Lost Motorsport Board Tracks Across America – Mapping Them All

As a huge motorsports fan, this topic came up with a few of our researchers who can’t let it go! While the Mr. Local History Project normally focuses on New Jersey history, they had to discover more once they learned that Jersey was part of the story. So, we keep digging and finding more racetracks that were once part of American board track motorsports history!

Board track speedways and motordromes were popular motor racing tracks in the early 20th century, but they had distinct differences in design, purpose, and historical usage. Both were constructed from wooden planks, usually pine, and featured steeply banked turns, but they served different audiences and racing needs.

Board track speedways were larger and primarily designed for automobile racing. These tracks could be up to two miles long and were built to accommodate high-speed racing with long straightaways and wide, steeply banked turns. Their design allowed for thrilling races and impressive speeds, which made them highly popular in the 1910s and 1920s. However, their size and complexity made them expensive to construct and maintain. Over time, safety concerns and the growing preference for paved tracks led to their decline by the 1930s. Notable examples include the Los Angeles Speedway, which was 1.25 miles long.

On the other hand, Motordromes were smaller and originally intended for motorcycle racing, which is reflected in their name. These tracks were more compact, often less than a mile in length, with tight, steeply banked turns suited for the agility of motorcycles. Their smaller size made it easier for them to build in urban areas, attracting a local audience. Motordromes later expanded to include car racing but were often criticized for their safety hazards. These dangers earned some tracks the grim nickname “murderdromes,” their popularity waned earlier than that of board track speedways. The first motordrome was built in Los Angeles in 1909, marking the start of the board track racing era.

While both types of tracks contributed significantly to the development of motorsports, their high costs, safety issues, and the shift toward more durable asphalt and concrete tracks ultimately led to their decline. Each, however, left a legacy that influenced modern racing venues.

American automobile and motorcycle board track racers of the early 20th century represented motorsport’s thrilling and dangerous golden age. These racers, often dubbed “speed daredevils,” competed on wooden oval tracks known as motordromes or board tracks, typically constructed from narrow wooden planks. These tracks allowed for high-speed racing due to their steep banking, which could exceed 45 degrees, creating a gravity-defying spectacle.

Racers pushed the limits of early 20th-century technology, piloting machines with minimalist designs and powerful engines prioritizing speed over safety. Motorcycles like the Indian and Harley-Davidson and automobiles from manufacturers like Duesenberg and Stutz roared around the tracks at speeds of 100 mph or more, a feat considered astonishing at the time.

What made these racers truly remarkable was their unparalleled bravery and skill. Board tracks were perilous; splintering wood, lack of guardrails, and sheer speeds led to frequent accidents, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. Despite this, racers demonstrated exceptional control, precision, and fearlessness, captivating audiences across the United States. The sport’s brief but spectacular heyday—from the 1910s to the 1930s—helped advance automotive and motorcycle engineering. It also cemented the legacy of legendary racers like Ray Weishaar, Ralph DePalma, and Eddie Hasha, whose exploits inspired generations of motorsport enthusiasts.

Though the era of board-track racing ended due to safety concerns and the high cost of maintaining the tracks, its influence endures. It was a testament to human daring and the relentless pursuit of speed and innovation.

The American Lost Board Track Map

While the Mr. Local History Project tries to identify ALL of the Lost American Board Tracks, we’ve begun creating an interactive Google map to showcase details and photos of this American phenomenon of the early 20th century. We now have 60 board tracks shown on two layers, one for automobile board speedways and the other for motorcycle motordromes.

This effort began after we built a detailed list of lost New Jersey racetracks, including New Jersey’s legendary Atlantic City Speedway and the world’s fastest 1/2-mile board track, Woodbridge Speedway.

Join the “American Board Track” Conversation on Facebook

In addition to the interactive map, there’s a new Facebook public group called “Board Track Racing 1910- 1931,” where like-minded people can gather and discuss all things motorsports of the past from the great board track daredevils of the early 1900s. The group is open to anyone with a Facebook account.

MLH Researched Motorsports History Stories

Lost – Atlantic City Speedway (Amatol)  (Wood) – Mullica Township, New Jersey – 1.5 mile Wood Oval
Lost – Cape May Beach Racing, Cape May, New Jersey. 1-mile sand drag strip on the beach.
Lost – Clark Township Speedway – Clark, New Jersey – 1/5 mile dirt oval
Lost – Hinchliffe Stadium – Paterson, New Jersey – 1/5 mile cinder oval then paved
Active – TROG -The Race of Gentlemen – Wildwood, New Jersey – Beach racing.
Lost – Union Speedway (Wood) – (Wood) Union Township, New Jersey – 10,000-seat board track.
Lost – Woodbridge Speedway (Wood) – Woodbridge, New Jersey – 1/2 mile Wood Oval, dirt oval.

More MLH Jersey Racing History

Mr. Local History Motorsports Special Edition Magazine – Free!

