Ellisville going dirt

[ocalasp76]

The outside walls are solid concrete, and the inside walls are concrete road dividers. I know because I've hit them both, actually moved the turn 2 inside wall about 6 feet once, after bouncing off the outside wall. Turn 1-2 is more narrow than 3-4 and a little banking. Measured the track one day with a survey wheel. Top of bottom groove is 476 feet shy of a 1/2 mile. Run about 10-15 point higher gear than NSS.
Main grandstands are concrete slabs stairstepped into a dirt wall. Wide enough to put a lawn chair and sit in comfort. Regular bleechers at each end..
Great family track. Also has a kiddie playground with swings out of turn 4. Very nice spotter tower too. A/C included.
-JIM-

[skinny352]

I think its great North Florida is a crap hole of a track so come on ellisville very nice facility

[scottgarrity07]

The outside walls are solid concrete, and the inside walls are concrete road dividers. I know because I've hit them both, actually moved the turn 2 inside wall about 6 feet once, after bouncing off the outside wall. Turn 1-2 is more narrow than 3-4 and a little banking. Measured the track one day with a survey wheel. Top of bottom groove is 476 feet shy of a 1/2 mile. Run about 10-15 point higher gear than NSS.
Main grandstands are concrete slabs stairstepped into a dirt wall. Wide enough to put a lawn chair and sit in comfort. Regular bleechers at each end..
Great family track. Also has a kiddie playground with swings out of turn 4. Very nice spotter tower too. A/C included.
-JIM-

Dammit Jim. I was hoping it was gonna get fresh blacktop. I had visions of driving into 3 EVEN DEEPER than you could on the worn-out pavement and wondered how much faster the new surface would be on an already very fast track. Let's hope that they just lay the clay over the old asphalt. That way when the "five dirt tracks within 100 miles" oversaturation fails, Hart can dig up the dirt and bring the old girl back to life! Pipe dream. Sad day...

[ocalasp76]

Dammit Jim. I was hoping it was gonna get fresh blacktop. I had visions of driving into 3 EVEN DEEPER than you could on the worn-out pavement and wondered how much faster the new surface would be on an already very fast track. Let's hope that they just lay the clay over the old asphalt. That way when the "five dirt tracks within 100 miles" oversaturation fails, Hart can dig up the dirt and bring the old girl back to life! Pipe dream. Sad day...

Well Scott just remember this; the asphalt is still under 14" of dirt at Ocala Speedway.. It was in pretty good shape in our last race there in 2007...
As per the story, the track was sold by Mr. Hart..
-JIM-

[scottgarrity07]

Well Scott just remember this; the asphalt is still under 14" of dirt at Ocala Speedway.. It was in pretty good shape in our last race there in 2007...
As per the story, the track was sold by Mr. Hart..
-JIM-

Yeah, I don't think he was too impressed with crowd for the doubleheader weekend there this past Nov. I believe they had done radio advertising too. It's a shame. Boy, they just keep driving you out of all these places, don't they? Ocala and LCS going to dirt and Bronson's schizophrenic business model. At least you have a stable home now in Samsula. Good luck, buddy.

[Lurkin]

A lot of times "sold" or "bought" really means selling or buying. Mr Hart may still hold the note. I'm not saying he does, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[Scott Prentice]

well as sarcastic as I have been and as bummed as I am about this I wish them Good Luck.

I've been to the October SAS show at the Talladega short track the last 2 years and it has been some good racing.
I'm just not a big dirt track stock car fan- now sprint cars I like, paved or dirt, so I hope they bring them in there.

See ya'll Friday in Pensacola for the King of Wing show.

[Nickel and Dime]

Back in the day when Ellisville was dirt, it was oil soaked dirt. Hundreds of gallons of oil poured on it. I hated scrapping that stuff off of my dad's car. Want to guess what they will find when they remove the asphalt? I wasn’t around when it was originally paved but I'm betting the oil soaked dirt wasn't removed.

[Southern Outlaw]

In 1975 4 men was tired of what Albert Waters was doing drivers at Lake City Speedway (NFS today). Jimmy Tompkins was the main guy behind it with the $$$..I know cause I worked for Mr. Tompkins at the the time and raced skeeter cars at Lake City and North Valdosta Speedway. I spent many a day on a Chinese drawline (shovel) putting in those stands. The vision was make it fan friendly (wide enough) so the fans could bring their lawn chairs or a blanket to set on. Thus the 32" high by 4' deep "concrete" seating. At that time it had the BEST lighting in the south for a dirt track thanks to one of the partners that was an electrical contractor out of High Springs.

