Sep 05, 2011 the tracks history and some of the racers antics are captured in the midwest motorsport legend meadowdale raceways, the latest book by local author phil aleo, who lives in sleepy hollow. Race drivers from all over the country used the track. Mar 02, 2018 meadowdale international raceway was built in 1958, 40 miles northwest of chicago. Meadowdale international raceway talk leads off historical. The road course features 12 turns on a hilly course with 160 feet 49 m of total elevation change. The content in this collection ranges from 1958 to 2007. Race day, march 23, 1957, dawned clear and sunny which seemed like heaven for all.
This is his second book on the history of the organization. The mirpa organization is dedicated to promoting and preserving the site and history of the meadowdale international raceway in carpentersville, illinois. Vir hosts amateur and professional automobile and motorcycle events, driving schools, club days, and private test rentals. A 4000 foot long main straight and huge monza wall were just two of its more notable features. Also, for those interested in driving to kots afterwards, there will be a group taking the back roads to union grove afterwards. Our organization is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the history of the track as well as that of all midwest racing. National champion johnny rutherford with induction to meadowdales monzaread more.
New book tells the good, bad and ugly of meadowdale. Here are two pics i posted in the trans am pace car thread but they should also be here. These cover interests and areas as diverse as the american barn and harleydavidson motorcycles, californias wine country and john deere farm tractors. Author phil aleo, who lives in sleepy hollow, captured the history in his latest book. Tom schultz, road americas historian and author of road america. Auto racing vintage sports publications for sale ebay. Mar 20, 2009 meadowdale raceway is an old abandoned auto racetrack in the carpentersvillehuntley, il area. In addition, the short straights make it feel almost circular. This is a 1958 program from the meadowdale raceways in carpentersville, illinois. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
The first race at meadowdale raceway drew 150,000 people, according to historian and author philip aleo, who wrote a book, the midwest motorsport legend. Metrolina speedway only historic charlotte track to still. Meadowdale raceways carpentersville, illinois local. A road course that closed in the 60s because it couldnt compete with road america. Raceway woods 5k by rotary club of carpentersville, il. Photos meadowdale international raceways preservation.
In 1957 sebring was holding only its sixth installment of the 12hour race. Five decades of racing at elkhart lake, just completed a book on the history of the meister brauser team, to be published by dalton watson fine books. Meadowdale international raceway, carpentersville, illinois. One other track of note in charlotte was the halfmile dirt queen city speedway, located at the end of a runway at charlotte douglas airport, the speedway was open for just two years 19681969 and had trouble drawing fans who were already used to attending races at the southern states and metrolina speedway. The meadowdale international raceways preservation association is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the history, care and enjoyment of raceway woods, home to meadowdale international raceways. Currently, meadowdale raceway is the only intact ghost track in the united states. The last major event at meadowdale was an scca transam.
The perth royal show started its days as tenant at claremont showgrounds after a deal was made with the western australian government to swap land at guildford for a home at claremont, closer to the city. Ghost tracks takes readers back to such great permanent tracks as midamerica raceway, meadowdale, marlboro and brooklands, along with airstrips, parks, stadiums and roadways across the country where drivers competed in the early years of club racing history. It is with special thanks to philip aleo and his book. This is a fascinating look into the history of the pony car complete with beautiful pictures and some little known history detailing lee iacoccas involvement in this premiere car. The librarys archival collections contain original diaries, engineering documents, letters, papers, photographs, and scrapbooks from individuals and organizations that have left their marks in automotive history and the pageant of motor sport. Meadowdale raceways in 2011 that detailed its origins. The revs digital library contains 500,000 photographs from 36 photographers. Rare and outofprint automobile history motor racing books car and motorcycle memorabilia. New listing indianapolis 500 official program may 31, 1937 silver ann. Race proceeds raise money to support those in need within our community. The second picture shows one of the ads in the program from courtesy motors for the triumph automobile. Lance reventlows incredible california hot rod page 2. Souvenir checkered flags were popular at all the old chicago area speedways through the years.
Former meadowdale international raceway roars back to life during. As you will see, we have amassed hundreds of links for suppliers, race tracks, vintage auto racing organizations and events, memorabilia outlets, and much, much more in this onestop location that we hope will aid you as you search the web. Packed with photos, this book allows the reader to absorb the whole racing experience at meadowdale that gained momentum in the 50s, 60s, and beyond. In 2008, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the raceway. Open from 1958 through 1969, meadowdale was intended to be the mecca of auto racing in the midwest. Read a 2009 chicago tribune article about a scarab driver reunion at meadowdale international raceway. Brandon petroff is at meadowdale international raceway. It is host to one of only three nascar cup series races each year that are run on road courses.
