The speedway, located between the Northeast Georgia towns of Homer and Baldwin, a short distance off of Highway 441, has been resurrected by the family of the late Tommie Irvin. Please do not repost images or text without permission. Tommie Irvin was the 18th driver to obtain a license from NASCAR when the organization began in 1948. He was awarded the Bronze Star, among other honors, and was honorably discharged in 1946. Race cars were parked in the infield, fans walked the track and many asked when the first race would be held. But now, the track is back, and not far from fighting shape. Photo: Brandon Reed. Following the wreck, the state required $1 million of liability insurance, which Irvin was about to meet, but the demands from the fire marshals became too much. He was introduced to the sport though Pritchett and Habersham County Speedway promoter Pee Wee Dooley. But, to the amazement of the crowd, Pritchett got up and walked to the ambulance. Located just south of Baldwin, Georgia, in rural Banks County, the speedway was long the stuff of legends, with a racing story all its own. Photo: Irvin Family Collection, Tommy Roberts of Jefferson, Georgia, pilots his winged Skeeter racer at speed down the backstretch at the Banks County Speedway sometime during the 1960s. Learn how your comment data is processed. Copyright Every Other Man Productions. No matter what the Irvin family plans to do with the facility from here, the work they’ve put into it proves that some of the legendary speed plants around the area could be brought back with a little hard work. Anyone who is interested in visiting Banks County Speedway can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. Photo: Mike Bell Collection, Tommy Roberts of Jefferson, Georgia leads a field of Super Modifieds out of turn two during pace laps before a race at Banks County Speedway sometime in the mid '60s. I haven't felt the need for a disclaimer lately but seriously, don't try and climb the fence to check this place out. The quarter-mile dirt track held its own, and brought out some of the top drivers of the day, including NASCAR aces Gober Sosebee, Jack Smith, Ed Samples and the famed Flock brothers, Tim, Bob and Fonty – all members of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame now. He would instead operate a nearby store, where many of his racing buddies would come to shop and swap racing stories over the years. Photo courtesy of the Irvin Family Fire marshals started visiting tracks, insisting on changes including replacing wooden fences with guardrails or concrete retaining walls, and taking out the old wooden grandstands, to be replaced by concrete or metal seating. So as my list of places to go and things to experience gets longer and longer, I thought I'd calm the curious beast that started this whole thing and learn a little more about the former Banks Motor Speedway. On Saturday, May 9, 2015, the Banks County Speedway lived again. You can't actually go to it because it's private property and it's fenced off. He wants to put the light poles, complete with the original track lights, back up in the infield. Pritchett was fastest in qualifying, won his heat race and then went on to dominate the feature en route to the win. For Bobby Irvin, son of Tommie Irvin, bringing the track back and holding the reunion was a true labor of love. Banks County Speedway was closed around 1971 as state safety regulations were increased following the disaster at the Yellow River Dragway. The racing surface is covered with grass. “All the drivers liked the asphalt, but no fans showed up for the races.”. After attending the annual Athens Speedway Reunion in nearby Jackson County, Bobby made the decision to restore the Banks County Speedway as a tribute to his late father. When he came home, he took the other portion of his Lakewood winnings and decided to build a race track on part of his property in Banks County, Georgia. But the racing days for the speedway came to an end in 1971. He bested the field by a full lap, taking home the biggest racing payday he had ever seen in his life. The track opened early in 1956, with racing set for Wednesday nights. Today, they share the honor of all being members of the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. I remember Tootle Estes climbed that bank over there and rolled the whole straightaway. by Brian Neal Donnellson, IA (Saturday, October 10, 2020) – The second and final night of the 9th Annual Fall Extravaganza at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa took place on Saturday, October 10th.And just like Friday night the weather was almost picture perfect for an October night. We cut off the lights one night, and just walked off. But, he says, there are no plans to return racing to the speedway. “Bill York, Bud Lunsford, Charlie Mincey, Charles Padgett and Charlie Burkhalter.”. Current status of the company is Admin. http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/4/893514/banks-county-speedway-returned-from-the-past, A field of cars, led by Georgia Racing Hall of Fame driver Buck Simmons (41), lines up on the frontstretch of the Banks County Speedway prior to the start of a race. If you have visited Banks County Speedway before, please tell us about it with a comment below. But more than that, it’s a living, breathing tribute to Tommie Irvin, a man who meant a great deal to Northeast Georgia’s racing scene. “It to me is as important as someone restoring the Indy 500 winning car from 1961. Banks County Speedway is displayed on the Lake Russell USGS quad topo map. A brief attempt about 20 years ago was made to bring the track back, but was blocked by the county government. Become An Advertiser On Raceweek Illustrated, Raceweek Illustrated’s Complete World Crown Coverage, Special Ad Offer For Tracks And Series From RWI, Raceweek Illustrated’s 