The Ditch | |
---|---|
Location | 151 Legion Rd., West Memphis, Arkansas |
Time zone | Central Standard Time ( GMT UTC−06) |
Opened | 1950 |
Major events |
World of Outlaws sprint cars USCS sprint cars [1] |
1/4 mile | |
Surface | Gumbo Clay |
Length | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) |
Riverside Speedway | |
Location | 151 Legion Rd., West Memphis, Arkansas |
---|---|
Area | 18.3 acres (7.4 ha) |
Built | June 10th 1950 |
Built by | C.L. Montgomery, et al. |
Architectural style | Plain Traditional |
NRHP reference No. | 09001243 [2] |
Added to NRHP | January 21, 2010 |
The Riverside International Speedway is an automobile racing facility at 151 Legion Road in West Memphis, Arkansas. Its facilities consist of a 0.25-mile (0.40 km) Gumbo clay oval [3] with banked corners, bleacher seating on both straightaways. Amenities include a concession stand. The track was built in 1950 and opened June 10 of that year at an estimated cost of $150,000 by C L Montgomery, originally to showcase midget car racing. It has held a World of Outlaws race. [3] The track is nicknamed "The Ditch". [3]
The track was built in 1950 as a venue for midget car racing which was popular at the time. [4] Four area tracks were scheduled for weekly racing from Thursday to Sunday nights and Riverside was designed as the Saturday night option. [4] The first night on June 10 had 45 midget cars entered but it rained out being rescheduled for June 17. [4] On Thursday June 15, 1950 the first race was actually held as a stock car event. [4] The stock cars were gaining popularity in the Mid-South and the midget cars were quickly discontinued. [4] Joie Chitwood brought his "Thrill Show" to the track on October 1, 1950. [4]
Several World of Outlaws regular drivers who began racing at the track include Sammy Swindell, Bobby Davis Jr., and Jason Sides. [3]
Riverside is the oldest surviving dirt track in the Memphis area, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [4] Riverside is the oldest continuously operating track in Arkansas. [4] It is noted for its high concentration of clay in the gumbo soil (almost 37% clay compared to more typically 22%-27%). [4] Contributing properties include the race track, flagstand, original 1950 ticket booth (now an office), concession stand, cotton candy concession stand, and concession stand / bathroom. [4] The facility also contains the west grandstands that were brought to the facility from Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in 2007-2008 and reconstructed. [4] Its eastern grandstands have aluminum seating. [4] The current wood ticket booth was built in 2008. [4]
The Ditch | |
---|---|
Location | 151 Legion Rd., West Memphis, Arkansas |
Time zone | Central Standard Time ( GMT UTC−06) |
Opened | 1950 |
Major events |
World of Outlaws sprint cars USCS sprint cars [1] |
1/4 mile | |
Surface | Gumbo Clay |
Length | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) |
Riverside Speedway | |
Location | 151 Legion Rd., West Memphis, Arkansas |
---|---|
Area | 18.3 acres (7.4 ha) |
Built | June 10th 1950 |
Built by | C.L. Montgomery, et al. |
Architectural style | Plain Traditional |
NRHP reference No. | 09001243 [2] |
Added to NRHP | January 21, 2010 |
The Riverside International Speedway is an automobile racing facility at 151 Legion Road in West Memphis, Arkansas. Its facilities consist of a 0.25-mile (0.40 km) Gumbo clay oval [3] with banked corners, bleacher seating on both straightaways. Amenities include a concession stand. The track was built in 1950 and opened June 10 of that year at an estimated cost of $150,000 by C L Montgomery, originally to showcase midget car racing. It has held a World of Outlaws race. [3] The track is nicknamed "The Ditch". [3]
The track was built in 1950 as a venue for midget car racing which was popular at the time. [4] Four area tracks were scheduled for weekly racing from Thursday to Sunday nights and Riverside was designed as the Saturday night option. [4] The first night on June 10 had 45 midget cars entered but it rained out being rescheduled for June 17. [4] On Thursday June 15, 1950 the first race was actually held as a stock car event. [4] The stock cars were gaining popularity in the Mid-South and the midget cars were quickly discontinued. [4] Joie Chitwood brought his "Thrill Show" to the track on October 1, 1950. [4]
Several World of Outlaws regular drivers who began racing at the track include Sammy Swindell, Bobby Davis Jr., and Jason Sides. [3]
Riverside is the oldest surviving dirt track in the Memphis area, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [4] Riverside is the oldest continuously operating track in Arkansas. [4] It is noted for its high concentration of clay in the gumbo soil (almost 37% clay compared to more typically 22%-27%). [4] Contributing properties include the race track, flagstand, original 1950 ticket booth (now an office), concession stand, cotton candy concession stand, and concession stand / bathroom. [4] The facility also contains the west grandstands that were brought to the facility from Memphis-Arkansas Speedway in 2007-2008 and reconstructed. [4] Its eastern grandstands have aluminum seating. [4] The current wood ticket booth was built in 2008. [4]