Illiana Motor Speedway Opens for Last Year
The Illiana Motor Speedway, a half-mile race track that served as an air field in the 1940s, will close after this summer and be developed into a combination of residential and commercial uses, a Town Council member said.
The sale of the property along U.S. 30 about 10 miles south of Gary was a private real estate transaction, councilman Steve Kil said.
The town had worked with owner Mike Mikuly for an agreement on hours of operation after nearby residents complained of noise levels coming from the track. In recent years, increased use of the track concerned neighbors, Kil said.
“Over the years, I’ve fielded countless concerns,” he said.
2006 marks the speedway’s 60th year in operation and all indications are it will meet the same fate as others located near populations centers. It will be marked by a headstone engraved by condos, strip malls.
The season opens this Saturday with a full schedule of Super Late Models, Mid-American Sportsman and Limited Late Models. June sees the 5th Annual Elmer Musgrave Memorial with special guest Ted Musgrave. The USAC Silver Crown Series will also be on the June schedule.
R.I.P. Illiana Motor Speedway 1946-2006
UPDATE: As noted by a correction via the comment section the Illana Motor Speedway still lives.
Illiana Motor Speedway, ASA, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
Again this will happen taking another enjoyable sport and turning it into more homes that we possibly dont need or can afford. Taking it away for so many generations that have enjoyed practically there whole life. Geez maybe we should just do what they want and let all the kids go and gang bang, and do drugs and all other trouble. Next theyll take away all amusement parks and then what let me guess we told you so!!!!Let everyone complain next time. Most of them moved there and knew about the track before they purchased.
Each year more and more short tracks fall by the wayside.
Property values are such that the small tracks in many places are worth more as malls and residential areas vice race tracks.
Its not just racetracks guys. Its everything America is getting to soft and letting corporate take over anything and everything to make money…money..money …money….its about enjoying life and people…its forcing everyone to forget thier friends and family and keeping them at work just to survive….sad God Bless America we need it !!!!!!!!!
“money
Just like to comment that it has been 3 years and Illiana is still open. Maybe you should have talked to the owner of the track before you wrote this article.
Well Panky, thanks for the update (I think) but maybe you should note the date of this post is from 3 years ago.
When it WAS written it WAS IN FACT going to be the last year for the track.
If you want to complain about it not being updated fine, I’ll take the hit, if you want to whine about the facts as presented at the time I suggest you contact councilman Steve Kil.
If that fails to appease you well, just piss off.