Meadowdale international raceway carpentersville, illinois. The woods you walk through housed a historical landmark so when you go hiking. Vintage nascar 12 annual daytona fire cracker paul revere poster charger 1970. Nov 12, 2014 an author of three historical photographic books up to that point, aleo decided to document the remarkable meadowdale track. Meadowdale raceway collection fox river valley public. Lance reventlows incredible california hot rod page 3. Many of you reading this have no idea who ken miles is, or his life of racing.
The midwest racing preservation association, formerly known as the meadowdale international raceway preservation association, will host its annual winter banquet at the double tree by hilton in arlington heights, illinois, on saturday february 3, 2018. This was under the banner of the fair and cattle show as it was previously known. At the time the track was built, carpentersville was a very small industrial town on the fox river that was just beginning to see the effects of the postwar housing boom in the united states. Sonoma raceway is a road course and dragstrip located at sears point in the southern sonoma mountains of sonoma, california, united states. A look into history of meadowdale raceways the chicago. This is why many wouldbe tourists and numerous books have been written on the subject. Contact mirpa for information on location and details for tickets. Not sure if anyone has seen the pictures of the 7th trans am race of the 1968 season held at meadowdale international raceway, carpentersville, illinois that appear on the chicago sports car clubs memories of meadowdale international raceways web site. Photographer and writer, randy leffingwell, has more than 35 books in print, primarily on americana subjects. Meadowdale motorsports and memories car show northern. Relive the neat marketing campaigns created when america was constantly evolving, and manufacturers inevitably sank billions of. He created a book about meadowdale raceway that you should check out. Marketing detroit iron in the 60s and 70s takes you back to an era when performance was plentiful and gas was cheap.
In december local author and historian philip aleo visited our club an presented his book the midwest motorsport legend meadowdale raceways which depicted the entire history of the historical meadowdale raceway in carpentersville. The ford boss mustang is the most iconic pony car ever created, and this book covers it more extensively than any other. Virginia international raceway commonly known as vir is a race track located in alton, virginia, near danville. Mar 05, 2008 in its day, the meadowdale international raceway in carpentersville was the place to be. This challenging course combined features of both oval track and open road racing. This premium quality hardbound, coffee table sized book details the history of meadowdale raceways.
Is this one of those archival photo books about santas village in scotts valley. Some of the biggest auto racing legends of the and once roared their hot rods around meadowdale international raceways in dundee township, near carpentersville. This book includes the history from preconstruction. This collection is made up of articles, documents, pictures, photocopied pages of books, and more all pertaining to the history of meadowdale raceway. The two meister brau scarabs were photographed at meadowdale raceway.
Nascar 1954 record book for the 1953 racing season. First printed in 2011, the midwest motorsport legend meadowdale raceways is 208pages of memories of the track to rival the best in europe according to one newspaper account of its inaugural event in 1958. Gasoline alley antiques presents automotive collectibles for sale with. Aleo explores the history, the stories, and several pictures of artifacts from this great piece of racing history know as the meadowdale raceway.
Join facebook to connect with tim levasseur and others you may know. It is the goal of the meadowdale international raceways preservation association mirpa to promote and preserve the history of the famous track located in carpentersville, illinois. Carpentersville memories remembering carpentersvilles. This one is from the old meadowdale raceways in carpentersville, ill. It is located at the intersection of illinois route 31 and huntley road. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Mustang forty years by randy leffingwell goodreads. The program m easures 8 12 x 11 and is 52 pages counting the front and back covers. Midwest racing preservation association formerly known as meadowdale international raceways preservation association.
Prestatyn raceway sat 4th 1965 trotting race night 42 by prestatyn race course and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An ultimate book on the history legacy and the forward movement of americas well loved muscle car, the ford mustang. In the presentation he described the people behind the project, the process of it being built, the originals. It may have only had a short life, but during those 11 years people were able to watch races and crashes while spending the day together at an inexpensive venue. The first is a picture of a 1968 amx that is decaled as the pace car for the meadowdale trans am race but i am still trying to figure out if this was the pace car or if it was the amxr with the rumble seat mentioned and shown in a photo earlier in this thread. The germiston boys high school cadet band was known throughout south africa as one of the greatest school cadet bands ever to compete and parade in south africa. Rudow recounts the breathtaking races and fascinating history of more than 16 tracks from around north america. Meadowdale and carpentersville, illinois, growing up in the 1960s and 1970s meadowdale and carpentersville illinois history it is with special thanks to philip aleo and his book that we present this meadowdale and carpentersville history page. Aug 20, 2010 scca nationals a production race held at meadowdale raceway, il in august 1962.
