Byron, GA. years.1, The Middle Georgia Raceway not only Instance of: motorsport racing track; Location: Peach County, Georgia: 32 40 08.04 N, 83 42 46.08 W . Petty started on the pole position and won the 274-mile (441km) race. The 1970 Georgia 500 also occurred at the track. Reading up in its history , Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison and Bobby Issacs all won there. 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). Other nearby markers. 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). More than 30 acts performed over the 3+ days and the festival drew several hundred thousand fans. In 2016, my obsession with the forgotten and abandoned inspired me to create this blog. The marker stands at the Middle Georgia Raceway. Here's the Associated Press story as carried by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in its edition of September 26, 1967: thats only an inkling of the story -- come to The reunion and we will tell you the REST of the STORY.. Quite a description of an adventure! attendance varied each year from 6,000 to 10,000 and the prize money also went The Moonshine Track. In addition to NASCAR races there were sprint car races and outlaw. 31 races were scheduled in the 1973 season. Earnhardt Jr. created Lost Speedways and will serve as the host for this exclusive look back at racing's history. [1] He beat pole-sitter Pearson by 4 seconds and they were the only two cars on the lead lap. Finally, there is a $10 ad-free version. Hey my name eddie taylor I live in Byron ga an my family has been in racing our whole life my uncle Doc ran on the dirt tracks an at middle ga raceway it was an awesome place an it really needs to be brought back to life we need to try an get people talk about it. 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. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a half-mile paved track that opened in 1966, at the cost of $500,000. Bobby Isaac was the champion of the series as NASCAR transitioned from the Grand National era to the Winston Cup era. 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.. Middle Georgia Raceway (abandoned) This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. Ive been going around shooting abandoned tracks the past few weeks and shot North Wilksboro and Rockingham last week. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. [1] Later that year, David Pearson won a 150-mile (240km) race from the pole. As the song goes, :"I guess you had to be there. But a disgruntled female.???? Oh yes they have Dave. Mar 9 2013 Surrounding development? Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. 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. He made the unwise decision to run tires from his previous race at Talladega, which were a harder compound, AND, the track had lots of sand on it. 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. 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. Anyone interested in this project should e-mail me, danny1754@att.net. What's shared in the group should stay in the group. NASCAR began its 1968 season at the track. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. [6], in 1984 the Arca Racing Series ran at the track and the race was won by Davey Allison. Sunshine and 70s are the name of the game this week, 'This could be you or your child' | Former Atlanta mayor asks gun owners to act responsibly after bullet enters nephew's room, Poison ivy is getting worse with climate change, Peach County's South Peach Park to get new entrance, 'Georgia Camera Ready' looking for filming sites in Peach County. I continued to follow the named drivers long after the track closed and one of my favorite drivers was Friday Hasler who was killed in a Daytona 500 qualifying race in 1972. Then came the festival, now known as the Woodstock of the South, which featured some notable artists. He thinks it would be a good location for a public park. Middle Georgia Raceway, near Macon, hosted many top notch stock car events on its half-mile, paved surface. Middle Georgia Raceway was one of three tracks in the city of Macon that hosted NASCAR premier series races. My goal is to showcase the obscure, sometimes historic, forgotten places I have visited across the Southeast. attracted professional racers and their fans but also those looking for moonshine. Localities in the Area. 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. "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". Back in the early eighties (before the referenced ARCA race), I accompanied a good friend and his ARCA car to Unadilla to display the car in promotion of the upcoming ARCA race. The California 150 for sportsman cars was run prior to this race. One of Richard Petty's 4 wins at the track came when he was very ill and was questionable to race. (2012-09-19). He is considering, however, making a more active push to find a buyer. The premier Motorsports destination of Middle Georgia whether your into the ultimate show. In 2011 Dodge shot a commercial there. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Heres whats coming to this new plaza in Houston County, Warner Robins police narcotics unit under investigation for misconduct, DA says, Warner Robins car crash on Houston Road leaves one dead, two injured, police say, Museum of Aviation hosts panel for Vietnam POWs to share homecoming stories, Warner Robins meth ringleader sentenced to 35 years in prison in Macon. [4] Seven years later, it was the location for filming of race scenes of the Richard Pryor film Greased Lightning about Wendell Scott. Nature has started to reclaim this storied race track in Byron, Georgia. This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. He proposed to his wife before the race. The app will launch the same day and provide users with the ability to stream Lost Speedways and other NBC shows on their Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and other devices. 