It appears that Thunder Valley in Noble, Ok has closed. Do not know the gory details at this time but it does not look good. Pretty good track and hate to lose another.

I raced at that track around 1970 when I worked in OKC for awhile.

quote:

Originally posted by ferndaleflyer:
I raced at that track around 1970 when I worked in OKC for awhile.

Pretty sure this track was built and opened in the early 90s

1992

Sad news, one more domino.

Big Steve I hate to dispute you but I have pictures here of thunder valley taken when I was out there. Guess I could dig them up and see the date for sure I am so dam old and have been so many places that the memory sometimes gets blurred.

Entirely possible there were two different tracks in OKC area over the years

There was a track in OKC I believe back then but Thunder Valley is in Noble. I was down that way when they were first building it in 1992.

Maybe someone is thinking of Ardmore?

Bob

Found this discussion about this very thing. Do a little scroll.

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=22001

I found some pics but all they say is Thunder Valley, OK. I was staying in Moore and I thought I went South to race. Been around 55 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by ferndaleflyer:
Big Steve I hate to dispute you but I have pictures here of thunder valley taken when I was out there.

Est 1992

quote:

I found some pics but all they say is Thunder Valley, OK

Was the entire surface concrete? To include shutdown?

Can't tell but the date on the pics is 1971. By 1992 I had been around the world several times. And trust me I do get locations and times mixed up some. Oh well, don't matter.

quote:

Originally posted by ferndaleflyer:
Oh well, don't matter.

True, either way it is closing in 2025.

Dam shame

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:

quote:

Originally posted by ferndaleflyer:
Oh well, don't matter.

True, either way it is closing in 2025.

I bet its opens back up at some point, Pine Valley in Lufkin Tx has closed multiple times in the past 10 years and just announced they are opening back up in the fall after some needed repairs and upgrades and will have a full schedule in 2026

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:

quote:

Originally posted by ferndaleflyer:
Oh well, don't matter.

True, either way it is closing in 2025.

I bet its opens back up at some point, Pine Valley in Lufkin Tx has closed multiple times in the past 10 years and just announced they are opening back up in the fall after some needed repairs and upgrades and will have a full schedule in 2026

We will see. I do hope someone does open it. At the numbers the last guy was quoting, I'm not sure how though. I enjoy racing down there. A bunch of tough racers. Makes you feel good when you win at places like that.

A group of racers are talking about trying to save it but I do not know if that will ever happen. People investing in something because they love it is one thing but throwing money away is another. At some point how much it costs to race is more than the enjoyment you get from it.

Running a racetrack has to be a hard way to make money. Insurance, VHT, employees to stand out there and work in the heat all day, lawsuits, racers complaining, noise complaints and more.

The times I have raced there it was nice but just further from home than I like to race. Still I think they should be able to get enough cars from Oklahoma City area.

Part of problem we have talked about before here is we do not have many new, young racers coming into the sport. Same thing most all sports are suffering, people just do not get out and do things like we used to. They live in a virtual world. Sure there are a few good, young racers but when you look around the pits overall they are looking old. Catch 22, when car count goes down so does payout and that hurts even more. But the track has to make money. I am assuming bottom line at Thunder Valley is they were not making money.