Naples Speedway
| Location | Naples, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°37′22″N 77°23′15″W / 42.6228°N 77.3875°W |
| Operator | Donald Cleveland |
| Opened | 1949 |
| Closed | 1951 |
| Surface | Clay/sand mix |
| Length | .536 km (.333 miles) |
Naples Speedway was a 1⁄3-mile (0.54 km) dirt oval racing facility in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State.[1]
Overview
The Naples Speedway was located at the end of East Avenue on the Naples New York Fairgrounds and is where the legendary Dutch Hoag launched his career.[2] Starting in 1949 promoter Donald Cleveland paid each car $10 to race. Racing came to an end at the conclusion of the 1951 season.[3]
Sunday Blue Laws
Cleveland was arrested in June 1951 and again in September that year for violating New York’s Sunday Blue Law. The law, which dated back to 1788, allowed specific sports and recreational activities on Sundays, but not stock car racing. Cleveland intended to protest the law by using his arrests as a legal test case, but was found not guilty by jury in both instances.[4][5]
In a separate proceeding in New York State Supreme Court, Cleveland sought an injunction prohibiting police from enforcing the blue law. Although the court denied the injunction, Cleveland's efforts prompted the New York State legislature to lift the ban on Sunday stock car racing, as well as circuses, hunting and golf.[6][7] Specifically, the law empowered local communities to authorize additional Sunday activities.[8]
The Town of Naples considered such an ordinance in the spring of 1952, but refused to allow Cleveland to continue speedway operations.[3][9]
References
- ^ "Naples Speedway". The Third Turn. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ "Self-guided walking/driving tour of the Historic Village of Naples and the surrounding area". Naples Historical Society. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ a b Chavez, Bob (July 13, 2016). "Vintage Thunder". Daily Messenger. Canandaigua NY. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ^ "Developments in the Speedway Controversy". Naples Record. NY. August 15, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ "Stock Car races continue to make news". Naples Record. NY. September 12, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2025 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ Roberts, Sam (June 15, 2016). "Alcohol, Gambling and Golf: The Long History of Blue Laws in New York". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ "Rochester Stock Car race promoter loses court fight". Syracuse Herald-Journal. NY. August 28, 1951. p. 24. Retrieved August 12, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Governor signs bill to permit Sunday car races". Daily Freeman. Kingston NY. March 31, 1952. Retrieved August 13, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Naples Ordinance proposed to OK Sunday racing". Daily Messenger. Canandaigua NY. May 27, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved August 12, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.