The Story of Saugus Speedway EP. 4

From the early days until its closing in the ’90s, LA County’s hidden gem provided families with racing memories for generations.
Visit our website www.amfilmfest... for more content and merchandise.
Follow our Instagram / amfilmfest
#automotostorytellers

[@automotostorytellerspodcast]

Follow us on Instagram @amfilmfest for extra content!

[@FourSpeedFilms]

Had fun shooting and editing this! Excited to hear more stories

[@johnmiller4852]

Cool!

[@automotostorytellerspodcast]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@robertbraun7155]

In the 80s as a kid my dad worked for a company called Northridge equipment rental. We would load up in one of their many all white Ford trucks that they would rent to anything and everything. One of them was rented by the studios from time to time as uncle Jesse's truck from the dukes of Hazzard. There's actually a few episodes you can see the stencil spray painted black numbers on the side of the hood in the episode. I will have to hunt and try to find those now. Even as a 8-12 year old I always knew when it was "Jesse's " truck we called it because on the dash next to the ashtray was a Hamburgler sticker.. Stumbled across this video and just brought so many fantastic memories of my Youth. Every Saturday we would go down during the race season. One car still to this day stood out and I am 50 now but I believe he was called the zoo keeper. Stock car that had a ton of small stuffed animals ziptied the the door pillar back window. Jim Kramer I want to say but its been so long. Not one single bad memory of that place.. Can't forget the peanut vendor that would throw the peanut bags with incredible accuracy. It was entertainment as well.. You would just hand to hand the money down and then your change would come back the same way. End of many eras right there.

[@ronroques412]

Thank you for this podcast. As someone who grew up in Santa Clarita, I spent much of the first ten years of my life in those stands and though the red and white splinters may be gone, the memories remain. Kind of sad that the Bonelli family who is such a big part of Santa Clarita history also demolished such a vital piece of Santa Clarita history. How different would early 2000's (right about when I would have been able to go there on my own) Santa Clarita have been with a thriving racetrack? I'm almost glad to see the land being turned into a studio at this point to get rid of the swap meet and more importantly, the Bonelli family's reign over the track. As for me, I'll have those memories of trough toilets and tri-tip sandwiches with my parents for the rest of my life. Not to mention the best racing action on Earth.

[@robertbraun7155]

Yes!!! The trough toilets!! Totally forgot about those!! When we would get there and park. Would be me, my mom, my dad and at least one of my 3 older brothers and maybe a school friend. We would just load up in the back of the pickup truck. But there was just something about as soon as we parked, you could hear them usually doing early runs for qualifying right at early sunset. The echo of the announcer, the smell of Nachos, burnt rubber and exhaust. The ground would rumble. Such amazing memories. The sounds and smells were just as important as watching the heats, the main, the destruction derby when they had it on that weekend, same with destruction football and chain racing. Figure 8 was one of the best.. Very magical place, at least for me and sounds like for you too as well of many other kids at the time. Turn 4 was our turn. Bring our pillows and a blanket. Such better times

[@LawnsAndBeers]

Coming from Ventura back in the 80's, it was always an adventure on the 126 but it was always worth it going to Saugus speedway. And seeing the pic of Scott Dinger was awesome, he was my favorite....because of his name. Thanks for making this video, it helped me understand why a big part of my childhood was gone.

[@davidvanbrunt4233]

Went to the Saugus 330's as a kid , still miss Saugus !!!

[@jackmcmichael3560]

This is a fantastic video 👍

[@NWfan2]

cool interview. Track is still there.Hope one day somebody will be allowed to run some "specials" if not weekly races again.

[@ronroques412]

Unfortunately, at this point, it seems like they'll turn it into a mixed use studio complex. Way easier to pitch a studio to all the homes they've built across Soledad than "loud racecars". Yes, noise curfews are a thing but after seeing how that affects a race program at the dirt tracks in Northern California, it isn't a good option. Nothing like having a 35 lap A-main be cut to 15 because people can't keep their car either pointed forward or right side up.

[@robertbraun7155]

Just as sad was the loss of the LACR in the AV. Just quarry pit now. All gone.

[@albondigas9549]

He mentioned Walt James, i remember Frank James and Mike James. Walt Price Jimmy Inslo Jim Thirkettle Tru Cheek Jim Robinson Oren Prosser Dan Press Roman Calzinski Ray-Ray Hooper Ron Hornaday Kenny Sapper I could probably list another 50 names.

[@loviedebiasio8864]

Heard rumors part of the reason it was closed because Benellis want a bigger cut of the Saturday money. With what I just heard that may be part of it.