7. It would be a shame for it to be torn down.. A . [6], in 1984 the Arca Racing Series ran at the track and the race was won by Davey Allison. Centerville. I must disagree about the tracks condition, it would take a lot to get it back in shape. The Middle Georgia Raceway opened in 1966, with many of the racing biggies earning victories there. Thornton himself planned to put a light industrial park there when he bought the property in 2006, but fate intervened. Matthew Dillner, who works with Earnhardt Jr. on the Dale Jr. Download podcast is the show's co-host. The commercial shows the races. agent claimed it was one of the most elaborate and clever operations he had I put nothing in writing. It opened in 1966. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. [3] Allison won the 274-mile (441km) event in a 1969 Dodge. 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. Wednesday night, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins a journey to visit some of racing's abandoned tracks. It was also the last NASCAR national touring series season to feature a dirt track race until the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the last time the Cup series raced on dirt until the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series. Out of the nine races at the The 1966 NASCAR Grand National Series evolved into the first of three NASCAR Grand National championships for David Pearson, whose 15 wins through the season was second only to Tim Flock's 18 victories in 1955 at that time. I read the ASA ran some events there and that Davey Allison won an ARCA event there. In the 1970s, there was also a massive concert held there that the good people of Georgia were none too pleased about. It opened in 1966. On the way back to Atlanta, we stopped at this race track for him to get some practice laps. During the inaugural race, the Speedy Morelock 200, Richard Petty broke the speed record for half-mile NASCAR tracks. racetrack, Richard Petty won four of the races and Bobby Allison won three. Promoters and security gave in and opened the gates an hour into the opening acts first set. "There's been everything from car shows to a couple small concerts, a number of film related things, we've actually rented it out.". Brown said he bought the yeast to make food for the concession stand at the race track. N.p., n.d. http://www.macon.com/2013/08/25/2627781/byron-moonshine-legend-lives-on.html Do you think it would be possible to get him to mix up a couple of hours of that concert and bring in a big video screen and do a 50th anniversary screening there. Please Don't invite people just to invite people. By Jenna Eason. The following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. 114 Or 912.651.2125. Georgia Raceway was called The Speedy Morelock 200. 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. Tim Thornton is the owner of the land, and says he has vivid memories watching the races and serving ice cream at the festival. Larry Smith was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. In addition, there is a $5 premium version that has limited ads and is free to existing Comcast subscribers. "Georgia's "Woodstock Festival" Receives Historic Marker." The bands that performed were: Allman Brothers Band / B.B. 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. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. 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. Next year marks 50 years since the festival that brought tens of thousands of people to the city. Here's how to watch the first eight-episode season of the new racing-centric series. The track which has been closed to racing since 1984, was featured in the second episode of Lost Speedways. 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. Unfortunately, after just a few laps, he lost control coming off turn four, and then over-corrected and went head-on into the outside wall. 1970. Petty started on the pole position and won the 274-mile (441km) race. The season began on Sunday, February 10 and ended on Sunday, November 17. While the racetrack had a short life within professional racing, the land where the track was located holds many stories. Your email address will not be published. Bobby Allison drove from the pole to win the 274-mile (441km) race. [4]. Ive been kind of waiting for the right person, waiting for the right opportunity to sell to somebody to try to preserve the history, he said. The track has also hosted a monster truck rally and other events while Thornton has owned it. brought the Middle Georgia Raceway back to life. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. Still, thousands of music lovers were outside the gates demanding the gates be opened and the festival become free, like Woodstock. Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? It held nine NASCAR Grand National (today's Sprint Cup) events from 1966-71. King and even Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. Byron, Georgia (GA), US. Middle Georgia Raceway former stock car racing rrack. Example video title will go here for this video. One controversial piece of evidence was Kulkosky, Victor. Thornton says they may hold a special event to commemorate it. changing the name to Brixton Motor Speedway on the retaining wall. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4015 US Highway 41 North, Byron GA 31008, United States of America. The local newspaper described it as an. It was surreal to see such a place silenced. There has been some talk of having another music festival there. BYRON -- On Wednesday morning, Tim Thornton made his way through a wooded area behind turn three at the old Middle Georgia Raceway in search of the source of a local legend. The final NASCAR race at the Middle Georgia Raceway was the 1971 Georgia 500, held on November 7, 1971. During the video the guy that recorded the video made the statement that they had footage other than just the Hendrix part. Over 300,000 attended the . This festival was one of the last "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.". The Telegraph. Ken Ragan, father of 2-Time NASCAR Winner David Ragan, won the final race at Middle Georgia Raceway, as said on Peacock's Lost Speedways, hosted by NASCAR On NBC Announcer Dale Earnhardt Jr. The 4) "The True Story Behind The Fake Racetrack in Chryslers Latest TV Commercial." 