Race Tracks that are no more....
02-23-2007, 08:37 PM
#31
Race Director
Originally Posted by 911URGE
How many people remember Orange County International Raceway in Irvine, CA? It was used mostly for NHRA drag racing but also had a 2 mile road course.
02-23-2007, 08:39 PM
#32
Race Director
Originally Posted by 911S3.6
Mid-America Raceway is still there and owned by the original family The dragstrip portion is the only part still utilized. The road course is there, but full of cracks and weeds. This actually happened compliments of that major turd ball of a NASCAR track, Gateway International. They pretty much made the deals and put the squeeze on getting rid of MAR. Here in middle america there is a lot more stock car mentality than sport car. Part of the deal for the original investors in GIR was that there would be no competition from Mid-America. They agreed to put in a "road course" in the infield of GIR, which is a dangerous POS-surrounded by walls and chain link fence. Oh well, at least at GIR if you are looking for a crack ***** after doing the oval, you don't have to look too far..LOL!
It is true that there are subdivisions all around the old MAR and it will succomb to them as well.
It is true that there are subdivisions all around the old MAR and it will succomb to them as well.
02-23-2007, 09:23 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by 911S3.6
Mid-America Raceway is still there and owned by the original family The dragstrip portion is the only part still utilized. The road course is there, but full of cracks and weeds. This actually happened compliments of that major turd ball of a NASCAR track, Gateway International. They pretty much made the deals and put the squeeze on getting rid of MAR. Here in middle america there is a lot more stock car mentality than sport car. Part of the deal for the original investors in GIR was that there would be no competition from Mid-America. They agreed to put in a "road course" in the infield of GIR, which is a dangerous POS-surrounded by walls and chain link fence. Oh well, at least at GIR if you are looking for a crack ***** after doing the oval, you don't have to look too far..LOL!
It is true that there are subdivisions all around the old MAR and it will succomb to them as well.
It is true that there are subdivisions all around the old MAR and it will succomb to them as well.
I think it has a nice flow and takes ***** to drive fast. I held the DSR lap record for a while.
02-24-2007, 06:36 PM
#34
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Geo-
You aren'y fuzzy, there was a better road course initially which got nuked for the crap-wad they have now.
Sunday Driver- Walls and ***** don't mix in my world; ifn you need to prove your ball strength there are much better places to do it than that ****hole.
Nick
You aren'y fuzzy, there was a better road course initially which got nuked for the crap-wad they have now.
Sunday Driver- Walls and ***** don't mix in my world; ifn you need to prove your ball strength there are much better places to do it than that ****hole.
Nick
02-24-2007, 06:41 PM
#35
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FWIW - Road America was almost plowed under not that long ago. Some developer from Chicago wanted to make a condo resort. The story I was told, if it were not for the SCCA Chicago region owning such a large chunk of stock (and refued to sell unlike many other stock holders) it would be gone. Tommy Thompson (I think) added Road America to the historical society - so no matter what, RA is now safe.
More tracks need to be made historical to protect them. Its a shame so many are gone and going away. What is with people building $1 million houses next to a race track then complaining about the noise (and winning)???? Do people on golf courses bitch about golf ***** in their living room?
More tracks need to be made historical to protect them. Its a shame so many are gone and going away. What is with people building $1 million houses next to a race track then complaining about the noise (and winning)???? Do people on golf courses bitch about golf ***** in their living room?
02-24-2007, 07:36 PM
#36
Race Director
Originally Posted by Hacker-Pschorr
Do people on golf courses bitch about golf ***** in their living room?
02-24-2007, 07:48 PM
#37
Lifetime Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by 911S3.6
Geo-
You aren'y fuzzy, there was a better road course initially which got nuked for the crap-wad they have now.
Sunday Driver- Walls and ***** don't mix in my world; ifn you need to prove your ball strength there are much better places to do it than that ****hole.
Nick
You aren'y fuzzy, there was a better road course initially which got nuked for the crap-wad they have now.
