 |
| Satellite
photo from 2007, submitted by Chris Halliday. |
This is how
Northern Raceway looked in June of 2005 when Glen Thomas visited
it and in May of 2005 when Gerry Liscumb visited.
The original name of the track was 5th Line Speedway. It was built
by John Wagner and opened in 1965 as a dirt track and was paved
in the first year. It closed in July of 1967 due to competition
from nearby Heyden Speedway. The track re-opened in 1971 after Heyden
closed and ran until 1987 with a brief closure in the early 1980's.
The remains of Northern Raceway are located 1/3 mile west of Hwy
17 on the 5th Line.
In addition to the oval, there is also a 1/4 mile drag strip. The
strip is located on the outside of the oval front straight. The
grandstands were shared between the oval and the strip so they are
set back from the oval. There was also a figure 8 track as part
of the oval. The oval pits were located behind the back straight.
Glen reported that most of the infrastructure is gone. There are
no buildings remaining, no fences, lights, etc. The track surface
for all 3 tracks are still in good shape. As can been seen in the
photos, the steel structure of the grandstand is still there but
most of the boards are missing or rotted. Glen must have been adventurous
that day as he obviously climbed to the top of the rotted grandstands.
If anyone has
any more information on Northern Raceway - photos, programs, points
champions, years in use, etc please contact me webmaster@motorsportscentral.com.
Photos
Courtesy
of Glen Thomas
|
From the top of the grandstands - the oval is partly
visible
|
On
the drag strip looking back toward the start line. The
oval is in the distance at the right. The grandstands
are on the left.
|
Grandstands
|
Top
of the grandstands
|
The starter's stand which is located at the edge of
the drag strip. |
Start
line of the drag strip. The rest of the tracks are
in the distance.
|
The oval is to the left, the drag strip in the middle
and the starter's stand on the right. |
Grandstands
|
Turn
4 end of the grandstand
|
Turn
1 end of the grandstand
|
From
the top of the grandstands. Turn 3-4 of the oval are
visible through the trees.
|
From
the top of the grandstands. You can see the back straight
and front straight of the oval.
|
From
the top of the grandstands. Turn 1-2 of the oval and
part of the drag strip are visible through the trees.
|
The
stairs to the grandstand are at the right of the photo.
You can also see the front wall and spectator fence.
|
|
|
Photos
Courtesy
of Gerry Liscumb, Jr
Drag strip |
Back straight |
Pit
slabs
|
Standing
in turn 3, looking down the back straight
|
|
|
|
Front
straight
|
The Figure 8 track in the infield |
|
|
|
Historic Photos
Courtesy
of Glen Thomas
|
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