Lowell Ma Old Race Site

[Modrunner]

While driving by the Merrimack River yesterday I stopped by the old race site in Lowell to reminisce about the old days. It dawned on me that it could still be a nice race site. I’m not even sure why we stopped racing there. So a few questions if anyone can answer them.
Why don’t we race there anymore?
Which club hosted races there before?
Any chance with some work could we go back?
Thanks for any information.

[Matt Dagostino]

In 1971 Lowell was the site where i first got in a race boat on the cold Merrimack River.............fun place to race too!! Lot's of history on the Merrimack.

[rabbitears2]

We loved racing there in the mid to late 80’s. The big runabouts and 2 person was always great. Anyone know why we don’t race there anymore?

[DeanFHobart]

Wasn’t this the site that had the Stock Outboard Nationals in the 1960’s?

[modracer7b]

1963 Stock Nationals were on the Charles River in downtown Boston. I believe Lowell went away because we had been pitting in the park near the dam and had a choice of the short course near the dam or the long course up river from that pit. The park pits went away and we had to pit at the far end of where the long course was, thus eliminating the short course as an option which was also an alternative to the long course which could get very rough. The last few years, the remaining course was very rough causing holds for the conditions and some challenging conditions otherwise. In the end, whether we lost the pits or simply did not want to endure the conditions is something I'm not sure of.

Bill Rosado

[DiGia54D]

Great site!, From what I remember we stopped because the rowing club took over where we used to Pit. Plus insurance was pretty High. South Shore Outboard Assoc held that race. Nothing beat a full field of CMH coming up back stretch with the rollers bouncing back off the retaining wall.

[DeanFHobart]

Great site!, From what I remember we stopped because the rowing club took over where we used to Pit. Plus insurance was pretty High. South Shore Outboard Assoc held that race. Nothing beat a full field of CMH coming up back stretch with the rollers bouncing back off the retaining wall.

Retaining Walls and Outboard Hydroplanes ‘Don’ Mix’!!!

[rabbitears2]

Don’t forget the water falls off turn 2. Still a great place to race. Unique for sure.

[1100-one]

Dean- You missed the opportunity of racing Lodi Lake Here in N Calif. It had cement all the way around the lake. You could probably put 2 Lodi Lakes inside Depue. We ran 8 1100r, and full field of stocks. Unfortunately it ended but they started there in the 50's.

[DeanFHobart]

Dean- You missed the opportunity of racing Lodi Lake Here in N Calif. It had cement all the way around the lake. You could probably put 2 Lodi Lakes inside Depue. We ran 8 1100r, and full field of stocks. Unfortunately it ended but they started there in the 50's.

Thanks..... Kind of like Sparks, NV.... Without the retaining walls.... Or did Sparks have retaining walls... I never raced at Sparks.

[1100-one]

No walls at Sparks at least not at the one I knew

[hshawwpba]

Todays insurance regulations would never allow sparks to be held if you were in lane 11 on the out side you sprayed water and sand on the front row of the bleachers in turn 1!!!! In the 1100 R it was a 29 second lap time! It was a great site and well run for years always had fun with region 11 and 12 guys and gals there, and the hospitality at the John Augusta's Gold Nugget Casino, was 1st class! Crap tables were a little stingy but a case of Mac Naughton wiskey was 39.00 bucks!!!!!!!
Oh for the love of the good old days!!!!!!

[1100-one]

Howard- Do you remember the grand prix rinabput. All runabouts ran together. Ok don't want to hi jack this thread. Good luck getting an d race site hopefully back. To many are gone.

[Mark 72@E]

Out of the blue last Sunday, my 82 year old mother brought up our trip to Lowell, Mass. for the 1974 Stock Outboard Eastern Divisionals. I was 16 at the time and racing a Bezoats 25SSH. She remembered driving north from Lowell for a special reason. I responded by remembering me asking her at the time where we were going and why and she REFUSED to tell me. I knew we were driving in the "wrong" direction. After a short while we drove past the "Welcome to New Hampshire" sign at which time she pulled over to the shoulder, did a u-turn, and headed back to Lowell. "Now we can say we have been to New Hampshire", she said with a smile.

It remains the only trip in my lifetime, so far, to the great state of New Hampshire.

[DeanFHobart]

Out of the blue last Sunday, my 82 year old mother brought up our trip to Lowell, Mass. for the 1974 Stock Outboard Eastern Divisionals. I was 16 at the time and racing a Bezoats 25SSH. She remembered driving north from Lowell for a special reason. I responded by remembering me asking her at the time where we were going and why and she REFUSED to tell me. I knew we were driving in the "wrong" direction. After a short while we drove past the "Welcome to New Hampshire" sign at which time she pulled over to the shoulder, did a u-turn, and headed back to Lowell. "Now we can say we have been to New Hampshire", she said with a smile.

It remains the only trip in my lifetime, so far, to the great state of New Hampshire.

Great story Mark.. Thanks.