Ive been going around shooting abandoned tracks the past few weeks and shot North Wilksboro and Rockingham last week. The Middle Georgia Raceway opened in 1966, with many of the racing biggies earning victories there. The track which has been closed to racing since 1984, was featured in the second episode of Lost Speedways. city of Atlanta for a week. Richard Petty won four times, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each won once. ": I was there. While the racetrack had a short life within professional racing, the land where the track was located holds many stories. "My reasons for wanting to do this show were purely selfish I love the mystique and eeriness of abandoned things, especially when those things are race tracks," Earnhardt said, per Dirty Mo . [1], Over the Fourth of July weekend in 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the track. [1] In the middle of the season, Bobby Isaac won the second of the three NASCAR races held at the track in a 300 lap event. King and even
In the commercial, a sign stated that it was the Brixton Motor Speedway.[4]. ever seen. Petty started on the pole position and won the 274-mile (441km) race. 20 years ago, GMS Productions of Macon syndicated a 30th anniversary radio special about the event. For instance, in 1967 authorities found a moonshine distillery located buried in a chamber under the track. time, was arrested and tried in court. The track has also hosted a monster truck rally and other events while Thornton has owned it. Lamar Brown gave me a guided tour of the still after it was destroyed. Pamela Mullis, 54, was sentenced to 90 to 120 days in prison after she pleaded guilty to felony theft in Houston County Superior Court. The 1974 Southern 500, the 25th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on September 2, 1974, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Now the track is overgrown again, with grass sprouting through the seams of the paved half-mile oval. Middle Georgia Raceway, once a full-blown NASCAR . be used for fermentation of alcohol. From 1966 to 1971, the track hosted nine NASCAR races with winners including Richard Petty and Bobby Allison. He covered the 250 miles (400km) with a speed of 85.121 miles per hour (136.989km/h) which was the fastest in the track's NASCAR history. The Middle Georgia Raceway is an abandoned race track near Byron, Georgia. During the trial, the government produced an invoice for 24 pounds of yeast that was purchased by Brown 10 days before the moonshine still was discovered. In addition to NASCAR races there were sprint car races and outlaw. The 2nd Atlanta International Pop Festival was held at the Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron over the 4th of July weekend in 1970. I hope to preserve the past through documentation and photographs since many of these amazing places are often lost to neglect, demolition, or renovation. It's been almost 50 years since that festival and Thornton has the land up for sale at $1.5 million. 4) "The True Story Behind The Fake Racetrack in Chryslers Latest TV Commercial." Described as the Woodstock of the South, bands played throughout the night while over 300,000 concertgoers descended on a town with a population of 1,500. "Byron Moonshine Legend Lives On." Matthew Dillner, who works with Earnhardt Jr. on the Dale Jr. Download podcast is the show's co-host. They havent eaten each other yet, Lavish oasis up for sale in Connecticut is the home of BeautyRx founder. The very first of these races was won by NASCAR legend Richard Petty. [1] Later that year, David Pearson won a 150-mile (240km) race from the pole. A historical marker at the property recognizes it as one of the largest public gatherings ever held in Georgia. [2] The final race was held near the end of the year. The first NASCAR race at the Middle
Together, they will journey to the abandoned tracks that are no longer recognizable due to the foliage. The moonshine distillery was reported to have an electric exhaust system, electric lighting, and electronic insect repellant devices. During the video the guy that recorded the video made the statement that they had footage other than just the Hendrix part. N.p., n.d. http://www.macon.com/2013/08/25/2627781/byron-moonshine-legend-lives-on.html
I hope the owner decides to do something with it. NASCAR allowed the return of the Chrysler Hemi engine in 1966, and at the same time Ford decided to boycott NASCAR for the season. In the commercial, a sign stated it was the Brixton Motor Speedway. Forested areas around the festival were transformed into campgrounds. Oh yes they have Dave. We learned there were unsung heroes, remarkable feats, incredible memories, checkered pasts, and unhealed wounds that still needed attention.". The Middle Georgia Raceway is an abandoned race track near Byron, Georgia. My goal is to showcase the obscure, sometimes historic, forgotten places I have visited across the Southeast. You just can't put NOTHIN past uscan you??? Middle Georgia Raceway. I really believe that this facility has lots potential. I took my Supra out there and an older Porsche..loved it. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. But it is not the rest of the story Leon. This was the first season where all races were televised in some form. The owner at the time, Lamar Brown Jr., was arrested after the discovery. An interesting situation happened at the track in. One federal
He thinks it would be a good location for a public park. "Probably 15 at the time -- a bunch of us would pile in the car and come down here from Macon on Saturday night and watch, like Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, a bunch of the big guys, race.". I saw the trailer for that film on YouTube. It began on Sunday, January 14, and ended on Sunday, November 18. I explored this place many years ago! [1] The final NASCAR race was held on November 7, 1971. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. shows Jimi Hendrix performed at due to his death three months later.3, The Doge Durango television ad
Richard Petty won his second consecutive Winston Cup Championship and fourth overall. In later years the track was used for special events, concerts, commercial and feature filming, and most recently as a Halloween attraction. It would be a GREAT place to get the new generation of kids off the computers and cell phones Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. This brings back memories for me. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. BYRON, Ga. Driving down Highway 41 in Byron is a hidden treasure, but you wouldn't see it unless you look past the driving range. Byron, GA. The 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season began on Sunday January 18 and ended on Sunday November 22. The season marked series first visit to the state of Maine. The season began on Sunday January 21 and ended on Sunday October 21. few years the race at Middle Georgia would be called the Macon 300, Middle
"Matthew and I have been mapping the locations of abandoned tracks for years, and I always wanted to explore them. On the weekend of July 4, 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the Middle Georgia Raceway. attendance varied each year from 6,000 to 10,000 and the prize money also went
Brown was the only witness for the defense and adamantly denied knowing anything about the still.
