Jimi Hendrix headlined the three-day concert and played a unique rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at midnight on the 4th of July, accompanied by a fireworks display. NASCAR began its 1968 season at the track. Dodge purchased a car locally for $2,000 and crashed it to add realism to the scenes, which were filmed over an eleven day period. The last race of any notability was an ARCA race in 1984 that was won by Davey Allison. 1970. N.p., n.d. http://www.macon.com/2013/08/25/2627781/byron-moonshine-legend-lives-on.html [1], Opened in 1966 at a cost of $500,000, the first race, the Speedy Morelock 200 NASCAR Grand National stock car race, became the location of a speed record when Richard Petty broke the half-mile NASCAR record for half-mile tracks with an average speed of 82.023 miles per hour during the 100-mile (160km) event. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a half-mile paved track that opened in 1966, at the cost of $500,000. Middle Georgia Raceway; Middle Georgia Raceway; former stock car racing rrack; tor wycigowy (Stany Zjednoczone); bouwwerk in Georgia, Middle Georgia Raceway curve and back straightaway.JPG, Middle Georgia Raceway infield with trees.JPG, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Middle_Georgia_Raceway&oldid=619795589, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on May 17, 1981, at Dover Downs International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Im unsure if Car and Driver ever filmed there. If you know someone who genuinely has interest in racing history particularly MGR, I am all for you . The track held nine NASCAR Grand National races from 1966 until 1971. the Georgia natives Allman Brothers Band. Location: Jeffersonville, Georgia : Surface: Paved : Length: 1/8 mile Phone: (478) 550-3137 Visit track website: Facebook: Twitter: Race Track Locator. In 1967 federal agents discovered an elaborate underground moonshine still buried off turn three of the track. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form. Track Facts. It may need General admission booths, and fencing to the grandstands. THA MOVIE Greased Lightning starring Richard Prior had one of race scenes filmed there. Middle Georgia Raceway Middle Georgia Raceway, Macon, Ga. And not even the names have been changed to protect the innocent?!! ever seen. LeeRoy Yarbrough sat on the pole position and Bobby Allison won the 267-mile (430km) race. The 1968 Islip 300 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on July 7, 1968, at Islip Speedway in Islip, New York. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. A thick row of mimosa trees grows at the base of the stands. ?? This short track outside of Indianapolis closed in 1960 after "a string of horrific accidents." Although the current owner had placed a fresh coat of paint over the walls, Dodge "aged" the walls and even bought a local car for $2,000 and crashed it to add realism to the scenes. One of the destinations that will take center stage is Jungle Park Speedway. Example video title will go here for this video. There are three subscription tiers available for Peacock, including a free, ad-supported version that has limited content. Theres not even a sign at the property stating it is for sale and Thornton doesnt have it listed on the website of his real estate company. The following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. The company Agents would typically have blown it up with dynamite, but instead used acetylene torches to destroy it so the track would not get damaged. Instance of: motorsport racing track; Location: Peach County, Georgia: 32 40 08.04 N, 83 42 46.08 W . Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. Out of the nine races at the I really believe that this facility has lots potential. Middle Georgia Raceway On September 23, 1967, federal agents discovered a moonshine distillery in an underground bunker next to the track at turn three. He cleaned up the track, which hadnt seen a race in years, and more events were held. One controversial piece of evidence was A race was held the following day. Middle Georgia Raceway hosted NASCAR races between 1966 and 1971. Please Don't invite people just to invite people. "There's been everything from car shows to a couple small concerts, a number of film related things, we've actually rented it out.". Thanks for sharing. The only working part of the still when it was raided was a barrel of mesh "cooking", (fermenting.) With the recent release of the dvd ,ELECTRIC CHURCH, the live performance by Jimi Hendrix at the Atlanta Pop Festival a renewed interest in that concert is occurring. He proposed to his wife before the race. All nine races at the 500-mile paved oval were won by Hall of Famers: Richard Petty won four times, including the first race, while Bobby Allison was thrice victorious with the distinction of winning the final race. Welcome to AbandonedSoutheast.com! The Georgia Historical Society believes it was the largest American crowd Hendrix ever played in front of and one of his last performances before his untimely death in September 1970. The Augusta International Raceway was a multi-use motorsports facility located in Hephzibah, Georgia, United States. 