Top 10 Most Memorable Tracks

[anOPINIONATEDsob]

Now this required some real thought!!!

1. IRP Indianapolis Raceway Park in Clermont Indiana where I began a lifetime in racing and also left my mark by having the dubious distinction of having built the spectator restrooms that stand to this day proving that I once lived up to peoples expectations of me.

2. US 30 in Dyer Indiana, I won my first (legal) race in a 60 Pontiac Catalina rag top with a home built 421 tri power backed by a 4spd hydramatic.

3. IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) where my parents introduced me to the addiction that to this day I have never recovered from and I thank them forever for it.

4. Sunshine Speedway where racing was fast and competition was fierce and friends were always in the next pit box. The time I spent there is the only time I regret leaving for other opportunities in the sport.

5. The Gate, Bronson, New Smyrna, Hialeah, WPB Fairgrounds, tied because when you went to these with the Fenton/Faircloth FOUR you were guaranteed to be in the thick of it and like the racing, so tight you could throw a blanket over them all.

10. Le Mans, a race that needs no introduction in a place the defies description. One fast lap was all it took for me to know my limitations did not include immortality.

As Lennon McCartney said, "there are places I remember, all my life, though some have changed, some forever not for better, in my life, I've loved them all"

[jacko241]

1. Daytona- The first Nascar race I attended, I watched the 1979 Daytona 500 from the infield in turn 1 with my brother and a couple of friends. I adored auto racing since I was about 6 years old, listening to race broadcasts on the radio, while my non racing fan Dad looked at me in puzzlement (He would later be abig supporter of my efforts), but that was the day as I stood in that muddy infield that I said I had to drive a racecar there. It will always be my favorite, as it holds many special memories, including my first win ever, and I feel very priviledged to be an instructor with the Petty Experience there.

2. The old Saint Augustine Raceway. (Not VJ Usina's St. Augustine Speedway) Long gone, a 1/4 mile asphalt bullring built on the edge of the salt marsh, with what looked like a pond in the middle. I saw my first race in person there, taken by an employee and his family of my father. I drive by there twice a day, and many times purposely draw up the images I recall, what a neat time it was.

3. New Smyrna Speedway. My first wife and I started going as spectators in 1980, another place I said someday I have to race here. I can still see Leroy Porter and Joe Middleton sluggin' it out on the high banks.

4. St. Pete Grand Prix. I raced in the very first event in 1985, driving a Spec Racer, and that was the only year that the course went out on the pier. Pretty crazy!

5. Jax Raceway. Saw my first race there in 1978. Only 2 classes, late model and street stock, and as TG03 said, packed grandstands, full car fields and lots of excitement. I watched my local hero Wayne Shugart battle it out with Tommy Riggins, Terry mock, Cecil Eunice, Eldon Yarbrough and many others. I recall my first visit, my brothers, friends and I argued over weather it was dirt or asphalt. Oh, that oiled dirt!!

6. Sebring. Funny thing, I have never been there to watch the 12 hour, but I must have 2000 laps there, in all kinds of race cars. Ran a pre-12 hour race there, and they let us drive our race cars from the track to the town circle, (about eight miles) to a race car show promoting the race. I was racing a Porsche 911 RSR at that time, with no headlights. The trip back to the track in the dark at over 80 mph on that road thru the orange groves with no headlights, bumper to bumper with other race cars, was way scarier than any race I have been in!

7. Watkins Glen. I have only raced there twice, and have crashed both times, but it is probably the most fun road racing curcuit I have been on.

8. Road Atlanta, old course. Most Challenging, flat out scariest place I have raced.

9. Valdosta Thunderbowl. Long closed, paper clip shaped dirt track, the infield was higher than the race track, so you couldn't see around it. Ran the Hangover 100 there in 1995, and saw guys working on race cars in the pits with bottle of Jack Daniels nest to them. Same nite, flagman got run over by a peed off driver. Crazy place!

10. The old Palm Beach International Raceway road course (Moroso). I had loads of fun racing and camping there.

[backrow]

It seems everyone has a Thunderbowl story so here's mine. The flagman brought the late models out to hotlap and after a few laps decided the track was too dry. He proceeded to run across the track and jmp in the water truck and water the track... Truly and a one man band.

[ancrdave]

I remember when I went to Valdosta, probably 1971, there was a guy with a Jeep push vehicle... They would not throw a caution for anything unless it was absolutely necessary... If a car stalled on the track during a race, he'd wait for a break in the "traffic," go up on the track and push the car out of the way WHILE THE RACE WAS IN PROGRESS!... Crazy...

[Edm]

Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico Ca. Spent nearly every Friday night there as a kid growing up. Loved it, still go whenever I visit my mom.

Anderson Raceway in Anderson Ca. Spent nearly every Saturday night there as a kid growing up. Still go there too.

Five Flags, snowball is awesome.

New Symrna when Jack Cook and Dick Anderson used to battle, those battles were epic. David Rodgers and Wayne Anderson too. I still enjoy speedweeks there.

Lakeland when Mike Fritts and Jr Hanley battled.

VSP during speedweeks when the track is right.

A couple of series that I enjoyed were the Sunbelt series, Southern Sportsman series and the Sara series.

A notable, I got to take my street car around Indy, nice track and love the history but the people running the place were complete jerks. The cops in town are worthless and have no respect. Won't be returning anytime soon.