Second Creek Raceway – Oval, Commerce City, CO.

[Jerry Lee]

Second Creek Raceway was a road racing complex once located at 88th & Buckley Road in Commerce City, CO. Opening in 1983, the paved 1.7 mile road course was built on the same property that was once known as Rocky Mountain Dragway (later Thunder Road Dragway) dating back to the early 1960’s. A dirt oval track (Raceland, later Rocky Mountain National Speedway) was built just North of the property in the early 1980’s.

In 1994 another curve was added to the North hairpin of the road course forming a little 1/5 mile oval. The Colorado Automobile Racing Club started running their Modified coupes here with dreams of making the facility their home track.

In 1995, C.A.R.C. President Chris Ertler and many volunteers were instrumental in revamping the facility around the oval with track lighting for night racing, repaving of the oval, and the addition of more grandstands. The old uncovered East stands from Lakeside Speedway were dismantled and trucked over to S.C.R., then reassembled and reseated as the main grandstand along the front chute. Along with the C.A.R.C. Modified class, other divisions were added to the ticket. Econo Stocks, Mini Stocks, I.M.C.A. Modifieds, Dwarf Cars, Legends, R.M.M.S.A. Mini Sprints, and a Vintage division were added to thrill the Friday night race crowds.

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=767
(J.L. McGuire collection) In the mid-‘90’s, Denver area Stock Car drivers and
fans could catch the Friday night races at S.C.R., Saturday night action at
Colorado National, and spend Sunday evening at Rocky Mountain National
Speedway. Three great nights of racing every week!



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(Photo by J.L. McGuire) Here’s a look at the S.C.R. oval in 1996 with the
historic Lakeside East stands on the left.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=765
(Photo by J.L. McGuire) This view from the stands shows the Legend cars hot
lapping during the late afternoon before fans filled the seats to capacity.



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(J.L. McGuire collection) A 1995 track program from Second Creek.


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(Photo by J.L. McGuire) The pits at S.C.R. are a hive of activity in this 1996 photo.



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(Photo by J.L. McGuire) Don Campbell #53, Bob Land #3, and Sean Hillis #99
were just a few of the C.A.R.C. Modified coupes that raced the S.C.R. oval
in 1995.



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(Photo by Joe Starr) Ross Smith #17 “mows the lawn” trying to make it 3
wide with a pack of hungry Econo Stocks at S.C.R. in 1995. Also pictured
are Lyle Mitchell #161 and Greg McLaughlin #57.



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(Photo by Joe Starr) Some of the wildest races I’ve ever witnessed was
when the R.M.M.S.A. Mini Sprints flew around the Second Creek oval. Here,
Tony Rossi shows the norm for these cars on this flat track as they buzzed
around up on two wheels in the corners. No lie, there was an average of two
or three spectacular flips a night that kept race fans on their feet when this
division swarmed the track. Sometimes it seemed that the winner of each
race was determined by process of elimination.



http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=759
(J.L. McGuire collection) Thanks to Chris & Peggy Ertler, not only was I the
track announcer for the Friday night shows at S.C.R. in ’95 and ’96, but I
got to write a weekly column of race results for the Jayhawk Racing Journal.




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(Photo by J.L. McGuire) Vintage Midgets like this one were always crowd
favorites when they appeared. It was always a big thrill for me when I got
to announce the names of some of the great Midget racers of yesteryear
who gathered for these events. Most were too old to drive anymore, but I
always let the crowd know if they were in the house.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=757
(J.L. McGuire collection) Race results for the last race meet of the C.A.R.C.’s
50th anniversary season.



The C.A.R.C. and Second Creek parted ways after the 1998 season, and the little 1/5 mile paved oval went back to being used as the Northern turn of the road course.

In late 2005 and early 2006, the Second Creek Raceway complex and the Rocky Mountain National Speedway dirt track next door were all flattened to make way for a new housing development. In the mid-‘90’s there weren’t any houses for miles around.

[Flagman]

I had the honor of flagging the last races at SCR. Sorry to see it pass.

[rapid30]

Second Creek was a great little track and I had some of my best times racing there. It was such a family atmosphere and the drivers could mingle with their family and the fans in the stands between races. I miss it.
Bruce "rapid30"

[lakeside #29]

1994 - Don Campbell, President; Becky Walace, Secretary; and Butch Walace was on the board. I don't remember who else was on the board.

