Speed Week

NORTHVILLIANS,

SPEED WEEK EDITION – Since becoming Mayor of Northville, I have enjoyed bringing local auto shows and other car activities to town. In the process, I have become known (among other things) as the “Motorsports Mayor,” a role that I relish. Fittingly, I have raced, turned the wrench, restored vehicles, and even owned some hot rods. I continue to make the pilgrimage to the Daytona 500 (43 years now) for inspiration with other motorheads.

Speed Week activities always remind me how Northvillians are drawn together in common pursuits. In the late 1960’s, when Michigan International Speedway opened (1969), it then became an annual event to attend.

Northville, over the years, has also been the center of various racing activities in which many of us have participated, watched, or heard about from our elders. Racing history at Northville Downs included not only the gladiators navigating their chariots (sulkies) around the track, but also thoroughbreds, motorcycles, bikes, cars, snowmobiles and even go-carts.

As we are coming up to NASCAR’s Speed Week at the World Center of Racing in Daytona, it reminds me of my youthful racing aspirations. I used to race Trans Ams in SCCA club activities in the 70’s and even got certified to race in NASCAR’s inaugural Truck Series. As youngsters, many of us had dreams of being racers, firefighters, police officers, or other exciting pursuits. With that youthful aspiration in mind, we’ll look at some racing activities in the Ville over time.

Let’s look at Racing in the Ville over time::

HORSE RACING IN NORTHVILLE

• 1888 –The Record wrote about Horse Racing on Dunlap St.
• 1893 – An article spoke about the 4^th of July street races on Dunlap and mentioned that “It was the largest crowd ever seen in Northville” up to that time.
• In the late 1800’s, a group of businessmen (the Northville Driving Club) built an informal half mile racetrack where the Downs is today, along with a golf course.
• 1907 – This Driving Club built a certified modern track which hosted the Wayne County Fair there until 1944.
• 1944 – The Carlo Family put Northville on the map by modernizing the facilities at Northville Downs and updated the track, readying it for consistent racing. Lights were installed for night racing and modern barns were constructed.

MOTORCYCLE RACING IN THE VILLE                                                        

• 1924 – There were motorcycle hill climbing events in the location of where Hillside Middle School is today (Buchner Hill).
• 1957 – On Memorial Day, Motorcycle racing occurred at Northville Downs (and again in the 70s).  Speeds approached 90+ MPH.

NORTHVILLE GO CARTING

• 1950’s & Early ’60’s – I’ve been told by Northvillians that there was a go-cart track behind where CVS is today. Many a youth cut their racing teeth there.

CAR RACING IN NORTHVILLE

• 1957 – Before the first Daytona 500 was run in 1959, Northville’s historic 4^th of July activities included a Stock Car Race (NASCAR) at Northville Downs.  In 1957 the Northville 100 was run with over 10,000 fans on hand at the half mile dirt track watching some of the top drivers in the nation competing for the Northville Trophy.

SNOWMOBILES

• 1971 – Snowmobile racing hit town, taking place at Northville Downs for the coveted Motor State Snowmobile Classic trophy. Manufacturers’ teams along with some 500+ individual competitors competed. Over 12,000 attended this wild event.

FOOT RACES IN TOWN

• Northville has previously hosted the State High School Cross Country Championships at Cass Benton Park. Impressively, our Men’s Cross Country Team has been the reigning State Champions 4 years running & the Women’s Team has won the Championship, too.
• Every fall you can witness countless high school and college teams competing in Cass Benton Park in 5K and 10K races.

This Speed Week edition has touched on multiple forms of racing that have occurred through time in our town. You can see that a lot of horsepower has been on display in Northville for many years (no wonder our mascot is a Mustang).

Now it’s time for you to race forward and engage your time & talents for the betterment of our community, as we ready for our Bicentennial next year.

Keep that Northville Faith and let’s race into the future…together!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)

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