20 replies to this topic

[suhoney18]

Saw on their Facebook track is up for sale...hopefully someone takes over that keeps racing at the track in any form

[714d]

Not sure what the typical price of a place like that is, but seems cheap. Unfortunately, the purchase is only the first pile of money to burn to run a race track in this region.

[deathpunch]

Seen the asking price is almost cut in half so it's definitely priced to sell now

[Walt Wimer]

Given the state of pavement racing in the western PA area any new owner would really have their work cut out for themselves to make a go of things here.  Best of luck to anyone willing to give it a try!!

 

Walt

[jo73]

Is this the old Clearfield dirt track ? If so, at one time the place flourished with it being a dirt track. 3/8 or 1/2 mile ? Can't remember. I don't believe there's any other tracks in the immediate area is there ?

[lm/0/12/71/72]

I would say jo73 it was really a 5/8 mile track or a really huge 1/2 mile. We raced there in the late 70's we loved that track. It was 110 miles from the garage to the track for us but you could spread out and run hard lots of room. Didn't get torn up much but when you did it wasn't good. I knew some track owners and they tried to rate the size for insurance purposes on the inside , the smaller the track the rates were better I guess. Back in the 70's they clocked a late model 133 mph at the end of the straightaway , I imagine the super lates of today would really fly on that big track , I really miss those good old days.

[old man d]

I"ve heard of Clearfield but know nothing about it! What year did it open and how long was it dirt before they paved the track.

[Walt Wimer]

According to THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S SPEEDWAYS, the track is a half-mile.  It was opened as a dirt track in 1970 and at first was known as Mt. Zion Speedway.  The track was first paved in 1987 but then was back to dirt for a few years. Those dates are not in the book as the book pre-dates that change.    The now closed Hidden Valley/Gamblers/America's Motorsports Park is located quit close but last raced in August of 2014.

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL!!

 

Walt 

[jo73]

Yea, for whatever reason I thought the track was shortened. WOW. They have definitely put a reasonable price on the place. Shame, in today's turmoil to get racers, fans, and many more factors. You have to wonder if anyone is going to take that leap. Will it survive as a asphalt track ? Personally, I think that is a huge uphill struggle. Will it survive if someone puts clay back on the place ? Cost, Cost, Cost. I have heard some say this was the current owners playground. For someone to take on this challenge, you better have a love for the sport and the track. Glenn Donnelly lost Syracuse, he has rolling wheels which is a big 5/8, which I think is just a specials only speedway now. You wonder what a guy like that could do with a place like Clearfield. Possibilities, he is probably the type of person the place needs to survive. New owners in this game get a rude awakening early on, only to find themselves on the outside looking in a very few short years.  JMO.     

[714d]

Is any of the clay still there that was scraped off? I think that's the only chance the place has if someone with connections could put clay on it. I'd love to see it happen, but I'd hate to be the one to pay for it. Lake Erie speedway is a much nicer facility in a much better area. If it can't stay open, there's zero chance of clearfield surviving as asphalt.

[BRC27]

Asphalt racing is dead in this Area.  Clearfield would make a great Dirt track racer's Paradise, and it would make good money.  I know there's going to be arguments about that, but here is what sets this track up for the possibility of success.  Located only a few miles off the I-80 Penfield Exit.  Nice Grand stands, plenty of room for parking (with a little work), Good Lighting, lots of room to race (even if it was reconfigured).  What's missing is someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to track prep or is willing to listen to someone that does.  Would make a nice big venue (WoO or Lucas series) track.  I personally believe it would do well as a weekly track but it would hurt other local tracks like Hummingbird and Thunder Mountain.  Clearfield doesn't have a lot, but there are plenty of hotels for traveling tourists and race teams that would come in for a weekend event.  And they're not located far from the track.  One Exit down 80 or a 5-10 min drive from the track.

 

the potential is there for a good track.  If someone were to come in tear up the Asphalt, put down the clay and let it set up properly and do it right, This place could be a Lernerville type speedway.

[The Legend]

Except the ville is a 1/2 hour from Pittsburgh

[BRC27]

Clearfield's centrally located 2 hours from the burg, hour from State College, 2 hours from New York.  used to attract some big guys back in the day.  Ben Miley, Ericksen, Bob Wearing, Clate Husted's home track.  Then when they reconfigured it, it still brought big names on occasion Chub Frank, Ken Schrader, Dave Blaney, and not sure bought thought Bloomer was there once or twice.

