Merrittville Speedway facts for kids
| Canada's Longest Running Dirt Track | |
|---|---|
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| Location | 2371 Merrittville Highway Thorold, Ontario Canada |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 43°04′39″N 79°15′19″W / 43.0774°N 79.2553°W |
| Owner | Don Spiece |
| Operator | Don Spiece |
| Opened | July 1, 1952 |
| Architect | John Marino and George Cullen |
| Major events | Super DIRTcar Series World of Outlaws Late Model Series UMP Modifieds Action Sprint Tour Southern Ontario Sprints Empire Super Sprints Patriot Sprint Tour |
| D-Shaped Oval | |
| Surface | Clay |
| Length | 3/8 mi (0.604 km) |
Merrittville Speedway is a super exciting place for dirt track car races! It's a 3/8 mile (about 600 meters) oval track made of clay. You can find it near Niagara Falls in Thorold, Ontario, Canada. Every Saturday night from April to September, the track comes alive with different types of stock cars, sprint cars, and modified races.
History of Merrittville Speedway
Merrittville Speedway is known for being the oldest operating race track in Canada. It has been open and hosting races without stopping since it first opened on July 1, 1952. That's a really long time! In 2017, new owners took over the track. They celebrated its seventieth anniversary in 2021, marking many years of thrilling races.
Race Car Classes at Merrittville
The track has a weekly racing program with six main types of race cars. These are called "classes" and each has its own rules and car styles.
- 358 Modifieds: These are powerful cars with open wheels, designed for dirt tracks.
- Sportsman: A step up from stock cars, these are also modified but a bit less powerful than the 358s.
- Stocks: These cars look more like regular cars, but they are built tough for racing.
- 4 Cylinders: These cars use smaller engines, making for close and exciting races.
- Modified Lites: These are smaller, lighter versions of the modified cars, very quick and agile.
- V6: Cars with V6 engines, offering a good balance of power and speed.
Merrittville Speedway also welcomes special racing series that travel to different tracks. These include the Super DIRTcar Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Other popular series like the UMP Modifieds and various sprint car tours also visit.
Besides the big car races, the track also hosts a weekly karting series on Tuesday nights. This is where younger drivers can get started in racing with small, fast go-karts!