3) Contact: Brandy Mai, Director Of Communications, and Ext. Richard Petty won four times, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each won once. [1], Opened in 1966 at a cost of $500,000, the first race, the Speedy Morelock 200 NASCAR Grand National stock car race, became the location of a speed record when Richard Petty broke the half-mile NASCAR record for half-mile tracks with an average speed of 82.023 miles per hour during the 100-mile (160km) event. As the song goes, :"I guess you had to be there. In later years the track was used for special events, concerts, commercial and feature filming, and most recently as a Halloween attraction. The 1970 Georgia 500 also occurred at the track. The 1969 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on August 10, 1969, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. The Telegraph. He covered the 250 miles (400km) with a speed of 85.121 miles per hour (136.989km/h) which was the fastest in the track's NASCAR history. your content. Microsoft has removed the Birds Eye imagery for this map. Village Centerville is a city in Houston County, Georgia, United States. King and even It was designed by Fireball Roberts. I read the ASA ran some events there and that Davey Allison won an ARCA event there. The property includes an active golf ball driving range adjacent to the highway. HELP US OUT, Your email address will not be published. Bobby Isaac was the champion of the series as NASCAR transitioned from the Grand National era to the Winston Cup era. ], it was purchased with the goal of converting it to a land development site. The economy soured and people began approaching him about having a racers reunion there, which he allowed. years.1, The Middle Georgia Raceway not only During the video the guy that recorded the video made the statement that they had footage other than just the Hendrix part. The next year, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered a moonshine distillery in an underground bunker at turn three. More than 30 acts performed over the 3+ days and the festival drew several hundred thousand fans. The owner has opened the track for occasional events and reunions, but there are no plans to reopen the track. Thats really interesting. The commercial shows the The 1973 Daytona 500, the 15th running of the event, was won by Richard Petty on February 18, 1973, at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida. raceway in its natural state, beat down and decaying. 11/04/ 1965. Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? Federal agents found out about it after a hunter smelled fumes and tipped off the authorities. Atlanta International Pop Festival occurred on July 3rd -5th, In the early 2000s, some local people sought to bring back racing to the track, but surrounding development around the track in the years since the track closed saw that never happened. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. The Middle Georgia Raceway is an abandoned race track near Byron, Georgia. Georgia Raceway was called The Speedy Morelock 200. I heard a rumor some time back that David Ragan and some of his friends had wanted to try to refurbish the track to run legends cars on the small track that is part of the infield and main track. I got this site from my buddy who informed me regarding this site and now this time I am visiting this website and reading very informative posts here. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. Great photos and interesting back story, thanks for posting it. [4] On September 15, 2012, an official Georgia Historical Society marker was placed near the raceway to commemorate the 1970 pop festival. Then came the festival, now known as the Woodstock of the South, which featured some notable artists. note: i do not own the property nor work for the owner. That would be GRAND ! Lamar Brown Jr, the track owner at the [3] Allison won the 274-mile (441km) event in a 1969 Dodge. Wayne Crenshaw has worked as a journalist since 1990 and has been a reporter for The Telegraph since 2002. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a popular race track for early NASCAR greats, and the 80 acres hosted one of the biggest music festivals in the 1970s. Tim Thornton is the owner of the land, and says he has vivid memories watching the races and serving ice cream at the festival. In front of a crowd of 7,500 spectators, Petty hit a top speed of 82.023 miles per hour. agent claimed it was one of the most elaborate and clever operations he had hauler with large amounts of moonshine. Isaac sat on the pole after recording a 98.148-mile-per-hour (157.954km/h) lap, which was the fastest in the track's history. "Georgia's "Woodstock Festival" Receives Historic Marker." Talk about a diamond in the rough, this is it. [3] Allison won the 274-mile (441km) event in a 1969 Dodge. Thornton himself planned to put a light industrial park there when he bought the property in 2006, but fate intervened. Here's how to watch the first eight-episode season of the new racing-centric series. LeeRoy Yarbrough sat on the pole position and Bobby Allison won the 267-mile (430km) race. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). I am not asking for any money, just peoples interest. "Byron Moonshine Legend Lives On." I recently have a phone conversation with current owner Tim Thornton and he seems to be very interested in seeing the track come back to life. Next year marks 50 years since the festival that brought tens of thousands of people to the city. The season began on Sunday January 23 and ended on Sunday November 12. Village Photo: Bill Golladay, CC BY-SA 4.0. Richard Petty won four times, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each won once. Wednesday night, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins a journey to visit some of [], By John Newby Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. A trap door inside of a ticket booth led 17 feet underground to a cave where the distillery was kept. Finally, there is a $10 ad-free version. Middle