Birmingham International Raceway: Difference between revisions
| (11 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Birmingham International Raceway''', or '''BIR''' (formerly '''Fairgrounds Raceway''', '''Birmingham Super Speedway''', '''Birmingham Super Raceway''' and '''Birmingham International Speedway''') was a 5/8-mile oval paved racetrack located at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]] in the [[Five Points West]] neighborhood of Birmingham. | [[Image:Fairgrounds raceway grandstand.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Raceway grandstands just before demolition in January 2009]] | ||
The '''Birmingham International Raceway''', or '''BIR''' (formerly '''Fairgrounds Raceway''', '''Birmingham Super Speedway''', '''Birmingham Super Raceway''' and '''Birmingham International Speedway''') was a 5/8-mile oval paved racetrack located at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]] in the [[Five Points West]] neighborhood of Birmingham. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The original one-mile clay oval was built as a horse track. On [[October 7]], [[1906]] the track hosted its first motorcycle race, followed by an automobile race three days later. | The original one-mile clay oval was built as a horse track. On [[October 7]], [[1906]] the track hosted its first motorcycle race, followed by an automobile race three days later. The [[1906 Iron Bowl|1906 Alabama-Auburn Game]] was played before the grandstand in November. | ||
These events continued regularly through [[1917]]. German Grand Prix driver Emile Strickler died after being thrown from his Renault during his and Louis Strang's joint attempt to break a 24-hour speed record on [[November 17]], [[1908]]. | |||
The track was closed in [[1921]], but reopened with a new 8,000-seat grandstand in [[1925]]. The new facility featured horse racing on weekdays and auto races on Saturdays. It attracted the International Motor Contest Association's 10-mile national championship event away from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Chevrolet Brothers debuted their dirt-track racing car there. | |||
A quarter-mile dirt oval was added in [[1958]] and was the first track to be paved, with the first events held on the new surface on [[July 15]], [[1960]]. After one season of racing on the quarter-mile track the present five-eighths-mile course was constructed | In [[1932]] the oval was reduced to a half-mile circuit. The smaller configuration was used until [[July 4]], [[1942]], when it closed for [[World War II]]. "World's Fastest Woman" Elfrieda Mais died while performing a stunt involving a wall rigged with dynamite at the track on [[September 27]], [[1934]]. After crashing through the wall she lost control and collided with a road-grader before plowing into an embankment. | ||
After the War, the track was reopened on [[October 1]], [[1946]] "Childrens Day" at the [[Alabama State Fair]], featuring the "Auto Daredevils". That year the track began hosting weekly Sunday afternoon auto-racing events organized by promoter [[J. P. Rotton Jr]]. He maintained a stable of mid-1930's model race cars, later adding the [[Golden Tornado]], a 1953 Studebaker Starlight painted with real gold dust. In the late 1950s racing legend [[Nero Steptoe]] won a 25-lap race riding for most of it on only three wheels after one flew off. | |||
A quarter-mile dirt oval was added in [[1958]] and was the first track to be paved, with the first events held on the new surface on [[July 15]], [[1960]]. After one season of racing on the quarter-mile track the present five-eighths-mile course was constructed under the direction of new promoter [[Tom Gloor]]. The new course featured a longer straightaway closer to the grandstand. The first race on the reconfigured track, newly dubbed the "Birmingham International Raceway" was held on [[June 28]], [[1962]]. Gloor later oversaw the installation of new lighting and moved the Sunday afternoon races to Friday nights. | |||
Between [[1958]] and [[1968]] a total of eight NASCAR races were run at the Fairgrounds Raceway. During the same period [[Bobby Allison]] had moved to [[Hueytown]] from Miami, Florida and convinced his brother [[Donnie Allison|Donnie]] and fellow racer [[Red Farmer]] to join him in founding a new race shop. The so-called "[[Alabama Gang]]" dominated the races at the Fairgrounds track, but other legends of the sport also recorded wins, including Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, and Ned Jarrett. | Between [[1958]] and [[1968]] a total of eight NASCAR races were run at the Fairgrounds Raceway. During the same period [[Bobby Allison]] had moved to [[Hueytown]] from Miami, Florida and convinced his brother [[Donnie Allison|Donnie]] and fellow racer [[Red Farmer]] to join him in founding a new race shop. The so-called "[[Alabama Gang]]" dominated the races at the Fairgrounds track, but other legends of the sport also recorded wins, including Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, and Ned Jarrett. | ||
