Sports – Jacksonville Blogger

The Old Racetrack in Jacksonville

On a recent hunt, I tried to find any remnants of the “Old Jacksonville Racetrack” of Duval County, also known as the Jacksonville Speedway. I was told it had been located near the intersection of Lenox Avenue and Plymouth Street on the westside of the city. At one time, it was “the” place to race an automobile.

All that was there though, was a huge conglomerate of apartments named Madelyn Oaks formerly Lenox Court Apartments. 5710 Lenox Avenue was gated but not a racer to be seen, so I traveled the road to talk with anyone who might know. At Pugh Automotive, I got some answers. Lee, an office worker said the track was indeed where the apartments now sit and he spoke a great deal about what had once been a busy and fun place. He noted that Wendell Scott, the first Black person to win at racing had made his mark there, along with many others.

Being in the automotive business, he was obviously familiar with the racing industry and on the Pugh property were various cars dating back to the days the track was just yards away. I asked if he had a race car on the property. He said “no,” but there then he took me inside the shop to show me a framed race car photo from the days of the busy track. Also he noted for me to look at the vintage autos all around. They were beautiful along with the memorabilia and collectibles around the room and on the walls.

Wikipedia has a 1952 aerial photograph of “Speedway Park” which opened in 1947. It closed in 1972. The track was a 0.5 oval dirt tract which was used for auto races including NASCAR Grand National Series.

Eddie Bland (1904-1968) built the racetrack on family farm land in 1946. He had been an avid race car driver winning 3 Florida State championships. His 1934 cars were # 11 and # 8. After WWII, he built the 1/2 mile speedway and in March of 1947 the track had its first stock race. It became known as “the fastest 1/2 mile dirt track in the world” according to Forumation. com. Bland is considered one of the “true pioneers in the southeastern world of stock car racing.” He was inducted into the Jacksonville Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1998.

In talking to a high school friend, Wayne Ezell, he tells about the life of a stock car driver being “all in or nothing” and says that his father, David was “all in”. David Ezell (1928-2013) had been a Navy veteran and well known stock car driver. His son, who had also raced on the track, tells that his family of 5; his Dad, Mom, an older sister, younger sister and self lived the lives of a racing family. David was inducted into the Jacksonville Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1991.

In scanning the Facebook Speedway site, Bob Robert-Hoden wrote of Ezell, “That man could drive good. He was the Earnhardt of the 50’s and 60’s”. Frank Ridden wrote, “ That was my man back then”. Wayne Davis wrote, “David Ezell was my absolute favorite driver at the old Jacksonville Speedway part he always took time to come speak to me when I was a little feller when I was at the fence, separating the pits in the infield, and I’ve never forgot that and hopefully I never will. I always tried to emulate that in my racing career.”

Of David Ezell, George Collins, an Admin for the Jacksonville Speedway Facebook page wrote:

“Too little is said about David Ezell, probably the most under-rated driver evere to turn a wheel at the old speedway. David probably won more races accidently than many could brag about on purpose. If truth be known, he most likely wore out more cars than he wrecked. This one he didn’t get to wear out, although he drove it two seasons or three. This was his first race car, a 39 Ford deluxe coupe. I just noticed it has 1938 standard fenders.”

The Jacksonville Speedway opened in 1947. Iy would host NASCAR Grand National Series in 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1961, and 1964. It would also host the race for Wendell Scott, the first Black to win. NASCAR top series.

Following the NASCAR Grand National East Series, the track was closed in 1973 and today a housing development fills the property.

See you tomorrow,

Sources: David Wayne Ezell, Pugh Automotive, “ Lee”, Jacksonville Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame, Wikipedia, Forumotion .com, Photos: George Collins, Hazel W., Facebook, Wikipedia, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey

Category: History, People, Sports, Westside | Comments Off

March 8

Jacksonville’s River Run

My brother and I ran the River Run one time. That was back in the day when I had sandy blonde hair without grey strands.There is no forgetting that the most difficult place in the run for me was the Hart Bridge. Yes, the one with a 140-foot vertical climb over the St. Johns River. It was on that bridge that Pat literally pushed me up the bridge towards a successful finish. The 2026 announcer at the starting gate reminded the thousands of runners at the Shipyards area about this difficult lasts leg of the run.

The Gate River Run, which it is now officially called, is a 15-kilometer run first held in 1978. At this writing, there are more than 20,000 runners who participate in this huge event. In 2026, the day before the run, Race Roster posted these words: “River Run events are SOLD OUT . Thank you”.

