Cejay Stadium-Wichita,Kansas

[Olen McGuire]

Well folks,it seems like I just can't get out of Wichita,Kansas.Here's another unique racetrack that I've found.





Cejay Stadium was built on the southeast edge of Witchita,Kansas and operated from 1945 through 1955. Owner and promoter Carl Johnson's initials inspired the name of the stadium. Cejay Stadium was unique because it consisted of a 4/10 mile dirt oval track and a round dirt 1/5 mile track in the infield that shared one end of the larger oval. It was banked on shared end of racetrack while the other end of the larger oval was flat.The main grandstands were on the shared end of the tracks with the start/finish line in front of the main grandstands.The design of the track made much of the racing action to be in front of the grandstands. Heat races were run on the inner track while the feature events were on the larger oval.
Competition with the Cejay Stadium began when Robbins Speedway was built,and part of the parking lot was condemned in the mid 1950's to make room for the Kansas Turnpike (Highway I-35). The combination of these problems caused Carl Johnson to close the racetrack and sell the property. There is of course no signs of a racetrack left, but there are plenty of memories and photos.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=485
Small crowd and a cold day near the south end.
(Paul & Opal Kammerer collection)



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=486
More action at Cejay.(Jim Edwares photo from the Paul & Opal Kammerer collection)



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=487
#94 Hi Mesel and Buddy Quick (center) watch Warren "Al" Puckett flip his track hot rod in 1949.
(Jim Edwards photo from the Paul & Opal Kammerer collection)



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=488
Looks like some of them in those days were putting on "roll bars".
(Jim Edwards photo from the Paul & Opal Kammerer collection)

[Mitch G.]

That's amazing research Olen, terrific post, keep it coming! Here is the info from a book I have "The History of the American Speedway, past and present" by
Alan E. Brown.

Ce Jay Stadium - Wichita (aka: Ce Jay Speedway) Promoter: Carl Johnson
1/4 mile dirt oval (1945-1955) / equipment from West Side Spwy located at Geo. Washington Blvd & Oliver Street
Rick and Roger Mears father, Bill was a jalopy champion here now the site of an activity center for Cessna Aircraft employees.

This is all the info this book had, which was published in 1984.

[Olen McGuire]

Thanks Mitch,and thanks for the extra info.Looks like the two historians have different track lengths but 1/4 & 1/5 is not a whole lot of difference, anyway we can't go back and measure them ourselves.A lot would depend on the outside track measurement being correct. Thanks again.~Olen

[Jerry Lee]

Man, dig those crazy Roadsters! Great stuff, Dad.:)

That "History of America's Speedway" Mitch is talking about is a really cool book. I have a revised edition from 1996. Thanks to Miss Peggy Ertler I do believe. My revised edition still didn't list anything about Shelby Speedway in Idaho Springs though.

[dmckim]

many great drivers raced at cejay. my grandfather, frank dickerson, jim roper and many others. there is a guy here in wichita that has done some great research on many of the kansas drivers. he has researched all the old tacks and locations as well.

[NC Ghost Hunter]

I dont have enough posts here to put a link but if you go to historicaerials.com & look at the 1950 aerial you can see the track.

[Ron Plumlee]

Hey Jerry, I agree this Wichita stuff is the best! Note: I have info on the Idaho Springs track, a VERY interesting place with 100% communitiy support back in the day. I have copies of programs about 1954....Like I said, Ace Hi in Golden, September and you can see some fun photos of what is probably the most obscure track ever in Colorado! Will try to post before then, I am still new to this process. RP