Anyone interested in the old place you should check out this thread. There's alot of motorcycle racing history behind the memory of Santa Fe Speedway that was located south of Chicago. On Flattrack.com alot of old timers lurk. Alot of guys that were born long before I was a glimmer in my dads eyes.
Flat Track is an all American sport and Chicago was once the meca for it!
Check it out! If you have a memory of the place ad to the topic. Good Stuff!!
Flat Track and TT racing is cool!
And I'll give you a little pointer, it's cheaper than road racing!
http://www.flattrack.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=100&topic_id=26236&mode=full&page=
I remember going to watch the stock-car races there, back in the day!
:D
No motorcycle races Kim? I want to hear about motorcycle racing their! Come on! Let's hear it! There's some Veterans on this board!
I grew up at that place.Saw tons of flat track and tt races there. Towards the end, the were super cross races. On my last trip to Chicago, I picked up a Honda Ascot that was raced there, that I'm currently restoring.
My Dad would take me there to watch the motorcycles
Good memories 8)
Well come on! Tell us about it, what do you remember?
ok, here is my memory. I used to live in Burr Ridge, I learned to first ride a dirt bike from a friend who lived across the acre from me. I almost went to the hospital because I almost went down the side of the dirt trail around the track. Wow, I can not believe you are asking about that. At the time, my mom did not know I was doing that, and when I came home all in mud, she freaked out. I had blood dripping from my knee. I do very well remember Santa Fe Speedway. That's where I broke ground into actually riding a bike. ;D
Not a regular on this board, however I do check to see how things are going. Doesn't appear much has changed since I left CCE a year and half ago.
Regarding Santa Fe.... you bet I have memories.
Rookie year 1972. Wednesday night weekly races. First appearance at the track 2nd place behind Robert E. Lee who won the national the year before. Won the next 5 consecutive weeks. Leading the Grand National short track on by trusty Bultaco until my coil bracket broke. Mike Gerald won the main.
Jump to 1974. 3rd in the Grand National Series behind Kenny Roberts and Gene Romero riding a factory Triumph except Bultaco on Short Tracks. Running second behind Roberts until my trusty Bultaco jumped out of gear putting me into the concrete wall breaking my left femur! Ouch!!
Hundreds more stories, good and bad. Loved racing there, great times on the short track and tt. I even have one of the old Santa Fe Speedway telephone signs as an arrow to the track in my garage.
Gotta go find tissue and wipe the tears as I think about the good 'ol days. Geezzz, that was over 30 years ago. I guess it's true, the older I get the faster I was.
Mike Kidd
This is good stuff!!!
Keep it coming! :D
My brother used to race stock cars at Santa Fe Speedway, Raceway Speedway in Blue Island, IL and Geneva Raceway in Wisconsin. That was fun too. :D
I never saw the bikes race there, but still have plenty of memories. My pals and I used to go there pretty religiously for the demo derbies. Those were good times for sure. We had a regular spot in the blechers, so everyone would go get his girl, and we'd meet at the track.
Picture the scene. People I know have described me as "Larger than life," when I'm having a good time. Well, a couple beers and a demo derby qualifies as a good time for sure! I'd brought this sweet young thing along one night, and was really enjoying having her there with me and the boys. Team Demolition was putting it to the Orange Crush but good, and as the final round came to a dramatic, crunching, steaming, firey conclusion, I was yelling, waving my fists in the air, and jumping up and down fit to break the bleachers. I turned to hug my girl. She melted into my chest and hugged me back, saying, "I love you!"
My jaw dropped. I knew I'd loved this girl from the moment we met, but was a bit nervious about saying it. Now she'd gone ahead and said it first, so the ice was broken. There at Santa Fe, on the top row of the bleachers, amid the swirling dust and empty paper beer cups, I grabbed that firey little redhead in the jeans jacket and kissed her hard. A year later, we were married.
:-*
QuoteDoesn't appear much has changed since I left CCE a year and half ago.
Mike Kidd
LOL! Yeah, that's the way it is.
Thanks for sharing. Nice to hear from you!
Thanks for your comment and/or story on Santa Fe Speedway Dave! ;D
You're a Veteran Dave! Did you spend any time racing or spectating motorcycles at the place?
If so tell us about it.
Thanks
Nick
Ah~ Santa Fe Speedway. I remember it like it was yesterday. The smell of dandelions, race fuel, and corn dogs. It was the summer of 72 and I had turned 16 a few months earlier.
I'm trying to do some serious research here Mr. Kwak. :'(
QuoteI'm trying to do some serious research here Mr. Kwak. :'(
My apologies Mr. Desautels. :'(
And he was nowhere near 16 in '72, either!
;)
I was there every wed. til I was 4, when I grandfather through in the towel. All I can recall is being in the bleachers, the resistation trailer, and scooting along on my plastic toy motorcycle.
QuoteThanks for your comment and/or story on Santa Fe Speedway Dave! ;D
You're a Veteran Dave! Did you spend any time racing or spectating motorcycles at the place?
Sorry. I've road raced a long, but I'm not from the area at all. My family had no relationship to motorcycles at all until I just bought a motorcycle and then started road racing a few months after.