Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985, but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. Then came the festival, now known as the Woodstock of the South, which featured some notable artists. 11/04/ 1965. NASCAR began its 1968 season at the track. attracted professional racers and their fans but also those looking for moonshine. 35,014 were here. Lamar Brown gave me a guided tour of the still after it was destroyed. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. Brown was the only witness for the defense and adamantly denied knowing anything about the still. Please let me know. An interesting situation happened at the track in. commercial, you would not be able to recognize the racetrack due to Dodge The Middle Georgia Raceway is an abandoned race track near Byron, Georgia. Petty started on the pole position and won the 274-mile (441km) race. Talk about a diamond in the rough, this is it. Later that season, Bobby Isaac shattered Pettys lap record after recording a 98.148 mile-per-hour lap. I hope the owner decides to do something with it. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. But that would be a small amount compared to what you would have when that all was done, a facility worth at least 15 million if not more. The 1979 Southern 500, the 30th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on September 3, 1979, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Localities in the Area. There are three subscription tiers available for Peacock, including a free, ad-supported version that has limited content. General view of the Atlanta Raceway circa 1980's at the Atlanta Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Thornton himself planned to put a light industrial park there when he bought the property in 2006, but fate intervened. Thanks, Dave. This festival was one of the last [1] He beat pole-sitter Pearson by 4 seconds and they were the only two cars on the lead lap. Required fields are marked *. The 1969 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on August 10, 1969, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Village Photo: Bill Golladay, CC BY-SA 4.0. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Middle Georgia Raceway Formerly Known As: Middle Georgia Motor Speedway: 0.5 mi./0.805 km. A historical marker at the property recognizes it as one of the largest public gatherings ever held in Georgia. Even after the raceway was closed down, it gained notoriety after Dodge used this location to film a commercial in 2011. King and even Hey my name eddie taylor I live in Byron ga an my family has been in racing our whole life my uncle Doc ran on the dirt tracks an at middle ga raceway it was an awesome place an it really needs to be brought back to life we need to try an get people talk about it. It may need General admission booths, and fencing to the grandstands. The 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season began on Sunday January 18 and ended on Sunday November 22. [4]. With the recent release of the dvd ,ELECTRIC CHURCH, the live performance by Jimi Hendrix at the Atlanta Pop Festival a renewed interest in that concert is occurring. Touch for map. "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". The Moonshine Track. One of Richard Petty's 4 wins at the track came when he was very ill and was questionable to race. hauler with large amounts of moonshine. [1], Opened in 1966 at a cost of $500,000, the first race, the Speedy Morelock 200 NASCAR Grand National stock car race, became the location of a speed record when Richard Petty broke the half-mile NASCAR record for half-mile tracks with an average speed of 82.023 miles per hour during the 100-mile (160km) event. He denied knowing anything about it and was acquitted. Middle Georgia Raceway, once a full-blown NASCAR Grand National track where Richard Petty and other racing legends battled it out, is for sale. However, Peacock is missing from Amazon Fire TV and Roku. It held nine NASCAR Grand National (today's Sprint Cup) events from 1966-71. note: i do not own the property nor work for the owner. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. The subject of the moonshine still under turn 3 was talked about on the Goat Rodeo radio broadcast Tuesday night with the good folks from Middle Georgia Raceway preparing for their Saturday, August 31st Reunion with Richard Petty as Grand Marshal.The story was so big it made national headlines.Here's the Associated Press story as carried by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in its edition of. While the racetrack had a short life within professional racing, the land where the track was located holds many stories. Last updated by Clio Admin on March 27th 2015, 1:16:16 am. There has been some talk of having another music festival there. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. The track has also hosted a monster truck rally and other events while Thornton has owned it. The 1970 Georgia 500 also occurred at the track. Matthew Dillner, who works with Earnhardt Jr. on the Dale Jr. Download podcast is the show's co-host. I saw the trailer for that film on YouTube. The following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. But less than two months before the track's second race in 1967, federal agents raided the track and found a trap door in the ticket . about the Middle Georgia Raceway is the International Pop Festival. We learned there were unsung heroes, remarkable feats, incredible memories, checkered pasts, and unhealed wounds that still needed attention.". kinda like a journey for the chosen few to the promised land. hold your peace and show your face and you may be rewarded, but remember this, your word is the only thing you can give but also keep, This site requires Javascript to function properly - please enable Javascript in your browser. [2] The final race was held near the end of the year. From 1966 to 1971, the track hosted nine NASCAR races with winners including Richard Petty and Bobby Allison. Middle Georgia Raceway, near Macon, hosted many top notch stock car events on its half-mile, paved surface. