Once upon a time, the one technique to discover the world was to really discover it. Sadly, we won’t spend our whole lives road-tripping for cool issues to see, and even when we might, some locations aren’t simply noticed at floor stage. For instance, who knew there have been stays of a quarter-mile drag strip hidden by timber within the suburbs of Chicago? We know, due to Google Earth. And now, you understand too.

Before we go any additional, contemplate your self warned. What follows might result in one of many largest rabbit holes of your life, particularly for those who maintain even a slight curiosity in automobiles and racing. Some people within the Google Earth, Structure, and Anomalies Facebook Group tipped us off to this motorsport-themed digital journey of discovering outdated race tracks, and you understand what? Searching for these locations is as addicting as deep-fried cocaine.

Oval horse tracks are fairly widespread and so they’re generally mistaken for outdated automotive haunts. But there are some places that, with out query, as soon as loved the sounds of engines and the scent of race gas. We might spend years looking for all of them, however since that is not sensible, be a part of us for a brief Google Earth tour. And when you’re addicted (and you’ll be), bounce into the feedback with images and coordinates of outdated tracks you discover.

For now, listed here are a couple of to whet your urge for food.

Track: Brooklands
Location: Weybridge, England
Coordinates: 51°19’16″N 0°25’47″W

Arguably probably the most well-known ghost observe on the planet, the final race at Brooklands came about in 1939 (excluding James May’s Scalextric slot automotive tomfoolery in 2009) however parts of the steeply banked oval nonetheless exist at present. For that matter, a lot of the unique structure reveals by means of from the air regardless of appreciable improvement on the web site since its glory days.

Track: Mid-America Raceway
Location: Wentzville, Missouri USA
Coordinates: 38°50’48″N 90°54’57″W

This is the observe that piqued our curiosity, recently shared by David Williams within the Google Earth, Structures, and Anomalies Facebook group. Once a 2.8-mile highway course with a drag strip, the observe closed in 2004 and is now a sprawling subdivision. The southern finish of the observe is gone, however on the high of the photograph, you possibly can see parts of the unique pavement nonetheless snaking by means of the panorama.

Track: EG&G Proving Grounds
Location: D’Hanis, Texas USA
Coordinates: 29°24’42″N 99°21’48″W

The stays of this large oval observe are baking within the solar roughly seven clicks northwest of D’Hanis, Texas. This was additionally shared within the Google Earth Facebook group, however it’s not a race observe. After some digging, we discovered a YouTube video describing the placement as a five-mile take a look at facility as soon as utilized by the now-defunct firm Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Inc. The nature of the testing, in addition to the present standing of the power, is unknown.

Track: Surfers Paradise International Raceway
Location: Carrara, Queensland Australia,
Coordinates: 28°00’46″S 153°22’25″E

The ring highway of this seaside group serves as a top level view for the old 2.0-mile road course. The small straight stretch of damaged pavement barely up and proper of heart (subsequent to the Master Mindset textual content) is all that is still of the unique observe, which noticed quite a few endurance races and was a daily cease for the Australian Touring Car Championship till its closure in 1987.

Paramount Ranch Raceway
Location: Agoura Hills, California USA
Coordinates: 34°07’05″N 118°45’10″W

This one is likely to be tough to suss out, so we have expertly outlined the unique 2.0-mile course in crimson with a little bit of assist from David Williams, who tipped us off to the track. Several parts nonetheless exist, corresponding to the massive curve on the decrease proper and the straightaway. Other stretches are nonetheless seen as dust paths, however the observe’s official life solely lasted from 1956 by means of 1957 because it was deemed too harmful. It lived a second life as a location used for filming by means of the ’50s and ’60s. Today it is a part of the National Park Service as a historic web site.

Dakota Intermountain Dragway
Location: Belle Fourche, South Dakota USA
Coordinates: 44°42’33″N 103°53’41″W

Nestled close to the Wyoming border, this quarter-mile drag strip and small oval observe was once referred to as Black Hills Dragway. Dragstriplist.com tells us it opened in 1972 and as soon as had seating for 500 individuals. The seats and buildings are lengthy gone, however the damaged strip nonetheless stays … albeit with timber rising by means of the cracks.

Track: Century 21 Raceways
Location: Aurora, Colorado USA
Coordinates: 39°44’55″N 104°43’46″W

Here’s one other oval/drag strip combo, this time discovered within the shadow of Denver. Aurora is a northern suburb, and in keeping with na-motorsports.com, this small facility had an equally small lifespan from 1971 by means of 1973. It consisted of a 3/8-mile oval with a figure-eight characteristic and a quarter-mile drag strip that linked to it, seen right here on the backside of the picture. Both clearly present up within the satellite tv for pc view, however switching to road view reveals latest developments within the space which have doubtless worn out the damaged stays.

Track: Oswego Drag Raceway
Location: Oswego, Illinois
Coordinates: 41°41’10″N 88°23’15″W

Roughly 40 miles west of downtown Chicago is a dense grove of timber hiding the stays of a once-thriving drag strip. Oswego Drag Raceway opened in 1954 and stayed in operation for 25 years, finally succumbing to the growth of the Windy City’s suburbs. Everything however the observe itself is gone, although at this level it is lined by timber and surrounded by subdivisions.