When I brought this subject up on another thread I was thinking about my sons list of 44 track he has competed at and several others he has worked at or spectated at. I’m sure it is way over 50 and he is just 17. When he got home from the speedway tonight and I was looking at his list he said that I took him to every one of those tracks and I should make my own list. I can’t do it right know but thing back through the motocross, flat track motorcycles, go karts, dirt stock cars, fastrucks, late models, and know ASA it would be a long list. I know of 4 in Ocala, 5 in the Orlando area and just of the top of my head I came up with 28 in florida alone. I will try to do this tomorrow.
The track was a tight road course when I was there. (and it didn’t smell very good) The kart pictured was an Invader with KT100S Yamahas which I was the distributor for in Florida. (CanAm Karts). I owned a concesssion kart track in Ft Lauderdale and one briefly in West Palm and became one of the original Yamaha dealers in 1976. I received one of the first 12 KT100S engines sent to this country and won a ton of races with it. The good old days.
Larry
Florida Tracks
Orlando
New Smyrna
Bronson
Columbia
Jax
North Florida
Sunshine
East Bay
Ocala
Ocala Grand Prix
Lakeland
Desoto
Auburndale
Putnam
Disney
Daytona Intl
Daytona Municipal Stadium
Dirt Devils
Speedway Park
Cross Roads
Oak Grove
Hobe Sound
Sharpes
Maxville
Stark
St Lucie
Horseman?s Park
Volusia Dirt
Volusia Pavement
Avon Park
At my age, trying to remember every track you’ve been to is difficult, but here goes… I’ve lived in FL (other than military time) since I was 7 years old, so most of what I’ve seen is here in the Sunshine State…
Orlando Raceway (Taft)
Orlando Speedworld
Daytona Raceway/New Smyrna Speedway
Eau Gallie/Melbourne Speedway
Ft. Pierce Speedway
Deland Drive-in Raceway
Golden Gate Speedway
Sunshine Speedway
Florida Fairgrounds (Plant Field - Downtown Tampa)
Florida Fairgrounds (I-4 at Hwy 301)
Winter Haven/Auburndale Speedway
St. Augustine Speedway
Volusia County Speedway
East Bay Raceway
Lake City Speedway
Columbia Motorsports Park
Jax Raceways
Ocala Speedway
Bronson Speedway
Citrus County Speedway
Desoto Speedway
Hialeah Speedway
Palm Beach Fairgrounds Speedway
Miami-Hollywood Speedway
Florida City Speedway
Charlotte County Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Sebring 12 Hours
Lake Fairview Quarter Midget Track (Orlando)
Clarcona Horesmen’s Park (Quarter Midgets)
Orlando Kartway (great track that was located on Old Cheney Highway on the south side of Hwy 50)
A great kart track located either in N. Miami or Ft. Lauderdale - can’t remember the name but I bet Boneman knows it…
Other States:
Ft. Wayne (IN) Speedway - where I saw my first races…
South Anthony Speedway, Ft. Wayne, IN
Dayton (OH) Speedway
Eldora (OH) Speedway
Anderson (IN) Speedway
Indiana State Fairgrounds
Williams Grove ¶
Reading ¶
Boot Hill Speedway (Schreveport, LA)
Amarillo (TX) Speedbowl
Lubbock (TX) Speedway
Talladega (AL) Speedway
Birmingham (AL) Speedway
Darlington (SC) Speedway
Hardeeville (SC) Speedway
Columbia (SC) Speedway
Hickory (NC) Speedway
Bristol (TN) Speedway
Cordele Speedway (GA - now Watermelon Capitol Speedway)
Peach Bowl Speedway (Downtown Atlanta, GA)
I-75 Speedway (Valdosta, GA)
Golden Isles Speedway (Brunswick, GA)
I’ve probaby forgotten a couple too… but that’s not unusual for us old guys…
Mine isn’t all the impressive but I have had fun. 23 tracks in 6 states
Florida-
Volusia
Putnam
East Bay
North Florida
Jax
New Smyrna
Orlando Speedworld
Citrus
Bronson
Ocala
USA (Lakeland)
Auburndale
Sunshine
Desoto
Hialeah
Charlotte County
Daytona
about 50 RC tracks lol
Here are mine. Please excuse the occasional commentary.
