attracted professional racers and their fans but also those looking for moonshine. Nine times between 1966 and 1971, the premier series raced at Middle Georgia Raceway in the town of Macon. All in all I say that maybe 3 million would be needed. The He made the unwise decision to run tires from his previous race at Talladega, which were a harder compound, AND, the track had lots of sand on it. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. Darrell Waltrip, driving for Junior Johnson, was crowned champion at the end of the season. My photographs have been featured all over the world including on CBS Inside Edition, CNN Travel, Houston Chronicle, The Weather Channel, MSN, Yahoo News, NPR, the UK Sun, the Daily Mail, NOLA.com, AL.com, and many others. The track was truly special as I grew up and remains the site of some the most enjoyable times of my youth. 20 years ago, GMS Productions of Macon syndicated a 30th anniversary radio special about the event. I do not know about the parking lot, it may need to have paved access roads and gravel. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. Do you think it would be possible to get him to mix up a couple of hours of that concert and bring in a big video screen and do a 50th anniversary screening there. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. Heres more. The Middle Georgia Raceway was a half-mile paved track that opened in 1966, at the cost of $500,000. A historical marker at the property recognizes it as one of the largest public gatherings ever held in Georgia. It wasnt just the NASCAR Grand National series as it was known then that made the track special. See me at the MGR Reunion Aug 31 and I will tell you the whole story. Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers Band and over 30 other acts performed in front of an estimated crowd of 400,000 concertgoers (the town had a population of about 2,000). Lamar Brown Jr, the track owner at the Localities in the Area. Example video title will go here for this video. I really believe that this facility has lots potential. Location: Jeffersonville, Georgia : Surface: Paved : Length: 1/8 mile Phone: (478) 550-3137 Visit track website: Facebook: Twitter: Race Track Locator. Upload media Wikipedia. It would be a GREAT place to get the new generation of kids off the computers and cell phones It opened in 1966. On these 80 acres sits the Middle Georgia Raceway and the setting of the 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival. The first NASCAR race at the Middle 31 races were scheduled in the 1973 season. 3) Contact: Brandy Mai, Director Of Communications, and Ext. attendance varied each year from 6,000 to 10,000 and the prize money also went The commercial shows the The very first of these races was won by NASCAR legend Richard Petty. [4] A few years ago[when? [6], in 1984 the Arca Racing Series ran at the track and the race was won by Davey Allison. Petty returned to win the 150-mile (240km) NASCAR race during the following season. Im unsure if Car and Driver ever filmed there. The track was used in a few Dodge television . The 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 37th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 14th modern-era Cup series season. NASCAR started its 1968 and 1969 season at the Middle Georgia Raceway. Middle Georgia Raceway (abandoned) This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. The story was so big it made national headlines. Petty returned to win the 150-mile (240km) NASCAR race during the following season.[1]. The owner has opened the track for occasional events and reunions, but there are no plans to reopen the track. LOL!!! One of Richard Petty's 4 wins at the track came when he was very ill and was questionable to race. Thats really interesting. 2) Crenshaw, Wayne. be used for fermentation of alcohol. The 1969 Georgia 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on November 9, 1969, at Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. BYRON, Ga. Driving down Highway 41 in Byron is a hidden treasure, but you wouldn't see it unless you look past the driving range. After the economy crashed, plans were placed on hold. In front of a crowd of 7,500 spectators, Petty hit a top speed of 82.023 miles per hour. One of the destinations that will take center stage is Jungle Park Speedway. The only thing law enforcement could do about the widespread drug use and nudity was to look the other way. It was surreal to see such a place silenced. In the commercial, a sign stated that it was the Brixton Motor Speedway.