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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami Area CARS, Car Clubs, Car Rental Agencies, Car Dealers, Drag Racing, Auto Shows, Speedways - click on image to view > 1950 - Ted Crownover's dad racing his 1934 Ford stock car at the Opa-locka Speedway
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1950 Courtesy of Ted Crownover

1950 - Ted Crownover's dad racing his 1934 Ford stock car at the Opa-locka Speedway

Opa-locka Speedway, east of Naval Air Station Miami view map


Thank you to Ted Crownover for contributing this great old image of his dad's stock car. There is also a 1952 image of the Opa-locka Speedway in this gallery.

The Speedway was located on the east side of the air station just west of Douglas Road (NW 37 Avenue).

Bob Rich, whose father owned Rich Photos, wrote to say that the Opa-locka Speedway was owned by the Finley's, who also owned Rustic Roller Rink in Hialeah. Bob says he used to hang out at Rustic Roller Rink. I have also received information from Ken Reitano who wrote:
"My father Joseph F. Reitano owned Opa-locka Speedway in 1948 through 1950 and then the Naval Air Station bought it through eminent domain. The speedway's owners were my dad, his brother Pete ("Vito") Reitano and L. N. Dod. It was a dirt track and then they paved it. My mother Louise Reitano and Aunt Greta sold hot dogs at the track. I never saw it as I was born in 1950. As for the Ken-Lin Motel elsewhere on your site, my father built it and owned it. We lived there until about 1957 then we moved to Fort Lauderdale. Also my father used to talk about Bango Matthews, a race car driver. When I run across some photos I will e-mail them to you. You have made a great web site, thanks for the memories. Ken Reitano"


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Guest 16-May-2020 02:51
Hialeah Speedway out on Okeechobee Road (US27) was also owned by L. N. Dodd. My Dad and I used to go out to the Hialeah Speedway on Friday or Saturday nights. The Disabled American Veterans Hialeah-Miami Springs Chapter 43 used to park cars there, and Dad worked the parking donation bucket for the Chapter.
Mark Lincoln 14-Nov-2016 18:13
A dirt track with real stock cars. Anyone still doing that?
Don Boyd05-Apr-2008 17:15
Dale, thank you very much for identifying the location and your description of it.

Don
Dale 05-Apr-2008 17:13
This is the old Opa Locka Speedway. It was just inside the fence of the Mainside Military base at the east gate. The base at that time had been closed down to a great degree. It was a dirt track and preceded Hialeah Speedway by a few years.