Bainbridge Dragway

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Tommy Ivo ran exhibitions in his twin-engine dragster on July 24, 1960
Don Garlits clocked a 204 mph run in late 1960 that he thought was bogus

Raced: 1960
State: Georgia
What's left: A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
Raced on: A military airfield
First race: May 15, 1960
Location: Runway of the old Bainbridge Air Base, Highway 84 West, just west of Bainbridge
People: Bainbridge Jaycees, race organizer (1960)
Elevation: 100 ft (30 m)
Coordinates: 30.91592, -84.60748

The Bainbridge Jaycees probably held monthly drag races on a runway of the old Army airfield at Bainbridge Air Base, just west of town. The base was inactivated in 1961. The first event ran on May 15, 1960, and ads placed it on Highway 84 West, which matches the airfield. At a Jaycee race on July 24, 1960, Tommy Ivo made exhibition runs in his twin-engine dragster against Ken Scott of Selma, Alabama, in his dual Chrysler car. The Jaycees planned to spend the proceeds on more seating at Centennial Field, the Bainbridge football stadium. As of July 1960 the track’s best speed was 173.90 mph, and out-of-state dragsters were brought in now and then to draw crowds. Don Garlits ran 204 mph there in late 1960, a number he believed was bogus. Bainbridge seems to have used timing equipment that, like some at other strips of the time, wasn’t reliable.

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