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A walk through the woods surrounding Unity Raceway is like a trip in a time machine. With the first recorded auto races taking place 68 years ago, a lot of laps have been turned, and a lot of cars crashed, few of which can be found scattered in the woods off turns three and four. Within these pages are current photos of the treasures to be found beyond the fence. From coupes to Chryslers that could tell you so many stories beyond belief, to beer bottles and oil cans thrown over the fence by dirty, drunk, racecar drivers. These artifacts have found their final home in the distance, lonely and unnoticed, overtaken by the ground and becoming one with the earth. To many, these items have no meaning or significance, but to me, it was a very special experience seeking them out, and gaining my respect for an era that happened decades before I was even born.
Originally as a horse track and fairgrounds, Unity was converted in 1948, with much of the safety features needed from horses to cars being neglected, as common for the era. Turns one and two were so close to the road, being only separated be wooden fence. Cars would occasionally crash over the bank and wind up in traffic. Turns three and four were also much closer to the tree line as the track was originally a dirt half mile, making the straitaways longer than today. Being so close to the forest and not much protection to stop you from going off, it makes you wonder if the cars found over there, had crashed and were left by the drivers, deamed totaled beyond repair.
Unity is the only raceway in the state where so much history is still visible, on and off the track. From the collection of cars pictured throughout this calender that have sat dormant for decades, to the tarnished and weathered racing surface that intimidates the competition. From the section of vacant and abandoned grandstands where planks are robbed and weeds have over taken, to the original covered grandstands that have seated fans since day one. Unity Raceway is a truly special place that holds so many decades of memories and stories that we continue to make, but are slowly losing grasp on at the same time. We now work harder than ever before to hold onto the races we still have to cherish.
- Nick Huff
Originally as a horse track and fairgrounds, Unity was converted in 1948, with much of the safety features needed from horses to cars being neglected, as common for the era. Turns one and two were so close to the road, being only separated be wooden fence. Cars would occasionally crash over the bank and wind up in traffic. Turns three and four were also much closer to the tree line as the track was originally a dirt half mile, making the straitaways longer than today. Being so close to the forest and not much protection to stop you from going off, it makes you wonder if the cars found over there, had crashed and were left by the drivers, deamed totaled beyond repair.
Unity is the only raceway in the state where so much history is still visible, on and off the track. From the collection of cars pictured throughout this calender that have sat dormant for decades, to the tarnished and weathered racing surface that intimidates the competition. From the section of vacant and abandoned grandstands where planks are robbed and weeds have over taken, to the original covered grandstands that have seated fans since day one. Unity Raceway is a truly special place that holds so many decades of memories and stories that we continue to make, but are slowly losing grasp on at the same time. We now work harder than ever before to hold onto the races we still have to cherish.
- Nick Huff