I don't know who was the first to contact the people at Second Creek..Don, Butch??

In 1994 management at SCR allowed the paving of the south turn. I don't remember who paid for it. whether it was the club or SCR management. They also put in a concrete retaining wall and a catch fence.

We didn't have a pay off and the trophies that were given out were recycled. Don Campbell was the main thrust behind this. He really loved the club.

1995 Chris Ertler, President; Bob Land, Vice-president; Peggy Ertler, Sec/Trea; Don Campbell, Chairman; board members, Tom Adler, Dave Burn, Kirk Campbell, Butch Wallace, Dean Wallace.

In Dec of '94 when it was decided that we were going to make improvements on the track Chris and Darrell Taylor, a State engineer of bridges and roads, measured the track. The following weekend Chris and his boss Jerry Tennyson, who was a surveyer, went to the track with a transit and Lenker rod and got elevations so Darrell could use it in his Auto-Cad. Darrell made up the drawing and the plan with an outline as if it were a State Highway project to give the paving company.

The lights were donated by Mike LaGuardia and Tom Adler helped the club obtain the poles. The bleachers, which were the East open stands at Lakeside Speedway, were donated by Rhoda krasner. Dick Pachello opened the door for John Barker, of SCR to get the grandstands.

Some of the volunteer help was Darrell and Janell Stingerie, Dewey and Katherine McNeff, Tom Adler who also painted the stands, Bob Land who welded the grandstands back together, Dick Pachello, Warren Rhoades Sr., Mike and Vicky Sylvester and Greg McLaughlin who also did welding.

Dean Wallace, Ray Norby, Daniel Ryland, Steve Smith who made the flagman stand, Don and Kirk Campbell, Don Grothendick, John Adkins, Sean Hillis and Ted Younger.

Ken and Don Bennett, and some guys from Ken's shop, Wayne Dennis, Pete Sabeff and John Barker from the SCR track. Dee Herring-Clark and her sons Chris and Tony put mothhballs in rattlesnake holes. Frank and Margaret Young and Chris and Peggy Ertler.

We should not forget all that Jerry Lee McGuire did. In addition to his duties as the announcer he also composed the weekly program and made sure that ads were sold to pay for it. He would walk the pits at every race and got to know every driver and their car. He truely entertained the croud, not just announced. Jerry Lee was a regular Billly Mays when it came to giving our door prizes. He really got the crowd into it. There were other volunteers but we can't remember all of their names, but this was the main group.

When we went to install the lights we couldn't find anyone with a big enough auger to install the poles, so we had to pay the power company to do that. I think it was either Paul Babich or Tony Rossi, but I'm not sure, who got a high ranger truck to alighn the lights. The first time we attempted it, they wouldn't let us stay after dark, so we guessed at it and afterwards we added lights to the catch fence.

Scott Layman and family of Colorado Springs who regularly raced with us donated a large quantity of snow fence from his company. And our trusty flagman was Ken Smith, who flagged a good race every time.

1996, Chris Ertler President.
The track was sold in the end of '98 the beginning of '99 to a group of road racing clubs. I don't know that CARC ever got credit for the work at SCR so they weren't included. CARC would have had to buy in, but we already put so much into it they opted to not run.

I'm sorry that Second Creek doesn't get the recognition that it should, but I'm proud of what we did out there and all the good people that gave so genersously of their time. Not too many people can say they helped build a race track.

Chris Ertler

[rapid30]

My Dad Warren Rhoades not only helped to build SCR, he was also the tech man for the CARC and would set up the temporary fence for the pits and parking every friday night, he was also one of the last to leave the track as he would take down the fence and roll it up to put it in the shed. Dad was also on the board, and became Vice President under Ken Bennett and Bob Land, he later became President of the CARC when they were racing in Pueblo.
Bruce

[BillyK41]

I had the honor and thrill to win the last Mini Stock Main that CARC held at Second Creek on that last night in 1998. That was a really fun track to drive; the transition from asphalt to concrete and back to asphalt was always interesting, to say the least!

[lakeside #29]

Hi Bruce, yes sir, your Dad was a big part of the CARC and SCR. A lot of times when I was ready to throw in the towel, he would me keep going. Your Dad would perform any task no matter what, no matter how dirty, to see the job completed. I have so much respect for Warren Sr.

