Gone but not Forgotten

Racing has been changing with the times in recent years, as popularity has waned and the costs of racing have increased many local and legendary short tracks have been closed. The land has been sold to developers creating subdivisions for Americans in need of a home to raise their families and life has gone on despite the loss of these valued arenas of racing and social intercourse.

The changing times of racing

Not all of them were famous or produced drivers who went on to compete in the highest ranks of racing, and very few accept those who raced on these tracks would remember their names. They were proud places populated by tough men who poured their lives and savings into a late model car, or sacrificed their marriages for Saturday nights at the track, all for the chance at a trophy and a small winner’s check that didn’t pay their expenses.

There were days for some when the greatest names in NASCAR appeared at many of these tracks on a weekend that coincided with a nearby Cup race and thrilled the crowd by taking a drive in local cars. They would give pointers to the drivers on car setup and handling and would often spend hours signing autographs in the pits, and like the tracks these days of glory and fun are gone forever, but not forgotten.

The end could be seen coming down the race track for many of these tracks, with less people beings seen in the stands, and fewer cars appearing in the pit area. Often the track’s former champions were on hand when their old friend was closed down for good, others wouldn’t be able to bear it and would stay away. They were only race tracks to some, and an old and forgettable one at that, but they were community touchstones of a sort, a place where children learned passion and tactics watching their father or heroes. Some drivers kept going, packing up every weekend to travel three or four hours to another track, but others have just given up.

This is a story that’s part of the times we live in, part of the reality of life; racing will go on, just in a different location and with new participants, and tracks like, Hialeah Speedway and Stockton 99 Speedway in California, and soon Manzanita Speedway will never be forgotten, just missed.

“Images: Newscom.com”