Being wildly popular, the annual River Run is one that attracts competitive and fun-runners. Since 2007, it has been the largest 15-k run in the country. That is something to be proud of for Jacksonville, the 10th most populous city at this time in the United States.

The Jacksonville Track Club (now JTC Running) is credited to having established the River Run 15,000, with the first sponsor as the Florida Publishing Company. At that time, the FPC published The Florida Times-Union and the Jacksonville Journal. Early records show the organizers met first at theYMCA and before long this run was a literal go.

Over the years, the run has gained momentum and today it stands as a premier running event for many world athelets and fun-runners alike. The early expectations for the first 1978 run was over a thousand participants but it ended up with at least 2, 800 entries. In 2013 there were over 17,000 runners. The day before the race in 2026, it took some participants over an hour to get down San Jose Blvd to the place set up to sign in and get their bib numbers. in Mandarin where the River Run Expo was set people from all over traveled to up to sign in and pick up their bib numbers, get some freebies from vendors and even shop a little at the in-house store set up just for this event. More runners had signed up than ever before in the race.

At this writing, the top men finish the race in about 45 minutes while women follow with some 51- 55 minutes. The rewards are many: personal satisfaction, a t-shirt, ribbon, medal and top runners get cash awards.

In my younger years, I was so happy to participate in runs and have many bibs to prove it. This year, I walked through the River Run expo rewarding myself with pens, pencils, key chains and other freebies from the event sponsors. It was a great walk through the expo. I was also happy to watch others run on race day.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Sports, Things to Do | Comments Off

March 6

Durkeeville-Hit ‘Em Out of The Park

As I was leaving Durkeeville, a little unique community on the Northside of Jacksonville, I traveled past the James Small baseball park established in 1912. While driving, I saw three guys scrambling all around the grounds. They were young, dressed in orange and black shirts and looked college-age. With a bit of time on my hands, I turned back and spoke to the young men. They were students at Edward Waters University and had been practicing baseball on the field.

Over the years it has had different names, Barrs Field, Myrtle Avenue Ball Park and others, but the one I remember most was Durkee Field. The land had once been owned by Joseph Durkee a former Union officer during the Civil War. Durkee’s son later turned the field over to the President of the Jacksonville Baseball Association, Amander Barrs. Because it was on Myrtle Avenue, it took on the name “Myrtle field” I knew it was historic having the great Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson play there years past.

The City of Jacksonville eventually purchased the park for $348,000. Following a fire that destroyed the original stadium another was built in 1936 which opened the field up for the Negro league and the Jacksonville Red Caps. By the 1970’s the field had received little maintenance and had fallen into disrepair. The City Council took on the task to save the park and in 1980 it was renovated and renamed J. P. Small Park in honor of a teacher and band director from the old Stanton School . From then until now many have used the field including Edward College University.

Vladimir Blanco spoke up first telling me that balls had been “hit out of the park” and they were scrambling to retrieve them. I asked about their team and all three seemed excited to be a part. Blanco was a junior and playing at catcher and pitcher. Joseph Di Cesare was a sophomore from Maracay, Venezuela playing as catcher and J.C. Medina was a graduate assistant and part of the coaching staff.

I learned that it has a small museum inside and in 2013 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Drop by if you get a chance. You might meet some real sluggers.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

P.S. I had a photo made of the guys and put a gift card with it. They will think Mama’s in town.

Sources: Wikipedia, Google AI Overview, National Register of Historic Places, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey

Category: Parks, People, Sports | Comments Off

January 19

The Human Billboard in Real Time

Hanging on the wall of the Family Medicine Doctor office on University Blvd. S. is an original copy of the inaugural Jaguars football game photo from 1995. On that day, September 3, Kivett Productions had the contract to gather together X number of people, provide specific seats for them, give them a packet with instructions and possible coupons, offers, etc. Then, at the given time and with “cue-card-holders” instruction have them flip their card to produce a huge human-type billboard. Even the cue-card-holder has a cue card! In this case, the Jaguars’ fans flip-cards and which when combined, reads, “Jacksonville Jaguars” and the photographer from the airplane in the sky went, “click”. This is the ultimate human billboard!

Kivett productions is said to the the world leader in this effort. They promote their card flip advertising and it is a performance in itself, indicating that they “design, print and distribute things related to it, engage the audience as “part of the event” and have participants move on “cue” to get a final results.

