GCPE72 Santa Fe Speedway (Traditional Cache) in Illinois, United States created by Panther in the Den

This cache has been archived.

Panther in the Den: Good news and bad news.

What do you want first? The bad news you say?

The sign and the building it sat on has been removed.

The good news?

Rumor has it the sign has been relocated to the Harley dealership on Harlem Ave.

I'll place a new cache at it's new location but it just won't be the same... I'll also place a new and larger cache at this location too. It is a cool spot!

Thanks to all who visited! ... and a special thanks to Liminal Man for the heads up.

GCPE72 ▼

A cache by Panther in the Den Message this owner

Hidden : 6/27/2005

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The coords will take you to all (that I could find) that is left of the grand old speedway, a place where a magnetic key holder (with log and micro pencils) is hidden. The coords for the location where the track used to be is N41º43.422, W087º54.364. Visit it if you wish but there is nothing left.

"Only one speedway has a track of clay and you ain't seen nothing 'til you've been to Santa Fe.

Vrrrooommmm

Raaaacing on a track of clay."

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THE STORY:

In 1896, an ambitious man named Frederick Tiedt, opened up a new source of entertainment for millions of people throughout the Midwest. He called it Santa Fe Park.

Built in the hilly town of Hinsdale, IL. next to the Santa Fe Railroad (hence the name), Frederick, used horse drawn landscrapers to build a quarter mile racetrack and 2 grandstands. The track featured bicycle and horse races. As time progressed it also included auto and motorcycle racing, starring such old favorites as Bill and Ernest Streator, Bill Kirby and Rudy Klime. The park also included a dance hall, bowling alley, picnic areas, and a beer garden.

In the late 1920's, disaster struck in the form of a tornado. The grandstands were destroyed and as a result, racing became absent from the park.

Fredrick Tiedt died in 1946, but his work was carried on by his son Howard Tiedt. Impressed with the growing popularity of auto racing in1953, Howard decided to rebuild the track.

Useing modern equipment and 1.5 million pounds of clay, 2 tracks were built. A quarter mile track inside a half mile, with a moto cross course and figure 8 crossing added later. This new track was called Santa Fe Speedway, and featured Stock Car, Midget, and Motorcycle races. Through the years other attractions such as The Tournament of Destruction, Powder Puff and others were added.

Santa Fe Speedway was host to such local heroes as, Ray van Allen, Jim O'Conner and the Izzo Family and was visited by national names like Kyle Petty and Darrel Waltrip.

Howard Tiedt passed away in the early 90's. In 1995, Santa Fe Speedway saw its last checkered flag.

Be sure to visit the sister cache on the southside, Raceway Park by Corp Of Discovery

Additional Hints (No hints available.)