Paramount Ranch Racetrack
Paramount Ranch Racetrack (sometimes called Paramount Ranch Raceway) was a racetrack located at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains in Agoura Hills California. A total of seven races were held at Paramount Ranch from 1956-1957. After a series of fatalities in short proximity to each other, the track gained a reputation for being a dangerous circuit. After two seasons, Paramount Ranch Racetrack was closed.
| Location | Agoura Hills, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC-8 (UTC-7 DST) |
| Coordinates | 34.121°N 118.7544°W |
| Owner | National Park Service |
| Opened | 1956 |
| Closed | 1957 |
| Surface | Paved |
| Length | ~2 mi |
| Turns | 11 |
Background
In 1956, the owner of Paramount Ranch decided to build a road-racing facility. He approached Ken Miles and Dick Van Laanen to design the road course. They designed a paved road course nearly 2 miles in length. The road course included 11 turns with uphill and downhill sections, a straightaway just shy of 3⁄4 mile, a bridge and underpass as well as a lake opposite the start/finish line. Bob Bondurant described the course as “unforgiving but a real challenge”.[1]
Events
A total of seven races were held at Paramount Ranch. Five events were sponsored by the California Sports Car Club (CSCC) and two by the United States Auto Club (USAC).
August 18–19, 1956 (CSCC)
| Date | Race Number | Laps/Time Limit | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 1 | 8 | Production sedans up to 1500cc |
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 2 | 8 | Production under 1500cc |
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 3 | 8 | Production over 1500cc |
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 4 | 8 | Formula III and Formula Libre |
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 5 | 8 | Modified under 1500cc |
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 6 | 8 | Modified 1500cc to 3000cc |
| Saturday, August 18, 1956 | 7 | 8 | Modified over 3000cc |
| Sunday, August 19, 1956 | 8 | 12 | Consolation under 1500cc |
| Sunday, August 19, 1956 | 9 | 12 | Consolation over 1500cc |
| Sunday, August 19, 1956 | 10 | 1 hour | Under 1500cc main event |
| Sunday, August 19, 1956 | 11 | 8 | Ladies race |
| Sunday, August 19, 1956 | 12 | 1 hour | Over 1500cc main event |
November 4, 1956 (USAC)
November 17–18, 1956 (CSCC)
March 9–10, 1957 (CSCC)
June 15–16, 1957 (CSCC)
April 28, 1957 (USAC)
December 7–8, 1957 (CSCC)
| Date | Race Number | Laps/Time Limit | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 7, 1957 | 1 | 10 | Production under 1300cc |
| Saturday, December 7, 1957 | 2 | 10 | Production under 1500cc |
| Saturday, December 7, 1957 | 3 | 10 | Production over 1500cc |
| Saturday, December 7, 1957 | 4 | 10 | Formula III Formula Libre, and Formula II |
| Saturday, December 7, 1957 | 5 | 10 | Modified under 1500cc |
| Saturday, December 7, 1957 | 6 | 10 | Modified over 1500cc |
| Sunday, December 8, 1957 | 7 | 30 min | Semi-Main prod under 1500cc |
| Sunday, December 8, 1957 | 8 | 30 min | Semi-Main prod over 1500cc |
| Sunday, December 8, 1957 | 9 | 8 | Semi-Main modified cars |
| Sunday, December 8, 1957 | 10 | 1 hour | Under 1500cc main event |
| Sunday, December 8, 1957 | 11 | 8 | Ladies race |
| Sunday, December 8, 1957 | 12 | 1 hour | Over 1500cc main event |
Two fatalities occurred on what would be the final event at Paramount Ranch.
Today
The National Park Service maintains the entire ranch including the racetrack as an historic site. Today, very little remains of the racetrack. As of 2015, the bridge still remains however it has been blocked off so vehicles cannot drive over it. The road underneath the bridge has been overgrown with trees and shrubs. Home construction in the neighboring hillsides has caused water runoff which has destroyed the original layout and terrain of the land from when it was constructed. Much of the roads are no longer discernable. While there is some sentiment among park rangers to repair the circuit and return the track to its former glory, there are no definitive plans in place.
In November 2018, Paramount Ranch suffered near-total destruction during the Woolsey Fire.[2]
Film and television
Paramount Ranch Racetrack has been featured in several movies filmed in the 1950s and 1960s; most notably Devil’s Hairpin and Spinout.[3]
It was also featured in television shows over the next decade, including Perry Mason "The Case of the Runaway Racer" (1965).
Further reading
- Evans, Art (2006). Paramount Ranch Remembered. Photo Data Research LLC. ISBN 0-9705073-7-2.
References
- Art Evans (2006). Paramount Ranch Remembered. Photo Data Research LLC. pp. 10–13.
- Hibbard, James (November 9, 2018). "Certain Westworld sets burn down in California wildfire". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/article_6dbed4ac-ff8b-55de-9acd-c2944bf69e88.html