History of stock car racing indiana

The railroad on the west edge of the property provided not only the necessary transportation for needed building materials and Kentucky clay for track construction, but the railway also served as a means of transportation for horses on race days. The result was a huge success as tickets sales soared for the horse races nearly into the 7, mark while estimates were closer to 10,, for actual race attendance.

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The July , races were surrounded by controversy while hiring legal and licensed bookmakers to handle gambling on the races, Governor Henley of Indiana, insisted that the track would not be allowed to host the race. The speedway threatened to go ahead with the race along with allowing gambling, however, in the end, the races were held but without any type of gambling. Many newspapers remarked that lack of gambling would end racing; however, it really had no effect on the growth of the Montpelier events.

By , the crowd and interest in horse racing had outgrown the facility and makeshift tents were added to accommodate more race horses and the fair races swelled to four times the number of usual vendors and exhibits. The races and fair included entertaining exhibits such as a wild west show, trained animals, and the grand invention of electricity which marveled race fans. Following the rebuilt speedway, the first automobile race was scheduled at the Montpelier track on a Wednesday afternoon, May 4, by William Dowty and Charles Suddeth. The race featured motorcycles and automobile race that were timed and 5 to 10 miles in distance.

In , the track was operated by the Montpelier Fair and Driving board and horse racing resumed at the speedway.

Indiana Race Track Directory of Asphalt & Dirt Tracks & Drag Strips - taira-kousan.com

Unbelievably in , a second tornado hit the speedway destroying fencing, seating, the A March 29, article announcing tornado damage that would shut down the speedway. Unbelievably the tornado occurred three years to the day of a first tornado that also destroyed speedway grounds. Promoting racing has always been a trying profession. Ironically, the second tornado hit the speedway three years to the day of the first tornado. This time the damage proved to be too great and the track sat dormant being used as farmland for planting corn.

Tri-State Speedway

In the fall of , H. In the spring of , the track was again set to host racing. Outside of that, the track sat idle. He ran his trotters on the dirt track and built them a state-of-the-art horse barn.

Stock car racing

The building, which once housed 20 to 30 horses, still stands at the west end of Stable Drive. McKinley wanted to have regular harness racing that spectators could place wagers on. When that plan didn't materialize, harness racing was limited to the week of the fair.


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However, it would be stock car racing that would eventually bring the track back to its glory. Sunday afternoon stock car races became the standard attraction, though numerous other events, such as thrill shows, rodeos, wrestling matches and the Clyde Beatty Circus entertained the big crowds. They also, from time to time, raced the Roaring Roadsters, which was basically a jalopy with no roof. Don Radebaugh, dradebaugh arcaracing.

Thanks roush-yatesfan. You're referring to Toledo Raceway Park, the predecessor to Toledo Speedway, which was just down the street.

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I never made it to Raceway Park or Fort Wayne, so I write about those places now, which, for me, is the next best thing. That, and I like to write. I did, however, make it to Dayton before they bulldozed it Don't you know these are the good-old-days Don, another great article about racing in the early days of MARC.


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I can still remember my uncle taking me to the track at the old Toledo Speedway not the current location. I never got to this Ft. Wayne track; however, I did attend a race at the old, Dayton Speedway, owned toward the end of its career by Don Thompson.

American Stock: The Golden Era Of NASCAR Vol. 1

Ah, the good-old-days. Don Radebaugh. October 02, Renowned photo journalist Tom Davidson remembers the place well. Like 3 Dislike 0.


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Share Facebook. Please log in or sign up to comment. Don Radebaugh wrote October 02, Like 1 Dislike 0.

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Thanks for the great story. Like 0 Dislike 0.