Orange County International Raceway facts for kids
The Orange County International Raceway (OCIR) was a super cool place for racing in Irvine, California. It had a quarter-mile dragstrip for super-fast races and a two-mile road course for different kinds of cars. There was even a track for motocross bikes! People often called it 'The Supertrack' because it was so modern and exciting.
OCIR was open for many years, from August 5, 1967, until October 30, 1983. It was right next to a big highway called Interstate 5. The people who started it hoped to host all sorts of races, like sports car, motorcycle, and stock car events, along with official drag races approved by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
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Orange County International Raceway: A Racing Hotspot
OCIR was a famous racing spot in Southern California. It brought together different types of racing in one big location. Many fans loved coming to watch the exciting events. It was a place where speed and skill were celebrated.
What Was OCIR?
OCIR was more than just one track; it was a whole racing complex. Imagine a place where you could see cars race in a straight line as fast as possible, and then watch other cars zoom around a winding track with turns and curves. That's what OCIR offered! It was a hub for many kinds of motorsports.
Designed for Speed and Fun
When OCIR was built in the late 1960s, it was meant to be the best dragstrip around. The creators wanted to make sure people watching the races were super comfortable. They added lots of nice touches that other tracks didn't have back then. It was truly a special place for fans.
Cool Features of the Track
OCIR had many awesome features for its visitors. There were nice green areas with plants and trees. It had clean restrooms and places to buy snacks and drinks. You could even get reserved seats with backs, which was a big deal! The track also had drinking fountains everywhere. One of the coolest things was the sport's first electric scoreboard. Plus, there was a tall, four-story control tower made of glass, where officials managed all the races.
Who Created OCIR?
OCIR was brought to life by three main people. Bill White was a member of the Irvine family, who owned the land. Larry Vaughan, whose family had a long history with the Irvine Ranch, helped manage the land rental. Mike Jones was a local guy who helped run the dragstrip part of the track. Together, they made OCIR a reality. Larry Vaughan also ran a special driving school on site. This school, called the Academy of Defensive Driving, even taught police officers how to drive safely.
Learning to Drive Like a Pro
In 1968, a very famous driving school started at OCIR. It was called the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. This school taught people how to drive high-performance cars really well. It was a great place for aspiring racers and anyone who wanted to improve their driving skills.