Lost New Jersey Racetracks Mapping Project

1926: Atlantic City Opened One of the Greatest Speedway’s in the World

1928 – Woodbridge Speedway – World’s Fastest 1/2 Mile Track

Wearing Lost Jersey Motorsports Icons is Fun History

Daytona 500 Ticket Price History – 2025 – Holding Tight in a Inflationary Economy

American Lost Board Track List – Automobiles/Speedways
(By State)

No.	ST	Name	Years	Opened	Closed	Board Track Length (Miles)	Description	Location
1	CA	Cotati Speedway	1	1921	1922	1.250	1.25 mile board track in Santa Rosa	POINT (-122.7096666 38.3293416)
2	CA	Greater San Francisco Speedway	1	1921	1922	1.250	1.25 mile board track motorsports speedway in San Carlos	POINT (-122.2605222 37.5071591)
3	CA	Oakland Motordrome	1	1911	1912	0.500	Actually in Elmhurst – 1/2 mile board bowl race track. Six men battle inside the short lived Oakland Motordrome	POINT (-122.165935 37.7484529)
4	CA	Culver City Speedway	3	1924	1927	1.250	1.25 mile motorsports wooden board speedway. the track at Culver City	POINT (-118.3964665 34.0211224)
5	CA	Fresno Fairgrounds Speedway	7	1920	1927	1.000	Fresno County Fairgrounds – 1121 S Chance Ave	POINT (-119.7510096 36.7304328)
6	CA	Los Angeles Motordrome	3	1910	1913	1.000	Venice, CA,   1 mile board track – Playa Del Ray Speedway. The Motordrome was the world’s first elevated wooden board track built for race cars. It could host 50	POINT (-118.4527302 33.994091)
7	CA	Los Angeles Coliseum Motordrome	3	1910	1913	1.000	Better known for being the site of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics	POINT (-118.2878399 34.0140495)
8	CA	Beverly Hills Speedway- Los Angeles Speedway	4	1920	1924	1.250	1.25 mile banked board racetrack.  At Beverly Hills	POINT (-118.4003563 34.0736204)
9	FL	Fulford Miami Speedway	1	1926	1927	1.250	Fulford-by-the-Sea – 1 1/4 mile board track raceway	POINT (-80.1542475 25.9346827)
10	IA	Des Moines Speedway	2	1915	1917	1.000	1 mile board motorsports racetrack – Valley Junction	POINT (-93.7202389 41.5687689)
11	IL	Speedway Park	3	1915	1918	2.000	Maywood	POINT (-87.8431155 41.8791979)
12	MA	Springfield Motodrome		1909		0.333	1/3 mile	POINT (-72.589811 42.1014831)
13	MD	Baltimore Washington Speedway	1	1925	1926	1.125	1.125 board track in Laurel MD.	POINT (-76.8483061 39.0992752)
14	MO	St. Louis Motordrome	2	1912	1914		It was located in Priester’s Park	POINT (-90.2441542 38.5811342)
15	MN	Twin City Motor Speedway					University Ave & Snelling Ave – The Twin City Motor Speedway in St. Paul	POINT (-93.1660754 44.9555337)
16	MO	Kansas City Speedway	2	1922	1924	1.250	1.25 motorsports board track	POINT (-94.5785667 39.0997265)
17	NC	Charlotte Speedway	3	1924	1927	1.250	1.25 boardtrack called Pineville Speedway in Pineville	POINT (-80.8431267 35.2270869)
18	NE	Omaha Speedway	2	1915	1917	1.250	1.25 mile board track	POINT (-95.9345034 41.2565369)
19	NH	Rockingham Speedway	4	1925	1929	1.250	Rockingham board track was in Salem	POINT (-71.2008912 42.78855530000001)
20	NJ	Woodbridge Speedway	2	1929	1931	0.500	Half Mile board track – https://www.mrlocalhistory.org/woodbridgenj-speedway/	POINT (-74.2850687 40.567009)
21	NJ	Amatol (Atlantic City) Speedway	2	1926	1928	1.500	Read more – https://www.mrlocalhistory.org/atlantic-city-speedway/	POINT (-74.6952699 39.5730316)
22	NY	Castle Hill Speedway	2	1938	1940		The Castle Hill Speedway opened in 1938 and was located east of Castle Hill Avenue	POINT (-73.8459643 40.8241135)
23	NY	Sheepshead Bay Speedway	4	1915	1919	2.000	2 mile board track – A 2.0 mile wooden oval built by Blaine Miller	POINT (-73.94575379999999 40.5953955)
24	NY	Coney Island Motordrome				0.125	The Coney Island Velodrome was a mid-sized sports arena in Coney Island	POINT (-73.9795422 40.5798463)
25	OH	Cincinnati Speedway	3	1916	1919	2.000	2-mile board track – A 2.0 mile wooden oval built by Blaine Miller	POINT (-84.4049288 39.3074341)
26	OH	North Hampton						POINT (-83.93993329999999 39.9900594)
27	OH	Akron Cleveland Speedway	4	1926	1930	0.500	1/2 mile board track motorsports speedway  – Northampton Township	POINT (-81.53678359999999 41.1664446)
28	PA	Altoona Raceway	8	1923	1931	1.250	2-mile motorsports board track speedway	POINT (-78.2958474 40.635898)
29	PA	Uniontown Speedway	6	1916	1922	1.125	Hopwood	POINT (-79.7019885 39.8770205)
30	PA	Pittsburg Bridgeville Speedway	3	1927	1930	0.500	The ½ mile wood oval was on the west edge of town on SR 50	POINT (-80.1123301 40.3581426)
31	UT	Wandamere Speedway	4	1910	1914	0.333	Board track – Opened on 02 July 1910	POINT (-111.8721648 40.710832)
32	WA	Pacific Coast Speedway / Tacoma Speedway	7	1915	1922	2.000	2-mile board track (motorsports) in Sharonville	POINT (-122.4442906 47.2528768)
		Avg Years	3.14			31.041	Board Miles of Track