1) "Middle Georgia Raceway." N.p., n.d. http://racing-reference.info/tracks/Middle_Georgia_Raceway 35,014 were here. Please let me know. {{Motorsport venue | Name = Middle Georgia Speedway | Nicknames = | Time = EST/EDT (-0500/-0400) | Location = 4015 US-41 Byron, Georgia United States | Coordinates = .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap} 32408.00N834245.93W / 32.6688889N 83.7127583W / 32.6688889; -83.7127583 Coordinates: 32408.00N834245.93W / 32.6688889N 83.7127583W / 32.6688889; -83.7127583 | Image = | Image_caption = | Capacity = | Owner = [[] | Operator = | Broke_ground = | Opened = 1966 [1] | Closed = c.1986 | Construction_cost= $500,000 | Architect = | Former_names = | Events = NASCAR | Layout1 = Oval | Surface = Paved [1] | Length_km = | Length_mi = .548 [1] | Miles_first = True | Turns = 4 | Banking = | Record_time = | Record_driver = | Record_team = | Record_year = | Record_class = }}, The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. It featured more than 30 musical acts, including Jimi Hendrix and The Allman Brothers Band. [2] The final race was held near the end 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. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. Nine NASCAR races were held there from 1966 to 1971. [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. But what he really wants is to sell it to someone who will keep the race track there and make it an event location, or even bring back racing. (2012-09-19). 11/04/ 1965. Theres a lot of people that I think would really appreciate There are three subscription tiers available for Peacock, including a free, ad-supported version that has limited content. 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. My name is Leland Kent and I have had an interest in abandoned places ever since I was a kid. Or was it a male??? the winner being Richard Petty by 19 seconds from Tom Pistone. An earlier race was run on November 1968 with the same name and year number. The 1976 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on November 7, 1976, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia, USA. The last race of any notability was an ARCA race in 1984 that was won by Davey Allison. your content. He won the 100-mile event in his 1966 . For instance, in 1967 authorities found a moonshine distillery located buried in a chamber under the track. "Byron Moonshine Legend Lives On." commercial, you would not be able to recognize the racetrack due to Dodge Middle Georgia Raceway. Centerville is situated 3 miles south of Antebellum North. The first season will also showcase Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia and several others. 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. There was a time that you could wind your own hotrod through the weeds and sneak onto the track for a run, pretty sure it was in the 80s and 90s. Great photos and interesting back story, thanks for posting it. Richard Petty won four titles, while Bobby Allison won three. I vote for Byrons Grand National Speedway This ties into its history of being having held 9 NASCAR Grand National events. Middle Georgia Raceway, once a full-blown NASCAR Grand National track where Richard Petty and other racing legends battled it out, is for sale. [5], There was a big crash at the track in which the barricade went through driver Sonny Braswell's car and broke 14 bones. Earnhardt Jr. previously posted a trailer to reveal the premiere date and provides some new glimpses into his journey through the history of motorsports. In 1970, the Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a field next to the track, featuring Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers. 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. While the racetrack had a short life within professional racing, the land where the track was located holds many stories. The season began on Sunday January 21 and ended on Sunday October 21. Premium will also include non-televised Premier League soccer games beginning in August. During the trial, the government produced an invoice for 24 pounds of yeast that was purchased by Brown 10 days before the moonshine still was discovered. I explored this place many years ago! Lost Speedways is an exclusive product for NBC's new streaming platform, Peacock. All the racers named were the top finishers in the weekly races. The track was truly special as I grew up and remains the site of some the most enjoyable times of my youth. The prosecutor told the jury that 24 pounds of yeast would make enough bread to feed Atlanta for a week. Even after the raceway was closed down, it gained notoriety after Dodge used this location to film a commercial in 2011. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. Village Photo: Bill Golladay, CC BY-SA 4.0. The 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season began on Sunday January 18 and ended on Sunday November 22. Together, they will journey to the abandoned tracks that are no longer recognizable due to the foliage. A race was held the following day. 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. The distillery was capable of producing 80 gallons of moonshine per day. It is zoned general commercial, and could be an industrial park or even a housing development, he said. Location: Jeffersonville, Georgia : Surface: Paved : Length: 1/8 mile Phone: (478) 550-3137 Visit track website: Facebook: Twitter: Race Track Locator. