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Deer Park Drag Strip

ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.

Also known as Deer Park Raceways

Raced
1950-73
State
Washington
What's left
A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
On the site today
Deer Park Airport
Raced on
An airport runway
First race
April 2, 1950
Location
Old airstrip just east of Deer Park, about fifteen miles north of Spokane
People
  • Spokane Roadster Racing Association, race operator (1950)
  • Lilac City Timing Association, race operator (1953)
Sanction
AHRA, NHRA
Elevation
2,196 ft (669 m)
Coordinates
47.96872, -117.42536

This pin shares its exact coordinates with another strip in the source data, so it may be misplaced.

Racing started in 1950 on an old airstrip just east of Deer Park, about fifteen miles north of Spokane. The first race, on April 2, 1950, was run by the Spokane Roadster Racing Association, and Jack Hordeman was fastest at 100.019 MPH in his ‘32 Ford. The Lilac City Timing Association took over in 1953. On October 6, 1963, David Martin, a 17-year-old high school student from Mead, Washington, was hit by a piece of metal from an exploding clutch while sitting about 75 feet from the strip. The car’s driver was Richard Harvey, 19, of Steptoe. The strip was NHRA sanctioned in 1962-63, hosted an AHRA Grand American points race on September 8, 1968, and was listed as NHRA-sanctioned Deer Park Raceways in the June 1970 Hot Rod. The site is now the working Deer Park Airport.

Video

8mm video footage of Deer Park racing in the 1950s, filmed by Ned Kelly, 13:32 minutes, no sound Watch on YouTube
8mm video footage of Deer Park racing in the 1950s, filmed by Ned Kelly, 13:32 minutes, no sound Watch on YouTube
The painted lines of the staging lines can be seen in this 1957 aerial photo. The arrows point to two structures that may be drag strip-related.
The painted lines of the staging lines can be seen in this 1957 aerial photo. The arrows point to two structures that may be drag strip-related.
It is plainly evident from the darkened tire marks on this 1965 aerial photo that the strip ran on the lower runway in a southwest to northeastly direction.
It is plainly evident from the darkened tire marks on this 1965 aerial photo that the strip ran on the lower runway in a southwest to northeastly direction.
August 23, 1959
August 23, 1959
Although the 1965 aerial photo is blurred when zoomed in, the timing tower can be seen just even with the starting line.
Although the 1965 aerial photo is blurred when zoomed in, the timing tower can be seen just even with the starting line.
The "Frantic Four" (left) makes a run against the "Eagle Electric" fueler from Spokane, driven by Frank Rupert, at Deer Park. Photo published in Spokane Spokesman-Review, July 6, 1965
The "Frantic Four" (left) makes a run against the "Eagle Electric" fueler from Spokane, driven by Frank Rupert, at Deer Park. Photo published in Spokane Spokesman-Review, July 6, 1965
Press photo of Deer Park, 1966
Press photo of Deer Park, 1966
Dick Landy's A/FX Dodge at Deer Park
Dick Landy's A/FX Dodge at Deer Park
Deer Park Raceway
Deer Park Raceway
Photo taken in 2013 by Paul Beam
Photo taken in 2013 by Paul Beam

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