History The Aurora Speedway, Seattle Washington

Video of Allen Heath and Len Sutton with Bonnie Guitar and others. Part of the Mel Anthony DVD, Smoke, Sand and Rubber.

 

Here are some aerial photos of the track.

You can see the track on the right, still looks like a dirt track. The lake is "Bitter Lake" as mentioned previously.



Here is a modern day view of the location. You can see the parking lot to the Lincoln Dealership I worked at in the bottom of the photo.



And a shot of the speedway

 

Here is the speedway listed as 1932, but the bottom corner has 1936.



Here is a picture from the MOHIA collection







A couple more from MOHAI collection

 

I feel like I'm bogarting this thread...but I can keep going..

 

Keep going.

Here is a pic of the 27 car in 1953 after Rolla sold it. Suds Sutherland driving.

 

I say keep going. These are great pics! What else is the thread for other than for all of us to collectively enjoy and document this history?

 

It's really cool to hear that history of the car, also I don't believe I've seen this picture before!

This is a subject that fascinates me. Especially having worked on the grounds. I can just imagine the sounds of them racing.

I'll keep posting, just didn't want it to become a Hitchhiker post increase thread. But by the looks of it, I've probably got one of the larger digital collections of photos on the subject.

This is Dell Fanning in the #26 car.

 

Even though I have been here in Seattle for only 42 years, its really cool to be able to see all of this great history that @Hitchhiker is sharing with us on the H.A.M.B., so indeed, keep the cool shots coming !
This is a poster I saw at the Jack Mendenhall, "Gas Up " gathering down at Buelton California, a number of years ago, but its applicable here !

 

After the war my dad served his apprenticeship at Smith-Gandy Ford. In the late 50's, while we were listening to the Indy 500 on the radio, he told me that Shorty Templeman worked there at the same time.

 

Dangerous sport it was, I certainly enjoy this part of the movement as it was huge in Hotrod influence...I appreciate All the Contributions...no matter how big or small...Thanks to all sharing, no such thing as Hijacking when it's on topic...giver!!! It's a great place to archive Excellence...

 

For those interested, the Golden Wheels will be running at Monroe in about 10 minutes. Several of the previous pictured cars will be there. Maybe a couple of the old time drivers.
Watch the Ranger powered car.

 

I worked at Action machine in Greenlake with Logan Harter's son, Jimmy in the early 70s and heard a lot about the old days. Jack Conner had a machine shop at his home nearby and I used him for a lot of machine work for my Porsche 911 business. He was set up to do a lot of Porsche race work. He had a huge Pierce Arrow project going on at the time. Very nice and helpful guy.

 

I think we have met. We were at Jack's house in Northgate once at the same time.

 

Edit, it was Bill's Auto parts at the time, name changed to Action later on. The owners raced foreign stock at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe and we did a lot of race motors back in the shop. The circle track and figure 8 guys frequented the shop as well. I lettered lots of the cars.

 

Let her rip, Matt! I'm enjoying the photos and history lesson.

 

May 4th 1958



I May have posted before, but this is May 30 1958. I figured it's good to get the date on them if possible.

 

I can't seem to find mind stuff right now but there were two Auroras back then. The Aurora Speedway from 1936 to 1942 (pictured) and Aurora Stadium Speedway (aka Playland) (1941 to 1958) which is this thread.

Pictured below is Art Scovell at the Aurora Speedway, circa 1936, in a stock car race. (Clarence Ekhart collection)

 

Story about Aurora Stadium Speedway from the February 12, 1975 issue of Racing Wheels.

 

The previous "Reminiscing" mentions Mel Anthony wearing Aurora's wall like a hat. Here's some photos and the story about it.

 

Pete, are you sure that's the #27 car ? It became the #1, and it looks like it in the RH side of the picture, with Ernie Koch at the wheel. Here is a shot from Portland, in April of 51. Ernie is driving, and Pete Lovely's
#55, is now the #6, on the pole with Ike Hanks at the controls.

 

I am not sure of the number sequence but it is the same car. Gordy was a close friend and he got the car from Rolla somewhere along the line. After that season, Gordy sold it and retired from racing. His soon to be wife had something to do with that.

 

Marty, Bob Donker was my late brother-in-law's (Wayne) brother (can you follow that twisted thread?). They grew in your neck of the woods, west of Hillsboro, just up the hill from the old Laurel corner store you posted a while back.

 

Charlie worked for Jim Chapman's Garage in Hillsboro, with my buddy Ernie Martin. Ernie said Charlie liked to drink ! Wasn't Wayne a Rep for GM or Chrysler ? The body from Bob's roadster was bought by a friend of mine, around '57. The current owner did his best to replicate the car, as it still has the original paint on the body. It had an aluminum frame, that was pretty special at that time. Here it is at Portland Transmission a few years back. Thanks !

 

I wonder when they changed the nose?

 

He didn't get the nose with it, I was told it's in Carnation,Wa. I think I spotted it in a Cragslist ad, from Carnation.

 

A buddy of mines dad wrenched on a lot of cars at the Aurora speedway
Here’s a roadster from his vast collection of pics

 

I always liked the looks of that car. Al Cooper was also a good friend of mine. He always used to greet me with the same phrase. "Hi Pete, gettin' any lately?"

 

These images echo thru my head daily...Thanks, Matt, Pete, Marty, and all.
Feels good just hanging with you guys...here in HAMB town...

 

Thanks for the pictures. There were more white walls than I would have expected.