After 2004, it lay abandoned with dirt piles to prevent unauthorized racing till it was bought for commercial development in 2015. Yet the place was also used for manufacturing aircraft and as an airfield (which isnt shown in the above picture). 14 Keimola Motor Stadium, Finland via deskgram.com We don't typically think of Finland when it comes to iconic tracks. via YouTube Some might say that these rides are better off being left behind instead of locked away in a museum. Ironically, probably the best race the circuit ever saw. For instance, the Watkins Glen International Speedway was one such location for almost twenty years before the Formula One races moved somewhere else. Terms of Use 7 The work wasnt without controversy as the raceway had violated its construction permits, leading to cease and desist orders from the township. Related: 5 Best American Track-Day Cars Under $30,000 (And 5 Japanese). Even the bleacher section looks completely unrecognizable covered in branches and grass. Related: 10 Superminis We'd Bring To A Track Day Over Any Supercar. Bobby Harnell proved his mettle on these very tracks, and yet, once complaints began to pore of the tracks damaging condition to the cars, NASCAR made a prompt exit. But not all race tracks are this fortunate. Apart from hosting the titular Daytona 500, this track is also open to the public. Track has been sitting dormant ever since. The Motordrome Speedway no longer gets to see any kind of racing action, at least not officially. It became an aircraft factory in the second world war and never reopened for racing after that. The old grandstands still stand, with old sponsors painted on them. Yet in the 50s and 60s, the track wasnt doing well financially following a remodeling. In its prime, the course had mammoth crowds estimated at over 200,000 people. It opened a year later in the summer of 1966, the course and area was considered among the top in Europe during that decade. Held since the 1920s, it has been a major attraction for many of the rich folks that typically stay in Monaco either overnight or during the summer months. The big daddy of the lot, the Nazareth Speedway remained in operation for nearly a century beginning 1910 and closing its doors in 2004. One of the local places i went to was called Moc A Tek Speedway. 5 6 12 13 The inaugural event, Triple 100s, was held between October 7-10. Its last F1 race was in 2013. RELATED:15 Rules Every NASCAR Employee Has To Follow. NASCAR took part at the circuit for the first time in 1949. 15 Abandoned And Forgotten NASCAR Race Tracks. Though it appears to be occupied by two cars in the above picture, this is actually two main roads located near the actual race track which has been abandoned for some time. What remains in the area is a path along with massive forestry. Sadly these days it looks like a jungle forest track with vegetation all over the course. However once again it just wasnt meant to be as it closed its doors in 1968 just a decade later. Of course, the convenience of the tracks locations largely depends on where one lives and what kind of car racing they offer. Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway. Valencia held Formula 1 races from 2008 up to 2012, and it was never really able to capture fans' imaginations. Its last race in 2012 was insane, and one of the best races F1 has ever seen. The last race happened in 1971, and by 1986 it was closed. Though the previous image demonstrates these points quite well, it isnt nearly as old as the Autodromo Nazionale Monza track in Italy. All rights reserved. Unfortunately due to high maintenance costs the stadium was forced into complete abandonment during the late 1970s. All we see is some curves that resemble a skating park half pipe along with lots and lots of forestry and grass coming out of the former circuit. History The Nazareth Speedway started as a -mile horse racing track at the Northhampton County Agricultural Fairgrounds in the 1850s. NNMSs opening show to feature Triple 100s., Reinhard, Paul. 20 Thunderhill Raceway As packed as California can get, being one of the most popular states to live at in the US, there's plenty of room for race tracks. Theyve tried to restore the track in the past with races however the course is now deemed as overly dangerous due to the sharp curves. The Lancia Rally 037 was a mid-engine car built to compete in the World Rally Championships during the 1980s. No, not the football team. EnjoyGood Day For Decay: http://bit.ly/33KgPofPlease Subscribe https://goo.gl/7t6EqcFacebook https://www.facebook.com/JPVideos81Don't forget to hit the like button Many tracks have been abandoned or left to second-tier status. 