Speedway Posters » art

August 28, 1932 Oakland Speedway Program Poster Print

stevo — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:00:13 +0000

1932 Oakland Speedway Program Poster Print

The Oakland Speedway was the first motor racing track near Oakland, California, a one-mile, banked dirt oval track built in 1931, which operated throughout the Great Depression and postwar years. The track featured AAA National Championship races with Indy cars and drivers from 1931 until 1936, when the AAA pulled out of the West Coast. Thereafter the track still featured racing by members of the Bay Cities Racing Association, in roadsters and motorcycles, as well as Big Cars, stock cars, and midgets. It was known as the “fastest dirt track in the Nation”.

In 1931 the Oakland Speedway was built near Oakland, but actually was located between Oakland and nearby Hayward, California, on the site of what is now Bayfair Mall in San Leandro, California.

Annually each fall the track hosted the “Oakland 500″ race. Many of the local East Bay races were exhibited by the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA). In 1948 local East Bay driver Bob Barkhimer quit racing to become the Business Manager for BCRA. In 1949 Barkhimer took over San Jose Speedway and also started his own association (CSCRA), and in 1954 he co-founded west coast NASCAR.

Among top drivers who were killed at the Oakland Speedway was Clyde Rea Bray, who had held second place in the A.R.A. points in 1939, behind champion Wally Schock. Bray had come in 5th in the Oakland “500″ that year. Two years later, on Labor Day, 1941, during the Oakland Speedway 500 race, on the 356th lap, Bray was fatally injured after being thrown from his car, after it sailed over the south fence.

Among legendary top race drivers who got their start at the Oakland Speedway was Bob Sweikert, the 1955 Indianapolis 500 winner. On Memorial Day, May 26, 1947 at the Oakland Speedway, Sweikert drove his own handbuilt track roadster in his debut race for prize money, and finished second.

click here to buy the 1932 Oakland Speedway Program Poster Print in the Amazon WebStore

July 9, 1960 Balboa Stadium Poster Print

stevo — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:01 +0000

50 years ago … … July 9, 1960 … … Balboa Stadium San Diego California.

1960 Balboa Stadium San Diego California Poster Print

Balboa Stadium was one of the hotbeds of midget racing starting in about 1937 until the early 1950s (except for the war years). When interest in midget racing started waning, jalopies became popular. The San Diego Racing Association was formed in 1953 and started sanctioning the racing. By 1958 the San Diego Racing Assn had transformed from a jalopy association to more sleek modified sportsman (the forerunners of today’s super modifieds). Jalopy champions of the SDRA at Balboa included Glen Hoagland (1953), Jim Wood (1954), Jack Krogh (1955), Harris Mills (1956), Don Ray (1957), and Mondo Iavelli (1958). Don Thomas (1957) was the inaugural modified champion with Art Pratt being a three time titlest (1958 – 1959 – 1960). Rip Erikson took the honors in the 1961 season that was split between Balboa Stadium and Cajon Speedway. Also holding events at Balboa Stadium during the 1950s were occasional visits by the URA midgets and the NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Models. During the 1950s it was not unusual for more than 10,000 fans to attend a weekly show at Balboa.

Auto racing took place on a 1/4 mile dirt track in Balboa Stadium from about 1937 through July 4, 1961 when the racing stopped so the facility could be used for pro football.

June 25, 1934 Syracuse New York State Fair Grounds Racing Poster Print

stevo — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:00:09 +0000

1934 Syracuse New York State Fair Grounds Racing Poster Print

June 25……….. 1934 ! Syracuse, New York @ the New York State Fairgrounds. An awesome reproduction racing poster print. This print measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall. 1934 Syracuse New York State Fair Grounds Racing Poster Print.

1956 Portland Speedway Poster Print

stevo — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:00:43 +0000

1956 Portland Speedway Poster Print

1956 Portland Speedway Poster Print. This reproduction poster print is from 1956. It measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall, a perfect retro print to be matted and framed up and hung up in the garage, office, shop or workshop.

1947 Hudson Speedway Midget Racing Poster Print

stevo — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:00:11 +0000

1947 Hudson Speedway Midget Racing Poster Print

Too Cool !! Love the artwork on this poster print. What a great retro reproduction poster from the 40′s. This reproduction poster print measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches tall.

A 1/4 mile paved racetrack, the Hudson Speedway, lies near the northern edge of town by the intersection of Old Derry Road and Robinson Road. It can be accessed off Route 102.

Midget car racing was officially born on August 10, 1933 at the Loyola High School Stadium in Los Angeles as a regular weekly program under the control of the first official governing body, the Midget Auto Racing Association (MARA. After spreading right across the country, the sport traveled around the world; first to Australia in 1934, and to New Zealand in 1937. Early midget races were held on board tracks previously used for bicycle racing. When the purpose built speedway at Gilmore Stadium was completed, racing ended at the school stadium, and hundreds of tracks began to spring up across the United States. Other major tracks in the United States operating in the first half of the twentieth century include Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (near Madison), and Ascot Park near Los Angeles.

1934 Los Angeles Municipal Airport Pacific Speedway Poster Print

stevo — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:00:29 +0000

1934 Los Angeles Municipal Airport Pacific Speedway Poster Print

Before Los Angeles International Airport became a bustling modern airport, it included L.A. Municipal Airport Speedway, where cars raced from 1934 to 1936. Speed-mad Angelenos flocked to the two-mile dirt track to see such daredevils as Rex Mays of Riverside, Louie Meyer of Los Angeles, Lou Moore of San Gabriel and Kelly Petillo of Huntington Park, who wore dashing scarves, white-cloth headgear and goggles during their adventures. In the early part of the 20th century, L.A. was the centerpiece of motor racing. In Beverly Hills and Culver City, tracks were made of lumber. Long Beach and Santa Monica used city streets. Lincoln Heights and Saugus favored dirt. In fact, according to author Harold L. Osmer, Southern California was the biggest racing market in the world.

This program poster print from 1934 is awesome. The reproduction poster measures 16 inches wide x 20 inches tall, will make for a great candidate to be framed up for the garage, shop, office or workshop.

June 20, 1947 Aurora Stadium Midget Racing Poster Print

stevo — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:00:20 +0000

1947 Aurora Stadium Midget Racing Poster Print

On this day in history….the time was 1947. The place was Aurora Stadium in Seattle Washington. Midget Racing !! Earl J. Heroux Presents Midget Auto Races !!! An Awesome print.