Florida
Hialeah (R.I.P. A great place)
West Palm Beach (my alltime favorite)
Miami/Hollywood (oval and drags)
Naples (oval and swamp buggy)
Volusia (asphalt)
Moroso (road course)
East Bay (when dirt is’nt flying, best dirt track)
USA (if they clear the pits, good place. If haulers are in the pits, you can’t see the whole track.
Sunshine (most intense racing action of any track I’ve been to. Every asphalt track should knock down it’s banking and replicate this 1/4 miler.
Daytona USA
Boss Hogg (dirt track between Panama City and Tallahassee)
Lake city (dirt)
Gateway (Lake City asphalt)
Auburndale (Florida track with the most potential)
Georgia
Lanier (one of the nicest tracks in the country. The racing (like most asphalt) has become single file, although the current track operators on trying to add a second groove)
Peach State (new owners have done a good job of bringing this track back to life. Only 10 miles from Lanier)
Dixie
Rome (worth the trip for the 5 or so events they put on)
Sugar Creek
North Georgia (saw a show last to 4:30 in the morning)
Seven Flags (closed)
Cordele (when it was dirt)
Thunderbowl (Valdosta dirt track now closed)
Athens (dirt track now closed)
Atlanta Dragway
Road Atlanta
Southeastern Dragway (still standing but closed for good)
Alabama
Talladega
East Alabama (most drawn out and dusty show I have ever attended)
Nevada
Las Vegas (best destination to catch a Cup race)
California
Infineon (most beautiful part of the USA)
Irwindale (the future of short track racing?)
Jacksonville (both tracks)
St. Augustine
Daytona Memorial Stadium
Daytona Nascar
Eau Gallie
Vero Raceway
Fort Pierce Raceway
West Palm
Hialeah
Palmetto Speedway
Naples Swampbuggy track
East Bay
Orlando Speedworld
Lakeland 1/4
Lakeland Merchant Stadium (raced around the football field. My first race)
NSB
I forgot USA Speedway… I saw races there under the old big track configuration (one of the most dangerous race tracks I’ve ever seen), then the old quarter-mile and the current 3/4 mile… I also went to an open SCCA race there back in the mid '70s where they used a combo of the road course, oval track and drag strip…
I had a few minutes this morning to start my list. I could only do Florida know. Georgia, Alabama, N. ans S. Carolina, and Virginia to follow.
Starting from south to north.
Florida (39)
Homestead Speedway
Hialeha Speedway
West Palm Beach Fairgrounds
Moroso
Hobe Sound
St.lucie Speedway
New Hendry Co.
Oceechobee
Charlotte Co. Motorsports Park
Desoto speedway
Sebrings
Alburndale Speedway
Dirt Devils
Dade City
Biflo Kartway
Orlando Speed World (Fastruck)
Orlando Civic center? (indoor flat track)
Orlando Speed World (street Nationals)
Orlando ? (International GP Motorcross 1976?)
Fruitland Park
Sharps
New Symnra
Daytona Municipal Stadium
Daytona International speedway
Daytona Civic Center? (indoor karting)
Barberville
Volusia Karting Komplex
Ocala Speedway
Ocala National Forest Cross Country
Maxville
Jackson motorsports park (Ocala)
? Karting Complex (ocala karting road coarse)
Gator Nationals
Gator Back
Bronson
Dunn River Speedway? (Palatka)
Jacksonville Sports Park (Flat track 1975)
Jasper Motorsports park
Crest view (baker)
I know there is more but the flat track days are still a fog. But I do remember racing the “Shower of Stars” flat track race at Hialehia in 1975. Half dirt(corners) And half asphault(straigths).