Sunday Driver- Walls and ***** don't mix in my world; ifn you need to prove your ball strength there are much better places to do it than that ****hole.
Nick
02-24-2007, 11:01 PM
#38
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Ones with a lot of unobstructed runoffs...LOL! No, seriously, Autobahn, VIR, Road America, and some smaller tracks like Hallett and Putnam. The biggest problem with GIR (besides the unhealthy environs) is the lack of passing areas thus> traffic jams behind slower drivers. The whole place stinks, literally.
I do respect your DSR lap record and mean nothing to diminish it. I just have a genuine dislike for St. Louis and GIR in particular. It's my problem...
I do respect your DSR lap record and mean nothing to diminish it. I just have a genuine dislike for St. Louis and GIR in particular. It's my problem...
02-25-2007, 01:27 AM
#39
Official Wednesday AM Red Bull F1 test driver
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Never raced at the new Gateway, but the old track was fun even though it looked like it was built on a nuclear waste dump... raced there several times in the 90's in a SRF.
Got to admit the oval walls scare me a little. The new Iowa Speedway in Newton will be holding some races on a short 1.1 mile road course but they won't use the banking of the oval, just the apron...
Got to admit the oval walls scare me a little. The new Iowa Speedway in Newton will be holding some races on a short 1.1 mile road course but they won't use the banking of the oval, just the apron...
03-01-2007, 05:30 AM
#42
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St Louis...UGH..not sure what the hell it was called back in '85, but I raced there in a Golf and a Golf GTI in the Firehawk Compact and Touring races. Never got so dehydrated in my life.
There were no kerbs and rocks were flying about as cars cut the corners. Actually dodged some of the bigger ones, but needed a new windscreen after that race.
There were no kerbs and rocks were flying about as cars cut the corners. Actually dodged some of the bigger ones, but needed a new windscreen after that race.
03-01-2007, 01:20 PM
#43
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Bridgehampton for me as well. The elevation changes and the variety of corners were awesome. I got a chance to do it on a motorcycle and a couple car DEs. Even at my slow speed the end of the main straight was daunting because you couldn't see the first turn until you got under the bridge. Real commitment. The only downside was the sand and the poor facilities.
03-01-2007, 06:39 PM
#44
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Originally Posted by SundayDriver
I like Gateway. VERY fast T1 and T2 is pretty quick. The chicane is fast but the walls force you to make a decision about whether it is worth trying it flat. Track out to the oval portion takes you right to the wall and, again, you decide if you are willing to risk a brush with the wall for that extra 1 mph exit speed.
I think it has a nice flow and takes ***** to drive fast. I held the DSR lap record for a while.
I think it has a nice flow and takes ***** to drive fast. I held the DSR lap record for a while.
03-01-2007, 06:54 PM
#45
Nordschleife Master
For me, the same as Bull... Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Motor Speedway.
Riverside evokes memories of the RS550 spyders (Ken Miles) running agains the 4.9 Ferarri of Dan Gurney, and the 4.5 Maserati of Carrol Shelby. Scarabs, birdcage Maserati, Lister, oh gadzooks. Phil Hill used to run there too. I could drive Riverside with my eyes closed. <sniff>
Ontario was an amazing and still fairly new facility when it was torn down. The full course was 19 turns and part of the banked oval... kinda like Calif Speedway. But 19 turns... I honestly used to get lost out there, and would forget which section I was on.
Riverside evokes memories of the RS550 spyders (Ken Miles) running agains the 4.9 Ferarri of Dan Gurney, and the 4.5 Maserati of Carrol Shelby. Scarabs, birdcage Maserati, Lister, oh gadzooks. Phil Hill used to run there too. I could drive Riverside with my eyes closed. <sniff>
Ontario was an amazing and still fairly new facility when it was torn down. The full course was 19 turns and part of the banked oval... kinda like Calif Speedway. But 19 turns... I honestly used to get lost out there, and would forget which section I was on.