Orange County International Raceway facts for kids
Orange County International Raceway (OCIR) was a famous place for car and motorcycle races in Irvine, California. It was located right next to the Interstate 5 freeway. People often called it 'The Supertrack' or just 'OCIR'.
OCIR opened on August 5, 1967, and closed its doors on October 30, 1983. The people who created OCIR wanted it to be a top spot for many kinds of racing. This included sports cars, motorcycles, and different types of car races, like those approved by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
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What Made OCIR Special?
OCIR was designed to be a very modern race track for its time. It offered many comforts for fans that other tracks didn't have. This made it a great place to watch races in Southern California.
The track had nice landscaping and permanent restrooms. There were also places to buy food and drinks. Spectators could sit in reserved seats with backs, which was a big deal. Drinking fountains were placed all around the track for everyone to use.
Amazing Features for Fans
OCIR was one of the first tracks to have an electric scoreboard. This helped fans keep up with the race results easily. It also had a tall, four-story control tower. This tower was made of glass and was used for managing the races and for the track's offices.
Racing at OCIR
OCIR was known for its different types of racing. It had a special track for drag racing, which is a straight-line race. This track was a quarter-mile long. There was also a two-mile road course for other types of car races. Plus, it even had a track for motocross, which is off-road motorcycle racing.
Learning to Drive Like a Pro
A very famous driving school started at OCIR in 1968. It was called the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. This school taught people how to drive race cars and handle cars at high speeds.
Why Did OCIR Close?
Orange County International Raceway closed in 1983. The land where the track was located was needed for other developments. This meant the exciting races and events at OCIR had to come to an end. Even though it's gone, many people still remember OCIR as a legendary place in racing history.