Do horse tracks count? I was raised in Ocala on Irish Mist Farm and My father also Started Ocala Breeders Farm and Feed Supplies and owned Nation Wide Horse Carriers. I have been to almost every Horse track this side of Arkansas. LOL
Florida:
Clarcona Horseman’s Park (Quarter Midgets)
Lake Fairview (Quarter Midgets)
Eau Gallie
Little New Smyrna (Quarter Midgets)
New Smyrna
Volusia 1/2 mile dirt
Volusia 3/8 mile dirt
Volusia Go-Kart Track
Daytona International Speedway oval
Daytona International Speedway road coarse
Daytona Muncipal Stadium
Putnam County
DeSoto
North Florida
Columbia
Bronson
Orlando Speedworld
Citrus
Ocala
Thunderbowl Speedway (Ocala)
Sharpes (Quarter Midgets)
Gainesville Dragway
Jax Raceway (Pecan Park Rd.)
East Bay
Suncoast Dome (WoO Race)
Tampa Fairgrounds (next to I-4)
Zephyrhills
Disney
USA
Sunshine
St. Augustine dirt
Auburndale
And Three Mall Parking Lots for Quarter Midget Races
Georgia:
Dixie Speedway
Ogelthorpe Speedway
Screven Speedway
Golden Isles
Did you leave out the old Jax track off Lenox Ave (I am sure you went there before they moved out by the airport).
Mr South (can’t believe you never went to Sunshine. I thought everyone went there at one time or another. Boy, you sure missed some great racing if you never got by there. (Say Hi to your Mom fer me)
OSF
To start with,I have been to all of the current cup tracks except sears point. I won’t count them as it is part of my job AND its not REAL RACING anymore.
now by state;
AL
dega short track
GA
toccoa
swainsboro
osp
peach state
lanier
cochran
lavonia
Oval Tracks–dirt
Bryan, Ohio
Warsaw, Indiana
Putnam County, Fl
Volusia Co
East Bay
Lake City
Boss Hogg
Orange Co.
Volusia 1/2
Volusia 3/8
Jax
Ft. Meade
Avilla, Ind
Las Vegas 1/2 miler
Oval Tracks–Asphalt
Nashville Fairgrounds
Baer Field 1/2, Ft.Wayne
Baer Field 3/8
Avilla, Ind
Anderson
Angola, Ind
New Paris, Ind.
Auburndale
New Smyrna
Speedworld
St. Augustine
Lakeland 1/4 and old 5/8
Lakeland new 3/4
Lake City
Desoto
Citrus Co.
Charlotte Co.
Sunshine
Hialeah
Ocala
Bronson
Volusia 1/2
Volusia 3/8
Las Vegas Bullring
Salem, Ind
Winchester, Ind
Super Speedways—
Talledega
Indy
Las Vegas
Daytona
Disney World
Drag Strips—
Desoto
Avilla, Ind
Lakeland
Jax
Las Vegas
Speedworld
Road Courses—
Daytona
Las Vegas
Miami
St. Pete
Kart Raceways—
Orlando
Baer Field, Ft. Wayne
Smyrna
Clarcona
Sharpes
Past Raceways, long lost----
Fort Wayne
Sunbrock
Old Orlando
Deland
Vero Beach
Cocoa-Titusville
Panama City
Ft. Pierce
Casselberry, Fl
Melbourne
Ben White
Tampa Fairgrounds
Bryan, Ohio
Lakeland 5/8
Hey OSF… I never made it to the old Jacksonville track… it’s one place I wish I coulda gone to…
I did leave 5 more off my list…
Walt Disney World Speedway
Putnam County Speedway
Clewiston… Now Hendry County… mosquitos the size of B-52’s…
Daytona Municipal Stadium (the new one for Legend Car racing)
Okeechobee (sorry Rusty)
OSF, That might be the track that I have listed in Jax. I raced at an about 3/8 mile dirt track there but couldn’t remember the name but i do remember a motocross track next to it. Could this track be the one.
