Vero Beach Speedway–
I know it’s in ruins/ gravle pit condition. But this was the genious work of Mr. Bud Jenkins, and alot of the outskirts remain of this once mostly running Sunday afternoon facility, as was already listed. All I have is a photo, and a list of Ron McRery stories,(yes, Todd’s dad) about this old gem.
Todd, Ron----how the heck was this old Raceway laid out? N-S-E-W.
Would sure like to know/locate it again.
(you can see the pond, but no track)
wow thanks for putting up that picture
i was 18 years old and my brother don was 17 that was first dirt track we ever raced on after moving up from miami florida
from racing old hollywood speedway and hiealeah brings back old memeories
Hey AB…the frontstretch at Vero ran north and the backstretch south. I have one surviving pic of Vero…it’s Paul Connors in his orange '69 Camaro #33. I believe Dave has the pic on his Web site.
Up In The Panhandle–
This counts, I think,
-Jackson SpeedBowl,
It was called, in Marianna, Florida—way up in the Panhandle.
Was a small 1/4 mile dirt oval, and it was in operation from 1949 to 1952.
if you punch it up on terra-server, you can see the outline of the raceway out in the trees.
I don’t really know the history of it, but it’s still there in the woods.
And The Panhandle-
And speaking of the Florida panhandle area–
Panama City, had a really great Raceway, a 1/4 mile aspahlt oval from 1970 to 1979, on Allison Avenue–
Beaches Speedway it was called.
To top it off, there was an 1/4 (?) asphalt Dragway laid out in the woods right next to it. I have seen the Subdivision of houses that actually sits on top of where these two Raceways existed.
Topo-Maps have also confirmed this as such.
Cross City–
Had a Raceway, called…
New Dixie Speedway-
It was a 1/4 mile dirt oval, actually constructed behind the Davis’ Body Shop and Junk Yard.
Just behind of the Davis’ Shop, and in the junk yard itself, this Raceway ran for two years, 1975 to 1976.
Looking at it, it still exist (almost.) Almost around an oil-filled lake.
Way Back Down South–
Way low down in Florida–
County Line Raceway, in Clewiston, Fl.
Several locations are mentioned about this Raceway, and it was called Sugarland Raceway Park in 1976. A 1/4 mile dirt oval.
Woodward Raceway, and Hendry County Speedway are what it was called at some time. Ran 1976 to 1980.
Then ran from 1995 to 1999-
Switched locations, from what I’ve been told several times. How is this?
How do you move a Raceway?
Is this the New Hendry Co. Speedway? here in 2009?
(Rusty the 50/50 man would know this, I think)
Back to Tampa—
Speedway Park–
Was a 1/2 mile dirt oval built 11/14/1948--------
Ran that way until 07/04/50, in which it was made to a 1/4 mile dirt oval.
Jim Hurtubise started here in 1952, (as stated in Ed Roche’ Book.)
It was located on W. Hillsborough Ave, 1 mile west of Dale Marbry Hwy.
I cannot find anything of this old raceway.
It is now a…get this… a defunct lumber company.
(Allen E. Brown, book)
It was a Sunday night/afternoon (1/2)—1/4 mile dirt oval, and ran programs up untill 1954.
Ran IMCA BIG CAR and Modified Coups.
Looking at a really great photo of this Raceway, covered grandstands and all, it looks really neat and totally perfect. How did this once fine Raceway meet it’s demise?
Way Low Down South–
In the Key West area, we have/had-----
Stock Island Speedway.
A fine, tight 1/3 mile asphalt raceway built in 1956, it ran it’s last race in 1967.
Just north of the current dog track, remains of it can be seen to the west, as two corners still exist, and somewhat of a backstretch, which goes through an apartment complex. If you look closely, the backstretch actually goes through the apartment complex itself, through the courtyard.
L.N.Dodd, Paul A. Toppino & Bros.,Bob Turner/J.C.Vernon, and Don Broom were promoters at one time.
Ran late-model, sportsman, modifieds, and stocks classes.
Two views of Stock Island Speedway from 1965…
Happy Birthday-----Long Lost Speedways
The original track in Ft Pierce was located on the south side of Orange Ave. virtually in the back yard of owner Doug Mullins. Mullins’ house was visible from the street and the track sat behind it. Today there is absolutely no remnants remainig of it. I had a friend who lives in Ft Pierce and went to the track many times go and look for it last year and any trace is gone. I believe that a John Deere tractor dealership is on the north side of Orange Ave near where Mullins’ house and track were located. The track, a quarter mile paved oval, operated from 1956-59 and closed when a rival car owner (Mullins owned race cars too) got mad and built what we know as Treasure Coast Speedway in 1959. It ran until April 1974.
Happy Birthday — Long Lost Speedways
How about one track with several different names? Some tracks, like Hialeah Speedway kept the same name for its entire 51 year existance. On the other hand the track in Eau Gallie er Melbourne (track didn’t move but the city name changed in the '60s when Melbourne absorbed EG, its neighbor to the north) had several different names in it’s 20 years. It began in 1957 as Brevard County Speedway but in 1961 changed to Spinning Wheel Speedway for one year. It later was Eau Gallie Speedway and finally Melbourne Speedway until it closed in October 1977.
