FOUND ABANDONED! JACKSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY-1948-1973 Saw Loss of 7 Drivers on High Banks

If Jackson Motor Speedway's history was relatively brief, fortunately it was also fascinating. From a high-banked oiled half-mile dirt in 1948, to an unusually configured 3/8ths-mile paved playground 10 years later, the track produced a who's-who of winners over the years; but not without tragedy. Seven men lost their lives around the storied oval while the track endured four different ownership groups, closing for good in 1973. I crawled through the woods on a blistering hot, humid early summer afternoon in search of the ole track, and fortunately, I found it...enjoy!
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#jacksonmotorspeedway #highbankracetracks #lostlivesracing #racingtragedy #fearlessracers #abandonedracetracks #abandoned #racinghistory #businessofracing #historicracetracks #worldofoutlaws #nascar #arca #indianapolismotorspeedway #worldwartwo #1970s #1950s #1940s #1960s #racinghistory #racinglegends #checkeredflag

[@HardcamFrio]

Walked it today. Pretty fun place

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Cool...Anything new happening with the property? HMM

[@papasmodelcarroom8450]

Man I love your videos....learn soooo much

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks again, Rob; I appreciate your support...HMM

[@14Joyceb]

Thank you so much, History Mystery Man aka Don Radebaugh❣️🏁🏆🏁Track Championship in 1959 with a bounty of $200!! Gordon Johncock won that bounty and still has the track record in 1961 and to this day and will never be broken, but dad had to finish the race for the bounty to be paid!!! Thank you Don Collins for sending me this video in a DM!! He wanted me to see this documentary before it hit the air waves and I so appreciate this!! Thank you Duck Crup for your kind words about my Dad!! Much appreciated!!! 🏁🏆🏁

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Joyce, for sharing your thoughts on the movie...and thanks for taking the time to watch! HMM

[@gremlingirl2458]

I live close to here and found the track on Google maps and have always wondered what happened. Thank you for making this video and keeping this track alive.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're always welcome...thanks for taking the time to watch. HMM

[@PilotJasonUSA]

Great video Captain Don! My dad used to take us kids to Berlin Raceway in Marne, saw Bob Seneker race there a lot. Let fire up the brush hog and clear out the old track and fix it up... We have the technology! 😀

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Ha! Fire up the Hog! I've been to Berlin Raceway a gozillion times. Thanks again, sir...HMM

[@extramile150]

DR, these efforts of yours are really interesting. Keep up the great work.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks kindly...HMM

[@donaldcollins4549]

Don it was a honor for me to help you on this video full of history and my family history i just watched this you did a awesome job sleuth footing the in depth history of it

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're welcome Don; it's great working with you. Thanks for all your contributions!

[@extramile150]

Further DR, you may not remember but you helped me set up an 'Industry Insights' interview (PRI Magazine) at Pocono with Bob Loga, then ARCA president and you and I spoke for quite a while that day. Sadly, Bob was killed in an auto accident on the grounds of Talladega in 1996 not that long after our interview. I think the Loga interview appeared in a 1995 PRI Magazine issue. I also think I interviewed you, too, after Loga's passing. Again, keep up your fine 'stories' as History Mystery Man.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Man...those years are getting away from me. Thanks for your support here...so appreciated. HMM

[@DDS029]

@@HistoryMysteryMan I'll never forget that day when Ron, Ray and I was following Bob out of the track and Ron left the property a different way than Bob. We could have been right behind him, or if the timing was different, it could have been us. The stories of these old tracks are usually the same, just most of the names are different. For me, my names and stories date back to the early 60s at Mt. Clemens Race Track. I could say the late 50s, I was there but from birth to four years old I don't remember much. What's it been? About 35 years we worked together in ARCA? Time, getting to be our worst enemy. Getting further and further away from my time. Take care, Don.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

@@DDS029 I reach way back myself but had never gone to Mt. Clemens Speedway...missed that one and the Double O. Thanks for watching...HMM

[@kenfriend775]

Fantastic job Don !! My hometown - Jackson, Mi

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Cool little town...great place to grow up...thanks! HMM

[@gddd7650]

My dad was a pit boy he has a picture of a miget with gelow on it. And I swear Andy bricked thank you for your time I really been looking for history on him. Take care wonderful 👏 job.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks...so appreciated! HMM

[@MarkHansen1990]

Another fantastic interviews 👏. Absolutely fantastic!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Mark; I appreciate you...HMM

[@NiepoprawnyNick]

I was travelling to Jackson and also went to see this track. After crawling through the forest i did honour lap and went home :)

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Awesome...thanks for sharing that! HMM

[@outlawofga]

This is a great video Sir.. Thank you for sharing this story with us.... It truly touched my heart looking back into its history.. Sadly these tracks and the amazing people have slowly Slipped away..... Keep up the good work guys.. and yes I subscribed 👍😎

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks my Outlaw friend; I'm grateful you're here. I appreciate you!

