Abandoned race track

This is a old dirt race track that my family used to race on, it was 81 speed way, 45 years ago. I remember my uncle dan rolling his car in turn one 8 times. They only had lap belts back then. In 1973 I used to play under the stands with my friends. Man I'd love to have this place and get it back up and running.
Video was shot with my DJI Mavic Pro 2.7K 30fps
I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@danchilds881]

It was never 81 Speedway. 81 is in Park CIty, Ks and still running weekly shows. The original track was Mohawk Speedway, because it was built on Mohawk Road. They began promoting races in early 1950's. It was a 1/4 mile, semi banked track. Owned and operated by the Fabrisius family. Fred Phaby from KTVH (the pre channel to KWCH) and KWBW radio was the P.A. Announcer. It was renamed to Salthawk Speedway; even though it was still operated by the same people. In the late 70's- early 80's; the track and land was purchased by Larry Brown. It was immediately demolished and replaced by a modern 3/8ths high bank oval, later turned to a D shape. The track was renamed Fun Valley Speedway. It hosted many of the top series of the day: The World of Outlaws, the National DIrt Racing Association (NDRA), USAC Sprints and Midgets. It even hosted a concert by WIllie and Waylon. The track lay idle for several years before being purchased by Gary Mossata, who was an original team owner in the World Of Outlaws and is in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame at the Knoxville Race Track. Gary renamed the track Hutchinson Raceway Park. Don Carpenter, of Ulysses, then purchased the track and operated it for several years. Don was a team owner for many years in the NCRA. The last owner/promoter was a driver out of Wichita; Paul Dutton. He made a go of it for just a couple of years. He could not get the crowds and car counts to make a go of it and the track closed permanently. The biggest thing that kept track from being successful was the piss poor (sorry, just using a racing term) support that the fans and city gave to the track. This town thinks that everything should be free and they should get to do whatever they want.

[@ceirsik]

Thanks Danny.. it was a great track and lots of memory's back in the day.

[@danchilds881]

@@ceirsik your welcome Chris. Glad that I stumbled on to this the other day while bouncing through KZbin. Also glad that I saw you today to tell you about this addition. We all had alot of fun back in the day at the track. Sometime I almost wish it could go back to the good old days!

[@stephengregory8152]

Yep i saw this comming in the late 90s , with the production of peanut passenger cars and the onset of the internet . . an exciting night at the track with a burger and coke at halftime was a wonderful thing . . .

[@krl8506]

That is a shame. I hate seeing Race tracks go by the wayside... Fortunately, the old Race tracks where I live are still open.... Grundy County, Fairbury American legion speedway, Lasalle Speedway(limited schedule). A great deal of my youth was spent at theses tracks.

[@edsmith5448]

Is that near Morris in Illinois ?

[@krl8506]

@@edsmith5448 Yes, Grundy County is.

[@robertbettis6552]

@@krl8506 would that be the grundy county auction that john michael montgomery referenced in the song sold?

[@richardbarlow7504]

The need to open Hutchinson race track up again

[@lisaolson5876]

To my knowledge, this track was never 81 Speedway. I worked there from 2000 to 2011 and it called Hutchinson Raceway Park. It was also named Fun Valley many years ago. I will have to do some digging around, but I don't think it was ever 81 Speedway. 81 Speedway is in Park City, Ks and has been there for many year.

[@brettoaussie6747]

Lisa why did it close?

[@lisagraham2944]

This music is really strange. Lots of heavy Breathing

[@ceirsik]

You are right. It was called Mohawk speedway in the 70s.

[@FUGxMICHI]

Great footage! But i do not know why, but it feels so relaxing and melancholy to see abandoned race tracks.

[@charlesheaton3994]

The music sets the tone. Excellent. Way too many tracks closing. Yakima Speedway in Washington State has closed this year. Was one of a few tracks in the Pacific Northwest that was very popular. 1/2 mile paved oval.

[@titansgarage]

We lost our home track just last year to greedy developers. I feel you. Great footage of this old place.

[@rncboy2]

It always sucks because the developers doesnt care about how many new to come memories they are killing and how many people it really pisses off.

[@DemnRaig80]

@@rncboy2 rather have a place to live to make memories than memories already made.

[@DemnRaig80]

Good.

[@rncboy2]

Living in a apartment complex never makes good memories. I'd rather build a house on the top of a mountain or the side of a lake with little boat traffic. I grew up in the sticks so I'd rather live there then not be able to take a piss off the front porch or in the yard. Also most of the tracks that gets closed down its todays old timers that grew up going to that track. When you see those types of hard headed grown men cry well it should make you feel like shit inside knowing there home track has bullshit housing development built over top of it or storage units that maybe 25% of them will be used or lived in. Happens every time. Also if your smart with your money 250,000+ can get you more then a black molded up 10,000 sq by 15,000 sq ft house and .5 acres to me that's a absolute rip off. People are to stupid these days to realise what they are actually getting shitted out of. Oh wait most of those people are city shitters😂

[@brianglade848]

Do you remember the cigarette butts under the stands?.. my dad used to pick them up and smoke them in the early 70s

[@dennisswab6020]

bill deckman and us raced there many ,many years ago !!

[@freebird1292]

Looks like they had a motocross track in the infield.

[@jokergregory6762]

WOW!! Everything is flat, for miles and miles.

[@johnnelligan4091]

Cool !!! I love the 7 Cattle Grazing . What State is this in Sir ? Merry Christmas !!!

[@chrisirsik1794]

Sorry for the late reply it's Hutchinson Kansas

[@edsmith5448]

Where is it compared to Sunflower airport the old Navy base?

[@shawnharrington8307]

Field of DREAMS

[@scottkernan949]

Makes ya want to cry

[@adamswartz6625]

could use some play by play

[@mxculture]

where is this?

[@mattdrawdygaming8584]

What track is this

[@ceirsik]

It's located in Hutchinson Ks. I believe it was called Mohawk speedway back in the 70s.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

"Coca-Cola"

[@nathanmeece9794]

Why no narration? Please do some narration on the video .Would like to know more about the tracks other watch a video. Boring video without narration. If this is what your videos are going to be, guess I'll just have to unsubscribe.I watch the videos to learn something, not just watch. This is why I'm giving a thumbs down