Another track not mentioned on this thread was the infamous Sunbrock Speedway in Orando. I never attended there but in the mid 50s they had their races on local TV and that was a big deal. Anyone on here old enough to recall racing on the airport at the Titusville-Cocoa Airport? NASCAR ran a single GN race there on Dec. 30, 1956 on a 1.6 mile road course and there were local SCCA races there in the late 50s as well.
I dont think it’s possible to actually move a speedway but we came close. My brother and I took about 30% of the Thundercross Speedway in Okeechobee to the Hendry County track. We hauled the front stretch bleachers and almost all the catch fence and the poles to the Hendry County Speedway. We had to get another company to haul the eighty two foot long light poles. There was nine of them things. We rolled up about five miles of speaker wire also.
There was some what of a race track that got started out in the cow pasture about three or four miles south of where Hendry County is now. It lasted about a year I think and was nothing but pure dried up muck that now grows sugar cane. No fencing. No walls. No flag stand or bleachers. No pit area. Just park your pick up and hope you were’nt down wind of the black dust cloud the cars kicked up. That was about 1975 or 74.
This and That–
Marty— Ancrdave presented a really great post about Sunbrock/Rocket Raceway above-and
Marty—The lost Raceway in Gainesville has finally been located, thanks to Mr. Flowers. Been looking for that monster forever, and POOF, there is was/is.
AncrDave—the 1st photo of Stock Island Speedway, for the life of me, I cannot see it, where is it in the photo?-
Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa–when it closed down, the raceway grandstands were sold to Citus Co. Speedway, Inverness, Fl., and Lee Speedway in New Hampshire-
Bronson Speedway is unique, it is. It was actually patterned after it’s sister track, Modadnock Speedway in New Hampshire-who thought of this idea for a Raceway? It is oddly shaped, high-banked, and a neat little Raceway.
Golden Gate, again–told to me by Wayne Dery, the son of the owner–the famed golden arches are actually still in his old garage, you know what i am referring to. If I can get him to resurrect them at another Raceway, I will… This was the famed arch(s) along the road, all illuminated upcomming fans to see before they entered the raceway–remember that?
Another This and That–
Sunbrock/Rocket Speedway was closed (from what I have read), for them not having the proper building and permits, and such. From the stories I have read, it seems to not be the case.
And Punta Gorda Speedway, the 3/8 asphalt miler actually racing today at this time, was built in 1988, but was stopped by the city for permit infractions. It was closed for a few years. It has obviously been built back up from that down time, and still races to this day.
Another Punta Gorda Speedway was built in 1961, a 1/5 mile paved oval, had a figure 8 track, and ran until 1975.
It was called Tropical Gulf Acres, Fort Myers Speedway, Charlotte Co. Speedway, and Sun Coast Speedway in it’s time.
Collier County Speedway–
Collier Co. Speedway, in Naples, Florida, way the heck down low, lower than Charlotte or Ft. Myers area. Probably the most southern raceway in Florida.
It was a smooth 1/4 mile semi-banked asphalt oval built in 1971, and ran it’s last race in 1985.
It ran on Sat. nights, limited-late models, hobby stocks, jalopy, and mini-stocks. It’s president was Bill Bigley, SR.
And it’s announcer was, and I’m not kidding, Barney Fife–probably not the likeable bumbling deputy in Mayberry.
Has anyone been to this Raceway. Parts of it still exist today, out in a field, unless it’s been covered up with a warehouse, which is likely.
Dnso-Clewiston–
Good one, you got me on that one. A Raceway has actually been moved, and you have proved it as such.
Thanks for the historical input of Floridas Long Lost Raceways.
Thanks, Bud.
The old Ft. Pierce Raceway–
On Orange Avenue, as no signs of it exist whatsoever anymore.
Behind Doug Mullins property, I am told, it was a 1/4 milke asphalt raceway, and called Gold Coast Speedway at times.
Doug Mullins was the owner, however a promoter at one time was called “State Trooper Highsmiht”.
State Trooper Highsmith—if that’s not a buzz-kill, I wouldn’t know any better.
And I’m sure it was announced over the PA, that STATE TROOPER HIGHSMITH was watching you’re every movement.
I really can’t say for sure, but I’ll bet the pit’s were sound and tight, and the grandstands were awfully friendly.
J/K–I’m sure he was an OK fella’.
Another Deland Raceway–
EMD mentioned this, about a Deland Raceway, and we have brought this to forthe.
However, there is another Deland Fairgrounds raceway built in 1924, and ran it’s last race in 1953. It was a 1/2 mile dirt oval at the old, old Volusia Co. Fairgrounds. Located next to the Babcock Aircraft Corp. plant in WWII.
Deland also had another one, Deland Midget’s Speedway, which was a 1/8 mile dirt oval in 1937. It obviously, ran midget cars, probably not full-bodied stock cars.
There are remnants of these raceways, I think.
Has anyone seen these Raceways?
Rog… If you look at the first photo of Stock Island, you will actually see an old Chevy racer on the back stretch… The infield was mostly water, as you can see…