HadesOmega
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2008
- Location
- San Jose
- Moto(s)
- Empulse TT (RIP),
ZR7 (Sold), DR650, KLR650, 750 Turbo, Light Bee MX, KLX140L
Super Cub
Redshift SM
- Name
- Merlin
Yeah it's sad. Especially for the drag racing community.
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Why Race Tracks are Going Extinct
- Thread starter HadesOmega
- Start date
berth
Well-known member
I'm near several "used to be" race tracks.
Both Ontario and Riverside are now retail/industrial areas (and have been for some time).
The long gone Orange County Speedway is all houses.
The idea of OC Country Speedway (a drag strip) still being there would be truly preposterous. Drag racing and Irvine don't mix. Save, you know, on the streets at with those crazy kids from Newport in their BMWs. At least those only kill people vs something annoying, like make noise.
We still have the Pomona Raceway. And that area is all built out of long term residents. Surrounded by the fairgrounds and an airport. I don't see it going anywhere (unless NHRA goes away). I also only think they do two events a year (large NHRA nationals) vs the weekly drags that someplace like Irwindale was doing.
Fontana was built after Riverside closed.
What really amazes me is how few events were at Fontana. MotoAmerica never came back, I dunno if that was due to deteriorating track quality, or lack of market in SoCal. Yet, we still have the Long Beach Gran Prix every year. And with the reduction of the track size, there will be no more open wheel racing I don't think at Fontana, no road course, just a small oval for, I guess, a NASCAR event each year.
Both Ontario and Riverside are now retail/industrial areas (and have been for some time).
The long gone Orange County Speedway is all houses.
The idea of OC Country Speedway (a drag strip) still being there would be truly preposterous. Drag racing and Irvine don't mix. Save, you know, on the streets at with those crazy kids from Newport in their BMWs. At least those only kill people vs something annoying, like make noise.
We still have the Pomona Raceway. And that area is all built out of long term residents. Surrounded by the fairgrounds and an airport. I don't see it going anywhere (unless NHRA goes away). I also only think they do two events a year (large NHRA nationals) vs the weekly drags that someplace like Irwindale was doing.
Fontana was built after Riverside closed.
What really amazes me is how few events were at Fontana. MotoAmerica never came back, I dunno if that was due to deteriorating track quality, or lack of market in SoCal. Yet, we still have the Long Beach Gran Prix every year. And with the reduction of the track size, there will be no more open wheel racing I don't think at Fontana, no road course, just a small oval for, I guess, a NASCAR event each year.
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2002
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- Menlo Park, Ca.
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Good vid Merlin. I added it to the Random Motorcycle thoughts thread.
As a Motorhead I started my sadness when Baylands Raceway in Fremont and the San Jose Fairground flat track races were shut down.
As a Motorhead I started my sadness when Baylands Raceway in Fremont and the San Jose Fairground flat track races were shut down.
ST Guy
Well-known member
Baylands and SJ fairgrounds closing was sad. I used to be a regular at Baylands to watch the speedway racing and occasionally some sprint car racing. And the fairgrounds was great for the mile, sprint cars and those little stock cars powered by large motorcycle engines. I forgot what they were called. I could hear the sprint cars from my home. Good times. San Jose and Santa Clara County were idiots to tear down the fairgrounds. The residents lost so much when that happened.
deathbug74
owns 99
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- Jan 21, 2007
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- california's navel
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reminded me of Altamont Raceway and the now-deceased Sacramento Raceway (dragstrip) as well.
Famoso is still hanging on and somewhat busy at least.
Famoso is still hanging on and somewhat busy at least.
HadesOmega
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2008
- Location
- San Jose
- Moto(s)
- Empulse TT (RIP),
ZR7 (Sold), DR650, KLR650, 750 Turbo, Light Bee MX, KLX140L
Super Cub
Redshift SM
- Name
- Merlin
They mentioned Irwindale I went to Drift Showoff there a LONG time ago. That was like one of the first big drift competitions in the United States.