Martindale Auxiliary Landing Field (San Antonio)

The American Timing Association (ATA), made up of twelve San Antonio car clubs, got permission from the Civil Air Patrol to hold quarter-mile races every Sunday at Martindale Field. The field was on Seguin Highway at the southeast edge of San Antonio, and the first race came in about late February 1954. The October 10, 1954, race was sponsored by the San Antonio Timing Association and sanctioned by the NHRA, making Martindale one of only five such strips in Texas. It raised $800 for the Civil Air Patrol. The third race of the 1954 season, on November 7, was run by the San Antonio Racing Association, made up of the Black Knights and Strokers car clubs. The Alamo Timing Association put on an NHRA regional championship at Martindale on September 17-18, 1955, as a non-profit, giving net proceeds from the $1 admission to local charities. Races ran monthly in 1956. Racing here effectively ended when Double Eagle Drag Strip opened.