Sports

Look back at car racing in Houston

Friday, May 27, 2016
Crowded grandstand filled with people watching the start of a race at Bellaire (Tex.). Idle racecars at lower portion of photograph. (Houston Public Library)
Five racecars lined up at the start of a race. Observers standing close the path of the cars. White streak across the photograph caused by film deterioration (Houston Public Library)
Five racecars lined up at the start of a race. Observers standing close the path of the cars. White streak across the photograph caused by film deterioration (Houston Public Library)
Men and racecars on the track at Bellaire, Texas with spectators at left (Houston Public Library)
Race car at South Houston Racetrack. "Gardner 101" painted on side of car. (Houston Public Library)
Race car parked on street (Houston Public Library)
Race cars and men on the track (Houston Public Library)
Unidentified man sitting in a midget auto racer at L. L. Walker business sometime in the 1940's. (Houston Public Library)
Race car on the beach in Galveston (Houston Public Library)
Three men looking at a racecar at Bellaire (Tex.) sometime during the 1920's. In background are open touring cars. White streak across middle of the picture caused by deteriorating (Houston Public Library)
Unidentified man standing beside a race car (Houston Public Library)
Spectators watching a motorcycle race at old fairgrounds of Harrisburg and Milby, Houston, Texas. (Houston Public Library)
Racing at Galveston beach with silhouette of a man wearing a hat in foreground (Houston Public Library)
W. C. Boddeker, Jr. and Jane White in a two-seated automobile at Rice Airfield, Houston, Texas, in 1915. Gearshift controls are outside the body of the automobile. (Houston Public Library)
Racing cars and race fans on the track at Galveston, TX. Portion of photograph faded due to film deterioration. Gulf of Mexico visible in distance. During the 1920's. (Houston Public Library)
Four men standing beside a racecar. Beyond racecar is a scoreboard with spaces to show the racing time for first second and third racecars. (Houston Public Library)
Motorcyclist riding near the top of the track at the old fairgrounds at Harrisburg and Milby, Houston (Tex.) (Houston Public Library)
Racing scene with spectators at South Houston track in the 1920s (Houston Public Library)
Six racing cars in position before a race in the 1920's at the South Houston Race track. (Houston Public Library)
Men standing near an automotive racecar. In background are three open touring cars. (Houston Public Library)
Race cars ready for a race at South Houston track. Bright streak across photograph is result of deteriorating film. (Houston Public Library)
Man inspecting a portion of a racecar, at the track in Galveston, TX, during the 1920's. Portion of photograph faded due to film deterioration. (Houston Public Library)
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Car racing was a popular sport in Houston and Galveston in the 20's and 30's, with thousands of spectators gathering at venues that are now long gone.

Most of the racing in Houston took place at the Bellaire Race Track, the South Houston Race Track and the Old Fairgrounds on Harrisburg.

The Bellaire Race Track was located just south of Bellaire and east of Stella Link, where Pershing M.S. and a YMCA are located today. The Old Fairgrounds was located at Harrisburg and Milby. Racing in Galveston took place on the beach.

VIDEO: Before and after aerials of Bellaire Race Track and current neighborhood
Neighborhood not sits where old Bellaire Race Track was located



We haven't been able to determine where the South Houston race track was. If you know, please let us know.

The photos above are from the Lesley Lewis Walker Collection at the Houston Public Library's Metropolitan Research center.

Special thanks to the Houston Metropolitan Research Center of the Houston Public Library
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