7 16 The bleachers were removed, the retaining wall of the front stretch was rebuilt, and the grandstands on the front stretch were replaced with high-rise grandstands with 10,000 additional prime seats. Towering over the modest residences in its vicinity, the soaring blue limestone and Ohio sandstone faced Roman Catholic church is one of the most recognizable symbols of Albany, New Yorks rich history. A renowned short track, the I-70 Speedway saw some great names in racing test their mettle on it since its inception in 1969. Miami-Hollywood Motorsports Park. It seems like the North Carolina circuit was the perfect fit according to Sporting News. It also sits in quite an isolated area, so the chances of it reopening are virtually non-existent. As a result, this track is One of Italy's top racing destinations as stated by Road & Track. Despite the name implying this track is located on a mountain, its actually on a hill outside the city of Bathurst, Australia, which is a little ways north of Sydney. The oval track opened in 1950 becoming one of Europes finest circuits rather quickly. America's Motor Sports Park, fka Gamblers Raceway Park. You will NOT be disappointed. Description: 1/4 mi Clay Oval, Track currently for sale and not running any scheduled events, Description: Long ago proposed multi-function motorsports park with multiple racing circuits and campground, BRINKMANN RECORDS BEST BMARA FINISH OF SEASON 15 Fried then acquired a 68-acre property from the Pharo family for $88,500 in 1960 14 and established the Nazareth National Speedway, a semi-banked 1-mile D-shaped dirt oval that opened for dirt, midget, sprint, and stock car races in April 1966. 14, In July 1969, Mario Andretti won the USAC Nazareth 100 on the same day the town of Nazareth celebrated his Indianapolis 500 victory. Safety concerns was a big reason for the tracks downfall and eventual abandonment. The Korean International Circuit was an interesting layout and it certainly had its challenges. Sad to see how little maintenance the course has endured over the decades. To say Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a fan of old race tracks is an understatement. Matthew Dillner has created Lost Speedways in an attempt to raise awareness to the Epidemic of Race Tracks shutting down across America and worldwide. Located in Surrey, England, it was closed in World War II and was also one of the world's first airfields. Defunct horse racing venues in Pennsylvania (1 P) T. Tropical Park Race Track (4 P) W. . Whats left of it is in a run-down state, some of it now though having reverted to road usage. Named after the small independent city on coast of France of the same name which faces the Mediterranean Sea, this particular track is known for being extremely curvy as the above picture shows. It stayed loyal to the area until the bitter end when it finally closed in 1996. Hickory Speedway closed in 2000, not long after a competitor passed away there. Lets get started! Once a horse-racing track, the Occoneechee Speedway became a NASCAR track in early 1949, till it finally closed doors in 1969. For F1 enthusiasts photos of the location nowadays is pretty hard to digest. This is the same for race tracks! Despite the number of abandoned race tracks that are out there in the world, there are just as many functioning ones which people can still visit. This enables Disqus, Inc. to process some of your data. This racetrack opened in 1926 when automobiles and the sport of racing were still very much in development. F1 did not return until the new, safer and shorter track was built in 1983. But, by 2018, the tracks were in bad condition and NASCAR pulled out. One example of this shifting interest can arguably be seen in the abandoned horse race track known as Phoenix Trotting Park. Abandoned Racetracks Of Ohio, West Virginia & Surrounding States Privacy Policy This category has only the following subcategory. 8 10 14 Flagging growth and poor financial prospects led ISC to discontinue races at Nazareth Speedway after the 2004 season. It is said that improper funding was the core reason for tracks ultimate demise. 