Altamont Raceway Park
Encyclopedia
Altamont Raceway Park was a motorsports race track
located in Alameda County
in Northern California
between the towns of Tracy
and Livermore
. It first opened on July 22, 1966, and has variously operated under the names Altamont Speedway, Altamont Raceway, Altamont Motorsports Park, and Altamont Raceway Park and Arena. The speedway closed in October 2008.
Whelen All-American Series
raced weekly as the schedule permitted for the California State and Whelen National Championships.
The park also played host to a race on the NASCAR Camping World West Series schedule, the Dan Gamel RV Centers 200 in the fall. Additionally, Formula 4, Sprint Cars, Motorcycle races and the 24 Hours of LeMons
were held at the racetrack. The latter being a play on the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans
, however in the place of top dollar racing machines, the 24 Hours of LeMons features cars with a maximum price of $500 (excluding safety gear, brakes, and tires), hence the title 'lemons
'.
The park is well-known for its December 6, 1969, hosting (while unused at the time as a racetrack) of the notorious and ill-fated Altamont Free Concert, featuring Santana
, Jefferson Airplane
, The Flying Burrito Brothers
, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and The Rolling Stones. Several people were beaten by members of the Hells Angels
motorcycle club, who were hired to provide security for the stage. During the Stones' set, a concert-goer, Meredith Hunter
, was stabbed to death by a Hells Angels member in front of the stage as the band played. The killing was captured on film and appears in the famous 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter. In March 2008 the BBC revealed the incident led to an alleged assassination attempt by the Hells Angels on Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger
's life.
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
located in Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
between the towns of Tracy
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and Livermore
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
. It first opened on July 22, 1966, and has variously operated under the names Altamont Speedway, Altamont Raceway, Altamont Motorsports Park, and Altamont Raceway Park and Arena. The speedway closed in October 2008.
Track description
The Raceway Park contained a variety of different racetrack configurations including a 1/2 mile oval, 1/4 mile oval, 1.1 miles (1.8 km) road course, and a figure 8 track. The course was the largest oval racetrack north of Los Angeles. The track featured a pit lane that was uncharacteristic when compared to larger ovals for the weekly events. Pit lane was located on the outside of the course on the opposite side of the oval from the start finish line. However during Grand National West races, pit lane was moved to the 1/4 mile oval so as to be inside the larger oval, as is customary for most oval tracks, since live pit stops are used during the higher level NASCAR-sanctioned race.Track history
In 2006 the park came under the ownership of Riverside Motorsports Park, LLC. They initiated several upgrades to the park including fresh asphalt, the addition of the 1.1 miles (1.8 km) road course and the new Figure 8 track. Altamont staged a variety of motorsports events, including NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Whelen All-American Series
Whelen All-American Series
The Whelen All-American Series is a points championship for NASCAR sanctioned local racetracks around the United States and Canada....
raced weekly as the schedule permitted for the California State and Whelen National Championships.
The park also played host to a race on the NASCAR Camping World West Series schedule, the Dan Gamel RV Centers 200 in the fall. Additionally, Formula 4, Sprint Cars, Motorcycle races and the 24 Hours of LeMons
24 Hours of LeMons
The 24 Hours of LeMons is a series of endurance races held on paved road race courses across the United States. The title is a parody of the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans series. Teams compete in race-prepared cars that cost no more than $500 for up to 24 hours...
were held at the racetrack. The latter being a play on the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, however in the place of top dollar racing machines, the 24 Hours of LeMons features cars with a maximum price of $500 (excluding safety gear, brakes, and tires), hence the title 'lemons
Lemon (automobile)
A lemon is a car, often new, that is found to be defective only after it has been bought. Any vehicle with numerous, severe issues can be termed a "lemon", and, by extension, any product with flaws too great or severe to serve its purpose can be described as a "lemon".-Origin:The use of the word...
'.
The park is well-known for its December 6, 1969, hosting (while unused at the time as a racetrack) of the notorious and ill-fated Altamont Free Concert, featuring Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers was an early country rock band, best known for its influential debut album,The Gilded Palace of Sin . Although the group is most often mentioned in connection with country rock legends Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, the group underwent many personnel changes.-Original...
, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and The Rolling Stones. Several people were beaten by members of the Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
motorcycle club, who were hired to provide security for the stage. During the Stones' set, a concert-goer, Meredith Hunter
Meredith Hunter
Meredith Curly Hunter was a male spectator at the Altamont Free Concert. During the performance by The Rolling Stones, Hunter pulled out a gun after being punched by a Hells Angel and was then stabbed to death by a Hells Angel serving as a security guard...
, was stabbed to death by a Hells Angels member in front of the stage as the band played. The killing was captured on film and appears in the famous 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter. In March 2008 the BBC revealed the incident led to an alleged assassination attempt by the Hells Angels on Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
's life.