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. distillery capable of producing 80 gallons of moonshine a day. He covered the 250 miles (400km) with a speed of 85.121 miles per hour (136.989km/h) which was the fastest in the track's NASCAR history. He proposed to his wife before the race. After eleven days of filming for the Dodge Durango, filming wrapped up and the commercial was eventually aired. The winner was Ivan Baldwin followed by Dan Clark and Jim Sanderson. Atlanta International Raceway turn action. [4] A few years ago[when? Within the next Middle Georgia Raceway, Byron, GA, USA Middle Georgia Raceway Byron Concert Setlists City Byron, GA, United States Add Byron venue Opened 1966 Web Middle Georgia Raceway on Wikipedia Info Closed in 1986 the infrastructure is still mostly intact and has been occasionally been used for events. "Matthew and I have been mapping the locations of abandoned tracks for years, and I always wanted to explore them. In the early 2000s, some local people sought to bring back racing to the track, but surrounding development around the track in the years since the track closed saw that never happened. The season marked series first visit to the state of Maine. He made the unwise decision to run tires from his previous race at Talladega, which were a harder compound, AND, the track had lots of sand on it. BYRON -- On Wednesday morning, Tim Thornton made his way through a wooded area behind turn three at the old Middle Georgia Raceway in search of the source of a local legend. "There's been everything from car shows to a couple small concerts, a number of film related things, we've actually rented it out.". Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. Not quite remembering. It was designed by Fireball Roberts. Bobby Allison drove from the pole to win the 274-mile (441km) race. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. Jimi Hendrix headlined the three-day concert and played a unique rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at midnight on the 4th of July, accompanied by a fireworks display. Even it all the trees and over growth were gone, the track looks like it needs wooden bleachers built over the concrete, I am sure it needs modern restrooms, concession stands, a catch fence, guard rail around the track, surface repaved, the pit area fenced in, with restrooms, concession stand, pit office, then it needs a sound system to both the pit area and grand stand as well as a timing and scoring board. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. One controversial piece of evidence was Middle Georgia Raceway held nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (then NASCAR Grand National) races from 1966-1971. Search By State. This is an information and social media page for the brand new Middle Georgia Sports. It held nine NASCAR Grand National (today's Sprint Cup) events from 1966-71. See the comprehensive Ingliston Motor Racing Circuit website for photos, results, and complete programmes from Ingliston. ], it was purchased with the goal of converting it to a land development site. 3) Contact: Brandy Mai, Director Of Communications, and Ext. LeeRoy Yarbrough sat on the pole position and Bobby Allison won the 267-mile (430km) race. Until it's sold, he says the raceway is still used for special events and commercials. On these 80 acres sits the Middle Georgia Raceway and the setting of the 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival. [3] Allison won the 274-mile (441km) event in a 1969 Dodge. I would like to see the name changed as the word middle is like middle of the road. The Middle Georgia Raceway opened in 1966, with many of the racing biggies earning victories there. The last concert at Middle Georgia Raceway was on July 03, 1970. The 1976 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on November 7, 1976, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia, USA. races. Byron, GA. [1], Over the Fourth of July weekend in 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the track. June 8, 2022 Blog by Johnson Social media was stirring over a photo of famous rapper and car enthusiast Rick Ross posing at the defunct Middle Georgia Motor Speedway. Microsoft has removed the Birds Eye imagery for this map. Isaac sat on the pole after recording a 98.148-mile-per-hour (157.954km/h) lap, which was the fastest in the track's history. Back in the early eighties (before the referenced ARCA race), I accompanied a good friend and his ARCA car to Unadilla to display the car in promotion of the upcoming ARCA race. It is zoned general commercial, and could be an industrial park or even a housing development, he said. Ill definitely have to add this one to the list! The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. Lost Speedways is an exclusive product for NBC's new streaming platform, Peacock. the winner being Richard Petty by 19 seconds from Tom Pistone. In 1970, the Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a field next to the track, featuring Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers. It opened in 1966. and there is a page two --- last two years the reunion was held i could take you to where the real hooch was being run off -- if no one tells i may just make another trip ,for the chosen few. Dirt Oval located in Byron, GA: Track Status: Closed (Opened: 1966 --- Closed: 1986) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 10 May 1966: NASCAR Grand National: Richard Petty: 200 22 May 1966: Pearson captured the championship with 35,638 points over second place James Hylton who finished the season with no wins, but 33,638 points for his consistency and efforts. The Middle Georgia Raceway is loaded with history ranging from record setting runs t. few years the race at Middle Georgia would be called the Macon 300, Middle Yes there would need to be a lot of improvements but some small scale promotions could create some monies and more importantly, interest. He said the tract has been for sale for years, but he hasnt promoted it much. This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. The last race of any notability was an ARCA race in 1984 that was won by Davey Allison. (2012-09-19). The very first of these races was won by NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Thanks, Dale Jr. Is looking for old and abandoned race tracks. