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Absolutely true! The old timing clock that used to sit on the stage in the 1/4 mile infield was Bud's from those early drag racing promotion days. The speed traps and timing equipment used by the dirt track were originally drag racing equipment.
What many probably don't realize is that the Jaycees' Strip was still in existence until just a couple of years ago. The strip and return road ran more or less parallel to the railroad tracks between the tracks and Gordon Cooper Blvd. They paved over it just a few years ago when they paved that whole area between Gordon Cooper and the RR tracks. If you ever parked over there during the fair, you probably noticed that city street striping crews used to practice on the old strip.
They ran from west to east until one week, a dragster's chute failed and he ended up sitting out on May Ave. Dad said the dragster was named "Damn Yankee". Anyway, next week, we were running east to west.
The Jaycees' Strip was rendered defunct when the Fairgrounds Arena was built, thus reducing the shutdown area.
I spent many days at the Jaycees' Strip.
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