Big races were held on the Fourth of July. This is a 1949 advertisement for the Warner Park Speedway.
(This is another article in a series devoted to local automobile raceways).
WARNER PARK SPEEDWAY
Warner Park has served many purposes over the years. Its predecessor, Olympia Park, opened around 1895 as a business venture offering horse racing. Chattanooga city government purchased the park in 1912, and renamed it to honor Commissioner Joseph H. Warner.
The city was able to maintain as well as to make additions to Warner Park despite the lean economy of the 1930’s and the war years of the 1940’s. The pages of the city directories and newspapers include listings for the following:
* Amusement park, which included a caterpillar, Ferris Wheel, roller coaster, and train
* Bowling alley
* Hobby shop
* Natatorium
* Roller skating rink
* Rose garden
* Softball fields
* Stables
* Zoo
There was also a popular fair held at Warner Park each year.
At some point in its history, Warner Park also featured an automobile race track and grandstand, possibly left over from the horse racing years. The track is still remembered by local automobile race fans. It was a half-mile, flat track.
Auto racing, though, was to be a casualty of the construction of the Warner Park field house, whose inaugural event was hosting the Rev. Billy Graham crusade in 1953. Rev. Graham had preached at Chamberlain Field in 1951, but the congregation was drenched in a steady rain. Civic leaders were determined to build a covered facility to ensure that a return visit by Billy Graham would not be affected by the weather.
On October 15, 1952, the Chattanooga Times reported “Warner Park Race Track Doomed in Major Changes.” The redevelopment plan included space for the field house, as well as new picnic grounds. Part of the race track would be converted to space for picnics. The grandstand would also be torn down.
However, on October 26, 1952, a fire destroyed the grandstand. Prevailing winds prevented damage to the rose gardens, but the fire did spread through the bowling alley. The cause of the fire was reported by The Times as being from spontaneous combustion in a pile of old wooden shingles under the stands.
THE CHATTANOOGA SPEEDWAY
Local racing fans also remember a course that was in south Alton Park in the flood plain of Chattanooga Creek. Like Warner Park, it was a half-mile track. However, I have been unable to find archived material on this speedway.
MEMORIES OF THE BRAINERD OPTIMIST DRAG STRIP
By Charles “Red” Harris
The idea for a series on local automobile race tracks came from Robert (Bob) Richey, whose father raced at the local tracks.
The first two articles generated several responses from readers. One mentioned a collection of photographs that I still need to review. One response was a call from Charles “Red” Harris. Mr. Harris sent me several pages of material that he has compiled over fifty-three years, 1957-2010, to document the history of the Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip. The following are some excerpts.
* 1957 *
The drag strip opened August, 1957 in HIxson, TN on Crabtree Road.
Wendel Williams wins his first race in Stock Class, and drives a ’50 Oldsmobile 88. Williams is undefeated all year.
Class winners race until final – winner is top eliminator; wins $50 Savings Bond.
David Prater runs Cadillac-powered 1948 Crosley with aluminum painted front end.
Joe Jenkins runs chain-driven supercharged Chevy dragster.
David Jones wins Top Eliminator with factory stock Oldsmoile 32, with three carburetors in dragster he built.
Jim Jernigan wins trophies in three classes driving a 283 Chevy powered ’34 Ford sedan. Strip rules a car can only run in one class.
* 1960 to 1964 *
Don Casteel has first car with a name painted on it – “Stroker Broker” – after breaking crank shaft in his ’57 Chevrolet.
Night racing begins in 1960 with big increase in race cars and spectators.
Bog Line painted on strip; on a bad start, the car driver can stop both cars, back up to run again; third time, both cars must run.
Bobby “Terrapin” Marshall drives Dragster with 392 Chrysler Hemi and 6 2-barrel carburetors. He pulls a wheel stand and goes on to run off end of track; returns to run next round.
Russell Lee flips and destroys 409 Chevy powered ’55 Chevy using railroad rails for ballast in trunk; returns to win class in a borrowed car.
Red Harris runs new ’62 Chevy SS 409 against Wendel Williams’ 1957 Chevy 327 D Gas and wins; they race back to starting line and Williams’ clutch disc and pressure plate explode and disable his brakes. Williams slides sideways into fence at entrance to strip.
The Strip moves to Ringgold in April, 1964. The old drag strip became the Dallas Bay Skypark airport.
New Christmas Tree system begins Dial In Handicap Bracket racing; cars can run two tenths over and one tenth under dial in.
If you have memories of the Warner Park or Chattanooga Speedway tracks, please send me an e-mail at jolleyh@bellsouth.net.