[4]. years.1, The Middle Georgia Raceway not only See the comprehensive Ingliston Motor Racing Circuit website for photos, results, and complete programmes from Ingliston. "Byron Pop Festival Gets Historic Marker". NASCAR began its 1968 season at the track. Ticket prices for the weekend event to see the 30 bands were $14.00, a bargain even then. BYRON -- On Wednesday morning, Tim Thornton made his way through a wooded area behind turn three at the old Middle Georgia Raceway in search of the source of a local legend. Byron. LeeRoy Yarbrough sat on the pole position and Bobby Allison won the 267-mile (430km) race. Anyone interested in this project should e-mail me, danny1754@att.net. LeeRoy Yarbrough sat on the pole position and Bobby Allison won the 267-mile (430km) race. [1] In the middle of the season, Bobby Isaac won the second of the three NASCAR races held at the track in a 300 lap event. Middle Georgia Raceway, Byron, GA, USA Middle Georgia Raceway Byron Concert Setlists City Byron, GA, United States Add Byron venue Opened 1966 Web Middle Georgia Raceway on Wikipedia Info Closed in 1986 the infrastructure is still mostly intact and has been occasionally been used for events. After eleven days of filming for the Dodge Durango, filming wrapped up and the commercial was eventually aired. Although the current owner had placed a fresh coat of paint over the walls, Dodge "aged" the walls and even bought a local car for $2,000 and crashed it to add realism to the scenes. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. If you know someone who genuinely has interest in racing history particularly MGR, I am all for you . class kills 16-year-old, Washington school says, Heres how the new Macon Mall courtrooms will help Macons backlogged justice system, Three unlikely creatures seen sharing the same den. 1) "Middle Georgia Raceway." Your email address will not be published. HELP US OUT, Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Until it's sold, he says the raceway is still used for special events and commercials. This 1/2 mile paved oval track has been abandoned since 1984. ever seen. (2012-09-19). A thick row of mimosa trees grows at the base of the stands. [1], Over the Fourth of July weekend in 1970, the second annual Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a soybean field adjacent to the track. The 1974 Southern 500, the 25th running of the event, was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on September 2, 1974, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Pearson qualified on the pole and Petty won his third race at the track. Middle Georgia Raceway, once a full-blown NASCAR . The season began on Sunday January 21 and ended on Sunday October 21. The season marked series first visit to the state of Maine. [1] brought the Middle Georgia Raceway back to life. Being part of this group requires mutual trust. Nine NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track between 1966 and 1971. However, Peacock is missing from Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Another track from my trip to Georgia, the long dormant Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. racetrack, Richard Petty won four of the races and Bobby Allison won three. Reading up in its history , Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison and Bobby Issacs all won there. Hey Michael your dad was one of greatest friends ever my uncle was Doc Taylor your dad was actually one of the most important people in my life an one of the greatest racecar drivers ever how is your mom doing she one amazing person me an wife used to stop an eat an set several hours with them when they lived in Lexington place some the times. "There's been everything from car shows to a couple small concerts, a number of film related things, we've actually rented it out.". In 1967 federal agents discovered an elaborate underground moonshine still buried off turn three of the track. distillery capable of producing 80 gallons of moonshine a day. The marker stands at the Middle Georgia Raceway. In 2011 Dodge shot a commercial there. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4015 US Highway 41 North, Byron GA 31008, United States of America. Centerville is situated 3 miles south of Antebellum North. It opened in 1966. It's been almost 50 years since that festival and Thornton has the land up for sale at $1.5 million. Thornton once planned to have a moonshine festival there to commemorate another infamous event in the tracks history. He holds a bachelors degree in print journalism from Georgia College and is a resident of Warner Robins. Atlanta International Pop Festival occurred on July 3rd -5th, [4] On September 15, 2012, an official Georgia Historical Society marker was placed near the raceway to commemorate the 1970 pop festival. (2012-09-19). 28 were held. Ken Ragan, father of 2-Time NASCAR Winner David Ragan, won the final race at Middle Georgia Raceway, as said on Peacock's Lost Speedways, hosted by NASCAR On NBC Announcer Dale Earnhardt Jr. Middle Georgia Raceway On September 23, 1967, federal agents discovered a moonshine distillery in an underground bunker next to the track at turn three. I want to see it preserved, he said. The 1976 Riverside 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on June 13, 1976, at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Not quite remembering. The Georgia Historical Society believes it was the largest American crowd Hendrix ever played in front of and one of his last performances before his untimely death in September 1970. Try to find a half mile track on 100 acres with such a great location and a awesome history. This page was last edited on 7 January 2022, at 03:32. 