Jun 29 Occoneechee Speedway

 

Occoneechee Speedway was renamed Orange Speedway in 1954

Today, the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Track (HOST) is awaiting inclusion in Eno River State Park. The Eno River Association facilitated the purchased of the tract from the Classic American Homes Preservation Trust which owns the adjacent Ayr Mount home. It has been open to the public for some time now. Some renovation of the former speedway buildings have taken place. 

Here is the story: Originally a horse racetrack dating back to the 1800s. Julian Carr operated a horse farm and horse racing venue. In 1947, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr was piloting his plane through the area and saw the old race tract. After buying the property in 1948, he had it ready for the the 3rd race of NASCAR's inaugural season in 1949. 

Above, the track restrooms. Looking inside, it appears this is a large scale pit toilet. 

NASCAR hosted one or two races per year through 1968. There was local opposition to the racetrack. The Orange County Anti-Racing Association formed in 1956 opposing racing on Sunday. The race brought undesirable elements with it. Heavy drinking, firearms, fights among fans and sometimes drivers were part of the early NASCAR environment. Spectators were known to scale the fence surrounding the racetrack, gaining entry without a ticket. The Anti-Racing group was able to get a state law passed banning racing on Sunday in Orange County, although there was no break in NASCAR races after that. Nevertheless, Bill France Sr, closed the track and moved the race to a new asphalt track he had built in Alabama, the Talladega Superspeedway in 1969. The days of dirt tracks was coming to a close and local opposition seemed to cement the closing.

Renovated Ticket Booth

Entry to the speedway

There are about 4 miles of trails on the property. Several follow the Eno River which was quite close to the east side of the speedway. There are plans to build a bridge over the Eno to connect the trails to the Ayr Mount property and its Poet's Walk Trail. The MST briefly gets on part of the speedway as it passes through the area. Going west on the MST takes one on the Hillsborough Riverwalk. Along that trail is access to downtown Hillsborough. there is also a recreated Occoneechee Indian Village with surrounding palisades. There were 3 archeological sites near there in overgrown fields. 

In September of 1961, a UNC graduate student, Kenton Kyle from West Virginia, gained access to the speedway one night by moving some barriers. He proceeded to drive his convertible around the track. Missing a turn and into the trees, he was killed in the early morning hours. His death certificate listed 4am as his time of death. Workers arriving in the morning found him in the wrecked vehicle. 

I hesitate to call these "grand"stands.

Nearby on Board of Education property is an icehouse which dates back to the 1850s. It was built for the Cameron family which lived nearby after relocating from their plantation at Stagville.