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. The track held nine NASCAR Grand National races from 1966 until 1971. Petty returned to win the 150-mile (240km) NASCAR race during the following season. It wasnt just the NASCAR Grand National series as it was known then that made the track special. That would be really cool. I took my Supra out there and an older Porsche..loved it. Last updated by Clio Admin on March 27th 2015, 1:16:16 am. Yes there would need to be a lot of improvements but some small scale promotions could create some monies and more importantly, interest. BYRON, Ga. Driving down Highway 41 in Byron is a hidden treasure, but you wouldn't see it unless you look past the driving range. With the help of the state legislature, restrictions were adopted to make it difficult to organize another festival of this size. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. The owner has opened the track for occasional events and reunions, but there are no plans to reopen the track. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. [4] Seven years later, it was the location for filming of race scenes of the Richard Pryor film Greased Lightning about Wendell Scott. In 1967 federal agents discovered an elaborate underground moonshine still buried off turn three of the track. 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). But less than two months before the track's second race in 1967, federal agents raided the track and found a trap door in the ticket . They havent eaten each other yet, Lavish oasis up for sale in Connecticut is the home of BeautyRx founder. This short track outside of Indianapolis closed in 1960 after "a string of horrific accidents." Ticket prices for the weekend event to see the 30 bands were $14.00, a bargain even then. 23,333 were here. I do not know about the parking lot, it may need to have paved access roads and gravel. But this experience made me realize pretty quickly that, like everything else in life, there is more to it than just what you see. According to a former racer, moonshine was never sold during the [4] A few years ago[when? He holds a bachelors degree in print journalism from Georgia College and is a resident of Warner Robins. "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". Touch for directions. I have to live here. The short clip also showed him talking to Richard Petty, NASCAR's all-time wins leader. I remember well as I went as a kid almost every week and especially the special races. Johnny, if the still ain't working, why should I drive that far? Nine times between 1966 and 1971, the premier series raced at Middle Georgia Raceway in the town of Macon. And not even the names have been changed to protect the innocent?!! He cleaned up the track, which hadnt seen a race in years, and more events were held. But that would be a small amount compared to what you would have when that all was done, a facility worth at least 15 million if not more. Richard Petty won four times, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each won once. 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. A historical marker at the property recognizes it as one of the largest public gatherings ever held in Georgia. If you know someone who genuinely has interest in racing history particularly MGR, I am all for you . Middle Georgia Raceway, once a full-blown NASCAR . The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. 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. The Allman Brothers Band, who was relatively unknown before this festival, opened and closed the show. You mean the trailer park next door that needs to be bulldozed? From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Wednesday night, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins a journey to visit some of [], By John Newby June 8, 2022 Blog by Johnson Social media was stirring over a photo of famous rapper and car enthusiast Rick Ross posing at the defunct Middle Georgia Motor Speedway. Middle Georgia Motorsports Park (Formerly Twiggs/Macon National Dragway) Track Conditions. A team from Miami would come to Byron for a race and then fill a car [4] On September 15, 2012, an official Georgia Historical Society marker was placed near the raceway to commemorate the 1970 pop festival. Described as the Woodstock of the South, bands played throughout the night while over 300,000 concertgoers descended on a town with a population of 1,500. city of Atlanta for a week. Later that season, Bobby Isaac shattered Pettys lap record after recording a 98.148 mile-per-hour lap. RELATED: Peach County's South Peach Park to get new entrance, RELATED: 'Georgia Camera Ready' looking for filming sites in Peach County. Theres just too much energy there to see the track just sit. The track was used in a few Dodge television . After the economy crashed, plans were placed on hold. 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. 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. Marker is on U.S. 41, 0.2 miles south of High Point Way, on the right when traveling south. That would be GRAND ! You may wish to switch to the. In 2011, Dodge contacted the current owner and asked to use the track for an advertisement. Georgia 500 and finally the Georgia 500. It may need General admission booths, and fencing to the grandstands. 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. [1] The final NASCAR race was held on November 7, 1971. [2] The final race was held near the end of the year. After eleven days of filming for the Dodge Durango, filming wrapped up and the commercial was eventually aired. 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. Thanks, Dave. After the economy crashed, plans were placed on hold. 20 years ago, GMS Productions of Macon syndicated a 30th anniversary radio special about the event. ever seen. The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season.
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