Is this "THE" Ascot Park that was.............

in Gardena ? I just found this pic in an antique shop awhile back , it say's on the back it was on 63rd st, eastside of LA ? I don't recall the stands EVER being this big at Gardena.

 

Nope...East L.A.

 

There were several tracks named Ascot in the LA area over the years. That actually looks like the board track that was in Beverly Hills.

 

There were actually a few different "Ascots" over the years.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=738 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top align=left><TD class=TextObject width=708 colSpan=10>Ascot Park is the oldest, having been built in 1904 and was near USC, the boundaries being South Park, Century and Slauson Avenues. It began as a horseracing track and gradually the cars began to race there as well. The stands were covered and looked very much like the Kentucky Derby. Legion Ascot was built in 1924 and earned its name by the promoters, which was the American Legion Post 127. The Legion ran the track in an effort to bring organized and sanctioned racing to the area. The racecourse proved too fast for the cars of the day and after two dozens racing deaths on the track, the public outcry became too much and the track was closed. Some of the most famous race drivers of the 1920&#8217;s and &#8216;30&#8217;s raced on this grand course and the road course that was adjacent to the track. Legion Ascot was between Soto, Eastern and Valley Blvd. Mines Field was a B shaped road-racing course that was extremely popular with the public during the Great Depression. It was located just east of the Los Angeles Airport and was especially popular with track roadsters and stock car racing. Gilmore Stadium was built in 1934 at the corners of Beverly Blvd and Fairfax Avenue. The oval racecourse attracted the best Midget racers in the country. It was probably the finest racetrack ever designed and built but its last race was held in 1950 and then the valuable land became part of the CBS facility. Carrell Speedway also had a short but famous run. It was built in 1940 and closed in 1954. Carrell was located near Vermont Avenue and Artesia Blvd in the city of Gardena, California. Gardena Speedway, which many call Western Speedway, opened the year that Carrell closed. It was located between Rosecrans and Western Avenues in the city of Gardena. Jalopies, Midgets and stock car racing used this track. Ascot Park opened in 1957 and was the last of the old tracks to close in 1990. Ascot Park is just a short walk from the older Carrell Speedway.
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Ascot Speedway approx. 19??-, 1 mile dirt
Legion Ascot approx. 1924-30s, 5/8 mile dirt

 

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This was the speedway when it was Legion, on Soto just north of where the 10 Freeway is today, Soto and Multomah Ave. The hill are still there and have not been disturbed to development. It just north of General Hosital (L.A. County/USC Hospital).
Some of the races were held when the track configuaration went up the hillside and was a road race course for the midgets.

 

More Legion Ascot:

 

This is an error that I've seen before. Not only is it not the original Ascot, but it is a photo of the Culver City board track.

 

Well....that's east.....................of the beach.