But I did race at Ocala back when it was dirt and up until this year when it was asphalt. I should have listed it twice. If i race there again on the new dirt is that like a triple crown or something.lol
Man, I need to finish my list but it’s like home work.LOL But it does bring back a lot of old memories like wrecking the van on our way home from that race in Jax and getting in BIG trouble.LMAO
So far, I have to say Palmbayer has us beat. Counting the Cup tracks (that he DIDN’T count), he’s close to my 85… but the 5 Countries has me whipped. If they had races on Cruise ships, I’d be close though!
Not to intone that this is some kind of competition, as I’m absolutely sure that there are at least a few out there reading this that would put every one of us to shame. I’m just damn proud that I’ve gotten to witness this great sport in a LOT of different places, different divisions, and different ways of running a race program.
For anyone reading this that has only been to a few tracks so far… it’s never too late, and you’ll never be sorry that you expanded your list. I always say “support your local short-track”, but it doesn’t mean that you have to support only the closest one’s.
Here’s my list. I’ve probably missed a few. It’s only taken me 60 years to get to this many.
FLORIDA (37)
Jacksonville (Lenox)
Jacksonville (Pecan Rd)
St. Augustine 1/2 mi
St. Augustine 1/4 mi
Daytona Memorial Stadium
Daytona Speedway
Eau Gallie
Vero
Ft. Pierce
West Palm
Hollywood
Hialeah
Palmetto
Naples Swamp buggy mile o mud
East Bay
Plant Field
Golden Gate
Tampa Fairgrounds
Lakeland Marchant Field (football field)
Lakeland 5/8
Lakeland 1/4
OSW
Orlando Speedway
NSB
Ocala
Lake City (dirt)
Columbia
Lynn Haven speedway
Penascola 5 Flags
Putnam Co.
Disney Speedway
Volusia 1/2
Volusia 1/3
Auburndale
Deland Drive in Speedway
Sunshine
Bronson
Pa. (8)
Nazareth 1/2
Grandview
Big Diamone
Silver Springs
Wiliams Grove
Lincoln
Selinsgrove
Reading Fairgrounds
Georgia (7)
Valdosta Thunderbowl
Valdosta I-75
Waycross
Savannah Speedway
Golden Isles
Road Atlanta
Lavonia
Alabama (4)
Moulton Speedway
Birmingham Fairgrounds
Mobile Int. Speedway
South Alabama
N. Wilkesboro
Hickory Speedway
Metronolia Speedway
Lowes Dirt
Wisconsin (13)
Jefferson Speedway
Capitol Super Speedway
Angell Park (My personal favorite track)
Wisconsin Inter. Speedway
Elkhart Lake
Marshfield Speedway
Lake Geneva
Hales Corners
Wilmot Speedway
Lacross Int. Speedway
Slinger
Beaver Dam 1/3
Beaver Dam Fairgounds 1/2
Illinois (4)
Rockford Speedway
Freeport Speedway
Hinsdale Speedway
Grundy County Speedway
Boneman. I think you can add florida city to your raced at tracks. I think I raced with you in creat cars there. or what ever we called tham back then.
what did you have for a motor I had two long leged guys from the naberhood if you know what i am saying. lol :sport009::sport009:
For BilliyBadd----
You mentioned Lynn Haven, ran saturday stocks in 1971.
Where was it located?
Beaches Speedway was Panama City, and Boss Hog Raceway was Bay Co.
Just couldn’t find this ol’ gem, kind of like Country Boys Raceway, which was
Merely a carved out Bowl in a field, from what I’ve been told.
R.
If i race there again on the new dirt is that like a triple crown or something.lol