Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

- Chris

Here are the links in clickable form.

http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php?postid=3484974#post3484974

http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php?postid=3485170#post3485170

^ SkyRaider Ultralight -> ELSA

According to The History of American Speedways it was behind the airport on Oroville-Gridley road. Was a 5/8 mile dirt track on July 4 of 53, 5/16 mile from 7/24/53 to 8/6/54, Also called Oroville Speedway. The track was closed when the equipment was sold.

You're jarring some memories of another era ! . . . . .

I lived in Oroville from fall of '48 to summer '51. There was no dirt track then but we used to go to a track in Marysville/Yuba City area. I think they called it the Peach Bowl, - or was it 99 speedway? We also went to Anderson. It was a 5/8 with a rodeo arena in the middle so you couldn't see all of the backstretch because fencing in the infield was in the way. My dad ran the body shop at Irving Paul Ford. He built a hard top - '37 ford slant back 2 door sedan that had a WW II surplus radio from a fighter plane in the car so they could talk to the driver! How's that for being ahead of your time?

I remember a "big car" race (that's what sprint cars were called then) that they ran at the airport. They used a couple of taxi lanes for the straights that ran between paved cross over's connecting the two taxi lanes to complete the totally flat turns. No crash walls but they put hay bales to define the course. I think the winner's name was Bill Hill but I'm not sure of that.

We moved back to LA in '51. The track I remember down there then was Carrell Speedway.

Awe, the good old days!

Good Day To All: My name is Dennis and my older sister, and older brother and I are born and raised in Oroville, but mostly in I'll say greater Thermalito, there is a difference. I do not know everything, don't want to, but what I know I know, ya know and I think I can answer your question on this. Yes there was a 5/8 dirt oval just south of the airport in the mid 50's I read a short piece in the mercury bout 4 months ago, and drew many well known racers of the time. A there was also a very popular Drag Strip named Oro-Dam (I think)Raceway located on the southern boundery of Oroville airport paralaling Larkin Road. My brother and I would walk or ride our bikes to go watch, there was also a competition paved Kart track on the airports eastern boundery. And yes in deed there such aplace called Feather River Raceway. It was in fact the section of the feather river between the hwy 162 bridge and the old P.G.E. dam located directly behind Hayes Equipment Sales. They held all classes of drag boat racing all the way up to TOP FUEL with speeds up to 190&210, this I do know cause we were there. It was a pretty happening event 2-3 times a month and pretty much be wall to wall racers and spectators on the rivers east bank. It was I quess the hotest section of water in the 14 western states. It also as with the drag strip shut down by the powers to be in the city and county telling the people putting on the events, We (thats them not us)don't want you here and do not ever, ever come back or else. But thank the All Mighty all those folks are no longer in office, and we have a whole new open minded crew finally. In my brothers & my talking with the masses he's the front guy, I'm a recluse mainly cause of Vietnam WAR CRAP miss not just these's events but a hole lot more. It's proven fact, on record Oroville has The "FASTEST WATER" in U.S. on the forebay,afterbay,& the river. I/We feel the time is here, and I/WE have a PLAN but we can't do it alone.

I went to Chico State back around 1986. I remember walking on the closed Oroville Dragstip back then. I was surprised by how good it looked back then. It looked like all somebody had to do was open the gate and start racing. I was interested in re-opening the track, but being a broke student, didn't have much of a chance. I remember talking to some of the city personnel. Then said that back in the mid-70's or so, someone got burned really bad at the track and sued the city or insurance company. The city or insurance company stopped insuring the track, and since the city required insurance, the track had to close. I remember they told me that some insurance agent was trying to open the track, but obviously didn't. I was thinking about talking to him, but never went beyond that. Wish I did.

I actually drove past there about a year ago. I wanted to see if it was still there. But I couldn't find any evidence of it. I was just looking at some Yahoo Maps pictures hoping to find it, but I guess the city must of dug it up.

Joe of Joe's Porting Service

Mike, I been trying to get some validation it was there. I cannot find to many articles about the drag races there. I was there back in the day.  My friend would win in his Old Suped up Brown Chevy. I vaguely, remember the truck now. 

We used to look forward to meeting up at the quarter mile to watch him race!   It closed, soon after. I started to come out and enjoy the fumes! And kicking butt! LOL

Becca Wright
Business Cupid
[email protected]

Joe,

I am, so happy to see something about the history of whatever happened to that drag strip. Thank you for sharing is caring.

Becca Wright
Business Cupid
[email protected]

BTW

FYI: I used to be on a Sprint Car Team for Performance Auto. 2003- 2006, 1/2 years
Went to the Chili Bowls, etc. Miss it!

Don't know anything about an oval in Oroville, but I used to go to peach bowl in what is now olivehurst. peach bowl,live oak andWillows were hotbeds of racing in the 50's and 60's. the 70 freeway went thru peach bowl about 64 and racing moved to a new facility in 68 in the river bottoms called tripple M raceway (marysville modified midgits). I now operate it as Marysville raceway park. I ran every sunday at orodam, so did my wife. only drag strip I ever saw with a turn in the shut down lane. They tried to straighten it but used chip seal so then it was marbles. strip ended in the afterbay. its now an industrial park....paul