The track was last paved in [[1972]]. The track's final event, A World 200 late-model race held on [[October 30]], [[2008]], finished with Justin South and Ken McFarland crossing the line with their cars locked together. South was credited with the victory. The track's last manager was [[Joey Simms]]. | The track was last paved in [[1972]].Bobby Allison bought the contract to operate the track in [[1976]] and [[1977]]. | ||
The track's final event, A World 200 late-model race held on [[October 30]], [[2008]], finished with Justin South and Ken McFarland crossing the line with their cars locked together. South was credited with the victory. The track's last manager was [[Joey Simms]]. | |||
== | ==Demolition== | ||
On [[June 19]], [[2008]], [[Birmingham]] [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Larry Langford]] proposed a plan to move BIR from the Fairgrounds to city-owned property in northwest Birmingham off of [[Daniel Payne Drive]] next to [[Daniel Payne Industrial Park]]. Langford said the track, which has been in continuous operation for over 80 years in Five Points West, | On [[June 19]], [[2008]], [[Birmingham]] [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Larry Langford]] proposed a plan to move BIR from the Fairgrounds to city-owned property in northwest Birmingham off of [[Daniel Payne Drive]] next to [[Daniel Payne Industrial Park]]. Langford said the track, which has been in continuous operation for over 80 years in Five Points West, needed to be upgraded, and did not fit into the city's plans for the renovation of [[Fair Park]]. Langford committed $1 million to the project, but stated that track officials would have to come up with the majority of the funds needed for the relocation. | ||
On [[January 30]], [[2009]], demolition of the grandstands began with a presentation by Langford and other city leaders on the plans for the site. | On [[January 30]], [[2009]], demolition of the grandstands began with a presentation by Langford and other city leaders on the plans for the site. | ||
{{Alabama State Fairgrounds}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 26: | Line 32: | ||
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks?id=003 NASCAR races at Fairgrounds Raceway] Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 13:28, December 27, 2006 | * [http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks?id=003 NASCAR races at Fairgrounds Raceway] Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 13:28, December 27, 2006 | ||
* Reynolds, Ed (April 5, 2008) "A Day at the Races." ''Black & White'' | * Reynolds, Ed (April 5, 2008) "A Day at the Races." ''Black & White'' | ||
* Bryant, Joseph D. (June 20, 2008) "Mayor proposes moving Birmingham International Raceway from Fair Park, providing $1 million to help build new track." | * Bryant, Joseph D. (June 20, 2008) "Mayor proposes moving Birmingham International Raceway from Fair Park, providing $1 million to help build new track." {{BN}} | ||
* Demmons, Doug (January 30, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/blogoftomorrow/2009/01/bir_demolition_photos.html BIR deserved better than she got]". ''Birmingham | * Demmons, Doug (January 30, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/blogoftomorrow/2009/01/bir_demolition_photos.html BIR deserved better than she got]". {{BN}} | ||
* Reynolds, Ed (April 16, 2009) "The End of an Era." ''Black & White'' | |||
<!-- ==External Links== | |||
* [http://www.bir-raceway.com/ Birmingham International Raceway] website | |||
Site is gone and didn't seem to have enough permanent info to warrant a link via the Internet Wayback Machine, but felt it should be kept as a comment for potential research. --> | |||
[[Category:Alabama State Fairgrounds]] | [[Category:Alabama State Fairgrounds]] | ||
| Line 34: | Line 45: | ||
[[Category:Five Points West]] | [[Category:Five Points West]] | ||
[[Category:Race tracks]] | [[Category:Race tracks]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2009 demolitions]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:47, 31 August 2018
The Birmingham International Raceway, or BIR (formerly Fairgrounds Raceway, Birmingham Super Speedway, Birmingham Super Raceway and Birmingham International Speedway) was a 5/8-mile oval paved racetrack located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in the Five Points West neighborhood of Birmingham.
