Nostalgia, business bring buyers to Rockford Speedway for everything-must-go auction
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Tracy Surma walked through the grounds of the Rockford Speedway on Wednesday looking for a piece of nostalgia.
Gene Henrickson was there for business.
Surma is a racing fan who was in the grandstands nearly every weekend last season. Henrickson is the longtime owner of a racetrack in Michigan who’s looking for equipment he may use. They exemplify some of the reasons buyers are drawn to an upcoming everything-must-go auction of the Speedway’s equipment, assets and other memorabilia.
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“I gotta be here for this last hurrah,” said Surma, who attended Wednesday’s in-person walk through of the Speedway before the online auction commences Monday at RockfordSpeedway.com.
The Speedway shut down last fall after 76 years of racing at the short track. The land is due to be developed into a mix of businesses and other commercial uses.
“For me, it’s like a part of my life is going. To not see it anymore is sad,” said Surma, who kept a record of the lot numbers of several pieces of memorabilia she’ll go after in the auction. “My gut is just tearing. My hearts tearing.”
More than 1,200 lots are available at the auction, encompassing everything at the track from the ground up. The main grandstand bleachers with its VIP suite have a starting bid asking $25,000. You can buy the Daktronics scoreboard with bidding starting at $1,000. Or, maybe you just want a taste of the Rockford Speedway with a popcorn maker seasoned through years of making the salty, buttery treat. Multiple popcorn makers are for sale, ranging from $25 for a 16-by-16 inch popper to a $250 for a larger stainless steel maker.
“For years we have watched the surrounding area evolve into a vibrant retail corridor; the auction is the final step in the last lap for Rockford Speedway,” said Tom Deery, one eight children of the late Hugh and Jody Deery, who owned the track for decades. “This day has been coming — it stings for the thousands of fans and racers who have made Rockford Speedway their ‘family’ for generations. This auction presents an opportunity for enthusiasts to acquire cherished pieces of the Speedway’s legacy and continue its story elsewhere.”
Henrickson, who has owned Mid Michigan Raceway Park for 33 years, came to Rockford Speedway for the first time on Wednesday to prepare for the auction. He made the five-hour drive to Loves Park in hopes it would pay off like it has at other shuttered raceways where he’s found equipment he can use at his track.
“When Louisville went out of business, I was down there to that auction,” he said. “Avilla went out of business, I went to that auction.”
The Speedway was miles outside any developed area when it opened in 1947, but the area around the track, 9572 Forest Hills Road, has been surrounded by residences and a bustling commercial corridor over the past few decades.
“Like Tom said, it used to be in the country,” said Henrickson, who has met Tom Deery a few times through racing.
“It’s sad to see a racetrack leave. I don’t care whose it is or what it is,” he said. “Trying to sell one of these — it can be done — but most of the time the property is worth more than what the racetrack is.”
Henrickson said he’ll keep his eye on the lights in particular. The Speedway got new LED lights about two years ago, and Henrickson is making the conversion at Mid Michigan.
“It’s the first I’ve ever been here and it seems like a nice little racetrack,” he said. “I’m sure they packed the people in here, or they wouldn’t have all these grandstands.”
Surma was often among those packed in the grandstands. She had her eye on racing flags and other Rockford Speedway keepsakes as she prepared for the auction.
“I love racing. Period. I love the sound, the smell, just being with other people – it’s so much fun,” she said. “I wish the family all the luck in the world.”
About | Rockford Speedway Auction
When: Monday, May 27 through Monday, June 3, 2024
Where: Online at rockfordspeedway.com or go HERE
Contact: Chris Richard of Steffes Auctioneers, 319-217-0657
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
