Kleiner’s Korner: North Carolina’s First Motor Speedway - Part 1 (Planning and Construction)
Automobile racing in North Carolina during the early part of the 1900s consisted of local enthusiasts trying to outdo their neighbors in informal, unorganized events. This changed in 1924.
"Back-road duels between owners of sleek 'speedsters' and flashy 'roadsters' were not uncommon in a state in which horse racing had for so long been the pastime of the country gentry. And the use of horse tracks for auto racing seemed a natural extension for the thoroughbreds of steel." (Entering the Auto Age, Robert E. Ireland, 1990)
Seeing an opportunity to open a speedway in the south, a group of local businessman financed the construction of the Charlotte Speedway in Pineville, NC nine miles south of the city. Part 1 of this new series looks at the construction of the track with future posts detailing the opening race, drivers and the track's ultimate demise only three years later. Documents unless otherwise noted are from July, August and October, 1924 issues of the "Charlotte Observer".
A Site is Selected and Construction Begins
The major speedway of the south at the time was chosen to be in Pineville, NC nine miles south of Charlotte because of its proximity to rail lines and several highways.
The railroads assisted by offering shuttle service on race days.
The speedway's location thirty-one years after its opening. Can you make out where the original oval track may have been? (HIstoric Aerials.com)
A more recent Mapquest picture showing an industrial park on the site. Note "Cadillac Street" on the lower right; supposedly at one time there were more streets named after automobiles.
"Farmers in Vicinity are Enthusiastic"
The speedway was to resemble wooden planked tracks already built in Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA and Altoona, PA and was to be built by the Prince Speedway Construction Company. Completion needed to be done two weeks prior to opening day, October 25, 1924.
Costing $300,000 the speedway's grandstands would hold 24,000 people with more than double that in the infield with space for 12,000 automobiles.
October 2, 1924 construction photo: 4 million feet of lumber sounds like a lot but after living in NC for 7 months I can definitely say there's lots more where that came from - even today! (ebay)
The only automobile speedway in the south! (The Concord Daily Tribune Aug. 29, 1924).
The speedway's General Manager Osmond L. Barringer operated the first automobile dealership in North Carolina and opened the first car-servicing garage in the south. (The Index-Journal Jun. 30, 1961)
Barringer is listed as an automobile dealer in the 1910 U.S. Census.
The oval track was heavily banked as this and the following picture show.
The Oval Loop
". . . riding demons will hurtle with mighty power". (Carolina Motorist Nov., 1924)
Map showing accessibility to the rail lines and highways. Grandstands and tunnels to permit autos and pedestrians to enter the infield can also be seen. Wonder where the pits were. (Charlotte Observer Aug. 24, 1924)
ebay
Facts About the Speedway
1 1/4 mile board oval track, spectator friendly, qualifying speed at least 110 mph and professional drivers only driving specially built race cars; races were to be 250 miles in length.
(Shelby Daily Star Oct. 7, 1924)
Next Up
Part 2 will look at the Speedway's grand opening, its first fatality and the drivers who raced there. (Carolina Motorist Oct., 1924)
Comments
Cool stuff, Art. Using the Charlotte Observer map as a guide, I marked the 2 aerials, largely the older map : )
See attached photo of first race program for Charlotte Speedway. Document has driver information and ads inside.
Program was handed down to family member from Uncle who attended the first race
Jerry Clemmons 704-214-0249