Saranac Speedway - Saranac MI

Address: 6601 Weeks Rd
City: Saranac
State: MI
Zip: 48881
County: Ionia
Number of visits to this page: 20287
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

I am using a modern address that is basically the lot where the track was.

Source: Lyle Denny Jr

My father, Lyle Denny, Sr. was a big part of the history of the Saranac Speedway as he was the sound man. He supplied the sound system from the first race season to the last. I was 7 years old at the time and I remember heading to the race track about 10:00 Sunday morning to put up all of the speakers and related equipment. The trees around the track served as our poles to mount the speakers on.

I still have the 78 rpm record of the National Anthem that he played before each race day started. One thing that really stands out in my memory is that race track should have been the Saranac Dust Bowl as water was scarce. Another thing was someone came to the track with what I guess was concidered a super modified and kicked everyone's fanny. I don't remember ever missing a race day.

I have some additional pictures of the track and some of the racing action. My neighbor lady used to race there without her parents being aware of it. For many years after it's closing it was favorite place for us kids to play cowboys and Indians and a few war games. It's to bad these places of pleasure have to close down for what ever reasons. I am still a stock car racing fan today and my favorite driver is my son #28 Cody Denny.

Click the following links for locations of interest nearby:
Saranac Theatre  |  Saranac  |  
Info Updates:
4/5/2015 - Bob Cusack
We planted over 30,000 pine trees starting in 1952. (10,000 trees a year for up to five years. The first year some boy scouts helped plant them) We sold some as Christmas trees in 1958. Some of the White Pine trees may be donated to help rebuild the Whites Bridge. We planted Red Pine the first year followed by White Pine and Blue Spruce. The trees are over 60 years old. If anyone has any pictures we would appreciate it if you would post them to this site and/or email them to us.
6/22/2009 - Quad
The remnants are certainly still there. We "snuck" back in there (aka trespassed) to ride our quads as kids (about 10 years ago.) We had heard stories about the track from our dad's, so had to go check it out for ourselves of course. The track itself is a huge bowl still to this day, but is heavily grown up with trees and foilage. We did get to feel as though we went back in time by riding the bowl on quads (like a huge burm.) We do not recommend anybody going back there, as we were rightfully chased out of there. We only went twice.

It would be awesome if the land were to be "loaned" to the village to make a park or at least allow access to see it (on foot or pedal bike, not quad or jeep.) It really is probably one of the coolest, and little known history items in our town.
10/5/2006 - JASON SMITH
WOW THIS SITE ROCKS!!! THE GUY THAT TOOK THIRD WILLAM BEARD IS ACTUALLY MY GIRLFRIENDS GREAT UNCLE. VERY COOL..
6/5/2006 - Chip Curtis
As of 10 yrs ago,the layout of this track is still visable with a little imagination.you had to walk back through some nasty clay,but it was well worth the walk.i beleive this track only ran for 2 or 3 yrs.there is a lot of info that can be found in the old newpapers in the saranac library.
6/5/2006 - Melanie
The remnants of the track still exist, but they are very grown up as woods now. The old road that went back to it is now just a trail. The land is closed to the public, as it is now a private residence.
12/21/2005 - Sean Fitzgerald
Victoria, do you know if the physical remnant of the old track still there?
 Photos:19
Saranac Speedway - From Bob Cusack
From Bob Cusack
Saranac Speedway - From Bob Cusack
From Bob Cusack
Saranac Speedway - Tom Daley 1952 From Jerry
Tom Daley 1952 From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - Saranac News Clip From Jerry
Saranac News Clip From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - Saranac 4Th From Jerry
Saranac 4Th From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - From Robert Lake Ii 1
From Robert Lake Ii 1
Saranac Speedway - From Robert Lake Ii 2
From Robert Lake Ii 2
Saranac Speedway - From Robert Lake Ii 3
From Robert Lake Ii 3
Saranac Speedway - From Robert Lake Ii 4
From Robert Lake Ii 4
Saranac Speedway - From Robert Lake Ii 5
From Robert Lake Ii 5
Saranac Speedway - From Robert Lake Ii 6
From Robert Lake Ii 6
Saranac Speedway - Saranac 1952 From Jerry
Saranac 1952 From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - Saranac 1952 From Jerry
Saranac 1952 From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - Gordy Vanderlaan 1952 From Jerry
Gordy Vanderlaan 1952 From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - Old Aerial Photo
Old Aerial Photo
Saranac Speedway - Saranac Ad From Jerry
Saranac Ad From Jerry
Saranac Speedway - Aerial
Aerial
Saranac Speedway - 1955 Aerial
1955 Aerial
Saranac Speedway - Aerial Photo
Aerial Photo
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