nancs
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Post by nancs on Feb 23, 2006 11:20:03 GMT -5
Hi to all, and George, just loved the photos of the 25th Street fairgrounds. Not so much for the motorcycles, but for my memories of being there on horseback. The barns in the background-----does anyone else recall (and way back when think I posted some Ken Maynard memories) when Ken Maynard was in town, and stabled his horse, perhaps named Tarzan, out in those barns. Rather recall that the trailer had a lot of writing/pictures on it about this horse. Know that, as kids, we always would sneak a peek at this 'movie horse.' Altho' in my mind's eye was not particularly a 'fine speciman.' As to the motorcycle races out there, know that it was common to take an evening horseback ride to the fairgrounds, and have a 'free watch' of the races on the back stretch on the curve by the RR tracks. Think some of us did the same thing for fireworks shows, watching them from that outside vantage point. Perhaps not the best of ideas, as I recall that my dad got a cinder in his eye and had to go to the hospital to have it removed!!!! Almost think we rode the horses to ER from the fairgrounds!!! Have a great day. And thanks for sharing. Nanc
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2006 19:05:47 GMT -5
The midgets at the Columbus Speedway, about 1948.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2006 20:15:07 GMT -5
The sprint car that local driver Larry Crockett drove in 1955. The car has been restored and is owned by a firm in Indianapolis.
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Post by Ron on Mar 26, 2006 10:23:08 GMT -5
That was real racin' at the old Columbus Speedway. The drivers and cars were all local talent. What they lacked in skill and experience they made up for with enthusiasm. Larry Crocket was the class of the group. Driving Dan Wall's car, he was the man to beat but few ever did. The bleachers were on a slope adjacent to the track. Sitting there, you were very close to the action. You could look right down into the cockpit as the cars roared by. It was almost like sitting next to the driver. You could tell that Crocket was a natural by the smooth way he maneuvered through the turns while the other drivers seemed to be constantly fighting the steering wheel. Larry was known as "Crash" Crocket back then, a sobriquet he soon lost as people came to realize he was a serious racer. He graduated to Indy cars and in 1954 he qualified the Federal Engineering Special in the Indianapolis 500. He was named rookie of the year in 54 and was on his way to being one of the premier drivers of that era. Unfortunately, he was killed in a racing accident in March 1955; a fate all too common in those old roadster days.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2006 20:22:30 GMT -5
Was going thru some stuff today and ran across my ticket for the 51 race. My friend and I rode our motorcycles up to Indy the night be for the race and stayed at my friends family's house near the track and the next morning walked over to the track. Lee Wallard won the race that year.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2007 19:44:59 GMT -5
Many local race fans attended events at this track. This postcard is postmark Apr. 1967 and has the race dates on the back for that year.
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Post by jeraldlmccoy on Nov 8, 2007 21:40:13 GMT -5
Jerry Mccoy Hendersonville, NC (for the last two years) mccoyjl@juno.com. My Dad Bill McCoy (william) built the track on land owned by his uncle George. With help from Don Force for the earth moving. The seats were concrete blocks with board stringers on the hill sides. I remember making "flyers" from hand stamps to pitch out the windows of the small towns of bartholomew and surrounding counties. Dan Walls was a big help in getting the program started. Andy Granitelli and his "Roaring Roadsters" once came down to run a program to help out. My nephews have the family pictures similar to the ones posted on this site.
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Post by mike yates on Feb 24, 2009 13:00:19 GMT -5
There was a question asked about the old race track ,down by the creek.I remember going there a lot as a kid.I rode in a race car with Bobby Baker ,I can still remember to this day seeing the ground where the passenger seat would have been while strapped in by Bobby.I was 4 yrs old and have some pictures from those days.The track was shut down I believe around 1959.I also still have the top part of a trophey that Bobby Baker won and gave to me at 4 yrs old . Bobby Baker was a personal friend of my father Emmett Yates. I can also remember there was watermelons planted there on the way in. I also grew up on the 25 th street track along with a track in Brownstown and Vernon Indiana.The summer time was usually a 3 race track a week thing.Those were the days. I grew up in Jewel village.Thanks for the memories. Mike Yates
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2009 15:10:20 GMT -5
Mike,
Thanks for your memories about the old Columbus Speedway, as I had stated in a early post I had attended the first race at the track right after the war. I made most of the races up to the time I went in service in 1952, I believe that you are correct about the track closing, that being around 1959. I do remember Bobby Baker that you spoke about, he won his share of races at the track. You said that you had some pictures taken at the track, I am sure they would be greatly appreciated if you would post them for everyone to enjoy.
