The Death & Rebirth of Columbia Speedway | S1ap on Location: Episode 5

Having hosted NASCAR Cup Series races from 1951 until 1971, Columbia Speedway shut its doors in 1975 following one final late model race. It was left to rot in Cayce, SC until one local name Robbie Solesbee decided to save the speedway himself. Initially he and a few friends were going to hack at the over growth with some chainsaws a little bit at a time, but once the word go out, hundreds of volunteers showed up and the city got involved and transformed the abandoned track into what it is today: preserved pretty much as it was on that last day in 1975.
#NASCAR #ColumbiaSpeedway #History

This video was shot and edited by Evan Tripp, check him out here:

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Music in order of appearance:
Joey Aces - Squidbillies Theme
Ross Bugden - Black Heat

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[johncarter]

I lived close to the track when I was young and can remember hearing the cars running races on Thursday nights. It made me want to be a race car driver. I have a couple of stories involving driver encounters. After I got my driver's license back in the late 1960's I would drive to the track, sit in the parking lot and watch the cars go by. Right before turn one was an infield gate you could see through as the cars flashed by. One day as I sat watching the cars go by there was the sound of tires screeching and smoke flying and I could tell the car involved had gone through the first turn guard rail and the fence. I sat there and all of a sudden the driver of the car came walking around the outside of the track on the dirt road that ran around the track. He was headed to the gate to reenter the track. I asked him if he was okay and he kind of smiled at me and said "sure, I'm okay". It was Dale Earnhardt. If I remember correctly the car was number 8. Another time me and a buddy was in his 1964 Chevelle and it was a Wednesday night prior to a 200 lap NASCAR race to be held on Thursday night. We heard a car running laps at the track and decided to investigate. We drove to the track and a short rain shower had wet the track prior to us arriving. We sat in the car at the viewing spot at the gate to see what was going on. As we sat there this very large guy came through the gate and to the car and politely asked us if we would be willing to drive out onto the track to help dry it out. We were teenagers so this was a big deal to us. We said of course we would. There were probably 10 or 12 cars including a guy in a Corvette out there making laps around the track. We probably ran something like 75 laps total and as the track dried out it turned into pretty much a race. The race car came out on the track and was racing along with us and of course running off from everyone. The guy in the Corvette actually spun out trying to keep up with the Dodge Charger race car, probably a 1968 or 1969 model. We slap wore the right front tire out on my buddy's car trying to keep up with him. After drying the track everyone parked in the infield and watched while the race car driver completed his practice session. After practice we were all invited to stick around for a few drinks with the crew and track personnel in a room under the bleachers. There was a bar setup with different types of adult beverages and everyone was having a good time. We were young and raised right so we didn't partake in the drinking but had a good time just hanging out with everyone. The driver was Tiny Lund.

[hunterfitzwater]

Now only if this would happen to North Wilkesboro speedway

[patrickdabs]

My grandpa went to his first stock car race here, and it made him cry a little when I showed him that this many people online care about this place. Thanks for giving me a little more of a connection with him through this video S1ap, it means more than you know.

[TheNewsChannel]

I started watching all of his videos for an hour and was tired ofr hitting the refresh button. Thanks for the upload S1ap your one of the coolest youtubers out there.

[CharizardMaster]

wonder if Slap is ever gonna go to the freedom factory

[duckheadgaming]

These guys took the therm guardrail to a whole new level.

[secghia]

HEY FYI the pacecar from the Airbase speedway is on barn finds on Haggerty
they crawl all over it!!

[Blueduckgorrilla]

I love this track. Discovered it in college, and somehow convinced a few of my classmates to film a documentary on it for a filmmaking course. I also made it for NR2003 several years ago. If anyone is interested in the documentary it’s on my channel somewhere.


More important though, well done S1aps.

[TheRealDill]

I just found your channel. And was shocked to see this track mentioned. My grandfather was a champion at this track. I was born and raised right here. Amazing. Still got a couple of his championship trophies. I have a funny story about my grandfather. He was racing Ralph Earnhardt. And got involved in a wreck with him. A young Dale Earnhardt tried to hit my grandfather in the head with a coke Pepsi bottle. My grandfather was a fan of Earnhardt when got into racing.

[Angel-shmn]

Someone's gotta get S1ap a windsock. Great video tho

[Zibspires]

My papa raced here for a nascar race in 1955, driving the #15. Since I wasnt born until 2003, I never saw him race. I never even met him. But I think about him alot and I wish I had met him. From what I know, he finished 10th during that race. His name was Jimmy Roland

[hehe-IgoBRRRR]

You should visit the old road course of Augusta International Raceway in Augusta, GA, I took a trip there once and it's cool to see most of it is still there, and when I was leaving I took a piece of concrete with me home so now I can look up and the same piece of concrete in my room.

[LyleTolito]

Could you look into doing Jackson International Speedway in Mississippi???? There's a lot left of the track and I'd think it would be a great video

[cartin]

when i was younger my grandpa would tell me stories of going to columbia speedway as he is a native to Columbia (as am i). my favorite story is when he would tell me how he would climb the tall pine trees on the back stretch to watch the race

[TheFX]

My Dad’s family is from Orangeburg. I’ve only heard stories of this track from my grandpa. Thanks for sharing!

[Eik-gkps]

These vids are like my favourite vids ever man! Keep up the great work! 😁

[johnroby]

This is the most informative Nascar channel on YouTube. Keep up the great work.

[beardoggin]

Great content as usual SLAP. Glad to see them repurpose the track into something that could benefit the community

[Dstagz]

Dude I absolutely love these videos, keep up the good work man!

[carrsllccarrillo]

More! I need more of this! I love racing history! Time to fund this channel!