In the early 2000s, as the automotive industry recovered from the recession, a wave of revitalization swept through American racing. Stadiums, previously used for football and baseball, were transformed into motorsports venues and thousands of new track days were added to the calendar. In 2018, it’s hard to find a map of the United States that doesn’t show California racing hotbeds. It is, therefore, not a huge surprise that the revitalization of one of the most famous racetracks in America began with the formation of the new Speedway Motorsports, Inc. In this article, we’ll tell you about the new form of motorsport in the San Francisco Bay Area and how you can get involved.
Formula One, MotoGP, And Truck Racing
The San Francisco Bay Area wasn’t always a mecca for motorsport fans. When the legendary Bill Walsh began his professional racing career in the 1950s, there weren’t any other motorsport venues in the region besides the track he built in his backyard. After decades of dominance on the open road, the sport of truck racing was on the decline in the United States. In 2018, we’re looking at a major comeback for this American institution. There are several different motorsport series running in America now, with several different venues and dates for each race. One of the best NASCAR races in the country takes place this year at the legendary Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, with a total of seven races being held in the state. Similar series such as the NTT IndyCar Series and the IndyCar Grand Prix, as well as the U.S. Grasstrack Championship, will all be visiting California in the coming months. While some fans may still prefer to follow baseball or football in the United States, the future of motor racing in North America looks extremely bright.
Revitalizing A Legendary Track
Walsh and his partners had a vision for a new kind of motorsport venue that would attract people from all over the world. The three-time Super Bowl-winning head coach realized that there were plenty of empty nooks and crannies in the sprawling 110-acre former Speedway Irwindale, which is located in central California near Los Angeles. Construction began in the summer of 2017 and the $26 million dollar project to transform the historic track into a motorsport mecca was finished in October of that year. Today, the track holds two annual motorcycle racing events, the SFI Road Tour and the Buell Grand Prix, as well as the famous Irwindale Speedway! The track is now owned by the city of Irwindale and, eventually, will be opened to the public for everyone to enjoy. It’s safe to say that the legendary Walsh accomplished what he set out to do.
Creating A Community-Based Venue
The revitalization of the iconic Speed Way wasn’t just about creating a new racing venue, it was about creating a new motorsport community, too. The track was designed with that goal in mind and, while some might consider it overly ambitious, Walsh and his partners succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Irwindale’s new administration created an entirely new motorsport ecosystem in the San Francisco Bay Area, with dedicated fans making the pilgrimage to see their favorite racers from all over the world. The track itself is a hub of activity. Many of the racers and team owners live and work in the surrounding area and it’s not uncommon to see fans camping out in front of the track in the evenings, ready for practice or the start of the race. Local shops and restaurants have seen a boost in business due to the increased interest in fast cars, with many vendors doing a roaring trade in gear and rubber products for the avid motorcyclist. Locals have even started a support group, the Irwindale Speedway Fan Club, to help encourage more people to get involved in the sport. If you live in the area and are looking for a new way to spend your free time, why not give it a try? There are plenty of motorsport-related activities to join, from practice to watching, and participating in, the thrilling races at Irwindale Speedway. It’s a great way to get involved in a sport that you might not have looked at previously.
An Opportunity To Be A Part Of History
There aren’t many sports where you can really say you were there when it all started. For whatever reason, the founders of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. saw this niche in the market and decided to take a chance on creating a new motorsport company. They saw a ready-made audience for their product, with lots of empty nooks and crannies in the area, and knew they could build something special. In many ways, this is American motorsport as we know it today. The opportunity to be a part of history is something that most sports fans can’t resist. Today, the track is a sight to behold, with incredible race cars and the world’s greatest drivers taking part in the most spectacular races. It’s an electric atmosphere and, for those who were lucky enough to be there, it was more than worth the wait! If you’re a motorsport fan, this is a must-see track and, possibly, the best place to be in October.
Bringing The ‘Magic’ Back To Moteursport
The new management of the track didn’t just want to rebuild the racing venue, they wanted to bring the “magic” back to the sport, too. This is something that the late Bill Walsh was famous for and it’s what led to the creation of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers in 1950. This is the kind of feeling that every motorsport enthusiast wants to live and breathe every day. That is exactly what the new owners want to do and they have the track and the fans to prove it. There are already plans in the works to renovate an entire wing of the track, with shops, restaurants, and hotels, as a way to bring more economic development to the area. It will be exciting to see what 2019 brings.