St.Augustine Speedway

[Groundpounder]

Larry Tyler...he was ultra-fast at the time.

[xracer54]

the owners went throu a bad drovice,with one of the inlaws living close to the track,that an inside with the ZONING BOARD. the pits would open at 1230. cars on the track at 1. You could not run a car from 5-630 because it upset her dinner. last race had to be done by 1100. if it went over, you would be fined. You had to load the cars by hand after 11. So as PAUL HARVEY would say it........NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY!!!! til that woman dies,there will be NO RACING ON THE PROP.

[Frasson118]

I was there for the 'Grand Opening' (but found out when I got there, they'd already had a local-division show the week before.

It was a Hav-A-Tampa Late Model show that Scott Bloomquist won. The track was outrageously dusty. The interior of my van had a red Georgia clay tint to it the rest of it's life. I was parked in the 'drive-in' section outside turns 3-4, with the side doors open didnt realize how much dust had gotten in until it was too late. They eventually moved the drive-in section to the outside of turns 1-2

I went several times as a dirt track, always saw good fields and large fan count. I never did make it there once it was paved, and I knownthese car counts took a major nose-dive.

I stopped by the track a few years ago, and although we couldn't get very close to it, it still appeared as if it could re-open in a week. Looked like it could have run last week. I was expecting a run-down rat trap of a track, but it looked nicer after 8 (or so) years of no usage, than most tracks that run every week.

As someone else mentioned (maybe Alaska54) the zoning laws have changed in St Johns County, and there is basically NO HOPE of it ever returning as a racetrack again.

[Don Nerone]

I was there for the 'Grand Opening' (but found out when I got there, they'd already had a local-division show the week before.

It was a Hav-A-Tampa Late Model show that Scott Bloomquist won. The track was outrageously dusty. The interior of my van had a red Georgia clay tint to it the rest of it's life. I was parked in the 'drive-in' section outside turns 3-4, with the side doors open didnt realize how much dust had gotten in until it was too late. They eventually moved the drive-in section to the outside of turns 1-2

I went several times as a dirt track, always saw good fields and large fan count. I never did make it there once it was paved, and I knownthese car counts took a major nose-dive.

I stopped by the track a few years ago, and although we couldn't get very close to it, it still appeared as if it could re-open in a week. Looked like it could have run last week. I was expecting a run-down rat trap of a track, but it looked nicer after 8 (or so) years of no usage, than most tracks that run every week.

As someone else mentioned (maybe Alaska54) the zoning laws have changed in St Johns County, and there is basically NO HOPE of it ever returning as a racetrack again.

They have kept the track up and it could run next week. Great track and a great town full of race fans.
Mabee some day.
O yea frogon i killed that one also..

Don

[zerofor]

screw those zoning laws if you actually own the place

Thanks guys on all the info on the St. Augustine track.I can tell there is still interest in the place.If anybody reading this cares to,and you really think zoning laws are the only thing standing in the way of it ever returning,go to the online site of the CORNELL LAW LIBRARY and look up a decision posted there about land use regulation.It went through the United States supreme court originating from a lawsuit filed by a church in Glendale California.Originally heard in the California supreme court and then later the U.S. supreme court.It was ruled on by unanimous decision in 1987 and has not been challenged or overturned since.It was EXTREMELY beneficial to me later that same year up in Ohio when the township tried to force me to move my mobile home I had just bought and moved onto my property and wanted me to do so in two weeks time.REMEMBER, this is a ruling that went through the U.S. supreme court so state,county,city governmental agencys be damned.Zoning laws and city plans for the area be damned as long as you actually OWN the property and aren't just a renter or leaseholder,and as long as you aren't doing illegal activities there or putting someone in harms way knowingly.I have a word for word copy of the decision as it was reported on in U.S. law week.The Cornell law site is simply a summary of the decision along with showing any related decisions.Which there has been none since then.All government agencys DO NOT WANT the general public to know about this ruling although it was a headline story on the front page of the Columbus (Ohio)Dispatch when ruled on in 1987.And it was promptly swept under the rug.Thanks again all.

[jacko241]

I raced at Saint Augustine Speedway from opening day in 1993 thru 1999. I was born and raised here, and have known the owner V.J. Usina since I was about 10 years old. That goes back to 1970. He is a great guy, and built a first class track. VJ and Gwen aren't divorced as far as I know, and I was told by some of his employees that the asphalt was pulled up due to DEP requirements.