Solving the Mystery of NASCAR's Ghost Track: Air Base Speedway
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- Опубліковано 14 вер 2019
- After having put up a bounty for more evidence of Air Base Speedway, mostly as a joke, I was inundated with DM's containing articles, newspaper clippings, and photos. I sifted through the info and with some help from the people at Speed Sport Magazine, it all came together.
Thanks to Justin Nguyen and Matthew Ludwigson for finding the photos and claiming the bounty! Check them out here:
Justin: / zappaomatic
Mattew: / mattludv
And huge thanks to Speed Sport Magazine and all the people who work there, especially Adamn Fenwick, Tom Schmeh, and the master sleuth himself Jonathan Nelson. You can checkout the article in full for yourself at their website:
speedsport.com/premium/nascar...
#NASCAR #AirBaseSpeedway #GhostTrack
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I have said this before, NASCAR should pay you for doing these videos.
VirtuellJo NASCAR cant even keep fans in the grandstands. And you expect them to care about their history?
@@Lrules364 thats the thing tho the history is what is paying the bills at this point
if they did it would turn into network TV crap....
Drunk Brian is to cheap
Well said 👍👍
Excellent work to everybody that helped.
Can't wait to see what's left of the real thing.
I see Daytona 500 I like your videos
Legend.
You are far from the first person I watch that I expected to be here.
legend
All I could hear in my head at the end was a new reporter reading a headline that says
Man kidnaps classroom and takes them for a field trip. When pressed for answers he responded "I don't need no damn permission slips to take these kids where I want."
Change the gender of the teacher and you have the entire plot of the Magic School Bus.
@@seannolan9857 hahahahahahahhahahahahaahhahaahhahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahahah
I am so glad I ran into this channel. And I have never seen the internet racing community come together on a scale this large to hunt down a racing circuit that is likely little more than ancient history at this point...
To all of those madlads on Twitter who dedicated hours of research to this, and to you SlapShoes, I salute you.
Pretty much every small town regional track we've ever raced at or a claimed they they were the fastest (insert track length here) speedway. The go kart track we built behind my dad's barn is "The world's fastest 1/10th mile dirt go kart track owned by an aging Canadian named farmer named Brendan" (although if my brother builds his it might lose that designation). Cheers,great video.
Jackson International Speedway in Clinton, Mississippi definitely was the fastest half mile asphalt oval at one point.
So we are storming Air Base Speedway instead of Area 51.
Really great series, with tons of history. Keep it up!
The airbase has stories too. There are rumors of buried tanks & jeeps after the base was shut down in the 60s.
I'm down
@@xcergy9482 we should leave those there for when the government takes our guns and turns on us
@@duncanmcgee13 *tries to take our guns*
I live in Sc so I’m down😂
Cleetus in a few years be like: WE BOUGHT ANOTHER TRACK
F that goon
@@scooterd5016 Lol why?
@@scooterd5016 well that's not nice
Flamingo lol
@@scooterd5016 F you too, ya loon
Thanks to you and your efforts S1ap, there is now a marker on google maps where the track used to be. It's amazing that you brought this much light onto something that would've just withered away into existence otherwise.
Dude, you're crushing it. Congrats on the exposure on other outlets, hope this means more race history I never knew I cared about
I dont even like NASCAR, yet ive watched all of his videos. I thinks that says something.
@Zachary Rugar Oh I still dont like nascar, I dont think I ever will. But these videos are so well made. You can tell how passionate he is, and that is fun to watch whether you like the subject or not. Also a great voice for narration.
I am so satisfied that we know more about the speedway. Love your videos. (Edit was spelling mistake)
I don't even watch NASCAR...
jooger69 i’m so confused what’s going on lolll
This is history that deserves to be remembered. Someone contact The History Guy, right now!
Needs more pirates first
It is so great to see a you-tube channel that not only talks about history, but helps uncover and document it. Historical archeology at it's best. The cars are great too (lol).
I never imagined that the small town I stayed at my first time in the US would have a secret like this. It’s cool to discover historic stuff like this.
Greenville SC was the place I found out cars were really cool, went to the BMW factory in Spartanburg and a Corvette dealership cuz it was the first time I saw so many corvettes and thought they were cool af (I’m Spanish). Wish I went to a race
@Dportillo18 Greenville North Carolina and Greenville South Carolina are actually different places a few hundred miles apart.
Greenville, SC really isn't a small town. Granted it isn't Charlotte, but it's not really small, either.
You know where the biscuits and tea are, Hoss
Being Spanish isn’t a race
Not only a huge day for the channel, but a huge day within the whole community as a whole. I’m super happy with all of the support and glad we tracked all of this down.
