OKLAHOMA (USA)
1966 - WAR BONNET PARK RACEWAY.War Bonnet Park Raceway officially opened as a 5.7 mile road course as well as a 2.7 mile short course and 5.300 foot dragstrip all paved, on what we believe to be around the 30th of September 1966.
The man behind this venture was Mr Bob Moore a local visionary with huge plans for his venue, such as, a Country Club with a 18 hole Golf Course, Airstrip with Plane Hangers, Boat Landing's and Horse riding facilities.
Bob was a hard worker and very much hands on with the building of the tracks, even jumping on to some of the machinery when required. Bob was very much a people person with great people skills, however what he did lack was money, He gave up everything to keep the show running but eventually the banker's would foreclose on the venue and Bob's contribution to his community and the sports was finished.
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There are reports of Driver training schools and test racing events being held prior to this date.
1968 - WAR BONNET RACEWAY.
1968 - Sports Car action on the short track with Steve England in his bug eye Healey Sprite. Photo: Alan Cadwell.
1968 - WAR BONNET PARK RACEWAY. National Sports Car Race. 1st & 2nd October 1968. |
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1968 - Dave Dooley takes to the start line in his Lotus Cortina. Photo: Steve England.
John Hansford recalls: War-Bonnet Park was an interesting track with an interesting history, There were three different interactions available to race on before it was done with plans for a longer track extension that circled under itself like the old Monza Autodrome.
The Owner/Promotor was by all accounts quite a character and ended up living in the control tower to claim homestead exzemption to stave off the property tax man.
1968 - War Bonnet Park Raceway pit area. Photo: Steve England.
1968 - WAR BONNET PARK RACEWAY.By 1968 the track had been lengthened to two point four miles in length to host the 1968 Trans-Am Series.
The tracks life was very short lived as when Keystone Lake Reservoir was built, The town of Mannford was moved to higher ground, then came the race track.
The track did close in what we believe to be in 1971, to make way for a new housing development.
1969 - Ralph Morrison's Sunrey DX L88 Corvette. Photo: John Hansford. |
1966 - Map fro promotional flyer. |
1969 - TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE. Reported.
1973 - WAR BONNET PARK RACEWAY. Location.
1995 - WAR BONNET PARK RACEWAY. Location.
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2014 - WAR BONNET PARK RACEWAY. Location.
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2024 - WAR BONNETT PARK RACEWAY. Location.