2012 World Crown Coverage, Banks County Speedway Returns For Racing Reunion, Phoenix Sets The Stage To Crown NASCAR Cup Champion, Hedgecock Takes Boyd’s Topless Outlaw Late Model Win, John Smith Scores Super Pro Victory At Atlanta Dragway, Legends Racers Tackle Twists, Turns Of AMS Road Course, Chase Elliott Wins Martinsville To Make Cup Title Round. Sometimes putting on a good show included a gimmick dreamt up by Irvin to entertain the crowd. In 1954, he was the Southern Racing Enterprises Association Champion, competing at the Georgia’s Gainesville Speedway, Toccoa Speedway, Dallas and Atlanta’s famed Peach Bowl, among others. They came but the fans did not,” said Bell. After enduring a wet, rainy season in 1964, Irvin decided to pave the Banks County Speedway, with the promise from drivers at the asphalt Peach Bowl in Atlanta to come north to compete. Bud Lunsford cools off while his race car is loaded up at Banks County Speedway sometime in the mid 60s. “He went back because all his fans wanted it,” Bell said. Located just south of Baldwin, Georgia, in rural Banks County, the speedway was long the stuff of legends, with a racing story all its own. Photo courtesy of Georgia Racing Archive, Bud Lunsford cools off while his race car is loaded up at Banks County Speedway sometime in the mid 60s. A crash at Covington, GA’s Yellow River Drag Strip the year before had left 11 spectators dead, and led to sweeping changes in the way the state of Georgia regulated racetracks. Along with the drivers, Banks County Speedway could also boast some top action of the day. In one event, Bud Lunsford was penalized for making contact with another car. 83 were here. Jake Jorgensen #22; 2. He passed away on December 5, 2010. Photo: Banks County Speedway / Facebook, As a part of the reconstruction of the Banks County Speedway, the track's tower and concession stand were rebuilt. Irvin operated the store until his passing in November of 2010. Photo: Brandon Reed, The view from the second turn looking back and the frontstretch and grandstand area at Banks County Speedway after its restoration. With Pritchett already racing around the area, Irvin decided to join in. The track has since been restored. Photo: Brandon Reed, A look at the Banks County Speedway as it sat after being restored in 2005, from atop the fourth turn. Photo: Brandon Reed, The view from the second turn looking back at the frontstretch and grandstand area at Banks County Speedway after its restoration in 2015. But he said plans are already in place for next year’s reunion. Among them was the Banks County Speedway. The trees were milled, and the boards used to rebuild the concession stand, rest rooms, ticket booth and flag stand. “(I) Turned (the car) over there one time. For former driver Bobbie Whitmire of Commerce, GA, himself a pioneer racer, seeing the speedway returned to its racing state was a welcome sight, even if some of the memories weren’t exactly winning ones. “Hardly ever do you see tracks like this restored,” said Bell. Hunt and others from around the area. Track officials work hard to prepare the speedways with just the right amount of water to make for a good racing surface. Irvin had the land, and Gailey had a relative who was in the grading business. USGS Topo Map Quad: Lake Russell Questions, comments, suggestions? The track was paved briefly in the mid ’60s in an attempt to compete with the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, but the dirt won out in the end, as the asphalt surface was plowed up to bring the dirt racers and fans back. Photo courtesy of the Irvin Family, Tommy Roberts leads the field out of turn two during pace laps before a race at Banks County Speedway sometime in the mid 60s. Company is incorporated on21st April 1956. Photo: Banks County Speedway / Facebook, Steve Chastain (71) and Harold Pritchett (17) bring a field of Late Models off the second turn of the Banks County Speedeway prior to the start of a feature event. Both soon obtained licenses from the new sanctioning body organized in 1948 by Bill France, Sr. named NASCAR. Tracks had to be updated and had to have at least a million dollars worth of liability insurance to operate. Longitude: -83.4607200. So we're going to take a little historical look-see before we talk some other speedways - ones you can visit - later on. The track even drew some of the top Tennessee speedsters, including Harold and Freddy Fryar, Freddie Smith and Friday Hassler. At that point, the only thing that hampered it was the same thing that still hampers every race track today – wet weather. The speedway, located between the Northeast Georgia towns of Homer and Baldwin, a short distance off of Highway 441, has been resurrected by the family of the late Tommie Irvin. But his biggest win came on Labor Day of 1955 when he won a 100-lap event during the Southeastern World’s Fair at Lakewood Speedway. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. “The family and the people that worked with them should be commended for what they did.”. Jeremy Means Appointed Sunset Speedway Park Race Director And General Manager By Ben Deatherage Banks, Oregon- 2020 will have some significant changes as we are just mere weeks into the offs Irvin teamed up with his brother Jackie and with Sheldon Gailey in building the track. Photo: Brandon Reed, A racer powers through a turn at speed at the Banks County Speedway. Photo: Brandon Reed, A look across the restored Banks County Speedway from the backstretch. 2015. “But the drivers always put on a good show for the fans.”. I just got burned out on it," he told Georgia Racing History in a 2007 interview. And, as I mentioned in my most recent places to go post, I wanted to touch on some things that are gone, but not forgotten. Banks County Speedway started in 1955.
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