Ames Drag Strip

The Ames Drag Strip opened on May 30, 1957, sanctioned by the Automobile Timing Association of America, with races run by the Nightcrawlers car club. It was two miles south of Ames just east of Highway 69, across from today’s Lowe’s Home Improvement store. It opened with a 60-foot concrete starting pad, and the rest of the quarter mile was oiled dirt. More than 1,000 spectators came on July 7. The 1958 season opened on May 18. Bob Ryan of Madrid had the quickest time on June 15 at 15.68 seconds in his fuel-injected Corvette, and on July 20, 450 people watched more than 100 cars, with Lou Bredesky winning top eliminator at 14.72 in his Model T roadster. In 1959 the Nightcrawlers and the Ramblers club of Waterloo co-sponsored the races, including a two-day event on September 6-7 with strong backing from Ames businesses.