15 10-07-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Mcclelland

Paul S.,

I also feel that the markings on the DIMS aerial photo are a bit off the mark.

One thing everyone must realize, with the exception of I-35...everything about DIMS was re-contoured...from the lake to the overall property appearance.

The shot you have is a little too close for me to tell for sure that the marked portion is the race track. I do know it was much closer to I-35 than indicated in the original post.

If you could find a wider shot...might be easier for me to spot. When I was traveling so much for NHRA for so many years, the approach to DFW took us over DIMS about 70 percent of the time. It was fascinating to watch how it was reshaped. Now, from that vantage point, unless you knew exactly where to look, you would never guess.

MaC

Mac,

To put it simply, you are a legend. I grew up listening to you on Diampond P.

I would give my left one to experience half of what you have forgotten!

Cheers,

Paul