https://www.theclubatthompson.com/home daily 1.0 2021-02-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fc2ab451d32488350dcce/1613742797274/main+entry.jpg Home https://www.theclubatthompson.com/our-team daily 0.75 2021-02-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602ff16124b5991e70a0beb8/1613754813581/20210213_180945.jpg Our Team - Garrett Vigneaux Director of Membership A true enthusiast who is into everything car and driving related from a young age, Garrett has always spent his time around the automotive world. Whether it be working on his own cars, helping someone with theirs, or any opportunity to learn, he is there. Becoming a part of the Thompson Speedway family was a milestone in his life which he has immersed himself in to bring the community of drivers together. The Club at Thompson is his true passion to create environments where everyone of all skill levels is comfortable. Always ready to work and help, he is constantly putting effort towards the ability to have this motorsports park become the place where drivers go. https://www.theclubatthompson.com/our-vision daily 0.75 2021-02-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602ff5e00334a81472df29aa/1613755887228/entry+Ferrari+Lambo.jpg Our Vision - Passion for driving With our facility being extremely capable of all things driving related, we are always looking for ways to improve, refine and expand what he have. The Club at Thompson has an incredibly bright future where drivers from around the globe can come for a pure driving experience. Expanding the club by garnering support through the racing community has always been a strong point for us here at the club and will continue to connect them within our events. The current vision is to bring more people to our club, expand our grounds with new amenities, outings, events and features. We have quite a list of things to add to this already amazing motorsports park and will constantly work towards completing our vision. https://www.theclubatthompson.com/trackandfacility daily 0.75 2021-02-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/60300c61e9d9fb790c429919/1613761663124/Oval+Wall+Better.jpg Track & Facility https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/603007e979a6c019bb053307/1613760516584/scenic+speedway.jpg Track & Facility https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/60300aaf25dbed69ac442329/1613761207489/entry+Ferrari+Lambo.jpg Track & Facility https://www.theclubatthompson.com/speedwayhistory daily 0.75 2021-02-19 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fe32f30ca581d38879a4b/1613751109477/Hurricane+pic.jpg Speedway History - Born in Hurricane Our story begins on a quiet September afternoon in the farming community of Thompson, Connecticut. The year was 1938 and the chores of the day had been completed. Heavy rains had pelted the area a few days earlier, but on this September 21st, the day had been sunny and dry. To the people in this beautiful, yet quiet section of the state, it was time to relax after a hard day’s work. Little did they know that the landscape and their lives were about to change forever. With no advance warning, the skies turned black as huge storm clouds raced over the area. The “Long Island Express” was ready to bear down on New England. The affects were devastating as the famous 1938 hurricane roared through this quiet farming town. When the skies cleared, buildings, trees and just about anything in the storm’s path had been destroyed. Included was the farm of John Hoenig and his family. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fe37b57c885064499c102/1613751184936/history_2.jpg Speedway History - Building a dream In the aftermath of the storm called the “Long Island Express” and The Great New England Hurricane, many chose to rebuild. Some chose to pull up stakes and move elsewhere. However, John Hoenig had a dream. If ever that dream were to become reality, now was the time. He began to remove the downed trees and clear the land. He brought in a rock crusher, built a sawmill, and moved thousands of cubic yards of gravel. All of these items were needed to create his dream. Before long, the nation’s first asphalt racetrack was beginning to take shape and John Hoenig’s dream was coming true. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fe3b98154ce455b755c3d/1613751245276/history_5.jpg Speedway History - The opening of the Thompson “Super Speedway” By the standards of the day, a 5/8ths mile, high-banked racetrack was huge. Most tracks had dirt, boards or bricks as surfaces and were ¼ mile in length or less. But, in spite of the critics, Hoenig persevered and on May 26, 1940, the gates opened for the first time to a capacity crowd. The word of this new “Super Speedway” spread across the country and soon Thompson became known as the “Indianapolis of the East.” Nearly every big name driver in the country set his sights on Thompson, CT. The track became a Mecca for auto racing drivers and fans. Next came the addition of a ¼ mile oval track that was built inside the much larger original track. This track was used to accommodate the growing stock car and jalopy racing groups since the “big track” was too fast for the technology of these cars of this time. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fe3dd024b612a6a0f851c/1613751276484/history_8.jpg Speedway History - Early Roots in Road Racing During the 1940s, the oval began attracting sports car enthusiasts. Members of the newly organized SCCA would hold time trials and Gymkhanas using parts of the oval and the infield ¼ mile track. From 1952-1967, the oval track and an adjacent section of the Speedway property were leased to owners of the neighboring sports car track, the Thompson Raceway. In the late 1960s, Thompson Speedway opened the road course known as Thompson Version 3. This configuration included re-designed turns from the original 1952 layout, updated viewing areas and paddocks. Thompson, Connecticut had, indeed, become the center of auto racing in the northeast as well as a known motorsports destination in the United States. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fe4030234f31ae4c1127d/1613751319491/history_11.jpg Speedway History - The Reign of Stock Car Racing When the glory days of the “big cars” and midgets began to fade, Thompson became a leader in what has become known as Stock Car racing. Thompson Speedway's first event for the newly organized NASCAR Grand National cars came on October 12, 1951. The one hundred mile, 200 lap event saw 38 cars take the green flag. NASCAR's biggest names of the day were on hand. Drivers like Tim Flock, NASCAR Champion Herb Thomas and Jim Reed led the Grand National line up which also included some very famous New England drivers like Jerry Russo, Dave Humphrey and Reino Tulonen. The event was won by Neil Cole, who drove a 1950 Oldsmobile to victory and collected one thousand dollars for his efforts. In 1969, NASCAR's Grand National (now Sprint Cup) division returned to the "Big T". The 1969 rendition saw David Pearson in victory lane. The 1970 race was won by Bobby Issac. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fe9ceefa8df37bb4324ae/1613752831756/stock+car.jpg Speedway History - Thompson’s Own Racing Stars Over the years, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park has attracted some of racing’s biggest names and has been home to many of today’s racing stars. One of the first to leave the Thompson “nest” to test the waters in the major leagues of the sport was Pete Hamilton. He established himself very quickly by winning the Daytona 500 while driving for Petty Enterprises. Geoffrey Bodine and Greg Sacks became Daytona champions after several years of plying their trade at Thompson. Ron Bouchard gained national prominence with a 500 mile victory at Talladega and both Ron and his brother Ken became NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Rookies of the Year. Steve Park, Brett and Todd Bodine, Jimmy Spencer, Mike McLaughlin and others have gained national prominence following successful years at this famed Connecticut speedway. Recently in 2012 the famed Richie Evans, who still to this day is something of legend at Thompson, was inducted into the NASCAR hall of fame. In 2001, the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series National Champion, Ted Christopher, gained his title from Thompson. It has always been a place where talented drivers have been given their first chance to show that they have what it takes to make it as a motorsports professional. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/602d919054fe9570c40d0358/t/602fea1b0c2d4f64906ab4ae/1613752883173/Speedway_Progress_20140507_0024.jpg Speedway History - Expansion and improvement During the 1947 year of motorsports operation, the facility also developed the Raceway Golf Club – which boasts 18 holes of classic New England golf course design – and Raceway Restaurant that hosts large race banquets, weddings, and parties and outings of all types. In addition it houses the famous raceway bar and lounge that accommodate both racers after a night on the track or a foursome coming in after playing 18 holes. It is a unique dynamic to sit in the one of the seats of the lounge and imagine all of the greats who have passed through after a race as you look over the historic facility.