09/05/ 1965. You just can't put NOTHIN past uscan you??? Created by Wesley Muncy on March 2nd 2015, 1:39:31 am. Here's the Associated Press story as carried by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in its edition of September 26, 1967: thats only an inkling of the story -- come to The reunion and we will tell you the REST of the STORY.. Quite a description of an adventure! The 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season began on Sunday January 18 and ended on Sunday November 22. Unfortunately, after just a few laps, he lost control coming off turn four, and then over-corrected and went head-on into the outside wall. He won the 100-mile event in his 1966 Plymouth. The Middle Georgia Raceway is an abandoned race track near Byron, Georgia. The first season will also showcase Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia and several others. Tim Thornton is the owner of the land, and says he has vivid memories watching the races and serving ice cream at the festival. The final NASCAR race at the Middle Georgia Raceway was the 1971 Georgia 500, held on November 7, 1971. Search By State. Brown was the only witness for the defense and adamantly denied knowing anything about the still. And not even the names have been changed to protect the innocent?!! "Georgia's "Woodstock Festival" Receives Historic Marker." Middle Georgia Raceway; Middle Georgia Raceway; former stock car racing rrack; tor wycigowy (Stany Zjednoczone); bouwwerk in Georgia, Middle Georgia Raceway curve and back straightaway.JPG, Middle Georgia Raceway infield with trees.JPG, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Middle_Georgia_Raceway&oldid=619795589, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. I hope to preserve the past through documentation and photographs since many of these amazing places are often lost to neglect, demolition, or renovation. A trap door inside of a ticket booth led 17 feet underground to a cave where the distillery was kept. Both of the pay tiers will include live sports and early access to late-night shows. Dirt Oval located in Byron, GA: Track Status: Closed (Opened: 1966 --- Closed: 1986) TOURING SERIES & MAJOR EVENTS ; Date Sanction Winner Laps 10 May 1966: NASCAR Grand National: Richard Petty: 200 22 May 1966: For instance, in 1967 authorities found a moonshine distillery located buried in a chamber under the track. Sunshine and 70s are the name of the game this week, 'This could be you or your child' | Former Atlanta mayor asks gun owners to act responsibly after bullet enters nephew's room, Poison ivy is getting worse with climate change, Peach County's South Peach Park to get new entrance, 'Georgia Camera Ready' looking for filming sites in Peach County. We learned there were unsung heroes, remarkable feats, incredible memories, checkered pasts, and unhealed wounds that still needed attention.". An earlier race was run on November 1968 with the same name and year number. In the commercial, a sign stated it was the Brixton Motor Speedway. During the trial, the government produced an invoice for 24 pounds of yeast that was purchased by Brown 10 days before the moonshine still was discovered. The 1977 Wilkes 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that was held on October 2, 1977, at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Middle Georgia Raceway, once a full-blown NASCAR Grand National track where Richard Petty and other racing legends battled it out, is for sale. Matthew Dillner, who works with Earnhardt Jr. on the Dale Jr. Download podcast is the show's co-host. General view of the Atlanta Raceway circa 1980's at the Atlanta Raceway in Hampton, Georgia. Touch for directions. The season began on Sunday January 23 and ended on Sunday November 12. Atlanta International Raceway turn action. [6], in 1984 the Arca Racing Series ran at the track and the race was won by Davey Allison. Petty started on the pole position and won the 274-mile (441km) race. A third Atlanta Pop Festival never happened. and there is a page two --- last two years the reunion was held i could take you to where the real hooch was being run off -- if no one tells i may just make another trip ,for the chosen few. You may wish to switch to the. There are three subscription tiers available for Peacock, including a free, ad-supported version that has limited content. races. an invoice signed by Brown for the purchase of 24 pounds of yeast, which could Over 300,000 attended the . Wednesday night, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. begins a journey to visit some of racing's abandoned tracks. During the inaugural race, the Speedy Morelock 200, Richard Petty broke the speed record for half-mile NASCAR tracks. A lot of work would be needed to get it ready for an event again but Thornton said he would still consider leasing it for an event. I took my Supra out there and an older Porsche..loved it. Larry Smith was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year. King and even In 1970, the Atlanta International Pop Festival was held in a field next to the track, featuring Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers. "Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers, we had definitely heard of the Allman Brothers because they were from Macon, at that time, they were the only band that opened and closed the festival so that was pretty cool.".
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