Georgia Raceway, near Macon, hosted many top notch stock car events on its half-mile, paved surface. [4] On September 15, 2012, an official Georgia Historical Society marker was placed near the raceway to commemorate the 1970 pop festival. I wish he would bring this MIDDLE GEORGIA RACEWAY back to LIFE COME ON DALE. According to a former racer, moonshine was never sold during the Last updated by Clio Admin on March 27th 2015, 1:16:16 am. Search By State. The 1970 Georgia 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on November 8, 1970, at Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. Required fields are marked *. Those racers ended up being NASCAR Hall of Famers, and Byron was on the map. It would be a shame for it to be torn down.. On September 23, 1967, federal agents discovered a moonshine distillery in an underground bunker next to the track at turn three. It held nine NASCAR Grand National (today's Sprint Cup) events from 1966-71. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "Byron raceway roars back to life in car ads". the winner being Richard Petty by 19 seconds from Tom Pistone. and let them enjoy the smell of racing gas and sounds of racing engines.They might see there in more in life than sitting on the couch. LOL!!! [1] He beat pole-sitter Pearson by 4 seconds and they were the only two cars on the lead lap. As Paul Harvey would say this is the rest of the story, you going to have to drive over if you want to taste the wares --the still could or could not "still" be working. Middle Georgia Raceway held nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (then NASCAR Grand National) races from 1966-1971. up from one thousand in 1966 to three thousand three hundred in just two Awesome shots, would love to check this track out someday and shoot some video of it. Brown said he bought the yeast to make food for the concession stand at the race track. NASCAR allowed the return of the Chrysler Hemi engine in 1966, and at the same time Ford decided to boycott NASCAR for the season. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. You may wish to switch to the. The first NASCAR race at the Middle See the comprehensive Ingliston Motor Racing Circuit website for photos, results, and complete programmes from Ingliston. The Moonshine Track. It's been almost 50 years since that festival and Thornton has the land up for sale at $1.5 million. [1]. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. and there is a page two --- last two years the reunion was held i could take you to where the real hooch was being run off -- if no one tells i may just make another trip ,for the chosen few. I have to live here. The track was truly special as I grew up and remains the site of some the most enjoyable times of my youth. In 2011, Dodge contacted the current owner and asked to use the track for an advertisement. Thanks for the great content Abandoned Southeast! Even though NASCAR no longer used the track, many ASA racers of the late 1970s, like Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin raced here in amateur races. Larry Smith was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. He covered the 250 miles (400km) with a speed of 85.121 miles per hour (136.989km/h) which was the fastest in the track's NASCAR history. The Second Over 300,000 attended the concert; Byrons population was around 2,000 at the time. Category: Middle Georgia Raceway. Ex-Warner Robins employee pleads guilty to stealing $45k from city bank account, Wendys Has a Classic Answer to McDonalds Burger Changes, Gruesome freak accident in P.E. All the top drivers from 66 to I guess 1970 all competed there. Heres more. Middle Georgia Raceway. The interstate was backed up for miles in both directions. In the trailer, he walked through fields and sat in the stands at abandoned tracks. Ill definitely have to add this one to the list! Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers Band and over 30 other acts performed in front of an estimated crowd of 400,000 concertgoers (the town had a population of about 2,000). You can reach me at AbandonedSoutheast@gmail.com. The 2nd Atlanta International Pop Festival was held at the Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron over the 4th of July weekend in 1970. Thanks, Dave. It opened in 1966. The bands that performed were: Allman Brothers Band / B.B. Its got a lot of history out there. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a popular race track for early NASCAR greats, and the 80 acres hosted one of the biggest music festivals in the 1970s. Your email address will not be published. Petty returned to win the 150-mile (240km) NASCAR race during the following season. Dirt Oval located in Byron, GA: Track Status: Closed (Opened: 1966 --- Closed: 1986) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 10 May 1966: NASCAR Grand National: Richard Petty: 200 22 May 1966: spent eleven days filming and supposedly spent 2 million dollars as well.4. commercial, you would not be able to recognize the racetrack due to Dodge Thornton eventually dropped his plans for the moonshine festival. The 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 31st season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 8th modern-era Cup series. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. The 1976 Riverside 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on June 13, 1976, at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. I want to see it preserved, he said. The subject of the moonshine still under turn 3 was talked about on the Goat Rodeo radio broadcast Tuesday night with the good folks from Middle Georgia Raceway preparing for their Saturday, August 31st Reunion with Richard Petty as Grand Marshal. attracted professional racers and their fans but also those looking for moonshine. My name is Leland Kent and I have had an interest in abandoned places ever since I was a kid. From watching the With the help of the state legislature, restrictions were adopted to make it difficult to organize another festival of this size. In 2011 Dodge shot a commercial there. In 2011, Dodge contacted the current owner and asked to use the track for an advertisement. In addition, there is a $5 premium version that has limited ads and is free to existing Comcast subscribers. Please let me know. Richard Petty won four titles, while Bobby Allison won three. Petty started on the pole position and won the 274-mile (441km) race. shows Jimi Hendrix performed at due to his death three months later.3, The Doge Durango television ad One federal The last concert at Middle Georgia Raceway was on July 03, 1970. Watched some awsome races and ran on this track super fast and fun to race wish they would at least run karts, Atlanta International Pop Festival (1970) marker, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY4Di6OgWw. This amount of yeast could have fed the N.p., n.d. http://racing-reference.info/tracks/Middle_Georgia_Raceway The track owner was arrested and tried. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a popular race track for early NASCAR greats, and the 80 acres hosted one of the biggest music festivals in the 1970s. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. [1] In the middle of the season, Bobby Isaac won the second of the three NASCAR races held at the track in a 300 lap event. Richard Petty (2010), then entering the prime of his career, won the first two races at the track in the spring of 1966 and '67.. [1] In the middle of the season, Bobby Isaac won the second of the three NASCAR races held at the track in a 300 lap event. There was no hunter as the story tells. You mean the trailer park next door that needs to be bulldozed? He is considering, however, making a more active push to find a buyer. Atlanta International Raceway turn action. 1) "Middle Georgia Raceway." Or was it a male??? I vote for Byrons Grand National Speedway This ties into its history of being having held 9 NASCAR Grand National events. Oh yes they have Dave. Only one foreigner was racing that year, a Canadian named Frog Fagan. Middle Georgia Raceway (abandoned) This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. His new show, Lost Speedways, premieres and provides a fresh look at the history of motorsports. "Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers, we had definitely heard of the Allman Brothers because they were from Macon, at that time, they were the only band that opened and closed the festival so that was pretty cool.". A historical marker at the property recognizes it as one of the largest public gatherings ever held in Georgia. They havent eaten each other yet, Lavish oasis up for sale in Connecticut is the home of BeautyRx founder. This is an information and social media page for the brand new Middle Georgia Sports. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985, but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. 23,333 were here. Promoters and security gave in and opened the gates an hour into the opening acts first set. Try to find a half mile track on 100 acres with such a great location and a awesome history. [1] The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. What an awesome place. It featured more than 30 musical acts, including Jimi Hendrix and The Allman Brothers Band. Pamela Mullis, 54, was sentenced to 90 to 120 days in prison after she pleaded guilty to felony theft in Houston County Superior Court. races. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. [1], Over the Fourth of July weekend in 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the track. Even it all the trees and over growth were gone, the track looks like it needs wooden bleachers built over the concrete, I am sure it needs modern restrooms, concession stands, a catch fence, guard rail around the track, surface repaved, the pit area fenced in, with restrooms, concession stand, pit office, then it needs a sound system to both the pit area and grand stand as well as a timing and scoring board. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. But it is not the rest of the story Leon. This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. The 1974 Southern 500, the 25th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on September 2, 1974, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. It was surreal to see such a place silenced. One reason Thornton has been in no rush to sell it is that the lease to the driving range operator pays the property taxes and upkeep, so it doesnt cost him anything to hold onto the property. There use to be weekly NASCAR Sortmen races that drew racers from Asheville, NC (Jack Ingram, Bosco Lowe, etc,), Tennessee (Friday Hasler, Bob Burcham, etc), Alabama (Bobby And Donnie Alison, etc), Florida (Paul Conners) and another that I dont recall where he was from (Bob Leach). It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. The only thing law enforcement could do about the widespread drug use and nudity was to look the other way. The story was so big it made national headlines. Pearson captured the championship with 35,638 points over second place James Hylton who finished the season with no wins, but 33,638 points for his consistency and efforts.
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