Congrats to Corey Wooten for correctly identifying this week's mystery track as Brown County Speedway in Aberdeen, SD. He'll receive a free t-shirt courtesy of the good folks at Wide Open Graphics in Lima, Ohio. We'll have a brand new mystery track for you to guess next Tuesday.
For whatever reason, I've always had a fascination with closed race tracks. There's just something about the mystique that draws me in I guess you could say. Whether I'm reading about it in Allan Brown's History of America's Speedways or whether I'm trying to find an old track on Google maps, the entire mystery surrounding the track simply grabs my attention.
It's hard to say when or how exactly this happened. Perhaps it's because several of the tracks I grew up attending, such as R&R Speedway (Zanesville, OH), would later close, leaving behind the thoughts of "what could have been".
For other tracks, it's the fact that I read so much about them as a kid but never got to see a race there...places like McCutchenville Speedway (pictured above in 2008) in McCutchenville, OH or Silver Spring Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA or even Crown Point Speedway in Crown Point, IN. The fact that racing actually took place on that particular piece of property is almost eerie.
It's also fun. If you've ever visited the site of a closed track, it's pretty cool to stand there for a minute and imagine what it was like to sit there and watch races at that track. You can practically hear the announcer blaring over the PA system, smell the concession stand food cooking behind you, and visualize the old cars broadsliding through the turns.
Over the years, I've found that I'm not alone in this closed track fascination. As a matter of fact, almost all race fans seem to share the same passion for investigating dormant facilities and the stories that go with them. Why is that? What are we so infatuated with this phenomenon?
Of course, with every closed race track there's a hundred stories to go along with it. The stories always range from how great the racing was to what led to the closure of the track to the rumors about the track reopening.
And no matter which closed track it is, the racing always seems to "get better" as time goes on. Much like a person's passing, a track's legacy also grows after it closes.
Maybe that is what's so fascinating about it. Or maybe we all just love to relive the days gone by.
Still no correct answer on the Trivia Tuesday question, so I'm throwing another pic at you. Wide Open Graphics says I have to give this t-shirt away, so I'll drop a few more hints with the hopes someone will guess correctly. Don't forget to "share" the post with your friends on Facebook and Twitter...surely someone knows what track this is.
Please remember to log in before casting your vote. See the official rules below.
Can you name this race track? The first person to correctly do so wins a free t-shirt from our sponsor Wide Open Graphics of Lima, Ohio.
Trivia Tuesday Rules:
- Must be a blog follower to guess (see instructions below on "how to follow this blog")
- No more than two guesses per follower
- Must respond to this post using your "follower name"
- Contest ends this Friday at 5:00pm. If no one guesses correctly by then, the name of the track will be revealed during next week's Trivia Tuesday.
A few folks have already email me and asked... "how do I follow this blog?" and the answer is simple. Just click "Join This Site" in the lower left-hand part of this page.
DJ
For 12 years, I wrote a column titled "Puttin' On A Show" in various racing publications. Now, after a two years hiatus, Puttin' On A Show is back in the form of a blog.
What you'll find here are some of my editorial thoughts, random ramblings, and behind-the-scenes stories. This blog is meant to be short, sweet, and to the point. It's meant to be interactive and engaging. And it's meant to get dirt track fans to read, think, and respond.
I'll also have contests for prizes such as race tickets, t-shirts, and more. Keep checking back for more info (hint... first contest will be starting within the next 24 hours).
Follow (at the bottom of the page) and subscribe (at the top of the page). Interact and engage. Bookmark the page and check back daily. Spread the news and share the word. Tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Most importantly, have fun!
DJ
Sources are telling me an official announcement will come later today that I-77 Raceway Park in Fairplain, WV has landed the May 27th World of Outlaws Late Model Series date that was previously reserved for West Virginia Motor Speedway. This completes Memorial Day weekend for the Series with a stop at Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, OH on Friday, May 25th, and the highly touted Jackpot 100 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV on Saturday, May 26th.
There are some trophies in Dirt Late Model racing that are just cool. Cedar Lake's wooden eagle is one that comes to mind (for winners of the USA Nationals) as being well recognized. Another, of course, is the famed globe the winner of the World 100 takes home.
However, perhaps the #1 "coolest trophy" award goes to Clarksville Speedway and their Tuckassee Toilet Bowl Classic. As you can see from the picture above, the winner of this race gets a toilet bowl. Completely wrapped with a sharp graphics scheme on the outside, the inside actually lists the winners of the previous Toilet Bowl Classics. In winner's circle, the victor will literally have his picture taken sitting on the throne.
Talk about a nice addition to your man cave.
This got me thinking...what are some of the other "cool" trophies in the Dirt Late Model racing? And what makes a trophy cool? Is it the look? Is it the race itself? Is is something else? Thoughts...?