Road racings enduring legacy is revealed and celebrated as author martin rudow recounts the sports glorious past while visiting more than 16 classic tracks that are now defunct across north america. Cars and drivers shown throughout and it promotes the new drag strip on site. Lap 1972 i70 international speedway program nascar local stock car racing rookies. Our goal is to bring back some fun memories of growing up in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Meadowdale raceway 1968 transam newspaper program amc. Meadowdale raceway was built in 1958 north of carpentersville, illinois, to attract development to the suburbs of chicago.
Raceway woods visit the elgin area in the fox river valley of. Meadowdale international raceways preservation association. Those legendary tracks, now long gone, launched more than a few careers during their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. The mirpa winter banquet will take place in suburban chicago. The event will honor threetime indy 500 winner and 1980 u. It was originally a horse track before world war ii. The track is notable for the lack of an outside wall on the back straightaway, a unique feature for a national series such as arca. Meadowdale raceway collection fox river valley public library.
Three time indy 500 winner bobby unser to speak at mirpa. This book includes the history from preconstruction sketches and the opening races to the development of present day raceway woods. Meadowdale raceway woods mountain bike, hike, trail running trails near carpentersville, illinois. Meadowdale raceway grand prix press newspaper, dated july 1968 promoting the upcoming transam race. Sleepy hollow resident phil aleo has written a book about the history of the meadowdale international raceways near carpentersville. We were inspired to find that meadowdale holds such a place.
Love the awesomely hilly, curvy, difficult trails in raceway woods. Ghost tracks by pete hylton solo performance specialties. Meadowdale international raceway came alive saturday, as classic. The meadowdale international raceway was the vision of local historical figure leonard w. Prior to the days of the internet, motorsport news and results were distributed throughout the world in magazine book or newspaper form, these sometimes small dedicated teams put their heart and souls into the coverage of many differant codes of motorsport. This bid is for the original meadowdale inaugural souvenir race program from the race held on september 14, 1958.
The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from march until october. Welcome to the website for meadowdale international raceways preservation association mirpa. Pictures from the meadowdale raceway near chicago approximately 1965 click. This cadet bands record of achievement is unparalleled in the history of south african school cadet bands. Ghost tracks remain in many a fans memory, and play significant intrigue to many who love racing and racing history. Please take your time and check out all of the pages, photos, yearbooks, and other items that are sure to make you smile. Amc javelin on the cover and ronnie kaplan cars on the full page ad on the back. An author of three historical photographic books up to that point, aleo decided to document the remarkable meadowdale track. Any race fan would love this book and then actually come to carpentersville and walk, bike or jog on the track now known as raceway woods. This awesome piece of racing history is displayed in a black floating frame behind glass which really makes it stand out.
It is less than a halfmile from the north carolinavirginia border just outside milton, north carolina on the banks of the dan river. Illinois license plate 50th anniversary meadowdale international raceway. Europe, and its endless landscape, have many abandoned and hauntingly beautiful tracks. This is the only time a year that cars are allowed on the track so dont miss your chance to be a part of history. Excerpts from the philip aleo book dundee township moments frozen in time. Meadowdale raceway was a race track in carpentersville that was used for motor racing from 1958 to 1968. The tracks history and some of the racers antics are captured in the midwest motorsport legend meadowdale raceways, the latest book. Sep, 2012 event to celebrate history of meadowdale raceway meadowdale international raceway near carpentersville attracted some of the most popular racers from the 1950s and 60s, before the track closed in. It has been turned into a forest preserve trail system with the main trail following the track layout. Meadowdale international raceway was a race track located in carpentersville, illinois. Riverside international raceway, bridgehampton race circuit, ontario motor speedway, continental divide raceway, and many others were once major race venues that have since closed.
What a great history captured in pictures and words, that i wish we could see first hand, but this book takes us there. Art history, psychology, and finally to the william allen white school of journalism for a. There will also be a show of sports cars, from 1969 and earlier, obviously, that raced, or could have raced at meadowdale. Original meadowdale inaugural souvenir race program september. Challenge yourself on the historic meadowdale international raceway. Vir history related books and web sites virginia international raceway history 195774. Meadowdale raceway was a race track in carpentersville that was used for.
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