The Nascar races at this track in the seventies was like a ghost town. My buddies and me used go watch all the great ones of the seventies race at Ontario and we pretty much could sit wherever we wanted.
Sometimes I think to myself everytime I watch some Ontario Motor Speedway video: how would be good if it still exist! And more: I am a cartoonist and comic book creator and I am planning to create a comic about an Indy Racing League's alternative version where the Ontario Motor Speedway still exists and the IRL runs on it.
There are all hotels and modern buildings where OMS use to be, BUT Auto Club Speedway (in neighboring Fontana ...very close to OMS) held IndyCar races last from 2012 to 2015...2 mile oval that held, arguably one of the greatest oval races ever in 2015 (that’s on UA-cam)
I gave this video post a Thumbs Up for availing it to the public. But, whomever did the script for this film, I'll give a thumbs down for the lackluster details of the race. I recall listening to this race on the radio, announced by Roy Storey. This race was not televised. The track conditions described on radio as being hot and windy, with problems of blowing dust on the track. I had to check with online sources to confirm my recollection of this race, where LeeRoy Yarbrough took a commanding lead at lap 187 when Al Unser dropped out of the race; only to have Yarbrough's victory snatched away at lap 191 with dropping out from a blown engine. Gee! You'd think that detail could have been written into the script. The way I remember Roy Storey calling the race, I thought the finish between McElreath and Pollard was closer than what this film described; but online sources says the gap was two seconds. I wonder if the written script for this film would not have suggested the pending doom for Al Unser's car if it had been using STP Oil Treatment? I've checked with online detailed photos of Unser's car that season, and nowhere to be seen was an STP decal. The engine used Catrol Motor Oil
The Big-O, brother track to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it's was ahead of it's time. Track management had failed the Big-O. I always going to like Ontario Motor Speedway over Auto Club, any day of the week... A lane wider, more banked made the track faster than sister but more famed Indianapolis.
There certainly were some management issues, but they also suffered from really crappy timing. We had the gas crisis in 1973, with people actually calling for auto racing to be banned to "save gas". The economy went bad, and the economics just didn't allow the support of two major racing facilities in LA.
@almostfm . . . That's a good point your brought up about the gas shortage in 1973 . . . along with the recession of that era, and inflation that skyrocketed from 1973 onward. The first 200 mph laps with the Champ/Indy cars of that era were run at OMS, where I believe Jerry Grant holds that distinction.
I got to see the first stock car race at Ontario, up next to the camera spot on turn one. Got in free as well. Real estate values killed this track, it was more valuable as lots, than it was as a race track.
....and it was about 60 miles from Los Angeles...not that close. To this day there is not much around Ontario. I can’t believe they put an airport there.
To think that this highly touted speedway lasted only ten years.
It's a pity that Ontario Motor Speedway doesn't exist anymore.
I remember being at this inaugural race with my dad and brother...Thanks for this upload...Shouts from Mainz, Germany...
Best looking Indy cars ever!
The Nascar races at this track in the seventies was like a ghost town. My buddies and me used go watch all the great ones of the seventies race at Ontario and we pretty much could sit wherever we wanted.
Sometimes I think to myself everytime I watch some Ontario Motor Speedway video: how would be good if it still exist!
And more: I am a cartoonist and comic book creator and I am planning to create a comic about an Indy Racing League's alternative version where the Ontario Motor Speedway still exists and the IRL runs on it.
There are all hotels and modern buildings where OMS use to be, BUT Auto Club Speedway (in neighboring Fontana ...very close to OMS) held IndyCar races last from 2012 to 2015...2 mile oval that held, arguably one of the greatest oval races ever in 2015 (that’s on UA-cam)
pajasa62 it held IndyCar raced in the early 2000’s too. Sam Hornish won there. Held CART races before that.
I was there. In fact, I'm somewhere in the shot @13:28
this track is designed very similar to ims, it's a shame that it's not around anymore
This is a really neat video.I had no idea the race was so close between Pollard and McElreath
I recall listening to this race on radio as announced by Roy Storey, where he made the finish sound a lot closer than what was revealed here on film.
I was there!
was the Indy 500 of west coast
I gave this video post a Thumbs Up for availing it to the public. But, whomever did the script for this film, I'll give a thumbs down for the lackluster details of the race.
I recall listening to this race on the radio, announced by Roy Storey. This race was not televised.
The track conditions described on radio as being hot and windy, with problems of blowing dust on the track.
I had to check with online sources to confirm my recollection of this race, where LeeRoy Yarbrough took a commanding lead at lap 187 when Al Unser dropped out of the race; only to have Yarbrough's victory snatched away at lap 191 with dropping out from a blown engine. Gee! You'd think that detail could have been written into the script.
The way I remember Roy Storey calling the race, I thought the finish between McElreath and Pollard was closer than what this film described; but online sources says the gap was two seconds.
I wonder if the written script for this film would not have suggested the pending doom for Al Unser's car if it had been using STP Oil Treatment? I've checked with online detailed photos of Unser's car that season, and nowhere to be seen was an STP decal. The engine used Catrol Motor Oil
The Big-O, brother track to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it's was ahead of it's time. Track management had failed the Big-O. I always going to like Ontario Motor Speedway over Auto Club, any day of the week...
A lane wider, more banked made the track faster than sister but more famed Indianapolis.
There certainly were some management issues, but they also suffered from really crappy timing. We had the gas crisis in 1973, with people actually calling for auto racing to be banned to "save gas". The economy went bad, and the economics just didn't allow the support of two major racing facilities in LA.
@almostfm . . . That's a good point your brought up about the gas shortage in 1973 . . . along with the recession of that era, and inflation that skyrocketed from 1973 onward.
The first 200 mph laps with the Champ/Indy cars of that era were run at OMS, where I believe Jerry Grant holds that distinction.
OMS was a great place
I was there. Turn 3 bleachers.
I got to see the first stock car race at Ontario, up next to the camera spot on turn one.
Got in free as well.
Real estate values killed this track, it was more valuable as lots, than it was as a race track.
175,000 attendees. Phew.
....and it was about 60 miles from Los Angeles...not that close. To this day there is not much around Ontario. I can’t believe they put an airport there.
I hardly saw any fat people
Graniteli was in half the video
Not as many fast food restaurants back in 1970.
Those where the days
Yes its true, auto racing used to be BY FAR the biggest draw in sports. It wasnt even close. Then the usual greed set in.
...also horse racing was a huge spectator sport. But auto racing was massive until the early to mid ‘90’s.
at 7:04 the front-engine Maxson
5 finishers?
ripoff of indy :P