History I am looking for info on a quarter midget go kart track in Nashville Michigan

I picked up an old rear engine quarter midget race car, that I was told was built in the 50's (wasn't everything...) and raced at a track in the Nashville MI area.

googleing didn't find anything, so I was hoping someone here may have memories and/or info about the track.

 

We have a Nashville here??

 

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yup, between Charlotte, and Hastings (not "Sharlit" ..it's "Sharlot" here)
<SMALL>View Larger Map</SMALL>

 

My "History of America's Speedways" shows no Nashville track but there was a track at the Charlotte Fairgrounds (Eaton County Fairgrounds) - a ½ mile dirt oval showing as active between 05/21/50 and 07/04/50 - very short life span

Two tracks reported in the Hastings listing:

Hastings Fairground - (Barry County Fairgrounds) - a ½ mile dirt oval operating from 04/25/48 to sometime in 1951 - located just west of town.

Hastings Motor Speedway - ¼ mile dirt oval operating from 1947 to early 1950s, then a paved ¼ mile oval (1953-1965) aka Hastings Old M-37 Raceway.

Couldn't find anything else that was close.

dj

 

I've had enough old guys mention it, I know it existed.

In my build book of my coupe, the midget is in the background of one of the photos, and many guys have asked about it. I mentioned it was from the area, and raced at the track, etc, and they always seem to know what I was talking about. I just can't find any real info.

 

Not that far from you. Have you thought of driving over there and seeing if you can find an oldtimer around there that remembers?

Check this out


http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/autoracing.aspx?id=1717&type=9

 

Neat link Phat Rat!
That 1990 photo of the old track has me day dreaming about how great a piece of property that would be to buy, build a home on and have yourself a racetrack in your own yard to mess around on, not to mention you could taxi your plane from your place to the airport. Wonder if the track is part of the airport's holdings?

 

phat rat, that website is the first place I looked. Great site!

That track is between Hastings and Middleville. After looking at the ariel shots again, I know the guy who owns the bodyshop on State St in front of that track, he may know more info about it.

 

so, I dropped of my midget body panels and frame at the dipper this morning. I pull out out the parts and set them down, and he says...

"well look at that. Ya know they used to race those over in Nashville?"

He gave me some names, and people to call fo more info.

stay tuned........

 

I remember a 1/4 midgit track called Queen Ann Kiddie Land in Bloomington, MN back in the early 60's. No help for you though. Just thought I'd talk old small cars. Have any photo's at all of yours?

My dad used to race a 3/4 midgit in Barron, WI back in the early to mid 60's.

 

I have an album full of photos on my profile

 

SO I stopped today and spoke with Dick Demming, the owner of the shop that is on the road, north of the Hastings track google earth photos.

The Nashville track was a 10th mile, it was located right in town Nashville, behind the grocery store. Now it would be the area behind Musser's Service. It's now just grass and a baseball field.

It was a Micro-Midget track

here are some photos he had hanging on the wall



He said they ran there until the early 1960's. He said there was a track in Eaton Rapids MI too.

 

I stopped at the Nashville Library today as I was passing thru. Looks like I need to make an appointment to be able to go thru the old newspapers and etc, but she was able to find me an old program from the track.



There is no date in it, but most of the phone numbers in the ads start with a letter.

She was familiar with the track, and knew it existed, but couldn't quickly put her hands on info for me. I'll try again in the future.

 

cool info - keep digging and letting us know what you find.

How's the project coming?

 

it's been stalled, but I am getting the bug to get back on it.

(ooh, I hit 1000 posts with this one )

 

You post whore!

If your any kind of a man, you'll have this thing in the basement at Autorama next year. Especially after pulling a no-show this year.

There, I through down the challenge. I'll buy dinner if you make it happen.