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4015 US Highway 41 North, Byron GA 31008, United States of America. During the inaugural race, the Speedy Morelock 200, Richard Petty broke the speed record for half-mile NASCAR tracks. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form. [4] Seven years later, it was the location for filming of race scenes of the Richard Pryor film Greased Lightning about Wendell Scott. It would be a shame for it to be torn down.. [1] He beat pole-sitter Pearson by 4 seconds and they were the only two cars on the lead lap. An aerial view of Middle Georgia Raceway, which hosted NASCAR Cup events from 1966 through 1971. Unfortunately, after just a few laps, he lost control coming off turn four, and then over-corrected and went head-on into the outside wall. 09/05/ 1965. It opened in 1966. Although the current owner had placed a fresh coat of paint over the walls, Dodge "aged" the walls and even bought a local car for $2,000 and crashed it to add realism to the scenes. The 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 17, 1981, at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. I have to live here. Hi! The 1973 Daytona 500, the 15th running of the event, was won by Richard Petty on February 18, 1973, at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida. For instance, in 1967 authorities found a moonshine distillery located buried in a chamber under the track. During the video the guy that recorded the video made the statement that they had footage other than just the Hendrix part. Atlanta International Pop Festival occurred on July 3rd -5th, In 2016, my obsession with the forgotten and abandoned inspired me to create this blog. Georgia 500 and finally the Georgia 500. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. It's been almost 50 years since that festival and Thornton has the land up for sale at $1.5 million. He won the 100-mile event in his 1966 . It bent the front frame rails, and since the car was a previous generation long wheelbase car, I dont think it was ever rebuilt. ], it was purchased with the goal of converting it to a land development site. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a half-mile paved track that opened in 1966, at the cost of $500,000. agent claimed it was one of the most elaborate and clever operations he had Richard Petty won his second consecutive Winston Cup Championship and fourth overall. raceway in its natural state, beat down and decaying. Byron. After eleven days of filming for the Dodge Durango, filming wrapped up and the commercial was eventually aired. It needs a Pressbox/VIP lounge, and lighting added throughout the facility. BangShiftcom. [1] - July 15, 2020 02:30 pm EDT. [4] Seven years later, it was the location for filming of race scenes of the Richard Pryor film Greased Lightning about Wendell Scott. On the weekend of July 4, 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the Middle Georgia Raceway. Maybe something like that could be looked at also. The California 150 for sportsman cars was run prior to this race. Together, they will journey to the abandoned tracks that are no longer recognizable due to the foliage. Middle Georgia Raceway Middle Georgia Raceway, Macon, Ga. brought the Middle Georgia Raceway back to life. Im unsure if Car and Driver ever filmed there. In the 1970s, there was also a massive concert held there that the good people of Georgia were none too pleased about. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a popular race track for early NASCAR greats, and the 80 acres hosted one of the biggest music festivals in the 1970s. Another track from my trip to Georgia, the long dormant Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. Earnhardt Jr. previously posted a trailer to reveal the premiere date and provides some new glimpses into his journey through the history of motorsports. During the inaugural race, the Speedy Morelock 200, Richard Petty broke the speed record for half-mile NASCAR tracks. "Probably 15 at the time -- a bunch of us would pile in the car and come down here from Macon on Saturday night and watch, like Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, a bunch of the big guys, race.". the Georgia natives Allman Brothers Band. Ive been going around shooting abandoned tracks the past few weeks and shot North Wilksboro and Rockingham last week. In front of a crowd of 7,500 spectators, Petty hit a top speed of 82.023 miles per hour. Sunshine and 70s are the name of the game this week, 'This could be you or your child' | Former Atlanta mayor asks gun owners to act responsibly after bullet enters nephew's room, Poison ivy is getting worse with climate change, Peach County's South Peach Park to get new entrance, 'Georgia Camera Ready' looking for filming sites in Peach County. Earnhardt Jr. created Lost Speedways and will serve as the host for this exclusive look back at racing's history. Watched some awsome races and ran on this track super fast and fun to race wish they would at least run karts, Atlanta International Pop Festival (1970) marker, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY4Di6OgWw. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Dodge purchased a car locally for $2,000 and crashed it to add realism to the scenes, which were filmed over an eleven day period.
J Kameron Carter Leaves Duke,
Priconne Global Event Schedule,
I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue Best Jokes,
Articles M