Bruce your mom and dad are very special people, that was one of the reasons Peggy and I nominated them for Lifetime membership. Your mom particpated in the Powerpuff Club at Lakeside as well as she and Bernie Moore putting together the programs and selling ads for them at Lakeside.
Bruce your whole family has contributed much to CARC and Denver racing in general.

Any ommissions that I made in this post were purely unitentional. I managed to remember those names off the top of my head. That says a lot for the impression those folks made on me. We had a great group of really dedicated people.

1997 CARC president Don Grothendick
1998 CARC president Darrell Stingerie

Bill, I am glad you stuck with us at SCR. You were one of the good guys.

The cover art of the race car for the SCR program was by Dale Moore.

The #29 vintage midget shown is owned by Tom Barkley of Arlington, Kansas. He still races that car with Kansas Antique Racers. It's a 1940 Willys powered rail frame.











Chris Ertler

[Olen McGuire]

Here's an aerial view of what used to be the oval at Second Creek Raceway

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=117&pictureid=787

[Jerry Lee]

More Second Creek Oval additions:

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(Photo by Joe Starr) Todd Ediger picks up this Modified trophy dash in front of the Second Creek
crowd in 1996. Ediger went on to become the Modified track champion that year. –J.L.




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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Chris Archer does some last minute repair work on his car after
a little bumpin’ and grindin’ during an Econo heat race at Second Creek in 1996. Archer was the
1994 and 1995 Econo track champion. –J.L.

[carc7]

What I loved about Second Creek was how we never knew how much it would cost to get into the pits until we arrived. It depended on how many cars showed. Some weeks it was $35.00 and some weeks it was more like $50.00. Good times and I learned quite a bit (like let somebody else do the welding). But I also learned about caster and camber on a circle-track racer and I got to meet Mr. Bill Kolb, who is well worth knowing! It really was an interesting section of CARC history, even for just 5 years or so. Paul B.

[lakeside #29]

Hi Paul,
I am sorry you and I never got to meet at Second Creek. I loved all of my "boys", "sons", "fathers" and "sisters" that made 2 years (1995 and '96) of my Friday nights in the pit shack very interesting. Most of the time I had fun with all of you, although there were nights I wanted to close the door and scream. Perhaps I took that beer out of your hand as you passed my door and took a drink, or maybe you helped me eat my red beans and rice. I don't think I ever got to finish a bowl by myself.....loved every minute of it.

Being Secretary/Treasurer for over 100 people was a challange at times, but the many friendships I made at Second Creek are deeply imbeded in my heart. You all were good to me and I will never forget you.

Warren Rhoades, Sr. was the first smiling face I saw when I pulled in the parking lot early on Friday afternoons. With out his help I could not have gotten all of my supplies and equipment arrainged before you men started driving in.

There are way too many people to thank for helping me, but Jerry Lee McGuire was the best announcer and photocopier I've ever known. His programs were a joy to read, and he had a way of getting the crowd into the races..

Bob Land, thank you for nominating me the first lady Life Time Member of the CARC. That is an honor I will cherish forever. Working with you and all of the board of directors was a pleasure.

I Love All Of You
Miss Peggy

[Jerry Lee]

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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Peggy Ertler’s beautiful orange coupe was one of many that
swarmed the little oval at S.C.R. in 1996. Although Craig Moore usually drove this beauty,
Greg McLaughlin was wheeling it this night.




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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Another one of the neat vintage Midgets that put on a
great show out at S.C.R. from 1996. Check out those little wheels! Some of the Super
Modifieds from Kansas can be seen in the background.




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=2003
(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) This is just one of the many Mini Stocks that used to tow
up from Pueblo and Colorado Springs to help fill out the division on Friday nights at Second Creek.

[lakeside #29]

LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!
My Ms Peggy got her picture on the sight again.
Thank you Jerry Lee. We've never seen this one.

Do you realize how much you did for us at Second Creek?
Anouncer, program maker, news paper writer, prize drawing barker, and photographer. I don't think I paid you enough!

And a thank you to ~Olen for the aerial view. I never saw the other side of the track before.

Love you,
Miss Peggy

[Jerry Lee]

Do you realize how much you did for us at Second Creek?
Anouncer, program maker, news paper writer, prize drawing barker, and photographer. I don't think I paid you enough!


Thanks for the kind words! I sure had a lot of fun! Even the time when I got ZAPPED when lightning struck close to the track while I was announcing through a cheap Epiphone mic. My hair has never grown back the same!

