History The End Of The Moody Mile (The Mile Oval at The N.Y.S. Fair Grouds)

The the mile dirt oval and grandstand at the New York State Fairgrounds is soon to be bulldozed and replaced with a concert hall.

Auto racing at The Moody Mile goes back to 1903.










http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...oom-the-dirt-mile-track-at-syracuse-new-york/

 

Sad.....

 

This is Al "Suicide" Sanders with his only helmet.

Al has passed on. Photo by Otto Graham



Al Sanders had some ideas to lighten it up a but for Syracuse.

 

That's awful news !!
Progress was alright once, but it has gone on too long

 

I had heard they were building an amplitheatre by the lake for concerts but I didn't know they were going to bulldoze the track. That sucks!

 

Open wheel racing 1961-

 

Not to be disrespectful, but when was it races the last time?

It's bad news when the closed down good track that deserves to be used!!

I like old track and old story's! Any good story's from the Track?

I don't know how it works on your side, but is it possible to do a collection off signatures from people against, as a means to stop them.
Link says plans!

Maybe this is a golden opportunity to @Ryan to pull the full force of the HAMB behind him, because it would take to long to stump the ground in NYC, and wait for people to hear it and come to rescue!
Not that Ryan don't do enough, but he is a man we all respects and listens too!

And it could be an opportunity to race HAMB friendly cars in another locations, with as big a history as hot rodding.

Just a thought.

 

They are still running every Columbus Day weekend, Big Block Modifieds, 358 C.I.D. Smallblock Modifieds, U.S.A.C. Silvercrown, and what are called Prostocks (LateModels)

 

Okay link didn't say so and initial post didn't say eighter.
Did you read the edit on my post?

 

There was a race every Labor Day during the state fair until 1999 , it was limited to Flatheads and Six cylinders until 1966.

I am sure there are all kinds of great stories, however I was born in Dec 81 and don't know many of them.

 

This is a link about U.S.A.C. Stock Car Racing at the Moody mile-

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2010/03/01/hmn_feature7.html

 

Al Unser power through the sweeping turns of The Moody Mile -

 

Buzzie Reutimann
at SyracuseBob Perran Photo

 

There is a movement to try and save it, public hearings ect... but I fear it's doomed.

Even some fairly big names in U.S. auto racing have spoken out, some on T.V. as well.

 

I invite all other H.A.M.B.ers to post photos or stories.

 

Another piece of history gone...

 

I don't want this to get too political-
http://www.localsyr.com/story/d/story/state-fair-hosting-public-forum-to-discuss-50m-
to/25267/1KYQt4o-y0O7eh_b3D5kIg

 

I think we should tear down shopping malls and replace them with race tracks, drag strips, and drive ins!

 

This is one of only three one mile dirt fair grounds left in the United States.

 

Never been to the Moody Mile in NY.

I remember the Taft Stadium races as a kid in Oklahoma City (1950's) and after that closed, the nice track down May Ave. at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Took my son there many times when he was a kid (now 29 yrs). I remember the first time we were standing near turn four and as the cars came around we were showered with mud globs! He laughed like crazy...

But alas, the Fair park track is gone and the grand stand bulldozed down. The politics/money behind it's demise are interesting...
You can see all sorts of horse events there now but no more racing!
NSRA does their regional thing their every year...

Hope they save the Moody Mile!

 