I am from Poland, don't know a dang about the NASCAR, but i LOVE the whole story of restoring the knowledge about forgotten NASCAR race and racetrack. Those information should be published on the web site, that start this whole research ;).
Taking a look at the Bob Flock image. The #128 with Charlie (Charles) Gattalia behind him is not listed on the Air Base Speedway results. Also Charlie's history in 1951 never shows him going south of New Jersey to run a Grand National race. Pretty sure that image is a no go.
i swear this series is gonna get so big they're gonna have to rebuild air base speedway
edit: how did i get 40+ likes wtf thank you guys
Might as well
Make that 100 likes
Make that 230 likes buckaroo
make that 273 likes
It’s always a good day when SlapShoes uploads. If you’re ever over this side of the Pond, (England), it would be a pleasure to show you and your family around.
You know how youtube's sub box is a bit screwy and you need to hit the bell to make sure you get the vids? Slapshoes only shares that privilege with Bad Obsession Motorsport of being in my notification box.
Nice to know I'm not the only one on this side of the pond with an interest in this
Ethan Dean : I wonder if there’s more of us ? Tbh, if it’s got a V8 then I’m all in 😀
@@frazerguest2864 Maybe! Agreed, though.
@@frazerguest2864 I'm on the Isle of Wight. 👋
I swear S1apSh0es is to the history of Nascar what Summoning Salt is to the history of Video Game Records (Hell they both even use epic music cues in-between clips to really hook you in). In regards to the unraveling story of mystery and discovery that is Air Base Speedway, it's just downright incredible how much information we were all able to uncover and put together to help this long gone track get some widespread recognition.
Easily one of my favorite episodes. Thanks to everyone who hunted for information, this is so amazing. Thanks SlapShoes for posting what could easily be the most complete information about this forgotten track. Cant wait for the on location video.
It’s really cool to see the entire community come together just to find a picture of a random track from the 50s
This is mindblowing! Good job to all who helped
Amazing video as always
I honestly couldn't care less about nascar but these are incredibly interesting. Cheers M8.
Just discovered this channel through some of your other NASCAR videos and this level of research on a largely forgotten racetrack warms my heart.
To everyone who participated in this, S1apSh0es salutes you!
That I do
Yes he does
I'm glad I could help out with the news articles. Looking back at the old "Greenville Textile" version of the track really showed what that track did with its many motorcycle races, the track promoter mess, the big names that actually did race there and what was behind its demise. This was awesome to be a part of!
It's a rare thing to see a video on UA-cam that has so much significant content. This is beyond significant, this is epic!
Thank you for all the work you put into this, and thanks to all those who contributed!
This is the beauty of the UA-cam, and internet as a whole. A big television channel wouldn't have a community to work on something like this, but UA-cam does, and it makes UA-cam more entertaining than television.
I suppose Air Base Speedway needs to be an NR2003 track now :D
Exactly what I was thinking
Are there any tracks that aren't in that game yet?
I can't wait to see that..... this was such a cool story and it's got me more hooked than anything from Hollywood. I'm really glad people came through and got the pictures and stuff, I want to give them my thanks too, and especially thanks to slapshoes for starting the whole search in the first place
Also your growth over the past few days has been remarkable.
I still remember thinking "Damn, I hope he follows through and uploads the Tire Wars, he could go places with this editing and voice"
Thanks man! These last few months have been crazy
I live in kingsport, actually about 5 minutes from the the kingsport speedway, which hosted 2 cup races. This track is home to the weekly series now and is action packed and full of history
That's great but nobody cares. Not in _any_ way relevant except to let everyone know that you have something to say about this NASCAR thing, too.
What a madlad of a NASCAR historian, love the coverage of this recently almost completely unknown track and all the content in general
As Steve Allen might have put it, this is the start of something big. Bravo, Slap.
I've been watching you for a few weeks, but this just iron clad locked in the subscription. Awesome work, S1ap and community. History in motion. I look forward to future content!
Found this channel a few weeks ago and have watched through every video. You deserve so many more subscribers, and I believe you’re on your way to the top. I’ve never really watched NASCAR but your videos are so entertaining and high quality you may have just created a new fan👍🏽
I grabbed my backpack off the floor of my room for a to be continued
I never knew a lot of NASCAR history.........until I found this man. Props to you for everything you’ve put up on this channel, I absolutely love to watch your videos every day. This event has given your channel so much more hope and potential, and I can’t wait for more great content. Keep it up my dude!
Have to say, great work!
Got here from the UA-cam recommendations, and absolutely love the quality of this detective-like breakdown of the case of the lost racetrack!
This is honestly the coolest project and discovery I think the online NASCAR community has ever seen. Fantastic work. Congratulations man. Looking forward to the future of this channel.