In this article photograph, you can clearly see the words”Jacksonville Jaguars” and here we are in the year 2023 with that photo hanging on the wall remaining a snapshot and iconic moment in time from 1995.

The framed item above is number 1,182 out of 1,500. Don’t you wonder where the other 1,499 are? The TIAA Bank Stadium can seat over 60,000 fans and can be expanded to 80,000 if needed so having one of the 1,500 posters is a definite collector’s item.

The 2023 Jaguars team is now in the playoffs for the Super Bowl. I wonder if promoters will hire Kivett Productions again for the playoff games? Super Bowl? Yours thoughts? 1/19/23

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Kivett Productions, You Tube

Category: Business, Sports | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 19

Go to All Jaguars Wearing # 88

There have been at least eight number 88 football players since the Jaguars began their first season. Allen Hurns: 2014-20-17, Danny Noble: 2-013, Zach Potter: 2009-2012, Joe Zelenka: 2002-2008, Damon Jones: 1997-2001, Kendrick Bullard: 1996, Ty Hallock: 1996, Craig Keith: 1995.

I found this framed Jaguars poster at the Goodwill today and wondered the year the drawing was made. Things like Altell” Stadium were in the background, as was a signature of Damon Jones, # 88.

Altell Stadium was named Jacksonville Municipal Stadium from 1995-1996 and 2007-2010. It was changed to Alltell Stadium for naming rights in 1997 and 2018 to TIAA Bank Field, then to the present.

My guess is, this poster was from 1997.

Go Jaguars and blessings to all Number 88 players including Damon Jones whose signature is in this drawing. Is this find valuable? Let me know….

See you tomorrow,

Category: Sports | Comments Off

December 9

Lures in Jacksonville, Florida

May 27th, 2021, I was looking for a large water-type tank and dropped in at 2148 Ellis Road N.to ask because they had several in their corner lot. I was met by an orange cat who did not move and was totally unconcerned at my visit.

To my surprise, as I walked inside the old tin facility, several ladies inside were making fishing lures! The shop was in a metal building and the entire time I was there, the ladies spoke with me, tried to figure out if they could assist my request but did not for a moment stop their work of making bait-tackle.

They were dipping some type of plastic in a warm machine which created the form of long candles and then the warm form went into a liquid, probably water to cool it. The set were then hung out to dry and moved to another location. It was a consistent process and I watched them time and time again as each set of lures were made and handled for packaging.

The company was called Soft Plastics of Florida. It is listed as a “mold maker”, established in 2003 and incorporated in Florida. To be such a small place and quite unkempt, it reported an annual revenue of $484,000 according to Manta. Wow.

I rode past today on the way home and the gate was locked with a for sale sign nearby.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Random Posts, Sports | Comments Off

November 20

The Jetties

When we were young, our parents took us to the jetties where we walked on the big rocks out to the Atlantic Ocean and would fish from seemingly the top of the world. The jetties were located Northeast of town about 30-40 minutes away. It was always fun but walking on those huge rocks could be worrisome. We would each have a handful of something to carry and then we’d bend, weave, crawl and scrap our way to a comfortable rock area, all while the water might be splashing and getting us wet. It was some event for a youngster and we loved it.

Mama would pack us a lunch and Daddy would pack the fishing gear and off we would drive , “a day and another” until we’d come to huge rocks by the ocean. We’d park the car, unload the stuff and head to the rocks. There we would be until the sun would set, fishing until our hearts content. Daddy seemed to spend most of his time getting Mama’s hook replenished or unhooked from the snags. The huge waves would take the fishing line into the cracks and crevices and he’d hold, pull, jerk and navigate until the line was free. Mama was happy. She would be fishing with his pole until he got her’s untangled. She’d fish non-stop and he seemed to be getting the lines untangled non-stop. That’s sort of how it went every fishing event. Both seemed to enjoy themselves.

Those were always long, fun days. We left early and came home late. There was the usual stop by the bait shop out Heckscher Drive and then the long drive to the beaches. Living on the Westside, it took a good 45 minutes or so just to get there.

So many times we came home with a “mess of fish” and had a fish fry. There were even times that Daddy skinned the fish, froze them and we’d have a Sunday school fish fry. There was then a lot of bragging going on about how big that fish really was.

Those were many of our days in Florida.

See you tomorrow,

Category: Family, Flora and Fauna, Parks, Sports, Visit This | LEAVE A COMMENT