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Post by MYates on Feb 24, 2009 15:48:04 GMT -5
Will try to post 1 or 2 that I have to hunt for At a later Time. Also my father Emmett Yates was known more by Pete Yates, he too was in the Navy from 51-55 aboard the USS San Marcos . Thanks Mike Yates
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Post by m yates on Feb 24, 2009 18:05:33 GMT -5
I have a question? That would be does anyone know who owns the property now by any chance,of the old race track? Mike Yates
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2009 19:39:22 GMT -5
Mike,
Don't know who the present owner is, but I did talk to a person last summer who got permission to go back to the location of the track, and he said that there were still speaker poles standing and you could make out were the track had been also the grandstand on the hill side.
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Post by richard on Feb 24, 2009 20:32:11 GMT -5
Oldtimers’ Reunion set March 21 at fairgrounds By Tim Mckinney Source: The Republic February 17, 2009 Word comes from Jerry Castor that everything is set for the Oldtimers Reunion at Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds on March 21, 2009. Official opening ceremony will be at 11 a.m. This years Hometown Hero will be revealed at 12:30 p.m. and it will probably be as big a surprise to the honoree as it will be to the rest of us. Jerry must spend the entire time between his reunions in recruiting cars to be displayed. It’s truly amazing that he can get these car owners to expend all of that time and money bringing their prized race cars to Columbus for us to enjoy. One of these restorers is Bob Pavlovich of Franklin, Wis. He built a reproduction of the Henry Meyer stretched sprint car, which finished seventh in the 1948 Indianapolis 500 with Lee Wallard in the cockpit. Junior Dryer is expected to be on hand with one of six roadster-style midgets built by Kurtis Kraft. It is thought to be the first of the six built. Juniors son, Mike, is expected to bring a beautiful pre-war midget powered by an Elto outboard engine. Duke Nalon is said to have driven this car to a major indoor championship in Madison Square Garden. Jerry doesn’t know what yet, but he expects Bill Spoerle to bring down one of the treasures from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. For the two wheel fans, Roy Caruthers is expected to bring a Triumph flat track motorcycle that Gene Burrito Romero drove to numerous victories. They will have their usual assortment of hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, pies, popcorn, coffee, soft drinks, etc. Mark March 21 on your calendar now. Tim McKinneys auto racing column appears Tuesdays in The Republic. He can be reached at 372-3936 or by writing him at The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus IN 47201.
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Post by mike yates on Feb 24, 2009 20:36:39 GMT -5
Hi George,The reason I am asking is I am into metal detecting and have always wanted to go there.Is there still a home site back there? Maybe one could get info from them on ownership. I sure would love to find just 1 old coin from there.I now live south of Terre Haute,In. but would love to go there some day. Thanks Mike
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2009 16:28:57 GMT -5
Mike,
It is my understanding that there are two houses back by the old track. one new one and the original , maybe some one who knows who the owners are will let us know, in the mean time I will see what I can come up with. From the road the place looks just like it did back in 1947, two lanes, one in and one out.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2009 20:12:55 GMT -5
The first old timers reunion
Reunion on track for race enthusiasts of yesteryear
Source: Republic February 12, 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reunion on track for race enthusiasts of yesteryear
By Harry McCawley
The Republic
Shops and parking spaces carpet the dirt Larry Crockett roared across.
Leaves and rotting timbers coat the hill where hundreds watched Pat O'Conner race for the checkered flag.
There's little left of the old 25th Street Fairgrounds track or the Columbus Speedway back in the hills off Indiana 7.
In fact, those rotting timbers which served as bleacher seats down around Clifty Creek are all that remains of a time when the two ovals provided the principal form of weekend entertainment for hundreds of Columbus racing fans.
There'll be more later this month when many of those fans -- and a few of the drivers -- will gather in the National Guard Armory at Columbus Municipal Airport for a sentimental reunion.
For a few brief hours Saturday, Feb. 27 Fair Oaks Mall will revert to Francis' Overstreet's 25th Street fairgrounds and the Clifty Creek depression that is practically inaccessible on a rainy day will once again be Bill McCoy's Columbus Speedway.
"I've been dreaming of putting this together for three or four years now," said former driver, car owner, car builder and racing fan David Norris who is the chief organizer of the Feb. 27 reunion. "We just went ahead and did it this year."
