Olen McGuire
06-07-2009, 07:18 PM
Lakewood Speedway-Lakewood,Georgia
Lakewood Speedway was a race track just south of Atlanta,Georgia in Lakewood,Georgia.There have been many kinds of racing there from 1919 to 1979 with hosts such as AAA/USAC,IMCA and NASCAR.It was a one-mile dirt track and was considered the "Indianapolis of the south" because there was an annual race of Indy cars held there.
In 1918 they built a one-mile horse racing track around the lake at the fairgrounds.Later that year was the first automobile race,featuring Barney Oldfield in a match race against Ralph DePalma which drew a crowd of 15,000 fans.
In the 1920's and 1930's the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) held races during fairs and the AAA/USAC hosted races on July 4th.There were many other racing associations that sanctioned events at the track. Like all racetracks they closed in 1941 due to World War II.
After the war NASCAR held its first race there in 1951. It held 11 Grand Nationals and two Convertable division races in the 1950's.
Atlanta Motor Speedway opened just 20 miles south of Atlanta in 1960.The new 1.5 mile track took away the NASCAR races and the Lakewood Speedway lost its appeal.Trying to keep some of the races there, they resurfaced the track in 1967.Evel Knievel made an appearance there in 1974.
The track fell on hard times in the late 1970's and officially closed on September 3,1979.Grass and bushes grew over most of the track and part of the infield lake was filled in.
Some notable races were held there as Richard Petty took the checkered flag in 1959.His father (Lee Petty) protested the results and asked for a recount of the scorecards.After the recount NASCAR awarded the win to Lee Petty. But Richard Petty went on to win 200 races in his career, which is still the most in NASCAR history. Some movies were filmed there including some scenes for the 1977 film with Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=507
Above is a rough layout of where Lakewood Speedway used to be.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=508
(Taken from The Jalopy Journal)Lakewood Speedway
You can see the corner of the lake in this one.
That car in the lead must be the pace car.(I would hope)
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=509
(Taken from The Jalopy Journal)
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=510
Gober Sosebee is a three-time winner on the beach course at Daytona (1949, 1950 and 1951). He was born in Dawson County Georgia and his racing career started in 1940 at the old Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta. He raced all over the US and drove any type of car that would put on a show for the fans. In the early days he drove modified Fords, but as the modified era began to fade, he drove everything from Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Studebaker, Plymouths and Chevrolets.(Gober Sosebee Collection)
Lakewood Speedway was a race track just south of Atlanta,Georgia in Lakewood,Georgia.There have been many kinds of racing there from 1919 to 1979 with hosts such as AAA/USAC,IMCA and NASCAR.It was a one-mile dirt track and was considered the "Indianapolis of the south" because there was an annual race of Indy cars held there.
In 1918 they built a one-mile horse racing track around the lake at the fairgrounds.Later that year was the first automobile race,featuring Barney Oldfield in a match race against Ralph DePalma which drew a crowd of 15,000 fans.
In the 1920's and 1930's the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) held races during fairs and the AAA/USAC hosted races on July 4th.There were many other racing associations that sanctioned events at the track. Like all racetracks they closed in 1941 due to World War II.
After the war NASCAR held its first race there in 1951. It held 11 Grand Nationals and two Convertable division races in the 1950's.
Atlanta Motor Speedway opened just 20 miles south of Atlanta in 1960.The new 1.5 mile track took away the NASCAR races and the Lakewood Speedway lost its appeal.Trying to keep some of the races there, they resurfaced the track in 1967.Evel Knievel made an appearance there in 1974.
The track fell on hard times in the late 1970's and officially closed on September 3,1979.Grass and bushes grew over most of the track and part of the infield lake was filled in.
Some notable races were held there as Richard Petty took the checkered flag in 1959.His father (Lee Petty) protested the results and asked for a recount of the scorecards.After the recount NASCAR awarded the win to Lee Petty. But Richard Petty went on to win 200 races in his career, which is still the most in NASCAR history. Some movies were filmed there including some scenes for the 1977 film with Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=507
Above is a rough layout of where Lakewood Speedway used to be.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=508
(Taken from The Jalopy Journal)Lakewood Speedway
You can see the corner of the lake in this one.
That car in the lead must be the pace car.(I would hope)
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=509
(Taken from The Jalopy Journal)
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=75&pictureid=510
Gober Sosebee is a three-time winner on the beach course at Daytona (1949, 1950 and 1951). He was born in Dawson County Georgia and his racing career started in 1940 at the old Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta. He raced all over the US and drove any type of car that would put on a show for the fans. In the early days he drove modified Fords, but as the modified era began to fade, he drove everything from Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Studebaker, Plymouths and Chevrolets.(Gober Sosebee Collection)