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Topic: Board Track Racing???
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November 28, 2009 at
07:34:18 PM
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Being 26 years old, I had never heard of this till today. Did some research, and compared to the numbers today, they were going incredibly fast for the safety and tire technology of the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_track
Does anyone know where the track in Des Moines/Altoona was? Or where I could find some more pictures?
Tracks made entirely of wood? 2 to 3 miles in length with 60 degree banking??
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November 28, 2009 at
08:46:52 PM
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I've heard Chris Economaki often talk about the board tracks and write about them in his paper. No roll bars, no seat belts, high speeds ==death.
Lawlessness + liberalism = HELL - NYC, Detroit, Chicago,
Seattle, LA Who the H runs those cities.
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November 28, 2009 at
09:23:35 PM
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This message was edited on
November 28, 2009 at
09:30:30 PM by CarWash Mike
Allan E. Brown's book, "The History of American Speedways Past and Present says the following about Des Moines Speedway
Des Moines Speedway - Valley Junction 1.0 Mile wood oval (7/25/15 - 6/26/16. Owned by the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce / Built by Jack Prince. Turns were banked 30 degrees. Site is now a cornfield just west of the current Penn-Dixie Cement plant. The town of Valley Junction is now called West Des Moines.
Since the track was owned by the Chamber of Commerce, you might check with them about pictures.
The History of American Speedways Past and Present should be available through the sprint car hall of fame. www.sprintcarhof.com The book has been updated since I picked up my copy. Well worth it to anyone interested in the history of race tracks across the country.
By the way, there was also a board track in Altoona, PA that ran from 9/04/23 - 9/07/31. It was a 1.25 mile wood track built by Jack Prince and Art Pillsbury. Turns were banked at 32 degrees. This info is also from The History of American Speedways Past and Present.
Years back when Open Wheel Magazine was still around, they put out a one time issue of Classic Racer. There was an excellent story in it on Board Tracks. Good luck finding that one. Maybe ebay?
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November 28, 2009 at
10:03:48 PM
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Hey ..... slow_sprinter ......
instead of a 305 sprinter maybe you could find you a ride in a old board track car ..... and then you'd be known as .......
slow_splinter
R.A.
S.H.S.
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November 28, 2009 at
10:03:52 PM
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I recall reading in Open Wheel years ago about the board tracks. Wickedly fast for their time. One account had kids sneaking in and climbing the support beams to poke their heads up thru the holes in the deteriorating wood to watch the cars coming and then they'd duck when the cars came over. Scary!
Phil Taylor
home-theater-systems-advice.com
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November 28, 2009 at
10:47:46 PM
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This message was edited on
November 28, 2009 at
10:49:19 PM by The_Herrmannator
The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame's Gift Shop (http://www.sprintcarstuff.com) has books about board track racing on the shelves for sale, as well as copies in the new Library and Research Center located on the second floor. For information about the Library, contact Curator Tom Schmeh at 1-800-874-4488. The Gift Shop is also available at the same number.
<end of advertisement> 
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November 28, 2009 at
10:52:34 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: azteca on November 28 2009 at 10:03:48 PM
Hey ..... slow_sprinter ......
instead of a 305 sprinter maybe you could find you a ride in a old board track car ..... and then you'd be known as .......
slow_splinter
R.A.
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Gives new meaning to the term "riding the pine"
Sticking your head up through the holes?? The guy that was telling me about all mentioned the magazine article you guys were talking about. He also was telling me that one of the major draw backs to this type of track was um..............FIRE!?!?
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November 29, 2009 at
12:13:08 AM
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Member of this message board since 1997
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November 29, 2009 at
12:20:06 AM
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^^^ Bet they didn't have to look far to find a toothpick. 
Phil Taylor
home-theater-systems-advice.com
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November 29, 2009 at
01:41:10 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Hawker on November 29 2009 at 12:13:08 AM
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Awesome!!!
"Give me a diablo sandwich, a Dr. Pepper, and make it
quick, I'm in a goddamn hurry."
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November 29, 2009 at
04:16:16 AM
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Great photo of Laurel MD board track
http://www.shorpy.com/node/6440?size=_original
"We have met the enemy and he is us."
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November 29, 2009 at
08:35:41 AM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZY-MUx8qk
...
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November 29, 2009 at
08:39:42 AM
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Here's a website on the old Des Moines Speedway, created by former Knoxville racer Larry Ball Jr.
http://www.iowalink.com/users/lball/
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November 29, 2009 at
09:42:13 AM
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There were also a lot of the smaller (1/4 to 1/2 mile) stadium tracks (wood) which raced what resembled our midgets of today. Maybe they were called midgets.
Adding $6 trillion of debt in his 1st term and now if
elected again he wouldn't have to worry about an
electorate in 2016 so the sky is the limit.And his EPA
would continue to put the screws to oil drilling and
mining for coal.Can you say bankruptcy.
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November 29, 2009 at
11:38:06 AM
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Larry Ball Jr is the guru of the board tracks in the midwest. Extremely knowledgeable. Would suggest you contact him.
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November 29, 2009 at
03:02:31 PM
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I think Russ Llewelyn(former photog at Heidelberg(Pa.) Raceway also penned a book on the history of the board tracks. When I last talked to him, he also had quite a library of racing videos. John S.
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November 29, 2009 at
08:10:41 PM
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The Des Moines Speedway under construction.
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November 29, 2009 at
08:17:27 PM
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Another shot of Des Moines under construction - 1915.
Red Shafer leads the field during 1916 Decoration Day race at Des Moines.
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November 29, 2009 at
08:26:35 PM
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Actualy, Allan's book is incorrect. Des Moines was banked 40 degrees in the corners and 10 degrees on the straights.
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December 14, 2009 at
10:11:34 PM
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2 mile track....50 degrees of banking....Track record set in 1927 was faster than Indy until 1960!!!
Member of this message board since 1997
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