OK, all of you Billy Joe and Bobby Sue wannabes, if you’re looking for the authentic Dukes of Hazzard vibes, then get ready; we have the place for you. Morph into Bo, Luke Duke and Daisy Duke at a real, if somewhat reduced service offering at the Occoneechee Nascar track in Raleigh–Durham, in North Carolina, USA. If you’re dorks like us when it comes to this kind of “left of centre” history, then make a beeline down and check it out. It’s got the fun, but kinda creepy vibe that you might conjure up in your mind, especially after watching films like Deliverance, Dukes of Hazzard and, now, this fun place.
From a history point of view, Occoneechee Speedway was one of the first two NASCAR tracks to open. It closed in 1968 and is the only dirt track remaining from the inaugural 1949 season. The Occoneechee Speedway site is now heavily forested with pines and sycamores. The grandstands are still visible, as is much of the mile–long oval track. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and now comprises 44 acres (180,000 m2) with over 3 miles (4.8 km) of trails A walking trail was built in 2003 that crisscrosses the clay track. A non-profit local group, The Historic Speedway Group, continues to organize volunteers to renovate historic structures and maintain the track and trails. The group has collected an impressive archive of videos, photographs, and historical information about the site.
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