Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville

[LGAFF]

Did anyone know about this area once having a 3.27 mile track?

http://meadowdaleraceway.homestead.com/

[-=Jeff=-]

no but Santa's Village was also near there too..

[gbrtng]

Yup, raced there in the early 1960s. Wondered what happened to it, and now I know.
A fellow I worked with in Naperville lived in Carpentersville and he claimed the site had been developed for housing - but not so according to the commentary.

[LGAFF]

Next nice day when I have some time I am going to go out and look around, maybe the FBI can buy it for a test facility, we need to talk with Tony Gaples, he has some cash:)

[Toyvet1]

Part of it is still there and will be transformed into a walking nature trail.

[Toyvet1]

http://wikimapia.org/8207192/Old-Meadowdale-Raceway-track-surface

Shows the outline of the track

[LGAFF]

Might be cool to get permission to get some ZR-1 pics there and then head to the Texan, about 3 miles away, for beer and BBQ!

[WB9MCW]

Might be cool to get permission to get some ZR-1 pics there and then head to the Texan, about 3 miles away, for beer and BBQ!

YOU MEAN SUMTHIN LIKE THIS

>>> http://meadowdaleraceway.homestead.com/0607SACCmir.html

[ZRWON]

Yup, raced there in the early 1960s. Wondered what happened to it, and now I know.
A fellow I worked with in Naperville lived in Carpentersville and he claimed the site had been developed for housing - but not so according to the commentary.
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
YEP. several of the locals also did some unofficial racing out there (including yours truly). Think it was after seasom in '58 or '59 and security was non existent or very lax. You could sneak in after 10PM or so and "Drive the Track". Lots of cheap entertainement for the "wannabee racers"
Continued until the word leaked out and they stacked bails of hay on the track. Did some serious damage to a couple cars but they quickly learned to check the track condition B/4 the midnight feature races. Sure sorry it didn't survive. Elgin deserved to be a star in Auto Racing again and Lenonard Bessinger (spg?), Meadowdale developer, had the right idea but auto racing for Elgin area as known in the twenties and thirties was not to be repeated.
:(:-({|=

[LGAFF]

I went out today, parts of the monza wall are still there, the orginal track is mostly covered in grass.....I did not see the full track, as my daughter was with me and did not want to stay. There are signs around the paved walking path outlining were you are on the track.

More to come, fall might be a better time to be there, when the overgrowth unveils what is left.

[LGAFF]

This is great stuff....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y56pgsRSzgY&feature=player_embedded#at=79


Phil this ones for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJfKteuUugU&feature=related

Take a ride behind the wheel at Meadowdale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1cJ5nKozTU&NR=1

My daughter and I walked the 3.27 mile track....not much around to tell you what was there back in the 60s....Wish it were still there I would be in heaven!

[WB9MCW]

That was KOOL -- a trip back in time.