[@shawnharrington8307]

Just love the old deserted tracks great vid find some more please lol

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I'm on it; thanks Shawn...

[@johnm8096]

Love the way you pay homage and enlighten us to those who tragically lost their lives. Well done sir.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks...so appreciated! HMM

[@donolbers9446]

An absolute who's who of Michiana drivers raced there, absolutely awesome history drips from that place. Tom York, Dick Good, the Johncocks, wow! Thanks Don and Donald.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're always welcome Don...thanks again!

[@1761Charlie]

Never was there but I enjoyed this video. Thanks.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I was never there either, outside of the obvious...made it more interesting for me. Thanks for watching, sir!

[@anthonyjancek2774]

I lived about a mile from the track and use to ride my bike back there with my friends.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Awesome. Was that after the track closed? Thanks for watching...HMM

[@anthonyjancek2774]

@HistoryMysteryMan it was after it closed. I was born in 80 in Muskegon moved to Jackson at about 2yo. My dad has always been big on local forgotten history from places we are from or go to often and really just history of things in general. To this day nothing beats a random drive to nowhere learning about the past.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Man...I love that! "A random drive to nowhere learning about the past." That's good! Thanks again...HMM@@anthonyjancek2774

[@gregsimon9061]

Great video Don

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks again, Greg...

[@sierraryan6181]

My great grandfather was James Ryan thank u for telling his story and tell me more about him 👍🏻🙏🙏🙏

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

You're welcome Sierra! When I learn more, I'd be glad to share!

[@Uncledeath504]

James Ryan was my great grandfather i’m happy i got to know who he was

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Awesome! How nice to hear from you...thanks Hunter!

[@libertarianman69]

Check out the late, Sweet Owen Speedway near Spencer Indiana.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I've been hearing about that place...wonder what's left of it?

[@aveorlando7805]

Another brilliant piece of history by the HMM.....thanks for the information.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Of course Ave...all for you! Thanks...

[@team44racing]

Great video sir!!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks again, sir...

[@gofast3209]

Well done. Also you can still see this track on Google maps.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I gotta get up to speed with Google Maps...thanks! HMM

[@sillygoose2508]

You're the man and everything you bring us is first class entertainment couldn't thank you enough

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks...you're always welcome, and I'm glad to hear from you again!

[@nickknickerbocker6415]

🚖 Awesome find❗ Good Job Mr man 🌽♨️🧉

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks again...greatly appreciated!

[@ZeteticPlato]

👍

[@Nylonfetish1]

So many good memories watching my uncles and cousins race at Jackson Motor Speedway.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Wished I could have seen a race there in its heyday. Thanks Lacy...HMM

[@SteveNoffke]

Really great job. As you get older you appreciate these memories more and more. Never made it up there but it was one of the tracks you read about in Chris Economaki's National Speed Sport News.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Steve. Jackson was fun to find! HMM

[@darinwinebrenner6908]

Awesome Don! Glad you could get Don Collins to show you around.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Darin...Don C. was the star of the show!

[@deershack5388]

It looked like our local track, Tricity Motor Speedway in Auburn, MI, would rot into oblivion but a few years back a promotor resurrected it. Was half and quarter mile concrete tracks now a 3/8 mile dirt oval.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Didn't know this about Tricity Motor Speedway...thanks for sharing. HMM

[@adammatthewssr.77]

Thank you Don. A track that I've heard a lot about, but one that was gone before my time. Great work as always.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Adam...greatly appreciated. I was never there either for a race event, but I'm sure it was awesome in its heyday.

[@johnstark4723]

Curious, I saw the picture of Wayne Harrington and am curious if you know anything about him? I'm pretty sure he is related to the Harrington's in my mother's family. Also did you happen to notice e in research of Jackson Speedway if Joel Thorne raced there? Pretty sure I remember seeing something on him there. He was my mother's 2nd cousin I believe. Joel was also the winning car owner at the 1946 Indy 500. He died on his birthday October 1955 when he suffered vertigo flying out of LA and crashed into an apartment building where a baby also died. Some neat stuff there. I remember going past the track several times as a young kid and tried to get my dad or uncle to take me to a race but couldn't get them to do it.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Wow...had no idea on all this. I'll see if I can find out about answers to your questions. Sounds like Joel won with driver George Robson in '46...in the 16 car I believe? Thanks again, John...HMM

[@johnstark4723]

