BUSY

          It's hard to see in this shot [above] , but this is the location of the former "East Greenbush Speedway" which I understand ran only about 6 weeks in 1955 until it was shut down by either the E.Greenbush police or the NY State Police. It's off Columbia Turnpike in Schodack Center. The building at the top of the pic is now an Auction house and the building just South of it is now Goomba's Pizza. Joe, This track was called East Greenbush Speedbowl.
          The satellite photo is correct. In the center of the field, there is a large tree, Next to the tree is a 8x8 wooden post in the ground, that was the start-finish line. It can clearly be seen in the photos and movies I have. Also behind the pizza shop, you can also see a portion of the wooden and cable fencing, along with a large section of the banking. Its been since last winter since I have been there, but next door the property was sold, and construction may be happening there...........Cool story, I stopped by and talked to the new owner, asked him about the track, but he had no info. He told me that he just renovated the house in the front, and said ........well wait a minute. He went into a back room of his shop and came back with an original sign from the track he found in the walls of the house. The sign was handpainted to use in the consession stand.. in mint condition..........it was a real cool find. The fella would not sell it to me, but I convinced him to donate it to the Saratoga Auto Racing Museum.
         I have some info on four of the speedways listed here. All info is from the Allan Brown book "The History of America's Speedways" (Past & Present). First is East Greenbush Speedway. The actual name was the East Greenbush Speedbowl. It was AKA Schodack Center Speedbowl. A gentleman by the name of Morris Mermelstein was the owner. It was a 1/4 mile dirt track and was closed down due to a lack of spectator parking. It operated in the mid 50's. Next is Greenport Speedway. It is incorrectly listed in the book as being on Long Island although all info given is related to upstate. It, too, was a 1/4 mile dirt track and was actually located in Hudson. It operated in 1952 and the book claims that Lou Lazzaro ran his first race there! It is now a shopping center. Next is the Ida Mae Speedway, another 1/4 mile dirt track. Located in Schodack it operated in the pre WWII years of 1939 through 1941. It was connected with a diner by the same name on US 9. And last but not least is the Ups and Downs Speedway. Still another 1/4 mile dirt track it was located in Schodack Center. It ran from 1952 to 1954. One event was halted by the NYS police when the promoter tried to run at on a Sunday in violation of the blue laws in place at the time.

Courtesy of Dan Ody via Bob Miller
East Greenbush lineup - Bill Webb 77 and Doug Anderson 42 are visible.

Courtesy of Sam Barlow
East Greenbush Speedbowl pits_George Gowie's Lazy 1 is discernable.

All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller [Could be Dan Ody films] Action in the turns at East Greenbush.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Action in the turns at East Greenbush. Cars coming off two down backstretch.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Action in the first turn at East Greenbush.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Action in the turns at East Greenbush. George Gowie's Lazy 1; possibly Hoppy Jensen at far left.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Action in the turns at East Greenbush.
All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller A race lineup on parade lap at East Greenbush.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Much like Route 66, many spectators watched in their cars at East Greenbush.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Gowie and others on what looks like the backstretch.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Looks a bit like the Joe Messina 13 in the East Greenbush infield.	All 8MM Frames via Bob Miller Action in the turns at East Greenbush. Second place car ducks to the inside.

DTD Photo Turn one action with the stock cars. I believe that #77 also appeared in a first - year photo at Lebanon Valley.	DTD Photo Wow ! Look at that oiled dirt ! EPA Supersite !	DTD Photo J5 could be Henry Bouchard.	Courtesy of Ken Gypson John Somebody gets a trophy from flagger, Bernie Somebody.
DTD Photo A very full field of stock cars in the turn.	DTD Photo You see this car 77 in a lot of early racing shots in that region.	DTD Photo A remarkable number of entries for such an early track.	Courtesy of Ken Gypson A very early Carl Fink photo, probably just before he took over the 62Jr ride.
Courtesy of Ken Gypson Old stockers scramble.	Courtesy of Joe McCarty Car 8 throws up a rooster tail as he works the track after an obvious rain storm.	Courtesy of Joe McCarty Cars for the next race parade before the green is thrown.	Courtesy of Joe McCarty A very wet track surface, probably after a rain.
	Courtesy of Joe McCarty Henry Bouchard, E. Greenbush, NY	Courtesy of Joe McCarty Henry Bouchard's Hudson.