5 6 16 Veteran Frankie Schneider won the first race. The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight. It was an impressive course. Richard Petty won four titles, while Bobby Allison won three. After all, both states are known for having lots of green hills further inland from their respective eastern coastlines. This list contains photos of abandoned and disused tracks that have mostly been left to nature. It was a dirt track at nascence and then repaved in 1987 for bigger races. Though its not as old as Brooklands, this circuit is a close second as it was built in the 1920s. It was relocated to a more spacious location in 1900 and it began to host automobile polo events in the 1910s. Related: These Are The 10 Best New Cars For Some Track Day Action. The track closed in 1996 and has seen no use since then, falling into a worse state as each year passes. Like the Autodromo Nazionale Monza track, this one is also located in Italy. Charlotte Motor Speedway Welcomes Hurricane Florence Evacuees to Rock City Campground. Lets see if its luck changes. He lives with his wife, two rascally sons and is a car and motorcycle nut in his free time. 9 The Busch Grand National Series race held on May 15-16 Indy Racing League event held on August 27-29 were the final races held at the track. Considered to be One of the oldest race tracks in America, as stated by Road & Track, its certainly showing its age judging by the swerve lines in the above picture. For any car enthusiast, they know this track like the back of their hand. autoevolution and the autoevolution logo are registered trademarks. While its not quite as difficult as Interlagos terrain-wise, it still has its challenging moments. The drag strip is still visible from photographs taken above. Updated March 2022: If you're into track days and racing, you might find these abandoned racetracks interesting - and a bit sad. Today most wouldnt even recognize the former speedway. The track closure took place in 1974. It reopened in 2010 and hosted a few races before the doors were shut again in 2011. Top Speed offers daily industry news and reviews on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Crystal Palace was a track in London, that has long since been disused even if reminders of its former purpose still remain. Despite some annual events, most of the track is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature. It launched back in the 1960s. Eerie. Stories. by ScottKo in RacingIn News, Rivalry Renewed: Lanigan & Richards Set To Face Off In 2015 As Richards Returns To Full-Time World of Outlaws Competition We dont typically think of Finland when it comes to iconic tracks. The track was acquired by Donald J. and Michael F. Ronca for $225,000 at a sheriffs sale in December 1973 with the goal of redeveloping the track into an industrial park. Reims was one of the most fearsome Grand Prix circuits of the 20th century, its simple and fast nature led to many average race records being broken throughout its history. Related: Here's Everything You'll Need (and Want) for Your First Track Day. If you like old rusty stuff and a poorly maintained forest area then perhaps the Beach Haven Speedway might be worth the trip. 41.015297, -80.276457 for those interested. Then in 1990, the track was paved, which made it both faster and more deadly. Enjoy the article folks as we take a look at the 14 most depressing abandoned racetracks from around the world. It was one of the most deadly tracks the world has ever seen and did claim the lives of several drivers. At least a small part though does see some use. Description: 4/10 mi Dirt Oval, resurrected in 2014! However, the conditions are less than stellar and something you might find in a creepy Hollywood flick. So while parts of it are linear, it's far from an easy track to drive down. The tunnel, which used to be the longest in the Turnpike system, is more than 1 mile long. Season admission prices range from $15 to $40, discounted youth (Ages 13-20) $10-$20 and Kids 12 and under are always FREE. For those unfamiliar with the Pebble Beach Road Races, they were held in the town of the same name in California and often took place on a series of narrow and twisty roads. The following 107 pages are in this category, out of 107 total. This in turn led many race tracks of historical importance to be abandoned while improved ones opened elsewhere which are still available today. From the dynamic curve of the track to the clustered formation of the cars themselves, its easy to see how this would inspire so many car-related movies such as Days of Thunder. 10 In the same year, the c. 1900 Nazareth Speedway was sold and the land was redeveloped into Laneco, a grocery store. The North Wilkesboro Speedway shares NASCARs birth year, 1949, and carried on hosting NASCAR events till it closed its doors to the public in 1996. Work entailed the construction of constructed a paved track on the footprint of the former 1-mile dirt track, which featured modest banking at 2.7 and 6.0 and a warm-up lane to enter and exit the pits, a first for a racing oval. Earnhardt Jr. is a close second as it closed its doors in 1969 abandoned and disused tracks that have been! 16 Veteran Frankie Schneider won the first time in 1949 capture fans ' imaginations reopened for racing after that several! For aviation news and reviews on Cars, trucks, and motorcycles Occoneechee. 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