[Fastway]

Yeah Chris, It really had a homespun feeling to it. I sure do miss Jerry Lee calling the races.

The night I gave Randy's ( From Sintons Dairy) son a ride in the 52 car, He couldnt even get out of the car he was so excited. To see the smile on Randy's face i wont forget it.
Some of the dirt guys would sit on the roof of the consession building at RMS and watch our races. The night that Randy Wright and his bunch mooned us from there as we were lining up for the Modified Main event....Classic.
Jerry Lee THANKS for the photos and all you did for the club. Miss Ya

Fast

[Coupe Racer]

The track provided me with one of my best memories and I wasnt even driving.
July of 1997 my son Greg (Fastway) had his daughters Natalie (7) and Katie (5) out from Illnois for a few weeks for their summer vacation. Well they came to the track to watch Grandpa race. Upon arrivial Greg's mom insisted that Greg drive the car that nite. His daughters had never see their Dad race.
Greg was reluctant to drive he said it wasnt his car....blah blah blah. Anyway he timed the car in and made the trophy dash. His daughters thought this was pretty cool. Well after he won the trophy dash I brought his daughters down to the start finish line to surprise him. Seeing him getting his trophy from his daughters is somthing I will never forget!
Thank you Photo Joe for getting this great pic.

[Craig12]

Hey Greg this is Craig (Randy's Son). I’m 21 years old now and live in Iowa, but I still remember riding around in that orange 52 at Second Creek like it was yesterday. In fact, I think I still have a picture of us in that car in my room back home in Colorado. I have been a huge race fan ever since that day, and now I go to races all over the country every summer. But anyway I'm glad that was as special of memory for you as it was for my dad and me.

[webby]

Hey Greg this is Craig (Randy's Son). I’m 21 years old now and live in Iowa, but I still remember riding around in that orange 52 at Second Creek like it was yesterday. In fact, I think I still have a picture of us in that car in my room back home in Colorado. I have been a huge race fan ever since that day, and now I go to races all over the country every summer. But anyway I'm glad that was as special of memory for you as it was for my dad and me.
Craig, welcome to Auto Racing Memories! I have certified your membership so now you have full privileges and you can post pictures if you want to. For tips on how to post images check out these instructional videos (http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25).

Looking forward to hearing more of your auto racing memories!

[Mike511]

Interesting stuff, I love the history of tracks. Never got to roundy round at SCR, but did run the road course once at a SCCA event. What lead to the demise of the track, the usual stuff??? As a new member of CARC it's great to see the mod coupe pics!!!

[lakeside #29]

Craig, I don't know who had more fun the night you got to ride in #52, you or the big kids watching. I had a similar experience way back when I was about 11 years old and got to go over to a family friends garage and was able to spend time checking out their '34 Ford stock car. That was over 50 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I am so glad you enjoyed yourself that night, it was our pleasure to have you.

Mike, regarding the closing of Second Creek. As I understood it, and I was not involved in any of the discussions concerning it, at the end of the 1998 season the owners of SCR sold out to a group of road race clubs. What I was told was the clubs each put up money to buy their share. The CARC had invested in the improvements to the oval but they didn't have cash to buy in. I don't know if they were offered that option. It was like making upgrades on a house you rent, then the landlord sells. It was a gamble.

The track was egg shaped and it was difficult getting off the north end. You fought the tendency to want to push. You constantly were turning the wheel. We had more equipment failures in 3 years at SCR than all the years I raced at Lakeside. We broke two grade 8 bolts on a steering arm on the #52 one night and were the first to hit the wall on the front straight. Another time we were running a Chrysler tube front axle on #29, it had been narrowed on the ends and had chrome moly ends to match Chevy truck spindles attached by a certified TIG welder. We had run that axle for years at Lakeside with no problem, one night at SCR the right end breaks off.

It was kind of neat to be part of building a race track, something I never imagined doing. But inspite of all the headaches, and there were plenty, I'm glad to have been part of it.

[Fastway]

You know Chris, The dedication the guys had when building the track was somthing. Building the grandstands, working in the rain and the cold to get it done, and then to race there, Well it gave one a feeling of accomplishment.

Giving Craig the ride in the 52 car that night was really cool for me. Just to see how happy it made the little guy. And that he remembers the night, How cool is that..