Motorcycle Motordrome Board Tracks

MOTORCYCLE SPECIFIC – 1-MILE OR LESS – 1908 -1915

No.	Track Name	City	ST	Opened	Track Length	Track Details
1	Los Angeles Coliseum	Los Angeles	CA	Mar 14,1909		Oval – 3 1/2 lap 45-degrees (turns)
2	Los Angeles Stadium	Los Angeles	CA	Feb 11,1912	0.333	Circle – 1/3-mile, 50-degree banking
3	Oakland Motordrome	Elmhurst	CA	Apr 23,1911	0.500	Circle – 1/2-mile, 40-degree banking
4	Playa del Rey Motordrome	Los Angeles	CA	Apr 15,1910	1.000	Circle – 1.0-mile, 20-degree banking
5	Tuileries Motordrome	Denver	CO	May 28,1911	0.333	Circle – 1/3-mile, 47-degree banking
6	White City Motordrome	Lakeside	CO	May 27,1911	0.250	Circle – 1/4 -mile, 47-degree banking
7	Atlanta Motordrome	Atlanta	GA	June 14.1913	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 58-degree banking
8	Riverview Stadium-Motordrome	Chicago	IL	Jul 8,1911	0.333	Circle – 1/3 mile, 45-degree banking
9	Lagoon Motordrome	Ludlow	KY	Jun 18,1913	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 60-degree banking
10	Springfield Motordrome	Springfield	MA	Jul 31,1909	0.333	Circle – 1/3 -mile, 40-degree banking
11	Detroit Motordrome	Detroit	MI	Jun 5, 1913	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 60 degree banking
12	Twin Cities Motordrome	Minneapolis	MN	May 30.1914	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 62-degree banking
13	Priesters Park Motordrome	St. Louis	MO	Aug31,1912	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 62.5 degree banking
14	St. Joseph Motordrome	St. Joesph	MO	Oct 17,1915		Circle – 4.5-lap, 62 1/2 degree banking
15	Omaha Motordrome	Omaha	NE	Sep 14.1914	0.333	Circle – 1/3 mile, 60-degree banking
16	Clifton Motordrome (aka Paterson)	Paterson	NJ	Jul 4,1908	0.167	Oval – 1/6 mile. 48-degree (turns)
17	Vailsburg Motordrome	Vailsburg/Newark	NJ	Jul 4.1912	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 60 -degree banking
18	Brighton Beach Motordrome	Coney Island	NY	Jun 29.1912	0.333	Circle – 1/3 mile, 52-degree banking
19	Columbus Motordrome	Columbus	OH	Jul 4,1912	0.500	Circle – 1/2 -mile, 45-degree banking
20	Luna Park Motordrome	Cleveland	OH	May 18, 1912	0.250	Circle— 1/4-mile, 58-degree banking
21	Toronto Motordrome	Toronto	Ontario	May 15,1914	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 60-degree banking
22	East End Motordrome	Pittsburg	PA	Jul 2, 1913	0.200	Circle – 1/5-mile, 60-degree banking
23	Point Breeze Motordrome	Philadelphia	PA	Jun 18,1912	0.333	Circle – 1/3mile, 54.5 degree banking
24	Chattanooga Motordrome	Chattanooga	TN	Sep 11,1913	0.200	Circle – 1/5-mile, 65-degree banking
25	Dallas Motordrome	Dallas	TX	Oct 14. 1912	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 62.5 degree banking
26	Houston Motordrome	Houston	TX	Dec 25. 1913	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 60-degree banking
27	Wandamere Motordrome	Salt Lake City	UT	Jul 2,1910	0.333	Circle – 1/3-mile. 42-degree banking
28	Milwaukee Motordrome	Milwaukee	WI	Jul 5, 1913	0.250	Circle – 1/4-mile, 55-degree banking