Speedways
In the 20's, there were speedways that were paved not with concrete or asphalt, but with 2X4's, and Altoona was one of the best (and most dangerous).
This is the track that started it all: the first purpose built, man-made racing circuit in the world.
The Des Moines Speedway, yet another boardtrack that operated from 1915 thru 1916. The site features over 170 vintage newspaper articles and many exceptional photos.
Did you know that the Twin Cities once had a superspeedway? Ya-sure, you-betcha! It used to be where the airport now sits. The details of early Minnesota racing history courtesy of Don Stauffer.
Briefly known as Wichita Speedway, the most salient point of this track was that it featured no straights.
Now, here's a track layout you don't see much: kidney shaped.
Bullrings
Located in Winfield, Kansas this track started out as a horse track in 1872. The web site features results, photos and history of this dirt track.
The track made famous
by ABC's Wide World of Sports and the World Championship of Figure 8 Racing.
(They had a world championship for that?)
24 Years That Killed Your Ears. That track motto pretty much sums it up, don't it?
Technically speaking, this isn't a dirt track, but a clay track that is one of the oldest racing surfaces in the world. Built in 1857 for horses and used from 1919 by cars.
One of the classic fairgrounds dirt tracks in America, this site features a complete history of the track as it existed from 1924-1979.
Road Circuits
Fun-to-drive and only 20 miles west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lynndale Farms Raceway is a gem of a road racing course.
From 1958-68 Meadowdale International Raceway was the place to go see road racing if you lived in Chicago. This site is all about the old, a 3.27-mile road course. It also includes a large album of historical photos.
Monza ... to Italians, it's more than a race track, it's a cathedral. This is an unofficial web site devoted to Monza, that most Italian of tracks. There is also a link for contributing to saving the famed banking at Monza. Available in Italian, English, and German. How continental is that?
Evocative in name, daunting in challenges , Solitude was a track that quickly separated the men from the boys. This is a meticulous site devoted to the Solitude race track that ran from 1903-1965 near Stuttgart, Germany. The site is available in English and German.
Spa ... three little letters for one of the premier racetracks of all time. Bested only by Germany's intimidating Nurburgring, Spa is beloved by drivers, and feared by doctors and emergency workers. This site is a fantastic photographic history of Spa by DdR Motorsport.
Who says modern racetracks lack character? Nobody ever said that about VIR. But before the modern rendition of VIR, there was the old track that is featured on this web site.
If you want to know where road racing got its start in America, look no further. It all started in a little town in upstate New York called Watkins Glen. Read the story of this legendary track on this web site.
A photo site on past Watkins Glen events, and current historic races held at The Glen.
The place where even brave race drivers feared to go, the infamous Bog of Watkins Glen. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Yet another great road racing track in Wisconsin. Must have been something in the water, at least from 1953 to 1967.
Everyone knows the Milwaukee Mile at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, but did you know that there used to be an infield road course that ran races from 1954 through 1984? Follow the link to find out more.