@@HistoryMysteryMan Yes, and George then had his unfortunate accident. Joel couldn't race because he broke his leg a month earlier racing motorcycles. Joel's history is very interesting, multi millionaire at 10. About 10 years ago or so I talked to his son who was still alive and living in Atlanta. His son raced a few nascar races too. Joel's career as a racer took many forms from cars, motorcycles, boats and planes! In the 30's and 40's he also was a stunt pilot in the movies. He also has family connections to the Montgomery Wards, Wards family in Chicago. He was also a very active playboy and at one time when he was young his mother sued him and she lost. He got the estate not her because she was a "fluzzy" according to court documents 🙄

[@beberle9641]

Thanks so much HMM. I was born in Jackson 1966. I remember my dad telling me about this special place JMS. I lost him in June so thanks again for this video. You should do a story on Jackson train history. Off to watch part 2 of your Tecumseh Michigan video.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks, I appreciate your support. I didn't know about the Jackson train history...sounds interesting. I believe the Republican party had origins in Jackson? HMM

[@beberle9641]

@@HistoryMysteryMan I think it started in Jackson. Another cool thing to cover would be all the old time breweries. My family owned Eberle Brewing. All your videos are so very good thanks HMM.👍

[@beberle9641]

@@HistoryMysteryMan Republican party started in Wisconsin in 1854.

[@johnwiggins1385]

Have you ever looked for the old Lakeview Speedway it is between Mobile Ala. And Citrinell Ala. They actually ran a Nascar race there many years ago. There are very few old timers that can show you where it is or what's left of it Dan Spence the flag man at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola FL. Knows where it is. I've been there one time back in 1984 or 85 a good friend and old hunting buddy and racecar driver Gene Tapia took me there. It's a old oil dirt track.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Interesting. I've never heard of that track, but it sounds like it'd be worth exploring. Thanks John, for sharing that information...and thanks for watching. HMM

[@johnwiggins1385]

I would love for someone to do a show or video on it.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

@@johnwiggins1385 Thanks for the idea! HMM

[@CravenMorehead-th5oz]

Any info on a guy with the last name horn not ted horn

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I sure don't...thanks. HMM

[@mcnicol25]

Very nicely done. Enjoyed the video very much and learned quite a bit. Nice to see so much local history told to people like myself, that consider themselves "racer's", but have never actually dove into the details.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks; I sure appreciate that!

[@jameslepeak8648]

I don’t remember any motorcycle races, but I remember going to the track almost every weekend. Nolan Johncock was the best!

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

What a shame the world didn't get to know Nolan as much...lost him way too soon. Thanks James!

[@jeffrivers4735]

I enjoy these stories of former tracks. The ones you have done and I have seen some Dale Jr. have done, very interesting on the history. Like to see more.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Jeff. I'll go on the search for more. Thanks for your support!

[@franka8888]

My father tells a story of when he helped another fella with his car in which Jack Roush built an engine for when he (Jack) was first starting out. Jack came to the track to watch the car run. The engine lasted a couple laps then grenaded. He says Jack got up and got in his car and left

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Wow! What an interesting story. It would have so neat to hear you tell that story inside the video. Thanks frank...

[@leobryan5362]

Grandpa video pics here dad hold camera pics grandma pics to love yall

[@leobryan5362]

Got pics video dad hold camera

[@leobryan5362]

James Leo Ryan 2nd

[@alanpeters9241]

Great video in the early sixties dick good was one of my favorites

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Thanks Alan! for another!

[@tjw3999]

i d grit my teeth and nail it . gotta love it lol

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Amazing...couldn't see down the backstretch...nail it anyway! Thanks!

[@jamesfahlstedt2232]

I was stooging for John Deering when he was killed at Jackson. He was driving George Holterman's car rather than his own (shown in video).

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

Interesting. So you go way back with JMS?

[@jamesfahlstedt2232]

@@HistoryMysteryMan Well, I actually went way back with midgets. I first saw Grandpa (Ted) Hartley win a feature at Bigelow Field in Grand Rapids in 1946. I rarely missed a midget show at Jackson as they were very good. John Deering was a guy we met a few years before this incident. He owned a low-buck Chevy II powered car that always ran better than it should. I showed up that night and found John was alone, so I became his stooge. When he was killed, I got a hold of George Holterman and told him about it. Ralph Stull held the car until George could get there to retrieve it.

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

@@jamesfahlstedt2232 Really interesting. It would have been really great to hear you tell that story inside the video. Thanks for sharing it here...what a sad/tragic day/night it must have been. Thanks James...HMM

[@TheaLorraine]

way to close up

[@cmphighpower]

Think Michigan ideal is in Jackson area

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

I believe you are correct...thanks!

[@leobryan5362]

Grandpa camera die July 29 1951 dad name born after dad thanks you dad

[@leobryan5362]

James leo.ryan 2nd

[@HistoryMysteryMan]

That was a super sad day in racing...thanks for watching. HMM