Hallsville Raceway
 

Housing Development under construction at former Hallsville Raceway location


Because of a usual circumstance, it became necessary for me to make a car inspection near Hallsville. In addition, the trip required me driving by the former Hallsville Raceway location. I say former, because it is no longer there! I found it sad, even disturbing to see all the buildings and equipment gone. "Some" of the racing surface remains, looks like it might be part of the street layout. Much dirt work has been done and some mechanical infrastructure is roughed in.

I pulled to the road side and stepped out of the truck to take in the site. I found it difficult to grasp such disrespect for our revered race location, it was as if the place died and had been buried. Well, upon reflection, that just about tells the story.

Good by old friend, I sure did have some great times with you!

Hallsville Fan Fin

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

Hallsville reminded me of the old Eastex Dragstrip in Porter. Pine trees and needles everywhere!!!

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

group of us made a offer (more than asking price) and they still would not sell it to us .. After the problems they had there it was a goner :(

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

Larry,
I have a customer that lives just up the road from the former Hallsville track. (Troy Zimmerman) He worked at the track (started as a kid) for quite a few years. He was impressed that I still had a mid 70's (1978?) program from when Robert Kornegay ran the track. He has been giving me progress reports for quite some time. Yes, the track was split down the middle for a divided road. They filled in the lake at the far end,too. His take is it ended up being payment to the attorneys who waded in on "All The legal problems" The reason no one was able to buy it, at any price, is because there were attorneys that wanted it for a housing project. I was told that one of the starting line crew (starter) Cliff was getting pictures together for a video. Don't know the progress on that. Sad, . RIP Hallsville.

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

Too bad. I really liked that place.

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

When the conditions were good, that place could be like a mineshaft.
Sad to see it go, lots of memories go with it for me.

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

Jim,

yes, great memories for me also. We were living the Golden Years and did not know it. And you are correct, a few times through the years I saw - 600, - 800 altitude.

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

It also had enough HOOK to leave some broken parts along the way, esp clutch, tranny & rear ends.
Yes, The Golden years of racing when most of us had darker hair. The program I have from the 70's has a picture of Harold Hayes, with "all " of his hair in a darker shade. For those of you that don't know Harold is Wesley's side kick in Div 4 tech. Speaking of Hair, we had some smart looking do's. It is also funny to see the clothing styles most of us wore at that time. The styles are far from the polished sportsman "Team" look of today. :~) It's a shame to have it go, but at least Hallsville provided us with memories of all the fun & good times.

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

As I looked over the new housing construction, I consider that on some late night, when the conditions are just right, the high RPM wail of a small block Chevy might echo through the trees.

I can even imagine one of the home owners making this call to the Hallsville Police Department, " please come quickly, someone is racing through our neighborhood" of course, the Police can only find a faint smell of race gas and traction compound. [smile]

Re: Hallsville Raceway
 

If they feel the ground move under their feet it might be the ghost of John Turley's Cobra Jet Super Stock stick shift Mustang leaving the starting line. Car ran in the 10's back in the 70's.
Counts & Weakley
Seeliger & Basden
Harrell Bros. Head & Wilson
Lindley Isonhood and Papa Joe
Howard "Pop" Stanfield when Greg was a toddler
The Daccus Bros. with Jerry Lambert at the wheel
Rickie Smith in the "Country Shindig" Maverick
Orville Davenport in the "Double Trouble" Fords
Coy Wade, Jack Yates, Eddie Adair, Dave Botkin, Marshal Corley, Hayes Atkinson
Remenber when Don Garlits came to Hallsville Raceway?
Best person to ever grace the establishment and a several others was Molly Hall.