Full Throttle

In writing the two previous posts I noted a reference to Lorain Speedway and the fact that its 2006 season has apparently been cancelled.

My first thought was, “what else is new.” Secondly it’s another sign of my advancing age as yet another track that was a favorite in my youth may be hitting the Speedway Mortuary. The track, formerly known as Lorain County Speedway, has a long and storied history that dates to 1949 when it was a 1/2 mile dirt track.

Back in “my day” I recall many of the Michigan Late Model stars (Joy Fair, Danny Bird, Joe Ruttman and Benny Parsons, yes the very same NASCAR stars.) invading Lorain to duel with Ohio stars such as Jim Bickerstaff and Kent Stauffer.

But enough of the nostalgia, and back to the clouded future of the now 3/8ths paved oval. Two years ago the track was purchased by two Minneapolis-based owners. As you can see as late as last weekend the track ran its regularly scheduled Saturday night program. At the bottom of that page is a note that the next scheduled event would be this weekend on June 17^th.

That was last week. This week (Thursday to be precise) the track has been closed down.

In an e-mail statement sent to local media, Lorain Speedway Vice President Gerald Morgan announced the facility was canceling the remainder of its 2006 schedule effective immediately.

The e-mail did not specify why Minneapolis-based Race Town Inc., which purchased Lorain Speedway for just less than $1.5 million in 2004, was shutting down its racing operations. When Morgan was contacted by The Morning Journal, he said the speedway was going through a ”transition.”

”There may be a new ownership group in the future,” he said.

He declined further comment, saying only that the facility’s closure was a management decision.

”We thought it was in the best interest to do this,” he said.

Do I really have to point out whose “best interest” is at stake when this announcement comes during the season and only two days before it next scheduled event?

I thought not.

Local Township officials are in the dark and say they had no advance warning of the closing. Kevin Jaycox, owner of the cross-state Sandusky Speedway said he’s been getting calls from Lorain drivers looking for a place to race. ”We’re having a meeting tomorrow to figure out how to have their drivers race here,” he said. ”I don’t want to see them get burned.”

ASALMS should also be credited with stepping up to the plate at least for one week. (granted it’s in it’s own self interest) The series’ scheduled event at Lorain on Saturday June 24^th (The inaugural running of the Benson International 100.) will occur as scheduled as the Series’ owners will rent the facility for that event only.

Meanwhile the local Cleveland drivers are left with little to no options for the remainder on the 2006 season. Sandusky Speedway is the best option but it has serious financial drawbacks in the form of increased gas bills and towing distance:

Tammy Smith of Grafton, a former track champion at Lorain Speedway who currently owns two cars that compete there, said Sandusky Speedway is a long haul for racers in the eastern part of the county, and yesterday’s announcement could effectively end several drivers’ seasons.

”It is a long tow,” she said. ”(Sandusky Speedway is) a beautiful facility as well, but with gas prices what they are this news probably means we’re done. We won’t be able to race anymore.”

Which is a lament that has been heard all too often of late.

This may be a bit too premature but, R.I.P. Lorain Speedway. You were a great facility all during your 50 plus year history and the Half-Vast Staff of Full Throttle hopes someone with more business acumen and dedication to racing will exhume a great short track from the Speedway Mortuary.

Lorain Speedway, ASALMS, Sandusky Speedway, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle