Maple Grove Speedway
| Location | Waterloo, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°54′41″N 76°51′10″W / 42.9114°N 76.8529°W |
| Owner | Seneca County Agricultural Society |
| Opened | 1935 |
| Closed | 1977 |
| Former names | Waterloo Speedway, Seneca County Fairgrounds |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Clay |
| Length | .8 km (.5 miles) |
| Turns | 4 |
Maple Grove Speedway was a red clay surfaced, one-half mile egg-shaped oval raceway located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.[1]
Overview
[edit]The Seneca County Agricultural Society purchased the Maple Grove Racetrack and surrounding property in 1882 to host the annual county fair. In addition to horse racing, it began hosting automobile racing in the early 20th century.[2]
Between 1953 and 1971 the facility was known as the Maple Grove Speedway. The Waterloo Stock Car Association and its successor, the Maple Grove Raceway Association, sponsored stock car racing Saturday nights during the summer months.[3][4] The track featured up to four classes based on engine specifications: modified unlimited, modified flatheads, in-line sixes, and stock overhead.[5]
The track lay dormant four years before former car owners Dominick Tantalo and Tony Vitti signed a two-year lease in 1976, reopening the venue as the Waterloo Speedway.[1][6] NASCAR veteran Mike McLaughlin lived a few blocks from the fairgrounds and, in anticipation of the re-opening, built his first car in his home garage. According to his mother, he drove the car to the track on his first night of racing.[7]
Tantalo died unexpectedly in May 1977, and the community protested the noise and dust caused by the races.[8][9] The Waterloo Speedway's final event was a New York State Late Model Championship on August 13th, 1977, and except for some exhibition events, auto racing did not return to the venue.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b O’Brien, Dick (August 9, 1976). "Waterloo track to reopen". Syracuse Herald-Journal. NY. p. 20. Retrieved April 24, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Schnable plans races at Waterloo". Journal and Post Express. Rochester NY. May 18, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via Google Books.
- ^ "W.S.C.R.A News". Palmyra Courier-Journal. NY. July 16, 1959. p. 8. Retrieved April 26, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ Skibiniski, Tom (August 28, 2006). "Advance Auto Parts Super Dirt Series: Advance Notices" (Press release). DIRTcar. Retrieved April 24, 2025 – via racepulse.com.
- ^ "Waterloo raceway plans summer slate". The Citizen. Auburn NY. March 10, 1969. p. 13. Retrieved April 24, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ a b Shaw, David (July 7, 2021). "Tribute to popular Waterloo race track slated for July 21-24". Finger Lakes Times. Geneva NY. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Mike 'Magic Shoes' McLaughlin". Eastern Motorsports Press Association. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Hill, John (May 9, 1977). "WR promoter dies". The Post-Standard. Syracuse NY. p. 15. Retrieved April 24, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Shut down Track get Waterloo". Palladium Times. Oswego NY. June 9, 1977. p. 9. Retrieved April 24, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.