Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

LGAFF · 06-12-2010

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

http://meadowdaleraceway.homestead.com/

-=Jeff=- · 06-15-2010

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

gbrtng · 06-16-2010

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 · 06-16-2010

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 · 06-16-2010

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

Toyvet1 · 06-16-2010

http://wikimapia.org/8207192/Old-Mea...-track-surface

Shows the outline of the track

LGAFF · 06-16-2010

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!

ZRWON · 06-19-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 06-19-2010

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 · 04-04-2011

This is great stuff....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y56pg...embedded#at=79

Phil this ones for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJfKt...eature=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!

06-12-2010	#1
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville Did anyone know about this area once having a 3.27 mile track? http://meadowdaleraceway.homestead.com/ __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

06-15-2010	#2
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,169	Re: Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville no but Santa's Village was also near there too.. __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

06-16-2010	#3
gbrtng Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio area Posts: 1,179	Re: Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville 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. __________________ “Buy the best example of what you want, and pay whatever it takes. That way, you cry only once.” ~ Bruce Meyer Last edited by gbrtng; 06-16-2010 at 12:45 AM.

06-16-2010	#4
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville 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 __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

06-16-2010	#5
Toyvet1 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bloomingdale, Il Posts: 330	Re: Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville Part of it is still there and will be transformed into a walking nature trail.

06-19-2010	#9
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville 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 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

04-04-2011	#10
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: Meadowdale Raceway; Carpentersville This is great stuff.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y56pg...embedded#at=79 Phil this ones for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJfKt...eature=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! __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359 Last edited by LGAFF; 04-05-2011 at 12:14 AM.