Yahoo Autos These Are the Race Tracks You Wish Were Still Around
Racing series have journeyed to and abandoned venues everywhere over the decades. Circuits have been left for a multitude of reasons, from the land itself becoming more profitable for other purposes to making schedule space for new tracks in more lucrative markets. However, fond memories of those races remained with competitors, volunteers and fans. So, we asked you earlier this week, which race tracks shouldn’t have died?
The responses were impressively varied, ranging from a 1960s Long Island road course turned golf course to an Australian speedway that fell into disuse at the start of the 21st century. Here’s your list of race tracks that you thought shouldn’t have died.
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Caesars Palace - Las Vegas, NV
Born too late to even have a shot at driving on this beauty.
Submitted by: Milky
Before the upcoming race on the Las Vegas Strip, Formula 1 visited the parking lot of Caesars Palace twice in the early 1980s. The temporary circuit was derided by drivers for being a characterless, “Mickey Mouse” course. I guess someone had to miss this place. Today, the Caesar Palace Forum occupies the space.
Riverside International Raceway - Moreno Valley, CA
Riverside had it all. Road course could be configured different ways. 1/4 or 1/2 mile drag strip. Oval that was 3/8 of a mile I think. I saw pavement sprint cars on it once. Pretty boring compared to watching them on dirt. Speaking of dirt it also hosted Mickey Thompson’s Off-Road World Championships. I raced in it twice in front of 80,000 fans in the stands. Normally at desert races the only things we saw were cactuses.
Submitted by: germancarsonly
Calder Park Thunderdome - Melbourne, Australia
Calder Park Thunderdome! Here in Melbourne Australia. 1.8km (1.119mi) quad oval that was a shrunken copy of Charlotte. They could also combine it with the national circuit. Now it’s pretty run down, stands are missing chairs and overgrown, part of the oval is used for drifting.
Submitted by: fuddbutter
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport - Cleveland, OH
Temporary road course - but I loved turn 1 at the Cleveland Indy at Lakefront Airport.
Submitted by: thisismyid2
The Cleveland Grand Prix was one of the favorite events on the CART calendar. Seeing IndyCars hurdle around the wide, sweeping airport runway and taxiway corners was incredible to watch as a fan. Things were taken to another level during the Champ Car World Series era when temporary floodlights were brought in and the race was run at night.
Nazareth Speedway - Nazareth, PA
Pour one out for Nazareth Speedway (PA), closest home track to the Andretti’s and one of the few in the Northeast. I had the privilege to be an SCCA worker (gates and infield) for the very last race there (IRL before the merger). Was great to see Michael and Mario leaving after the event. I’m not sure I’m sad as it didn’t have a lot going for it, at least at Pocono there’s several infields to be used for other track events, but always sad to lose a venue especially close to home.
Submitted by: ThunderCloud08