The jury deliberated less than two hours before finding him not guilty. Promoters and security gave in and opened the gates an hour into the opening acts first set. One of Richard Petty's 4 wins at the track came when he was very ill and was questionable to race. Wednesday night, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins a journey to visit some of racing's abandoned tracks. The subject of the moonshine still under turn 3 was talked about on the Goat Rodeo radio broadcast Tuesday night with the good folks from Middle Georgia Raceway preparing for their Saturday, August 31st Reunion with Richard Petty as Grand Marshal. It opened in 1966. the Georgia natives Allman Brothers Band. Bobby Isaac was the champion of the series as NASCAR transitioned from the Grand National era to the Winston Cup era. A trap door inside of a ticket booth led 17 feet underground to a cave where the distillery was kept. Earnhardt Jr. previously posted a trailer to reveal the premiere date and provides some new glimpses into his journey through the history of motorsports. The owner, developer Tim Thornton, said the property on U.S. 41 includes about 61 acres. 09/05/ 1965. One controversial piece of evidence was
Search By State. Great photos and interesting back story, thanks for posting it. kinda like a journey for the chosen few to the promised land. hold your peace and show your face and you may be rewarded, but remember this, your word is the only thing you can give but also keep, This site requires Javascript to function properly - please enable Javascript in your browser. An earlier race was run on November 1968 with the same name and year number. is in Byron, Georgia, in Peach County. ], it was purchased with the goal of converting it to a land development site. If you know someone who genuinely has interest in racing history particularly MGR, I am all for you . He made the unwise decision to run tires from his previous race at Talladega, which were a harder compound, AND, the track had lots of sand on it. In 2011 Dodge shot a commercial there. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (n.d.): n. pag. The first season will also showcase Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia and several others. You can reach me at AbandonedSoutheast@gmail.com. The final NASCAR race at the Middle Georgia Raceway was the 1971 Georgia 500, held on November 7, 1971. After the economy crashed, plans were placed on hold. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. Over 30 musical acts performed including Jimi Hendrix, B.B. The short clip also showed him talking to Richard Petty, NASCAR's all-time wins leader. The Middle Georgia Raceway is loaded with history ranging from record setting runs t. He won the 100-mile event in his 1966 . your content. The next year, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discovered a moonshine distillery in an underground bunker at turn three. I remember well as I went as a kid almost every week and especially the special races. [3] Allison won the 274-mile (441km) event in a 1969 Dodge. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. By Jenna Eason. [1] The final NASCAR race was held on November 7, 1971. The 1973 Daytona 500, the 15th running of the event, was won by Richard Petty on February 18, 1973, at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The bands that performed were: Allman Brothers Band / B.B. Nine NASCAR races were held there from 1966 to 1971. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a half-mile paved track that opened in 1966, at the cost of $500,000. As the song goes, :"I guess you had to be there. Finally, there is a $10 ad-free version. distillery capable of producing 80 gallons of moonshine a day. The Second Annual International Pop Festival was also located on the Middle Georgia Raceway in 1970. I got this site from my buddy who informed me regarding this site and now this time I am visiting this website and reading very informative posts here. During the inaugural race, the Speedy Morelock 200, Richard Petty broke the speed record for half-mile NASCAR tracks. Or was it a male??? This half-mile paved oval welcomed the NASCAR big leagues nine times between 1966 and 1971, four of those races were run by Richard. Tim Thornton is the owner of the land, and says he has vivid memories watching the races and serving ice cream at the festival. Microsoft has removed the Birds Eye imagery for this map. In front of a crowd of 7,500 spectators, Petty hit a top speed of 82.023 miles per hour. Bill Elliott, driving for Harry Melling, had won 11 races in 1985, but lost the title by 101 points to three-time race winner Waltrip. Another track from my trip to Georgia, the long dormant Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. The California 150 for sportsman cars was run prior to this race. Middle Georgia Raceway hosted NASCAR races between 1966 and 1971. [1]. Middle Georgia Raceway held nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (then