Stratford Speedway Stratford Wisconsin

Stratford Speedway was a 1/4 mi. dirt oval from 1958 to 1960 and then paved from 1961 to 1966. There's nothing but empty field there nowadays but it track where such greats as Tom Refner and Dick Trickle got their start.

[@bradleyguralski9953]

I live next to the old track too. I till up a lot of blacktop in my garden and fruit tree area. Pretty cool

[@danwenzel4449]

Hmm. Where do you live exactly? 😆

[@danwenzel4449]

I live directly south (on the cul de sac) of the recent video you took of the now empty field. What can you tell me about the racetrack?

[@danhendrickson7708]

Marv Marzofka Tom Reffner and Dick Trickle got their starts in racing at the Stratford Speedway of Stratford, WI. William "Ace Kasten" assisted in getting racing started at Stratford. A call came in to Ace asking if he'd help in building the track in Stratford. Ace, along with a number of the association members pitched in laying out the track just South of Stratford on highway 97. Dump truck loads of dirt were brought in, grading took place and Stratford Speedway became a reality. According to Kasten, some racing did take place in late summer of 1959. Ace himself raced there and won. In 1960 a 1/3 mile dirt track in Stratford did run on Wednesday nights. 1961 found drivers competing on a 1/3 mile dirt track there for most of the season before the track was paved in late summer.

[@danhendrickson7708]

The first event on the paved surface was held on Wednesday night, August 23rd, 1961. For reasons not totally known, Stratford Speedway failed to hold events in 1967 and 1968. The track reopened in 1969 under new management. I believe the track closed after the 1970 season.

[@danwenzel4449]

@@danhendrickson7708 very interesting. Thank you for the info!