By far the best channel in the community in my opinion.
What a wild ride! I honestly didn't think you'd ever find anything about it either, but I'm so glad you and everyone involved did!
Hell of an opener to a new adventure. Where do you go after Airbase Speedway?
I got stuff lined up; don't worry
@@S1apShoes Can't wait :)
@@S1apShoes I jokingly want to suggest 'We've started with 'A' on the defunct tracks list. What's the next one alphabetically? :D'
I wanna find action shots, or at least a photo of the track when it was open, of Tarheel Speedway. It hosted three races in 1963, but the only photo we have is an aerial shot long after it closed.
Texas motor speedway long forgotten track no race worth talkn about has been run in years there
I cannot wait for this upcoming video man, thanks for all you do. This has been the most fascinating eye opening journey that I never knew I wanted to be on.
Now this is the channel I look forward to the most these days. Worthwhile indulgence. Thanks for having the passion, diligence and dedication to not let this history slip into oblivion. Hunt it down and expose it while it's still somewhat 'fresh' in memory.
Ohhh, I can't wait for the Field Trip. SlapShoes, combining two of my favourite past times, motor racing and history.
Your channel has brought more history to me than school has ever taught. Well, at least useful information. Keep up the great work.
Public or Sunday?
@I have fallen and i can't reach my keg
Public School
This video right here, this video is what got me into NASCAR, this video it's what got me into a sport that I have recently come to love, I think it's amazing what you do, I think it's amazing that you saw this random name of a track that you never heard of and refused to put it down, thank you for turning this type of thing into a series, and thank you for the videos you create in general what you're doing it's absolutely amazing!
The first video i have seen from this channel was very entertaining and deserved a sub, keep up the good work.
10:50
Me: please let this be a normal field Trip.
Everyone: With the Slaps no way!
This was lowkey absolutely comical. I got the reference
I can't wait for the next installment of this program.
i hope we do another hunt like this
Will you guys let me be triggered
@@demongamer_yt2919 for what reason
I will be honest, the first video about the raceway was the first video Id seen of yours, and it was a phenomenal piece of reporting and information. Im not surprised it took off the way it did, and Im glad you got some resolution. Brilliant work!
Man I got chills seeing that aerial shot of that track. What a gem! Good job to everyone who participated in unearthing this track!
This has been a fun trip! I would love to see more deep dives into abandoned and decommissioned tracks. I would really like to hear some history about Spanaway Speedway.
Every time I saw Nascar content on this channel, the content even greater than the last. I'm gotta say this channel is the greatest NASCAR content on UA-cam. Other just comments on a Driver and others just made a crash compilation of NASCAR. But step ahead from everyone by giving a history of what happened in the first Talladega Races, the boycott, one-season wonderkid, and more...
Can't wait on the first S1Ap road trip to the track that demolished and gone (it's fair to say that... There's nothing left in Air Base Speedway, it buried on the concrete where nothing left behind to see... Same fate like the Las Vegas Circuit, built for one season F1 only, and it gone, buried on the concrete wall of department store or the warehouse. I checked it on Google street view, and it's impossible to tell where are the exact remains of the Air Base Speedway)
This is the greatest history you have ever delivered. By far you are my favorite nascar channel and you fully earned that title with this alone. Keep up the great work. I really hope you expand this channel. Weekly reviews of each race!? I can dream. Thank you for all you do for this sport.
Dude this has all been so Cool.
Just watched the video you just posted of you walking what was.
Great pics in this episode.
You called it perfect , the Grandstands, flag stand, etc.
Thanks man.
Thank you once again UA-cam recommended god's, for delivering this succulent video to my inbox.
I legit on subscribed for the track content like 1 hour ago lol
The series on Airbase speedway is my favorite set you've done. Keep up the awesome work man!
I love this style of video. It’d be really awesome to possibly see a series about discovering unknown race tracks
This is the coolest racing content on YT right now. I am hyped to see if there are any current day markings for where the track once stood.
I wasn't expecting a follow up to this ever, let alone so quickly, Awesome!
great job on another wonderful vid. i have been watching your channel for awhile and shared a few of your videos with some of my friends. They really enjoy the content even if they dont watch any motorsports themselves. Thx again -Trench
Dude, your videos are legitimately the best NASCAR related videos on the internet.
As a Brit who has never watched a Nascar race in it's entirety, I can still say that both of the videos on the airbase speedway were really interesting, guess I just love a good mystery. Watched some of your other vidoes as well, worst F1 and Nascar race, and loved them both too, great channel, subbed, cheers from across the pond.
Always nice to see someone from across the pond enjoying these types of videos. Even if you are an outsider to the sport, it's still nice to see involvement. Cheers to you. I hope you watch and enjoy more of his videos. They are really well made and researched.