NASCAR Grand National) races from 1966-1971. Anyone who can come up with about $1.2 million can be the owner of a local race track with a long and colorful history. The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. [1] In the middle of the season, Bobby Isaac won the second of the three NASCAR races held at the track in a 300 lap event. [5], There was a big crash at the track in which the barricade went through driver Sonny Braswell's car and broke 14 bones. Other nearby markers. [1] NASCAR's 1969 season again began at the track. I recently have a phone conversation with current owner Tim Thornton and he seems to be very interested in seeing the track come back to life. [4] A few years ago[when? "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? http://georgiahistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/9.4_Pop_Fest.pdf
Nine times between 1966 and 1971, the premier series raced at Middle Georgia Raceway in the town of Macon. Atlanta International Raceway turn action. Thanks, Dave. "My reasons for wanting to do this show were purely selfish I love the mystique and eeriness of abandoned things, especially when those things are race tracks," Earnhardt said, per Dirty Mo Media. However, Peacock is missing from Amazon Fire TV and Roku. 31 races were scheduled in the 1973 season. The only working part of the still when it was raided was a barrel of mesh "cooking", (fermenting.) Lamar Brown Jr, the track owner at the
A . It held nine NASCAR Grand National (today's Sprint Cup) events from 1966-71. Richard Petty won four races, Bobby Allison won three, and David Pearson and Bobby Isaac each earned one victory. Ill definitely have to add this one to the list! The property includes an active golf ball driving range adjacent to the highway. Thanks, Dale Jr. Is looking for old and abandoned race tracks. My father, Bob Moore, and many of his friends cleaned the place up a few years ago for a car show and vintage racing. [1], Over the Fourth of July weekend in 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the track. NASCAR began its 1968 season at the track. Georgia 500 and finally the Georgia 500. Maybe something like that could be looked at also. You may wish to switch to the. Isaac sat on the pole after recording a 98.148-mile-per-hour (157.954km/h) lap, which was the fastest in the track's history. In 2011, the current owner leased the track to Dodge, who wanted to use it for a Durango commercial. From watching the
Im unsure if Car and Driver ever filmed there. The last race happened in 1971, and by 1986 it was closed. There use to be weekly NASCAR Sortmen races that drew racers from Asheville, NC (Jack Ingram, Bosco Lowe, etc,), Tennessee (Friday Hasler, Bob Burcham, etc), Alabama (Bobby And Donnie Alison, etc), Florida (Paul Conners) and another that I dont recall where he was from (Bob Leach). Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "Byron raceway roars back to life in car ads", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle_Georgia_Raceway&oldid=1144342976, Motorsport venues in Georgia (U.S. state), Buildings and structures in Peach County, Georgia, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from November 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 March 2023, at 06:20. Within the next
Premium will also include non-televised Premier League soccer games beginning in August. [1] Over 300,000 attended the concert; Byrons population was around 2,000 at the time. This festival was one of the last
In addition, there is a $5 premium version that has limited ads and is free to existing Comcast subscribers. The 1971 Georgia 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that occurred on November 7, 1971, at Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. Such fun was had. ?? Jimi Hendrix headlined the three-day concert and played a unique rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at midnight on the 4th of July, accompanied by a fireworks display. LeeRoy Yarbrough sat on the pole position and Bobby Allison won the 267-mile (430km) race. The winner was Ivan Baldwin followed by Dan Clark and Jim Sanderson. Back in the early eighties (before the referenced ARCA race), I accompanied a good friend and his ARCA car to Unadilla to display the car in promotion of the upcoming ARCA race. Ex-Warner Robins employee pleads guilty to stealing $45k from city bank account, Wendys Has a Classic Answer to McDonalds Burger Changes, Gruesome freak accident in P.E. Even after the raceway was closed down, it gained notoriety after Dodge used this location to film a commercial in 2011. The 1970 Georgia 500 also occurred at the track. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a raceway located in Byron, Georgia, in the United States. The 1979 Southern 500, the 30th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on September 3, 1979, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
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