Detroit Dorals Park Velodrome?

[Spade115]

I read this on another board, its real cool. Also good that some people are trying to use whats already around them. Real cool

[lowbrowcustoms]

Originally Posted by telecaster_6

Now..... Here's the best kept secret in Michigan... Look up Raco, Mi on google earth. About 10 miles due west of the town is an abandoned WWII triangle shaped landing strip thats been shut down since the 70's....and is open to the public. You can see this thing from space its so big.. We stopped there on a big ride with 14 guys... had a blast

This Raco Field is interesting. Three 6600' runways. It is used for automobile testing (hence the circular track and serpentine track) by Smithers Scientific Services. I called them and talked to a guy there inquiring about private use (ie testing land speed bikes), he said they have a lease there and use it for the winter test track but doubts we would be allowed to do anything like that there. He did suggest TRC which isn't that far from me which has a 7.5 mile banked circle track, though the straightaways are 2 miles each. This is a privately owned company and I am sure the track can be rented out, I didn't check into it more but I am sure it isn't cheap. There is also the Ravenna Arsenal, abandoned (?) WWII armory and factory. Interesting stuff.

Tyler

[little d]

tyler, ya might check out your state fair grounds. i was a founder of f.c.m.a. here in mo, i got hooked up with the guy that oversaw the fair grounds and we worked out a deal to rent a section of it in the spring and fall, for feild events and dirt drags, cheep. those places sit empty most of the year and any monies they can colect off of them only makes them look better! i dont know if they would have what your lookin for but it might be worth a look, d.

[adem]

there is an outdoor velodrome not too far from me that Ive been thinking for some time would be great to get a few laps around. We used to sneak in and skate it.

[beatcad]

that video w/ the camera on the mountain bike looks a little boring(slow).
this looks like fun
http://fallingapartart.com/blog/?p=683

[velomech]

Spent many an hour on Velodromes...Scary/dangerous doesnt begin to describe it.

I dont know If I would do it on a moto....

Cheers
Hodge

[Tattoo]

Originally Posted by velomech

Spent many an hour on Velodromes...Scary/dangerous doesnt begin to describe it.

I dont know If I would do it on a moto....

Cheers
Hodge

LoL Well I guess your not up for racing in a Hay field on a dresser then?

[velomech]

HA! I can hold the camera and drink beer while you do it though!

Cheers and beers
Hodge

[SpartanSPS]

Pretty cool find! I have read about this Velodrome all over the internet today. Just imagine in about 20 years that will be Belle Isle.

[Tattoo]

Originally Posted by velomech

HA! I can hold the camera and drink beer while you do it though!

Cheers and beers
Hodge

You live close enough to do just that. It's a great time.

[velomech]

Originally Posted by Tattoo

You live close enough to do just that. It's a great time.

When and where man?

Cheers
Hodge

[Bozi]

Screws, Im glad you posted that. Thank you.

[AttilaHOD]

the track looks just like the roads in detroit.....

For us NYC folks who get to ride on the BQE it looks like glass.

[telecaster_6]

Originally Posted by lowbrowcustoms

This Raco Field is interesting. Three 6600' runways. It is used for automobile testing (hence the circular track and serpentine track) by Smithers Scientific Services. I called them and talked to a guy there inquiring about private use (ie testing land speed bikes), he said they have a lease there and use it for the winter test track but doubts we would be allowed to do anything like that there. He did suggest TRC which isn't that far from me which has a 7.5 mile banked circle track, though the straightaways are 2 miles each. This is a privately owned company and I am sure the track can be rented out, I didn't check into it more but I am sure it isn't cheap. There is also the Ravenna Arsenal, abandoned (?) WWII armory and factory. Interesting stuff.

Tyler

Smithers only uses the facility in the winter. The rest of the time the site is abandoned. We spent hours there blasting down all the runways at over 100+. Just take your bike up there and run it.... The sign on the driveway says "No Test Vehicles"... We rode there...so our bikes arent test vehicles technically. It doesnt say "No driving really fast".

[bonscott]

Id love to go there

[Gixxer1300r]

Originally Posted by bonscott

Id love to go there

I'll second that there is nothing even close to that in Pa. where I live

[garagebuiltbob]

think i'll go by there tomorrow....i work right around the corner from it...and never would have known it was there.

[GJWILEY]

Originally Posted by Gixxer1300r

I'll second that there is nothing even close to that in Pa. where I live

Not the same but there are quite a few odd places to visit in PA....

http://www.u-town.com/centralia/index3.htm

http://www.pahighways.com/toll/abandonedturnpike.html

http://www.draglist.com/stories/SOD-...SOD-013103.htm

[KIRK!]

Looks like the track is already sponsored by some foreign companies (I can't read the logos) and a guy with an afro.

[boondocker]

I take it that it's a bicycle track????