History
The original one-mile clay oval was built as a horse track. On October 7, 1906 the track hosted its first motorcycle race, followed by an automobile race three days later. The 1906 Alabama-Auburn Game was played before the grandstand in November.
These events continued regularly through 1917. German Grand Prix driver Emile Strickler died after being thrown from his Renault during his and Louis Strang's joint attempt to break a 24-hour speed record on November 17, 1908.
The track was closed in 1921, but reopened with a new 8,000-seat grandstand in 1925. The new facility featured horse racing on weekdays and auto races on Saturdays. It attracted the International Motor Contest Association's 10-mile national championship event away from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Chevrolet Brothers debuted their dirt-track racing car there.
In 1932 the oval was reduced to a half-mile circuit. The smaller configuration was used until July 4, 1942, when it closed for World War II. "World's Fastest Woman" Elfrieda Mais died while performing a stunt involving a wall rigged with dynamite at the track on September 27, 1934. After crashing through the wall she lost control and collided with a road-grader before plowing into an embankment.
After the War, the track was reopened on October 1, 1946 "Childrens Day" at the Alabama State Fair, featuring the "Auto Daredevils". That year the track began hosting weekly Sunday afternoon auto-racing events organized by promoter J. P. Rotton Jr. He maintained a stable of mid-1930's model race cars, later adding the Golden Tornado, a 1953 Studebaker Starlight painted with real gold dust. In the late 1950s racing legend Nero Steptoe won a 25-lap race riding for most of it on only three wheels after one flew off.
A quarter-mile dirt oval was added in 1958 and was the first track to be paved, with the first events held on the new surface on July 15, 1960. After one season of racing on the quarter-mile track the present five-eighths-mile course was constructed under the direction of new promoter Tom Gloor. The new course featured a longer straightaway closer to the grandstand. The first race on the reconfigured track, newly dubbed the "Birmingham International Raceway" was held on June 28, 1962. Gloor later oversaw the installation of new lighting and moved the Sunday afternoon races to Friday nights.
Between 1958 and 1968 a total of eight NASCAR races were run at the Fairgrounds Raceway. During the same period Bobby Allison had moved to Hueytown from Miami, Florida and convinced his brother Donnie and fellow racer Red Farmer to join him in founding a new race shop. The so-called "Alabama Gang" dominated the races at the Fairgrounds track, but other legends of the sport also recorded wins, including Fireball Roberts, Richard Petty, and Ned Jarrett.
The track was last paved in 1972.Bobby Allison bought the contract to operate the track in 1976 and 1977.
The track's final event, A World 200 late-model race held on October 30, 2008, finished with Justin South and Ken McFarland crossing the line with their cars locked together. South was credited with the victory. The track's last manager was Joey Simms.
Demolition
On June 19, 2008, Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford proposed a plan to move BIR from the Fairgrounds to city-owned property in northwest Birmingham off of Daniel Payne Drive next to Daniel Payne Industrial Park. Langford said the track, which has been in continuous operation for over 80 years in Five Points West, needed to be upgraded, and did not fit into the city's plans for the renovation of Fair Park. Langford committed $1 million to the project, but stated that track officials would have to come up with the majority of the funds needed for the relocation.
On January 30, 2009, demolition of the grandstands began with a presentation by Langford and other city leaders on the plans for the site.
References
- Birmingham International Raceway. (2005, August 8) NA Motorsports.com. Retrieved 13:20, December 27, 2006
- NASCAR races at Fairgrounds Raceway Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 13:28, December 27, 2006
- Reynolds, Ed (April 5, 2008) "A Day at the Races." Black & White
- Bryant, Joseph D. (June 20, 2008) "Mayor proposes moving Birmingham International Raceway from Fair Park, providing $1 million to help build new track." The Birmingham News
- Demmons, Doug (January 30, 2009) "BIR deserved better than she got". The Birmingham News
- Reynolds, Ed (April 16, 2009) "The End of an Era." Black & White