1962 Chicago Indoor Drags

Travis Miller · 04-20-2009, 03:14 PM

I ran across this article while surfing the internet. They actually drag raced indoors in Chicago back in the early 60's. Only a couple of events but it must have been fun. Check it out.

http://www.iowahawk.typepad.com/iowa...uthside-w.html

Travis

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

Lyn Smith · 04-20-2009, 04:35 PM

Travis,I had a friend who talks about going to the indoor drags up at the International Aphitheater in Chicago way back then.He says it didnt last real long because the cars had to make it thru a narrow door way that was the shut down area.After a few pairs of cars either hit ,or almost hit the wall , they shut it down.the length of the track was about a 1/16 of a mile.the fumes had to be pretty bad also.I saw a guy at a swap meet up in Poetone over the winter that had some pictures of the indoor drags for sale.

Michael Pliska · 04-20-2009, 07:52 PM

Wow, that's cool!

I was racing in Edmonton this past season, and people in the pits were talking about some investors who were planning an indoor track in that area. With the economic collapse (including the oil industry which keeps that area going), I suspect it is shelved for now.

djones3158 · 04-20-2009, 08:03 PM

Travis: they also tried indoors at Charleston W.V. civic center around l967.Didn't work out too well... aluminum front end mopar called Porters Pride hit the hay bails. Lot of fun though in the wintertime. a 66 or 67 GTO won using BX-10 traction compound and front shocks loose..really messed the floor up,the Civic Center didn't go for that again.....................Dave Jones

Geddes · 04-21-2009, 06:10 AM

I remember Mike Mckinney's dad telling me about those indoor drags. They ran snow tires with REAL low air pressure. Hudson Hornets, maybe............

BTW, is Mike still racing?

Ross Family Racing · 04-21-2009, 06:24 AM

There were also Drags held at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh back in the day. If I remember the article correctly they raced on a steel plate surface. I couldn't imagine that!
Jeff Ross

davebw31 · 04-21-2009, 07:11 AM

Yep, I was there.

I had a 55 chevy 6 cyl. with Corvette manifold and dual one Bbl carbs and split exhaust. manifolds in to dual exhaust header pipe.

Going thru that door opening was scary to say the least. The exhaust fumes were the worst. Reason why Health Dept. shut it down. Sure was nice to race during the winter though.

BTW: the sound was cool, but the noise was deafening! LOL

Dick Butler · 04-21-2009, 11:38 AM

I think Mike Mckinney s dad ROY has movies from the race in Chicago indoors.

bigshow2966 · 04-22-2009, 05:06 AM

I used to have a couple pictures from the Ampitheater, but lost them in a computer crash. One was a Max Wedge car, the other was a '57 Chevy. There's a guy that hangs out on Moparts who did race there.

04-20-2009, 03:14 PM	#1
Travis Miller Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 476 Likes: 1 Liked 275 Times in 25 Posts	1962 Chicago Indoor Drags I ran across this article while surfing the internet. They actually drag raced indoors in Chicago back in the early 60's. Only a couple of events but it must have been fun. Check it out. http://www.iowahawk.typepad.com/iowa...uthside-w.html Travis (Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

04-20-2009, 04:35 PM	#2
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,124 Likes: 222 Liked 847 Times in 158 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags Travis,I had a friend who talks about going to the indoor drags up at the International Aphitheater in Chicago way back then.He says it didnt last real long because the cars had to make it thru a narrow door way that was the shut down area.After a few pairs of cars either hit ,or almost hit the wall , they shut it down.the length of the track was about a 1/16 of a mile.the fumes had to be pretty bad also.I saw a guy at a swap meet up in Poetone over the winter that had some pictures of the indoor drags for sale.

04-20-2009, 07:52 PM	#3
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags Wow, that's cool! I was racing in Edmonton this past season, and people in the pits were talking about some investors who were planning an indoor track in that area. With the economic collapse (including the oil industry which keeps that area going), I suspect it is shelved for now. __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

04-20-2009, 08:03 PM	#4
djones3158 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: charleston w.v Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags Travis: they also tried indoors at Charleston W.V. civic center around l967.Didn't work out too well... aluminum front end mopar called Porters Pride hit the hay bails. Lot of fun though in the wintertime. a 66 or 67 GTO won using BX-10 traction compound and front shocks loose..really messed the floor up,the Civic Center didn't go for that again.....................Dave Jones

04-21-2009, 06:10 AM	#5
Geddes Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Barnesville, Ohio Posts: 91 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags I remember Mike Mckinney's dad telling me about those indoor drags. They ran snow tires with REAL low air pressure. Hudson Hornets, maybe............ BTW, is Mike still racing?

04-21-2009, 06:24 AM	#6
Ross Family Racing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St.Clairsville, Ohio Posts: 464 Likes: 0 Liked 52 Times in 15 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags There were also Drags held at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh back in the day. If I remember the article correctly they raced on a steel plate surface. I couldn't imagine that! Jeff Ross

04-21-2009, 07:11 AM	#7
davebw31 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 21 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags Yep, I was there. I had a 55 chevy 6 cyl. with Corvette manifold and dual one Bbl carbs and split exhaust. manifolds in to dual exhaust header pipe. Going thru that door opening was scary to say the least. The exhaust fumes were the worst. Reason why Health Dept. shut it down. Sure was nice to race during the winter though. BTW: the sound was cool, but the noise was deafening! LOL

04-21-2009, 11:38 AM	#8
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,197 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags I think Mike Mckinney s dad ROY has movies from the race in Chicago indoors.

04-22-2009, 05:06 AM	#9
bigshow2966 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 616 Likes: 390 Liked 81 Times in 35 Posts	Re: 1962 Chicago Indoor Drags I used to have a couple pictures from the Ampitheater, but lost them in a computer crash. One was a Max Wedge car, the other was a '57 Chevy. There's a guy that hangs out on Moparts who did race there.