Description
The Raceway Park contained a variety of different racetrack configurations including a 1/2 mile oval, 1/4 mile oval, road course, and a Figure 8 racing, figure 8 track. The course was the state's largest oval racetrack north of Los Angeles. The track featured a pit lane that was uncharacteristic when compared to larger ovals for the weekly events. The pit lane was located on the outside of the course on the opposite side of the oval from the start finish line. However, during Grand National West races, the pit lane was moved to the 1/4 mile oval so as to be inside the larger oval, as is customary for most oval tracks, since live pit stops are used during the higher-level NASCAR-sanctioned race.History
The park is well known for its December 6, 1969, hosting of the notorious and ill-fated Altamont Free Concert, featuring Santana (band), Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and The Rolling Stones. During the Stones' set, Death of Meredith Hunter, Meredith Hunter, a concert-goer high on methamphetamine and brandishing his revolver, was stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels, which had been hired to provide security, in front of the stage as the band played. The death was captured on film and appears in the 1970 documentary ''Gimme Shelter (1970 film), Gimme Shelter''. In 2004, the track appeared in an MythBusters (2004 season)#AC vs. Windows Down, episode of the popular Discovery Channel show ''MythBusters''. In the episode, the show's hosts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage used the track to test the myth that a car will have better fuel mileage with the air conditioner on and windows closed than it would with all of the windows down. In 2006, the park came under the ownership of Riverside Motorsports Park, LLC. They initiated several upgrades to the park including fresh asphalt, the addition of the road course and the new Figure 8 track. Altamont staged a variety of motorsports events, including NASCAR Whelen All-American Series raced weekly as the schedule permitted for the California State and Whelen National Championships. The park also played host to a race on the K&N Pro Series West, NASCAR Camping World West Series schedule, the Dan Gamel RV Centers 200 in the fall. Additionally, Formula 4, Sprint Cars, Motorcycle races and the 24 Hours of LeMons were held at the racetrack, the latter being a play on the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, in the place of top dollar racing machines, the 24 Hours of LeMons features cars with a maximum price of $500 (excluding safety gear, brakes, and tires), hence the title 'Lemon (automobile), lemons'.References
External links
* * {{NASCAR Elite Division Southwest racetracks Buildings and structures in San Joaquin County, California Motorsport venues in California Defunct motorsport venues in the United States NASCAR tracks Tracy, California 1966 establishments in California 2008 disestablishments in California