Putting the wheels into motion is, without a doubt, the biggest and most diverse group of people who have ever worked together for an event in Carpentersville. We’re talking gear heads, Girl Scouts, environmentalists and civic groups. Add in educators, racing enthusiasts, business owners, and village officials. And don’t forget residents, politicians, teenage musicians, and township and county staff.
On Sept. 13 and 14, those groups and thousands more are expected to converge on Raceway Woods for the 50th anniversary celebration and reunion of the Meadowdale International Raceway.
Raceway Woods is presently an open space used for hiking, biking, picnicking, and even horseback riding and is owned by the Kane County Forest Preserve District, the Dundee Township Park District and Dundee Township. But from 1958 to 1969 it was a 3.27 mile race course that hosted national championship sports car racing, stock cars, motorcycles and go-karts.
Donna Redmer, who along with her husband Jack, is a volunteer steward of Raceway Woods, said the idea for the event came about last October when Ross Fosbender brought it to their attention that the 50th anniversary of the first race was Sept. 13.
Perhaps the most anticipated event of the celebration weekend will be honoring former racers and others involved with the racetrack, some of whom will be on site.
There will also be a show of sports cars, from 1969 and earlier, obviously, that raced, or could have raced at Meadowdale. To complement that, a Spectator Car display area will showcase street sports cars, hot rods, customs, and bikes from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Hayrack rides around the grounds will show just how much work has been done to preserve Raceway Woods in its natural state, with hints of its previous use found in remaining pavement and a restored silo.
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