Marion Co Raceway

[CoastalJack98]

Marion County Raceway near Marion, SC looks a little different 42 years after the last checkered flag was waved at the 4/10 mile clay track. Today Bobby Williamson, Jim Wilmore and I visited the track for a glimpse of racing history.

Jack

[capefear01]

Marion County Raceway 42 years later.

The last race was run when the owner didn't pay his light bill and the county came out during the race and cut the power off, it never reopened. Just learned that today from a guy who was there at the last race.

[Kenny]

Dog,you guys found a "lil" gold mine,did'nt ya? That is so neat...!!:smiley_880:

[DoubleZero]

You got that right, Kenny.....you shoulda gone with us.....she's a diamond in the rough!

[archielm#7]

how about hemingway did you find it

[DoubleZero]

Yep, we found it, too, got pictures, but Marion Co. is a lot better. Impressively, Marion utilized the 'dug-down' method of construction. Instead of building 'up' the banking, Marion's truns were carved; the top of the turn is at grade-level.....no embankment to run off of. The past 40-something years of mother nature has not seriously eroded the turns. A couple weeks with a bulldozer and a track-hoe, and MCS would be very impressive.

[capefear01]

how about hemingway did you find it

Not only did we find it, we found this old 55 model #4-ord in the back stretch. You can clearly see the track at Hemingway too.

If you look at the lower left corner you can make out the 4. The driver's name was visible but not readable. The only building left standing was a two seater tin sided outhouse house. The guard rails and cable are still there but it looked like a fire took out most them.

Marion is visible since they clear-cut the track, you can see the whole thing from end to end. The guard rails are the only thing left above ground there. The cinder blocks for the grand stands support can still be seen. Other than some bear tracks we didn't have any problems with dogs. The owners cousin stopped by to see who the NC Tags belonged to. He wouldn't walk back with us since he doesn't get a long with his cousin. A fella named Chubby that I met at the local ammo supply store took me to the track at Marion since Hwy 41 goes east, west, north and south is seems, I got a little lost looking for it. Jack and Bobby were already there, I told em' I'd brought Chubby along as a scout. You know anybody that has a decal of a turkey on their back window knows the woods. Chubby wouldn't go back there either, says there's danger in them woods. I figured since the locals wouldn't take us for a tour I'd might as well catch up with Jack and Bobby, they were chomping at the bit to see the track so they went on ahead while I was talking to Chubby and the Land Owner's Cousin. Come to find out the owner might sell it, but you'd better come off a pile of money, he's done taken all the trees and it ain't much to look at. Had a good time though...would like to see more of the ghost tracks and some photos to go along with em'.

[archielm#7]

ill get up with tony powell and find out about the old car

[Kenny]

Hey Archie,what's up man..?! Did ya get the blue late model all lettered up? Got thatnumber "7" on the sides. Alright ,you gotta send a picture on here..!!!!:Supprise:

[archielm#7]

yea im brining it home the first of the week ill post some pic it was good meeting you and jim

[capefear01]

yea im brining it home the first of the week ill post some pic it was good meeting you and jim

Archie, it was good meeting you too and let me know when you race Hammerdown so I can come out and cheer for the SL#7. Hopefully we'll be seeing ya at Dillon this year with the club cars. I made it Greater Works Inc. in Lumberton Friday. That is one cool program they got there, it's like a mini-nascar institute. They have some great projects going on there, hopefully Rick Lovette can get on here someday and post some projects photos for us. I didn't get to see the 37 Chevy Coach he has since it was at another shop but from what he says it's almost race ready minus a paint job. I'm going down next Friday to see it and take some pictures.

[DoubleZero]

Not much remains of the old Marion Co. Speedway, but there's evidence that a guard-rail once existed......

[djSNUFFY]

Directions Please

[DoubleZero]

It's on hwy 41 in the Aerial Crossroad community of Marion County, SC

[djSNUFFY]

How far south of the golf course?

[djSNUFFY]

HELP!! Still can't find this one!

[DoubleZero]

Marion Co. (SC) Speedway is very challenging to find..........but what a Jewel! It looks a LOT better on the ground, in real time, than any ghost track I've seen. The site has been logged/clear cut since these aerials, as evidenced by the photos on this thread. The track is located on SC hwy 41 east of Marion, SC and north of hwy 501. Folllowing hwy 41 look for "Penderboro Road" and "Devils Leap Lane" the track is almost directly accross 41 from "Devils Leap Lane". Terraserver: -79.27831 & 34.11285

[djSNUFFY]

Thanks 00