[Fastway]

One more thing that I really miss is having Jerry Lee behind the microphone. To have sombody with the vast knowledge of the local history of the drivers and the cars doing the announcing was KOOL!

[lakeside #29]

Greg, You're so right, it took a deep down belief in what we were trying to do. Kind of the old "can do" spirit. We all were probably a little naive about how much work we were in for. But now after so many years the disappointment, anger, frustration, or whatever finally subsided and it's really satisfying to know what all of us did against the odds.

To see the wonder in a kids eyes around the cars is something I'll never get tired of.

You're right about Jerry Lee. He had so much enthusiasm about all that he did at SCR, it was just amazing. I've heard plenty of guys announce races, but Jerry Lee was just so into the whole thing it spilled over to the fans and added to their experience. Remember him giving away door prizes? He could make a simple thing like baseball cap seem like the most valuable prize in the world.

Imagine what we all could have done if we had money. I think about the people that put their heart into SCR and it makes me really proud.

[Jerry Lee]

Chris and Greg! Thanks so much for the kind words! Man, we had so much fun out there.
Do you guys remember the races being broadcast on TV?


http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=3799
(J.L. McGuire collection) From 1989 to 1996 I produced a weekly TV show on
American Cablevision which featured races from area race tracks. I used to
tape the races, edit them into half hour episodes, and then announce over
them. It also had driver interviews and stuff going on in the pits. I featured
the races from Second Creek Raceway during the '96 season. Burt Watson
and his wife taped the races at SCR that year. I sure miss doing that show.


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(J.L. McGuire collection) 1997 S.C.R. program.


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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Chris Ertler's Modified coupe at Second Creek in 1995.


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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Our own Bruce Rhoades wheeled this cool Mini Sprint at SCR in 1996.

[Jerry Lee]

I ran across a few more photos from Second Creek..........

http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=110&pictureid=4153
(J.L. McGuire collection) Before heading up to the announcer's booth, I always loved to go
down and talk to the drivers. On this night I got a shot with one of my local heroes Jim Beckley!
Ramones shirt and all.



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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) This cool coupe showed up on one of the Vintage race nights in 1996.




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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) Chris Doty wheeled this Mod Coupe in 1996.


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(Photo by Jerry Lee McGuire) One of the many Street Stocks that swarmed the track
each week in 1996 was Jerry Gaskill's big boat.


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(J.L. McGuire collection) Here's your Modified Top 5 for the week of 8-18-95.

[lakeside #29]

Jerry Lee, Thank you for running the photo of you and Jim Beckley. I've never seen the shot before. There's a story behind Jim wearing the yellow firesuit. When Jim started driving my car he wore a red firesuit with a white band around the middle. We had become a pretty closeknit group Jim and his wife Dee, Peggy and I, and Dean Wallace. One night Jim shows up with the yellow firesuit and says "I won this and it really matches the car." So from then on thats what he wore. It blew me away that he would do something that cool. It just shows what a great guy he is.

The white #3 3-window coupe came up from Dodge City, Kansas. His first name was Jerry. We had run against him up in Fort Morgan a couple of times. He was part of the Kansas Antique Racers. Sadly he passed away a few years ago and the car was sold.

The blue #33 of Chris Doty had a long Lakeside history. It had been Rex Snell's car in the early '60's. After that it belonged to Bob Land. It's the #99 coupe that is shown in the profile you did of Bob on this site. Jim Moore bought it and ran it as yellow #93. Jim sold it and it showed up at Lakeside as #17 and it was owned by Warren Melbourn. In 1971 it was green #17 owned by Frank Balzano and driven by Mike Cropper. I had Mike as a customer when I sold motorcycle parts.

The car sat for a number of years in a garage on Santa Fe Drive. The car was advertised for sale . I went and looked at it, but it needed more work than I wanted and it still had a 6 cylinder engine so I passed. Jay Saxton wound up with it and fixed it up including a smallblock Chevy engnie, this was 1983 by now. He ran it as a Limited Modified. Jay sold it to Rich and Skip Makula. They built a new frame and Darrell Stingerie narrow the body, shaved the drip rails, and painted the car. It ran as blue #3. Skip lost interest and got into racing greyhounds. He and Rich had their own kennel for awhile. Again the car sat until one of Chris Doty's friends bought it and brought it out to SCR. I don't know what became of it after that.