History Abandoned Paved Banked Oval in Northern CA

I have been driving by this old banked oval and have always wondered the history, name and date of operations. I was driving by yesterday and popped the drone up in the air to get a birdseye look. Does anyone know anything about this track? Where can I post this for looking up history of old race tracks?

 

I would think you take the name of the town and Google it with speedway and something should pop up. Then Google northern California race track history.

 

Get the GPS coordinates from your phone & Google them (post them here too). Best shortcut to finding out about a track. Works even if the track has a different name than the town.

 

Dennis Mattish publishes books about old race tracks in California. I bought "History of San Jose Auto Racing. 1903-2007." You might Google him and see what he has.

 

Some more info on location might help.

 

This is not it but is there not an old track just off of 395, on the way to Mammoth Lakes? The track, I think, was closed in the 1990's.

 

Good pictures anyway.

 

Are you talking about the track in Pearsonville? Don Pearson built it to liven up racing in that area. After his death, no one in the family cared to continue operations.

 

In my usual blank as far as remembering names, I do recall that the Fresno based company which built a few Indy cars also had an oval built in that area. While it was used for testing, I think they also hoped to stage races, which I don't recall ever happening. Their prinicple business was lift gates for semi trailers.

 

Ya...where bouts in Northern California?

 

I suspect you're thinking of Fred Gerhardt, his mfg. co. built truck bodies and such.

 

Looks like a good track not to blow thru that first turn

 

NorCal is pretty big...….ya gotta give us a location! Along the coast? Is that the ocean I see in the background?

 

I think it was Pearsonville. Just drove by on the fly, from and to Southern California. Again, it's not the mystery track.

 

I realize this is off topic , but pearsonville auto wrecking was a gold mine back in the 70s and 80s , used to stop by on the way to Mammoth or Reno for hot august nights.

 

Shhh, the location is a secret.

 

I remember a AAA big car called the Gerharte Offy

 

I don't think the OP'r even said it was in Kalifornia. We don't even know where the OP'r is located to give us a hint. This track could be in Honduras for all we currently know.

 

The track looks to be Sierra Mesa National Raceway.
Hwy 20, about 9 miles East of Marysville. North of Sacramento near Yuba City. Pit Lane. Neat! Google map info of "first paved oval on West Coast" is surely inaccurate.

Found this info on a race track site. Not sure of accuracy on dates;
A 3/8 mile dirt oval operated in 1970 and 1971. The 1/2 mile paved oval operated from about 5/1/1972 to 10/14/1973.

 

Off topic but recent pics of Pearsonville,which has a cool wrecking yard in front but closed to public.

 

I don't want to hijack this thread but here is a recent aerial of the Northen California Pearsonville salvage yard and the speedway, just off the 395. The speedway closed in 2000.

 

The thread title...……………
Abandoned Paved Banked Oval in Northern CA

 

Definitely looks like it. Learn something new everyday, and I've been living on the West Coast most my life. How did you find it?

 

............................Not 100% off-topic.

 

I have an old Speedway Directory from 1978 or so... I'll have to dig it out to see if anything is listed in the area.

 

Did some Google searching and dropped into a few of the "abandoned racetrack websites. Poked around and found it. I did find Sierra Mesa National Raceway was a NASCAR Winston West (K&N) stop for a very short period, but I haven't found why it was so short lived. I'd guess they couldn't get a large enough draw from spectators or racers (purse) in the remote area. Could have been inadequate seed money, facilities, bleachers, etc. Could be the locals shut it down. Possibly, the paved track was simply not up to par for drivers (complaints) as far as surface or missing a good 'groove' and it lost it's sanction? Aerial shots seem to indicate the oval is not symmetrical-looking tighter in the South turns as it was squeezed inside an active wash.
They sure didn't may a ROI for the paving costs.
Would have been fun to play around on the track in the early 70's after it closed/prior to the asphalt deteriorating

Here's a link to drivers/races there (only active one being Herschel McGriff @ 90). Maybe a local recalls details of the track or a HAMBer knows one of the drivers and can glean a bit more info.

https://www.racing-reference.info/trackdet/302/P/1

 

Well got me there, completely missed that part!

 

Found it!

 

Your killing me, location?

 

Where Hot Roda ta Hell said, 4930 Browns Valley Rd. Browns Valley Ca. 95918