Tweet
I caught an old 1977 episode of the Rockford Files on tv this morning.It opened the show with a clipof two old latemodels hot lapping around what looked to be a third or possibly quarter mile oval.The track had a main grandstand that was under roof.Very cool and very old school.Obviously it had to be filmed in california somewhere,so are there any west coast guys on the board who would have any idea where,what track it was and if it still operates?
-
sigpic -
Probably Saugus Speedway. Closed many years ago. Most Hollywood 70's and 80's TV/film clips that had a short track scene, were filmed there. Including the Dukes of Hazzard with Cale Yarborough in the epidsode.
One of the reasons that Irwindale Speedway was built, was to fill the void for filming, once Saugus closed. The tracks charge some serious money for any type of film production rental. -
Probably Saugus. Very much like Hialeah.Comment
-
They used Saugus for a lot of those old TV shows... Close to the L.A.-based studios and the weather usually always cooperated... Ascot park was used a lot too... The opening credit's of Disney's "The Love Bug" were filmed there...Comment
-
I believe the entire infield at Saugus was paved. Did you happen to notice that aspect? If so, I believe the others are right.Comment
-
Bingo
Yes it was.I thought about Ascot when I was watching the show but I have seen pictures of Ascot and it really didn't look like pictures I had seen of it.Plus I was thinking Ascot was bigger than the track on the show and more,for lack of a better word,ornate.If memory serves me right wasn't Ascot once a horse track?This place looked to be stock car specific,and yes it did have an entirely paved infield.It is cool to see some of the old tv shows when they show scenes shot at local short tracks.Back when stock cars truly looked like stock cars.Originally posted by Frasson118 View PostsigpicComment
-
The original Ascot, known for a time as both Legion Ascot and Los Angeles Speedway was an old one mile horse track... Ascot Speedway, located in Gardena near where the old Carrell Speedway used to be was either a 1/3 or 3/8 mile dirt track with a figure 8 course... It was the home to CRA Sprint Car racing for many years... Also NASCAR stocks, Midgets, Motorcycles, Motocross, Jalopies, and Figure-8 racing... During it's heyday they ran around 4 times a week... Dick Wallen Productions has awesome videos of the place...Comment
-
Any help westcoasters?
The Rokford Files were filmed mostly in Malibu CA.,and Los Angeles for interior shots.Malibu with Rockford's trailer in the show was along PCH (pacific coast highway),so any outside or exterior shots are expensive to shoot.I would think, any local race tracks near the set in Malibu is where they would film it,to keep costs down.TV Hollywood in the 70's,was still cheap to produce shows.Comment
-
Any help westcoasters?
Speaking of James Garner...
RacingGarner was an owner of the "American International Racers" (AIR) auto racing team from 1967 through 1969. Famed motorsports writer William Edgar and Hollywood director Andy Sidaris teamed with Garner for the racing documentary "The Racing Scene," filmed in 1969 and released in 1970.[37] The team fielded cars at Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring endurance races, but is best known for Garner's celebrity status raising publicity in early off-road motor-sports events.[38] Garner signed a three-year sponsorship contract with American Motors Corporation (AMC).[39] His shops prepared ten 1969 SC/Ramblers for the Baja 500 race.[40] Garner did not drive in this event because of a film commitment in Spain that year. Nevertheless, seven of his cars finished the grueling race, taking three of the top five places in the sedan class.[41] Garner also drove the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 race in 1975, 1977, and 1985 (see: list of Indianapolis 500 pace cars).Comment
Comment