Wolf Lake Speedway
LocationHammond, Indiana
Coordinates41°40′22.1″N 87°30′48.6″W / 41.672806°N 87.513500°W / 41.672806; -87.513500
OpenedJuly 16, 1933
Closed1936
Oval
SurfaceSand
Length1 miles
Midget track
SurfaceDirt and oil
Length0.2 miles

Wolf Lake Speedway was a racing venue located in Hammond, Indiana. The speedway opened on July 16, 1933, and operated until 1936.[1][2] The track was described as "the World’s Most Unique Automobile Race Course."[3][2]

Wolf Lake Speedway contained two tracks. One track was a one-mile (1.6 km) sand track that was completely surrounded by Wolf Lake.[3][1][2] A portion of the lake was drained to allow for the track's construction.[3] This track hosted auto racing, while speedboat racing was held in the lake in the vicinity of the track.[2] The other was a 1⁄5-mile (0.32 km) dirt and oil surfaced midget track, constructed in 1935, located between Wolf Lake and Calumet Avenue.[1][2] Midget car racing took place at this track,[4] with the opening race on June 9, 1935,[5] and races continuing until 1936.[6]

Among the drivers who raced at Wolf Lake Speedway were Emil Andres,[4] Frank Brisko,[7] Duke Nalon,[8] Harold Shaw,[2] Jimmy Snyder,[5] and Tony Willman.[2]

In 1935, Wolf Lake Speedway hosted a series of weekly Amateur Athletic Union boxing matches.[9][10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kalwasinski, Stan (July 17, 2014). "Region Motor Sports: Hammond Tracks Part of Racing's Past". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Wolf Lake Speedway". Chicagoland Auto Racing. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Dorsey, Kathleen (July 30, 2014). "Wolf Lake". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "A Strong Field Set for Midget Races". The Hammond Times. August 14, 1935. p. 20.
  5. 1 2 Kalwasinski, Stan. "Jimmy Snyder". Chicagoland Auto Racing. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Wolf Lake Speedway to Hold Midget Races Today". Chicago Tribune. July 26, 1936. pt. 2 p. 6. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Brisko Races Sunday Night With Midgets". The Hammond Times. June 20, 1935. p. 11.
  8. ↑ "New Pilots in Friday Races". The Hammond Times. August 15, 1935. p. 8. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Boxing Bouts Attract Crowd". The Hammond Times. August 14, 1935. p. 20.
  10. ↑ "Eight Bouts on Wolf Lake Card Wednesday Eve". The Vidette-Messenger. August 20, 1935. p. 6.
  11. ↑ "8 Great Bouts on Wolf Lake Card Tonight". The Hammond Times. August 21, 1935. p. 13.


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