1957 Grand National Race # 41(NASCAR) Syracuse Fair Grounds



OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS
1957-41

Gwyn Staley Chevrolet Julian Petty 0 100 90 Running 1,000
2 3 42 Lee Petty Oldsmobile Petty Enterprises 0 99 0 Running 625
3 7 150 Bill Walker Ford -- 0 99 0 Running 400
4 9 9 Dean Layfield Ford William Dickenson 0 97 0 Running 295
5 5 22 Fireball Roberts Ford Fireball Roberts 0 95 0 Running 255
6 13 83 Lennie Page Ford Lennie Page 0 93 0 Running 210
7 15 37 Bill Benson Mercury Bill Benson 0 89 0 Running 175
8 17 99 Buzz Woodward Ford -- 0 87 0 Running 165
9 20 93 Ted Chamberlain Plymouth Ted Chamberlain 0 82 0 Running 150
10 16 19 Dick Walters Plymouth Dick Walters 0 80 0 Running 140
11 18 86 Ray Campbell Ford -- 0 77 0 Running 135
12 2 7 Jim Reed Ford Jim Reed 0 74 10 Running 125
13 22 41 Ed Jackson Dodge Billy Rafter 0 72 0 Spindle 110
14 19 319 Jake Jacobs Plymouth -- 0 58 0 Running 100
15 12 17 Al Stearn Chevrolet -- 0 57 0 Bearing 100
16 14 6 Ted Hauser Chevrolet -- 0 43 0 Overheating 100
17 4 47 Jack Smith Chevrolet Jack Smith 0 40 0 Bearing 100
18 11 98 Fred Knapp Chevrolet -- 0 39 0 Steering 100
19 24 13 Peck Peckham Chevrolet William Meyer 0 29 0 Piston 100
20 10 95 Bob Duell Ford Julian Buesink 0 21 0 Engine 50
21 21 9 Joe Saunders Ford -- 0 19 0 Oil pressure 50
22 8 30 Art Anderson Chevrolet Axel Anderson 0 14 0 Piston 50
23 6 8 Emory Mahon Chevrolet -- 0 3 0 Axle 50
24 23 4 Billy Rafter Plymouth Billy Rafter 0 2 0 Fuel pump 50

 

1934 Syracuse New York State Fair Grounds Racing Poster Print

 

Sad tp see it go, I remember the Allisons' racing there, the Bodine boys racing there. Those big block modifieds were very powerful cars, wicked fast.

 

Robert,
I think you are re-incarnated from the past!

 

This Photos are from the Midstate Stockcar Club-

http://www.midstateantiquestockcarclub.com/odds_ends.html

NY STATE FAIRGROUNDS
SPEEDWAYSYRACUSE, NY.HOME OF THE "NY STATE FAIR CHAMPIONSHIP"
These photo's were submitted by Bill Bentley whose father Jack owned
the #38 Ken Meahl flipped spectacularly at the Fair in 1963. They
depict the height of the 'flathead Era' from the grandstands.






Thanks Bill.

 

This car ran out of Windham N.Y. about 15 miles from me.
It ran the beach in 57 driven by George Baumgardner, and 58 by Bill Wimble.
It also ran the mile at Syrause, Hillsboro N.C., and with a bolt on roof (Zipper Top).

 

"Irish" Jack Murphy, Nolan Swift & Jeep Herbert....Jeep's car was previously numbered 991, but was changed to #1

 

This brings a tear to my eye, I crewed - kinda - for Irish Jack Murphy on his Super, the rear engined car that ran Oswego. That was before Jimmy Shampine brought his out. I have looked for a picture of that car for years, do you have one? I remember we made a nose like a Brabham or Lotus and the Syracuse news paper came and took pictures of it for an article about Jack, he was located in Liverpool back then - 1967? maybe. I was the punk kid.
The Supers get in your blood, baddest racecars on the planet.

 

I love New York!...........NOT!!-MIKE

 

I grew up 4 miles away from the Fairgrounds. My Mother and I were just laughing last night about us kids walking to the Fairgrounds and sneaking in to the Fair (and the races) in holes in the Front and Back fences. I have a lot of great memories of the Moody Mile races. It is a DAMN SHAME that the
F'd up politicians and State of New York are going to Bulldoze this historic track. It is a part of the fabric and history of the Great New York State Fair. It makes me sick.

Thanks for the posts Robert; hopefully someone will come to their senses before they just tear it all down. Super DIRT week puts a lot ($ 10 Million +) to the Syracuse economy each year. This is also the site of The Syracuse Nationals car show, but the track is not used for the show much anymore.

VR&C.