Hallsville Raceway

Dragsinger · 06-05-2009, 10:55 AM

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

Todd Bailey · 06-05-2009, 11:26 AM

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

BIGDAD · 06-05-2009, 06:16 PM

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

Adger Smith · 06-05-2009, 11:35 PM

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.

Ed Wright · 06-06-2009, 07:13 PM

Too bad. I really liked that place.

Jim Cimarolli · 06-07-2009, 11:01 AM

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.

Dragsinger · 06-07-2009, 06:41 PM

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.

Adger Smith · 06-07-2009, 07:40 PM

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.

Dragsinger · 06-07-2009, 09:27 PM

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]

Jim Cimarolli · 06-07-2009, 11:06 PM

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.

06-05-2009, 10:55 AM	#1
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	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 __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

06-05-2009, 11:26 AM	#2
Todd Bailey Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 311 Likes: 29 Liked 31 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Hallsville Raceway Hallsville reminded me of the old Eastex Dragstrip in Porter. Pine trees and needles everywhere!!!

06-05-2009, 06:16 PM	#3
BIGDAD Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Green Valley , Texas ! Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	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

06-05-2009, 11:35 PM	#4
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	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. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

06-06-2009, 07:13 PM	#5
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Hallsville Raceway Too bad. I really liked that place. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

06-07-2009, 11:01 AM	#6
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 742 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	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.

06-07-2009, 06:41 PM	#7
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	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. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

06-07-2009, 07:40 PM	#8
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	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. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS) Last edited by Adger Smith; 06-07-2009 at 07:42 PM. Reason: sp

06-07-2009, 09:27 PM	#9
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	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] __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

06-07-2009, 11:06 PM	#10
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 742 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	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.

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