Mahlon Sweet Airport (Eugene)

Closed

Raced: 1950-52, 1955
State: Oregon
What's left: A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
On the site today: Airport
Raced on: An airport runway
First race: August 20, 1950
Last race: September 25, 1955
Surface: Dirt taxiway
Location: Dirt taxi strip at Mahlon Sweet Airport
People: Eugene Road Kings, race organizer (1950-52)
Northwest Timing Association, race organizer (1951-55)
Elevation: 362 ft (110 m)
Coordinates: 44.12408, -123.21303

The Eugene Road Kings car club, formed in 1950, raced on a dirt taxi strip at the airport. The first race was Sunday, August 20, 1950, and Robert Bugsbee won with the fastest speed. Races set for September 3 and October 15 depended on a dry surface, and one did run on October 1, 1950, though the results aren’t known. In 1951-52 the club raced every other Sunday, with the Northwest Timing Association running the events. On September 25, 1955, the NTA held a benefit race for the Eugene Active Club, and Paul Wellborn of the Road Kings won top eliminator at 129.31 mph.

Paul Wellborn, president of the Road Kings, races his hot rod at the Mahlon Sweet Airport in 1950. Photo published in Eugene Guard, May 8, 1951

Members of the Roseburg Dusters car club. gather around the '49 Ford F/S convertible belonging to Mark Nichols at the Eugene airport drag strip. Photo published in Roseburg News-Review, July 23, 1951

Dick Riley raced 1950 Dodge at the Mahlon Sweet Airport drag races on July 15, 1951. Photo published in Roseburg News-Review, July 23, 1951

Eugene Airport drag strip, from Wayne Miller's album

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