Maple Grove Speedway
{{Short description|Motorsport venue in Waterloo, New York}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| name = Maple Grove Speedway
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| location = Waterloo, New York
| coordinates = {{coord|42.9114|-76.8529|type:landmark_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
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| owner = Seneca County Agricultural Society
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| opened = 1935
| closed = 1977
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| former_names= Waterloo Speedway, Seneca County Fairgrounds
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| layout1 = Oval
| surface = Clay
| length_km = .8
| length_mi = .5
| turns = 4
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Maple Grove Speedway was a red clay surfaced, one-half mile egg-shaped oval raceway located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.{{cite news|last=O’Brien|first=Dick|title=Waterloo track to reopen|url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-herald-journal/1976/08-09/page-20|date=August 9, 1976|page=20|newspaper=Syracuse Herald-Journal|location=NY|via=NewspaperArchive |accessdate=April 24, 2025}}
Overview
The Seneca County Agricultural Society purchased the Maple Grove Racetrack and surrounding property in 1882 to host the annual county fair. In addition to horse racing, it began hosting automobile racing in the early 20th century.{{cite news|title=Schnable plans races at Waterloo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmhgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA36&dq=%22waterloo+speedway%22&article_id=3257,5853443|date=May 18, 1929|page=14|newspaper=Journal and Post Express|location=Rochester NY|via=Google Books|accessdate=April 26, 2025}}
Between 1953 and 1971 the facility was known as the Maple Grove Speedway. The Waterloo Stock Car Association and its successor, the Maple Grove Raceway Association, sponsored stock car racing Saturday nights during the summer months.{{cite news|title=W.S.C.R.A News|url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=pcj19590716-01.1.8&srpos=11&e=------195-en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22maple+grove+speedway%22---------|date=July 16, 1959|page=8|newspaper=Palmyra Courier-Journal|location=NY|via=NYS Historic Newspapers|accessdate=April 26, 2025}}{{cite press release|last=Skibiniski|first=Tom|title=Advance Auto Parts Super Dirt Series: Advance Notices|url= https://www.racepulse.com/rpprs060828dirtmodsds.html|date=August 28, 2006|publisher=DIRTcar|via=racepulse.com|accessdate=April 24, 2025}} The track featured up to four classes based on engine specifications: modified unlimited, modified flatheads, in-line sixes, and stock overhead.{{cite news|title= Waterloo raceway plans summer slate|url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/auburn/auburn-citizen-advertiser/1969/03-10/page-13 |date=March 10, 1969|page=13|newspaper=The Citizen|location=Auburn NY|via=NewspaperArchive |accessdate=April 24, 2025}}
The track lay dormant four years before former car owners Dominick Tantalo and Tony Vitti signed a two-year lease in 1976, reopening the venue as the Waterloo Speedway.{{cite news|last=Shaw|first=David|title=Tribute to popular Waterloo race track slated for July 21-24|url=https://www.fltimes.com/news/tribute-to-popular-waterloo-race-track-slated-for-july-21-24/article_be0aa9ae-eff3-5d8a-b589-b10c09db08a6.html|date=July 7, 2021|newspaper=Finger Lakes Times|location=Geneva NY|accessdate=April 26, 2025}} NASCAR veteran Mike McLaughlin lived a few blocks from the fairgrounds and, in anticipation of the re-opening, built his first car in his home garage. According to his mother, he drove the car to the track on his first night of racing.{{cite news|title=Mike 'Magic Shoes' McLaughlin|url=https://empamedia.com/halloffameMike%20McLaughlin.html|publisher=Eastern Motorsports Press Association|accessdate=April 23, 2025}}
Tantalo died unexpectedly in May 1977, and the community protested the noise and dust caused by the races.{{cite news|last=Hill|first=John|title=WR promoter dies| url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/1977/05-09/page-15|date=May 9, 1977|page=15|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse NY|via=NewspaperArchive |accessdate=April 24, 2025}}{{cite news|title= Shut down Track get Waterloo| url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/oswego/oswego-palladium-times/1977/06-04/page-9|date=June 9, 1977|page=9|newspaper=Palladium Times|location=Oswego NY|via=NewspaperArchive |accessdate=April 24, 2025}} The Waterloo Speedway's final event was a New York State Late Model Championship on August 13th, 1977, and except for some exhibition events, auto racing did not return to the venue.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjdfGmEV5xw Maple Grove Speedway & Mike McLaughlin – YouTube]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maple Grove Speedway}}
Category:Motorsport venues in New York (state)