.us - auto city speedway clio michigan guide / pics
|
> Where we headed?
Auto City Speedway Michigan USA
VENUE ADDRESS: 10325 N Saginaw Rd, Clio, MI, 48420 Ph: 810-686-9500
> Directions? How do we get there?
12 miles north of the city of Flint MI., and reachable by either I-75 or I-475. Around an hour drive from the Detroit Metro Area
Hotels Accommodations nearby?
> What's the nearest major airport?
Featured Series:
½ mile: Sprint Cars, Super Late Models, Modifieds, and Late Models
¼ mile: Factory Stocks, Midgets, Lead Sled, Thunder Trucks, Legends, Karts
+ Clear Channel Monster Trucks.
Where's the Map:
Got Weather & Radar:
Tickets/Schedule - Official Website:
autocityspeedway.com
Camping?:
There's free parking, but not overnight accommodations.
Tourism Info:
Stuff to do nearby:
> Vienna Greens Golf Course
> Clio Country Club
> Tourist info from VisitFlint.org
Also of Interest
> More Michigan Short track travel guides
> US Shorttracks / Dirt Tracks and speedway travel info
notes from my 2004 auto city speedway michigan visit
The text
The ride Northwards from Detroit was about an hour with little traffic, so, in a good mood, and with free parking, I was perfectly primed to find a well run, clean, facility, obviously geared, and itching after a long off-season, to provide a safe, entertaining, and exciting evening of bumper biffing and banging for the entire family. The carnival atmosphere in the food/merchandise mall behind the main grandstand made it still more appealing. The owner / promoter, Joe DeWitte, was working hard when I got there, insuring all the dolling up they'd done ahead of the opening night was doing it's job, and I have to say, people, obviously regulars, and many more of them than had turned up for an opening night in years, were as pleased by the efforts, as I was delighted by the way they said "welcome, race fan". Then track General Manager, Greg Yost, introduced himself and quickly showed me in the program what a modified looked like so I wouldn't miss the "fast ones".
The grandstands were full, my estimation 3,000 + paying customers, and remained as full during the local low-budget lead sledding as it did for the modified vehicles feature event. Lots of oohing and ahing and cheering on local heroes by a crowd, which assured me they'd be back again every Saturday night for more action.
And ,if I was even beginning to think that I was at a local movie house instead of at a racetrack, after I got my barbeque pork sandwich, I came across a little growling, nudging and shoving match between two support race "crew" members at the wet bar, reminding me that there were local farms and houses mortgaged to subsidise the spectacle, not tobacc0 company millions, and that there was blood and bone steering the victory. These mortgages were repaid in small purses, each fought for and won in the racing arena. Refreshment, wherever I turned.
In the pits, I saw folks who lived for racing camping and waiting for their big events. I also came across local legend and car owner/builder "the Gorilla" Silva, who, chomping on a cigar, told me about the engine he'd built from scratch for the 11x car he'd spent $60,000 getting ready for the new season and the topless modified he was preparing to build.
Unfortunately, while the immaculately turned out modified racer lead its event until late in the race when a problem, and a little ambition from the other competitors, pushed it back. .
Still, that's racing, and yes, this was racing. Real bumper to bumper fun and action by real people who staked real money on a very slim chance of winning. This was the America that television doesn't show. Humbling, hard working, supportive of their local battlers, and out for a night under pretty lights dimmed just a little by exhaust fumes and dust collected during the off season on the 1/2 mile banked oval.
There was, of course, no missing the "fast ones", thank you Mr. Yost, they were all fast, and all as exciting, much to the crowd's, and my, satisfaction. Everyone left dusty & happy - more than adequately entertained in the good ol' fashioned way.
Special Thanks: Joe DeWitte (Auto City Owner/Promotor), Greg Yost (Track Manager) & Sharon Fisher (PR) & the cast and crew at Auto City Speedway! Them's good folks!
Friday night next week the US short track tour continues as I head to nearby Dixie Motor Speedway where I've been invited to call a support race. Imagine that!
Godspeed, Cvetko Ostroznik
. More Michigan Speedways / Short Tracks
|
grandprixcitie features:
nascar racing features...
> current nascar dates calendar
> nascar driver interviews / pics
> usa track finder pages
> nascar stuff | nascar tickets
Godspeed on all your motorsport travel adventures, wherever they may take you, Cvetko Ostroznik.
HOTEL PARTNERS
the pics
NOTES: Give me speed, lots of speed
NOTES: A walk through the pits
NOTES: Gorilla Racing's #11x modified
NOTES: Local Legend, "The Gorilla" and I talk turkey.
NOTES: Not an empty seat in the place... Auto City Speedway. Real racing, Saturday nights!
|