Norris has a lot to show and tell about the tracks from their glory days but he wants more. He's put out an open invitation for the 7 p.m. get-together at the armory hoping that other old timers will bring pictures and memories of their times at the local tracks.
There's no charge for the event and Dave is even throwing in free soft drinks.
What's more, he's pulled together some vintage films of long ago racing action here and at the big show -- the 500 -- in Indianapolis.
He expects something in return.
"One of the main things I'm interested in is compiling a history in words and pictures of racing here in Columbus," he said. "If we don't do it now, we'll be missing a great opportunity. In fact, I'd like to make this an annual tradition."
For Norris and Jerry Castor -- his cohort in the project -- the Feb. 27 reunion is a labor of love. Both were weaned at the two tracks and did some of their earliest racing at Clifty Creek.
"It was originally called the `Columbus Midget Speedway,' said Jerry. "But it was also called the "Hill" or the "Hole" depending on whether or not you liked it."
The Speedway was carved out of a piece of farmland in 1947 by Bill McCoy whose family lived a short distance from the roar of the racing machines. He owned the land but individual promoters would stage the races.
It was a "countrified" version of the 25th Street track which was owned by Columbus banker Francis Overstreet who lived several miles from the noise -- leaving that experience to an equal number of race fans and annoyed neighbors.
"Racing in those days was entirely different than what it is today," Dave said, "It's been cleaned up and everybody is a lot more professional."
But listening to the two talk there's some question as to whether they think it's better.
"I can't remember a time down at the Speedway when we didn't have at least one fight in the infield or around the pits," Jerry laughed. "Sometimes a fight would move from the grandstand across the tracks and into the infield. Everybody was pretty competitive in those days."
It showed on the track where some of racing's top competitors climbed behind the wheels. Indianapolis 500 legends Pat O'Connor from North Vernon and Larry Crockett of Columbus (both of whom would die in racing tragedies) competed at the Clifty and 25th Street tracks. "In fact I've got a picture of the first car that Pat raced at Clifty," Dave said proudly.
McCoy's speedway was humble in appearance -- the bleachers were staked into the side of a hill -- but at one time it was considered among the top 10 tracks in Indiana.
It and the fairgrounds oval drew top competitors in Midget, Roadster, Roaring Roadster, Sprint T.Q., Modified and Stock Car competition. The names of Justin King, Joe James, Jim Rathmann, Allen Heath and Roy Prosser roll off the tongues of local racing old timers just as easily as names like Minnie Minoso, Early Wynn and Sal Maglie roll off the tongues of baseball card collectors.
The fans were dedicated. Most of the Sunday afternoon races drew crowds of 800 or more and they gathered in a picnic-like atmosphere on the hill overlooking the track.
"It wasn't a good place to be during or after a rain storm," Jerry recalled. "We'd spend most of our time pulling each other out of the muck."
As other tracks in the area grew, the Columbus Speedway began to go downhill. It gave up the ghost in the late 50s.
Racing at the 25th Street Fairgrounds was an established custom for several generations of local race fans. Even when the 4H Fair was moved south of Columbus in the 50s, race fans continued to gather at the dirt oval.
Actually it was the city's growth that spelled its doom. As the area developed with businesses and residences, complaints about noise and dust increased. It was eventually abandoned and developed into the Fair Oaks Mall.
The most visible reminder of the track is the pagoda which served as a ticket booth and judges stand. It was saved from demolition, restored and moved to the 4H Fairgrounds.
Come the night of Feb. 27 there will be many more reminders of the good old days of racing in Columbus.
Some of them may be far fetched but they'll be good to hear, even for people who never sat on a hillside and watched the dirt fly from the wheels of racers.
Harry McCawley is associate editor of The Republic. He can be reached by phone at 379-5620 or by email at harry@therepublic.com.
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Post by Mike Yates on Feb 26, 2009 9:07:50 GMT -5
George, how do I post pictures or would you have a email addy I might send them to for posting? Thank You! Mike Yates
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2009 15:25:36 GMT -5
Mike,
Near the top of the message board there is a guide line on how to post pictures, if you have any problems I will be glad to post the pictures. I have sent you my email address in a personal message that you will see when you log in right by your name.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2009 19:15:26 GMT -5
Following are pictures taken at the Columbus Speedway, courtesy of Mike Yates.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2009 19:20:05 GMT -5
Columbus Speedway
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