Plan for speedway motors forward (St. Charles Speedway)

I go to i55 also dirtgirl. to go there is to know you. :D

BTW...I'll have to stop at one of those meetings this week. If there is one??
 
I really wished I would've went there in late 2000 (the first chance I would've had), but I had 7:30 classes (in Rolla) and was a green Freshman who wasn't sure what I could get away with. I'd give $50 bucks to see one more show at that place. Just another little piece of history that will float away without me getting to experience it. I wish I had 5 minutes alone with each of those stupid complaining neighbors around the track (and all the other old tracks that were there before the people who got them shut down). I remember as a kid (5) having to have my dad explain to me why the only racetrack that mattered (Riverside Stadium) was being shutdown by some rich people on a cliff 2 miles away. I'm sure it was the same way for alot of people who went to St. Charles. So maybe some people thought St. Charles was a dump and maybe they didn't enjoy going there, but to wish that maybe the most important piece of the towns racing history to be tore down is rediculous. You guys were lucky to have all those longtime tracks up and running for so long. All of Kansas City's racing landmarks went down along time ago. Olympic Stadium, Riverside, and the old Lakeside speedways are all gone. Those tracks produced just about every Knoxville Nationals winner in the sixties and early 70s and Olympic was the site of A.J. Foyt's first USAC win (in a midget). In the same way that the older St. Louis tracks have produced nearly every UMP National champion in recent times.
 
Anybody who was anybody in stl area racing raced at ST.CHARLES SPEEDWAY. The place was run down pretty bad at the end. But, the city had it on its hit list, so who would want to invest in it? That place was the starting point and finish line for the careers of a lot of our areas great racers. It was also the site of a lot of great racing and career milestones. Even run down, I hated to see it go. A little piece of every long time race from this area died the day the ST.CHARLES SPEEDWAY closed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Unfortunately, the people who cared the most about the track weren't registered voters in St. Peters. Those who were registered voters made enough waves at city hall that they eventually killed off the Bowl. Looking back, maybe us fans should have tried to get it recognized in the "National Register of Historic Places", or whatever it's called. Once a piece of property makes it on that list, local government has a very hard time getting their greasy fingers into its future. Might be something to think about for some of the tracks that are now seeing pressure from neighbors / government.
 
I believe that St. Charles Speedway was on the original Summernationals Tour. That first year I think they had like only 6 stops.
 
I remember going to at least one SummerNationals event at St. Charles. I believe Moyer won a SN race there. Dick Taylor may have also, although I am not sure about that.

bnkr
 
PERRY TRIPP is getting a ARCA car ready for Springfield and Dequoin,he has a top notch used race parts business in Moresville,sells a lot of stuff on ebay..
 
I Have A Lot Of Great Old Pictures From St. Charles Speedway. It Had A Lot Of St. Louis Area Racing History.
 
Doug that was so great of an idea that I had to check it out to see if there was any hope left. First off if the owners object to the designation it makes things difficult to say the least. It bascially requires the National Park people to intervene (which with a race track makes things impossible). Plus I'm not sure when the Charlie Bowl was built. I figure it is very close to the right age, but it would have to be at least 50 years old to have a chance. Even then you probably wouldn't be able to race on it, because it is a historical landmark. Its a real shame that they couldn't get a reasonable curfew worked out. I mean is some noise up to 10pm really bad enough to politically campaign for its demise.
 
Laynejw, There was a lot more to it then just the curfew and noise. One thing was they had there choice of being annexed into St.Charles or St.Peters. St.Peters promised them a lot of things including opening the back of the track up to Mc Clay road to ease entering and leaving. After the annexation St.Peters backed out on several promises and naturally nothing was in writing. This led to the speedway and city relationship to become quite adversarial. I actually watched Mel Hemsath grab mayor brown up in the collar and throw him off the property then ask the police to arrest him. I believe if they would have annexed into St.Charles the track would still be there today.
 
Was it a city mandate that shut the place down? Like a revoking or refusal to renew business permits or something?
 
They were on verge of involentary (sp) annexation. I'm probablly getting deeper into this then I need to be so I will stop my rambling. I will just remember it for the good times.
 
I see. I know Kansas City was famous for their involuntary annexations, but they were forced to stop at some point. I guess the involentary annexations weren't so legal. But since I don't know the timetables I wll stop too.
 
Here's a thought... maybe David wants to sell and get on with life. I miss the track too but it's not up to me.
 
I remember Kenny Schrader racing there with his Red Baron Pizza late model. I still have a shirt with that car on it. I also have a bunch of old allied sportsman pictures of Bobby Regot and Don Hobbs racing there.
 
I use to go to st charles all the time,, it was a great time. I sure hated when they closed it down.. I have alot of great memories at that track.
 
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