They did not try to put Albert out of business, they tried their damnest to work with him so they raced on Friday night, but Lucille Waters (Alberts wife) would have nothing to do with it and would not work together AT ALL. Mr. T paid $500.00 to win both LM's and Skeeter cars, unheard of as a weekly payout at that time....Albert stated paying the same and was approched to have a "JOINT" points fund but Lucille said no..

A year later North Florida Raceway went to Sat. night and was sold to preharps the best damn promoter ever in Florida, Bo Dicks, changed the name to Columbia County Speedway and man did that track florish...after about 14-15 years Bo sold it (due to health reasons) to Ship Valdez (worst promoter in Florida)...he run it in the ground...then paved it....anyway most know of the history from there....

I have spoken with the parties and I promise you this...THEY are prepared to bring back the "GLORY DAYS" on a Sat. night in July of 2015!!!..

1 note I will say...It IS NOT LEASED nor is Mr. Hart going to hold the note...It is being bought outright

[scottgarrity07]

Thanks for the history Outlaw. Your post changes my whole view of this thing. You can't help but be totally behind an effort like this. The place was really in limbo as an asphalt track anyway. Makes more sense to go dirt then to roll the dice with odds against you trying to reenergize the asphalt scene up there. SGMP is dead and Bronson struggles. Hardly any car count base to draw from. Good to see someone coming in that, from what you are saying, sounds like they have the jack behind them to make it work. Nice to see it headed back to it's successful roots too. Hopefully they will work with Liz and Phil so that both tracks can thrive. I wish them good luck.

[shorttrackcar1]

Good I hope mr hart did sell it then he can put more money into NSS .

[Don Nerone]

In 1975 4 men was tired of what Albert Waters was doing drivers at Lake City Speedway (NFS today). Jimmy Tompkins was the main guy behind it with the $$$..I know cause I worked for Mr. Tompkins at the the time and raced skeeter cars at Lake City and North Valdosta Speedway. I spent many a day on a Chinese drawline (shovel) putting in those stands. The vision was make it fan friendly (wide enough) so the fans could bring their lawn chairs or a blanket to set on. Thus the 32" high by 4' deep "concrete" seating. At that time it had the BEST lighting in the south for a dirt track thanks to one of the partners that was an electrical contractor out of High Springs.

They did not try to put Albert out of business, they tried their damnest to work with him so they raced on Friday night, but Lucille Waters (Alberts wife) would have nothing to do with it and would not work together AT ALL. Mr. T paid $500.00 to win both LM's and Skeeter cars, unheard of as a weekly payout at that time....Albert stated paying the same and was approched to have a "JOINT" points fund but Lucille said no..

A year later North Florida Raceway went to Sat. night and was sold to preharps the best damn promoter ever in Florida, Bo Dicks, changed the name to Columbia County Speedway and man did that track florish...after about 14-15 years Bo sold it (due to health reasons) to Ship Valdez (worst promoter in Florida)...he run it in the ground...then paved it....anyway most know of the history from there....

I have spoken with the parties and I promise you this...THEY are prepared to bring back the "GLORY DAYS" on a Sat. night in July of 2015!!!..

1 note I will say...It IS NOT LEASED nor is Mr. Hart going to hold the note...It is being bought outright

We raced there before Skip Valdez got it. Would bring 3 mods ( Skiters)and run 3 shows in a row Thunder bolt Columba and lakecity on the same weekend. Never got a check to clear the bank from the big track but it was so much fun we kept going back.
Good luck bringing the old girl back. just need time....


don62

[Old Sunshine Fan]

Yeah, I don't think he was too impressed with crowd for the doubleheader weekend there this past Nov. I believe they had done radio advertising too.

I was up there for the double header.... had several meals right around the corner and NO ONE knew about the race...in fact, the employees didn't even know there was a race track right up that side road.... but everyone knew about a car show that weekend right there at that corner.... there sure wasn't much done in the way of "Local" advertising.... OSF