IOWA (USA)
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1941 - DODGE PARK KENNEL CLUB.
In 1941 Meyer Lansky set about building a dog racing track at a cost of around fifty thousand dollars, The sport of dog racing only lasted until 1943 when the Mayor of Council Bluffs shut the venue down, apparently Lansky had underworld connections.
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1947 - FRONTIER PARK.
In 1947 the dog track was turned into a dirt speedway track and re-named Frontier Park, By 1948 an amusement park was added, Further improvements were added such as a 3/4 mile roller coaster ride and the name changed to Playland Bowl.
Postcard: Tichnor brothers collection.
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Council Bluffs revealed facebook feature
(use controls to pause - forward or reverse 7 images)
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1949 - PLAYLAND PARK STADIUM.
By 1949 midget racing was very popular at the Playland Park track with many of the top drivers in the state racing there, as the racing gained more popularity the venue went through another name change to the Playland Park Stadium.
Photo: Council Bluffs revealed facebook.
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1949 - PLAYLAND PARK STADIUM FATALITIES.
Two lives were lost at Playland Speedway, both in 1949, The first was that of twenty one year old racer Bill Pettit, He was involved in an accident with two other cars while passing them on the last lap of the last race of the day.
Pettit's car barrel rolled before landing back on its wheels, Pettit died as the result of a broken neck.
Curtis "Cyclone" Ross who was also in that accident returned the following week for a benefit meeting to raise money for Pettit's young widow, During on of the races, Ross's car ran into the back of another car, rolled and end for ended his car, Ross died as a result of the accident.
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1950 - PLAYLAND PARK STADIUM STOCK CARS INTRODUCED
Stock Car racing was introduced in 1950.
Photo: Council Bluffs revealed facebook.
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1954 - PLAYLAND PARK STADIUM SEALED.
The racetrack surface was sealed in 1954 to hold NASCAR events.
Photos: Council Bluffs revealed facebook.
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1961 - PLAYLAND PARK SPEEDWAY PROGRAMME.
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1972 - RON "THE BLUFFS BUTCHER" STANDER.Ron the "The Bluffs Butcher" Stander was a professional boxer who fought from 1969 through to 1982, Ron was also a regular within the stock cars fields at Playland.
Stander challenged for the world heavyweight championship in 1972, Loosing to Joe Frazier by a fifth round technical knock out.
Prior to that he scored a fifth round knock out victory over Earnie Shavers in 1970, and a points decision win over Thad Spencer in 1971.
(research & editorial Jerry Adams) |