[The Legend]

This is the 80's , 90's or early 2000's anymore

[animalgfx]

This is the Big Clearfield track... It's actual size is almost identical to Pittsburgh.. When they switched it back to dirt for a few years they made it a large 3/8 with an odd configuration.. Because of the size of the turns guys barely lifted.. they almost raced a circle.. 

 

I would LOVE to see someone buy it and make it dirt again.. BUT the reality of this area is.. The economy is terrible.. And to operate this track, any track, but this track especially it is going to take someone with.. Deep pockets and passion to do it..

 

It could be everything that any of the "Name" tracks are, and in its day (Coal industry boom) it did draw names.. The very best thing this track has going for it Is the viewing.. There is not a bad seat in the house and the hillside parking allows people to hang out in a really relaxed environment where you are not elbow to elbow with other spectators..

 

When Russell operated it as a dirt track.. He did run several large money shows and it brought outsiders (Big Names) Yes Bloomquist was there once.. Won.. Destroyed everyone.. If rumors are true.. He was payed to be there.. and took the winnings home too.. That would have been the same week that he won the Firecracker..

 

I LOVE this place but I am not getting my hopes up.. The amount of times this track has opened and closed coupled with the amount of times (Hidden Valley/Gambles/AMP) have opened and closed has put a TERRIBLE taste in potential advertisers mouths..

[BRC27]

You're Right This isn't the 80's or 90's.  People aren't racing for points anymore.  a lot of teams are going where the money is.  Gas Prices are as low or lower than they were in the early 2000's and there are more touring events than ever.  It's not out of the question to run a weekly show that would keep the lights on, and throw in some specials once a month that would bring in large crowds and big money.  Of course, like I said earlier, that's all dependent on Management.  As long as the track was managed and promoted properly, there is potential for some great racing and potential to bring money into the area.  If you bring the Lucas guys in, of course you have to pay their show fees, but big ticket races like that bring larger crowds that benefit the town.  In return Local companies are then willing to sponsor more and get some of that added revenue coming into the town.

[BaconBits]

Continuity has a lot to do with a track's potential, and CNB has ZERO continuity, dirt or asphalt. It's going to be a serious uphill battle if anybody takes on the challenge of turning it into a money maker.

Edited by BaconBits, 26 January 2016 - 11:23 AM.

[ramsey31]

Couldn't have hit the nail on the head any better.   The biggest problem Clearfield County has is a race track is here today, gone tomorrow.   The track ownership isn't able to put together a long term plan, and neither are the racers as a result.

 

IMO owning a race track is no different than owning a race car.   Sure some tracks have/are made/making $, but most are just a couple bad events away from closing their doors.

 

I highly doubt Hummingbird or Marion Center could make a go of it, if they didn't already own the facility/land,etc     Most of the tracks that are still open, have long been paid for, and don't carry a large lease/loan on top of everything else.

 

I didn't even know it was for sale in the first place, but see now that its reduced.   Kinda odd.

Edited by ramsey31, 26 January 2016 - 12:31 PM.

[Skull]

[quote name="BaconBits" post="418581" timestamp="1453825370"]Continuity has a lot to do with a track's potential, and CNB has ZERO continuity, dirt or asphalt. It's going to be a serious uphill battle if anybody takes on the challenge of turning it into a money maker.[/quote

Continuity is a bigger part of the equation than people realize. Not just being open yearly, but operating on the same night at the same time contribute to a succesful race track.

Take MCS for instance. Yes, it has been bought and paid for for years, but I think it is the longest continually operating dirt track in the region, ahead of Lernerville by 3 or 4 seasons. The facility is primitive and in disrepair. The track needs reclayed. The lighting is terrible. But, the stands are packed every Saturday evening and more often than not, so are the pits, despite the average to below average payout. Why? Probably most likely due to continuity.

[cats442]

Is any of the clay still there that was scraped off? I think that's the only chance the place has if someone with connections could put clay on it. I'd love to see it happen, but I'd hate to be the one to pay for it. Lake Erie speedway is a much nicer facility in a much better area. If it can't stay open, there's zero chance of clearfield surviving as asphalt.

Pretty sure the old dirt/clay that was scrapped off is piled behind the parking area by the grandstand.