You know, since the only documentation of it was one article, the could be another track that never had even one documentation and has literally been lost to time
I've never really had an interest in Nascar, but your videos on this lost race track have been super interesting! Really enjoyed this!
I absolutely love your videos on old tracks, and this series takes the cake. I'm definitely not a historian but I love racing and racing history. I've had fun in the past combing through old newspaper articles about the dirt tracks around me in Iowa.
"bad track conditions"; do you have any idea how slippery calcium chloride is? Like, clay is slippery enough when groomed, but calcium chloride would make it stay wet longer, and a price of being even more slippery...Id imagine.
Yep. Calcium chloride is great for reducing dust, but it leaves you with a hard, slick surface.
A common procedure in road construction is lime (calcium oxide) stabilising the basecourse. This has also been done on dirt tracks in NZ to reduce tracks breaking up. This maybe is what they are refering too.
You can see an old airstrip running through the Talladega speedway.
Great video S1ap... Keep up the great work. Really enjoying your videos.
I've never seen a NASCAR race in my life, but holy Christ, your enthusiasm for the sport is unlike any I've seen for any motor discipline.
Thank you Slap for the great videos and for kick-starting this incredible collective manhunt that's allowed us to uncover some motoring history that might've otherwise been lost to time.
That action shot would be of the qualifying. According to the records neither the 99 or 77 cars took place in the main event
Pretty sure the action shot from Getty was of some random modified race at the track.
@@S1apShoes
Is there some kind of way to find it on Google Maps or Google Earth??
It never ceases to amaze me what the internet can come together and discover when it wants to!
I’m not a big fan of NASCAR but I do love history and the hidden stories that you can find, and your channel is full of great content! Love it!
Your channel is amazing! I think I’ve watched all your videos now. I like how you present your content 👍
Quite an impressive group effort!
Well done everyone!
found this channel today, so good omg this channel is so great. I subbed btw
This is so AWESOME. Nice work to everyone involved! Thanks Kats!
wow, this is an awesome little dip in the power of the internet. Thanks to you for sparking this fire, and thanks to everyone who dug deep trying to find the history of this long forgotten track
Really looking forward to the Slap on location video 👍🏁
Can’t wait for the next part this was an awesome video we found Air Base Speedway
Slap, I literally have no words on how cool these two videos have been to watch just as a NASCAR fan. A+ brother
Outstanding content! After enjoying your first video on this track and your bounty for more info, i was hoping I would run across an update video. Thanks!
Hey, good shit! I was just thinking of this! It's amazing to see!
Dude I shared that bad boy to every group I was in lol. I knew I couldn't help but there's some folks with incredible knowledge out there
Thanks for getting the word out!
I am not a big NASCAR Fan at all but I have been totally captivated by these videos about this forgotten speedway. So often when people look for info on places like this nothing ever comes of it. Its so satisfying to see success in this case. Great detective work!
I’m so happy I found this channel. Absolutely amazing stuff
I love these videos and had no idea there was a lost track here in Greenville I've lived here my hole life and I think that's awesome
Your "hole" life? You must be Greenville's oldest resident. Or, youngest. Happy 100th./First Birthday, either way.
I LOVE THIS CHANNEL 100%. I ALSO LOVE HOW YOU ARE LOCAL TO ME!
The racing pic looks legit, with what looks like a light pole, the sections of fence, the trees, along with flat grounds that all match the aerial pic. Great stuff!
Dude keep this stuff up man, your work is fantastic.
You just gained yourself a subscriber
Gotta say I love seeing HOME everywhere
I thought I was playing it in another tab and couldn't hear this video over it
Thanks so much for the video Slap, it was so cool to see some history and sleuthing to uncover a lost track. This inspired me to research my former local track, Powell Motor Speedway in Powell, Ohio. It was a .5 dirt oval that hosted one NASCAR race in 1953, with Herb Thomas winning in the Fabulous Hudson Hornet. Lee Petty, Tim Flock, Flonty Flock, and Curtis Turner all came to race. I drive by the site everyday! I'd love to see you research different lost tracks and see what's left. Cheers brother!
Wow!!! Don’t believe people actually found this info. I looked into it some with limited time I have available but come up empty for most part. These videos were actually interesting. Keep up the good work man. I love seeing forgotten history like this
Sure hope you’ll be posting the next video soon. That one I really want to see!
Everytime he says Charlie hicks all I can think of is chick hicks
The hicks of chicks.
Wow! Watching everyone come together on this is amazing. Great job!
Great work to everyone involved! This is academic-quality research, and contributes a lot to Nascar's otherwise forgotten history. I really hope Nascar catches wind of this and shares this in a television special, because it's well deserved.