Gateway done!

k.pascoe · 11-05-2010, 09:49 AM

To be honest with you guys and gals. The place went to hell as soon as they built the new facility. The old track always had better personality, and it always hooked harder!! I could go down the old track with my eyes closed, many times we did. (no lights from 800 ft. on down on many Sat. nights).

Bret, Someone needs to call the SCCA to bale out the Swamp again!!!

69camz28 · 11-05-2010, 09:54 AM

Bret - what are you thoughts on the new MAR? Do you think it's really going to happen?

JWhalen58 · 11-05-2010, 01:24 PM

[QUOTE=k.pascoe;220219]To be honest with you guys and gals. The place went to hell as soon as they built the new facility. The old track always had better personality, and it always hooked harder!! I could go down the old track with my eyes closed, many times we did. (no lights from 800 ft. on down on many Sat. nights).

I always felt that way too.

Bret Kepner · 11-05-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k.pascoe

Bret, Someone needs to call the SCCA to bail out the Swamp again!!!

That didn't work very well the last time they tried it.

69camz28, I have no idea.

Andys dad · 11-05-2010, 04:48 PM

Not necessarily related but I remember when they decided to destroy a perfectly good well run multi-purpose facility here in Southern California.

Ontario Motor Speedway- Opened in 1970 and was regarded as one of the finest motorsports facilities of the period. It was torn down only a decade later, however, because the property was needed for commercial developement.

So - just like that gone in 60 seconds.

The ironic part is - twenty years later they built a new multi-purpose racing facility virtually within ear shot called California Speedway (Fontana)

Go figure

michael mercer · 11-08-2010, 08:25 PM

There was a track at Pacific ,Mo. and one at Nashville, Il back in the mid 60's. I think Pacific was AHRA and Nashville NHRA. I know Wayne 'tiny' Minert(spelling?) owned the track at Nashville.

Rob Petrie E395 · 11-08-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael mercer

There was a track at Pacific ,Mo. and one at Nashville, Il back in the mid 60's. I think Pacific was AHRA and Nashville NHRA. I know Wayne 'tiny' Minert(spelling?) owned the track at Nashville.

I live just a few miles east of where the nashville track was and go by it often
When you drive by where the track was and look into the field you can see exactly where it was as the crops still dont grow too well even after all the years that have past.

CycloneFE · 11-08-2010, 11:16 PM

Rob, My folks were from Fayette County and Dad always talked about Alton and Lawrenceville. He has a lot of good memories from then.

Steve Jackson

k.pascoe · 11-09-2010, 10:44 AM

[QUOTE=Bret Kepner;220263]That didn't work very well the last time they tried it.

Um Bret,

SCCA- Rich gear-heads with cars that make left and rights turns - Drag strip open.

Dover Downs inc.- Bean counters, stock holders - Drag strip closed.

Bret Kepner · 11-09-2010, 04:20 PM

Mercer, both Pacific and Nashville were owned by Meinert and both were AHRA.

Petrie, the track at Nashville still exists, (I've been there several times), but can't be seen from the road.

Pascoe, the last time the SCCA was involved at SLIR/GIR in 1987, the place went bankrupt and remained closed for nine months into 1988.

11-05-2010, 09:49 AM	#1
k.pascoe Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fenton, Missouri Posts: 107 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gateway done! To be honest with you guys and gals. The place went to hell as soon as they built the new facility. The old track always had better personality, and it always hooked harder!! I could go down the old track with my eyes closed, many times we did. (no lights from 800 ft. on down on many Sat. nights). Bret, Someone needs to call the SCCA to bale out the Swamp again!!! Last edited by k.pascoe; 11-05-2010 at 09:53 AM.

11-05-2010, 09:54 AM	#2
69camz28 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Gateway done! Bret - what are you thoughts on the new MAR? Do you think it's really going to happen?

11-05-2010, 01:24 PM	#3
JWhalen58 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 110 Likes: 7 Liked 117 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Gateway done! [QUOTE=k.pascoe;220219]To be honest with you guys and gals. The place went to hell as soon as they built the new facility. The old track always had better personality, and it always hooked harder!! I could go down the old track with my eyes closed, many times we did. (no lights from 800 ft. on down on many Sat. nights). I always felt that way too.

11-05-2010, 04:48 PM	#5
Andys dad VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arcadia, Ca Posts: 1,571 Likes: 48 Liked 175 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Gateway done! Not necessarily related but I remember when they decided to destroy a perfectly good well run multi-purpose facility here in Southern California. Ontario Motor Speedway- Opened in 1970 and was regarded as one of the finest motorsports facilities of the period. It was torn down only a decade later, however, because the property was needed for commercial developement. So - just like that gone in 60 seconds. The ironic part is - twenty years later they built a new multi-purpose racing facility virtually within ear shot called California Speedway (Fontana) Go figure __________________ time is our most precious resource, you can always make more money but you can never make more time spend your time wisely with the ones you love - Ron Durham

11-08-2010, 08:25 PM	#6
michael mercer Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: southern illinois Posts: 49 Likes: 9 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Gateway done! There was a track at Pacific ,Mo. and one at Nashville, Il back in the mid 60's. I think Pacific was AHRA and Nashville NHRA. I know Wayne 'tiny' Minert(spelling?) owned the track at Nashville.

11-08-2010, 11:16 PM	#8
CycloneFE Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Decatur Illinois Posts: 634 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Gateway done! Rob, My folks were from Fayette County and Dad always talked about Alton and Lawrenceville. He has a lot of good memories from then. Steve Jackson

11-09-2010, 10:44 AM	#9
k.pascoe Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fenton, Missouri Posts: 107 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gateway done! [QUOTE=Bret Kepner;220263]That didn't work very well the last time they tried it. Um Bret, SCCA- Rich gear-heads with cars that make left and rights turns - Drag strip open. Dover Downs inc.- Bean counters, stock holders - Drag strip closed.

11-09-2010, 04:20 PM	#10
Bret Kepner Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA Posts: 418 Likes: 1 Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Gateway done! Mercer, both Pacific and Nashville were owned by Meinert and both were AHRA. Petrie, the track at Nashville still exists, (I've been there several times), but can't be seen from the road. Pascoe, the last time the SCCA was involved at SLIR/GIR in 1987, the place went bankrupt and remained closed for nine months into 1988. __________________ Bret Kepner BRETKEPNER@Prodigy.net Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode