The 2006 Rebuilding of

James River, Nova Scotia
Photos Used With Permission: Riverside Speedway

Riverside Speedway Reborn
February 27, 2006 - Riverside Speedway is undergoing extensive renovations - so major in fact that on completion it is sure to be the premiere stock car racing track in Canada.

The rebirth of the storied facility is the brainchild of the tracks original owner, John Chisholm (Antigonish). He built the high-banked 3/8-mile asphalt oval in 1968, modelled after the famed Bristol Motor Speedway (Tennessee). The grand opening was in 1969 and Riverside Speedway quickly earned a reputation for hosting some of the best short track stock car racing in North America. Click here for the rest of the story.

New Open Date
June 17, 2006 - The grand re-opening of Riverside Speedway has been pushed ahead one week. The new open date is August 19, 2006. Click here for the rest of the story.

June 26 Update
Riverside Speedway owner John Chisholm says he hopes to be ready to pave the track in the next couple of weeks. The incessant rain in June has kept them from starting the placement of the new grandstands, but they're ready to go whenever it dries up for a couple of days.

Riverside Speedway Reconstruction Passes Pivotal Point With Paving - pictures below
July 9, 2006 - The reconstruction of Riverside Speedway passed a pivotal point Friday with the paving of the high-banked 1/4-mile race track. The paving project has been in the planning stages since late February so that a seamless racing surface would be the end result. Temperature would be critical as would a clear, dry day - and a paving crew that didn't mind operating such heavy machinery on the 30 degree banked turns. All of the planning culminated Friday - and the plan worked - with near perfect weather conditions of 26 degrees, blue skies and a light breeze. Click here for the rest of the story.

For advance ticket information, click here.

Following is a pictorial documenting the rebirth of Riverside Speedway...

Most Recent Photos - August 18 - click here

Recent Photos - August 17


August 17 - Crews are busy installing the fencing.


August 17 - John Chisholm, original and new owner of Riverside Speedway: "I'm getting pretty excited."

Rebuilding Riverside Speedway - Start to Finish


January 4 - Construction starts at the hallowed Riverside Speedway.


May 28 - The outside concrete wall is finally done - a three-month job; the lines are set for the inside wall.


May 28 - Crews working on the footing for the infield building that will house the tech area, canteen, washrooms and a utility room.


June 8 - Looking down the front stretch from turn one; note the reshaped banks for the increased capacity grandstand and the inside concrete retaining wall.


June 15 - This photo shows the pit road exit.


June 15 - This photo is taken from the turn two area; in the foreground note the entry to the back pit road, then looking across the infield toward the front stetch. In the background, you can also see work continuting on the reshaping of the banks for the new 8,000 seat garndstand.


June 20 - The new infield building is starting to take shape...


June 20 - An aerial shot that starts to give you a true feel for the magnitude of the changes being made to the facility. This shows the front stretch to the left and back stretch to the right. The infield building is at the top of the picture - just inside the turn 3-4 area.


June 20 - An aerial shot from a different angle, and larger view. WOW!

July 7, 2006 - Paving Day - click here for story


Riverside Speedway was a hub-bub of activity on paving day. This was the view from atop the bank that will support the grandstand. About the only familiar site you could see was the McDonald's billboard in the pit parking area...


The large asphalt trucks were too big and heavy to go on the steep banks of Riverside so they dumped their load onto a conveyor belt that fed the asphalt into the buckets of front end loaders, which carried the asphalt to the paving machine.


A load of asphalt on its way to the paver...


Dumping the asphalt into the paver...Another loader on its way with more asphalt in the back ground...


Which spreads the new asphalt over the old surface that was prepared with a special tack material to adhere the new to the old...


Small rollers did the turns and large ones the less-banked front and back stretches and pit roads...


The new tech/canteen/washroom building in the infield is taking shape and looking good - and giving us a preview of the classy facade the reborn Riverside Speedway will have...


A look down the front stretch after one of the three strips of asphalt were laid on the track...


A look down the front stretch after two of the three strips were laid on the track...


The newly reshaped bank where the grandstands will be...of which the installation started on paving day...


A look from where the grandstand entry will be toward what was the main grandstand parking lot. To the far left (just to the left of the grader) you can see a bridge that connects this parking area to a new annex west-side parking lot...The Trans Canada Highway sits to the right of this photo...


From the access road entry to the parking lot, looking toward the grandstand admission area...


From what was the old pit road entrance looking toward the parking lot closest to the grandstand entry area...


From atop the bank where the grandstands will be...The machine at the far end of the grandstand area was working to install the support poles for the new 8,000 seat grandstand...


The view you'd have of turn one-two from the top row at the start/finish line...Note the pit road exit area, defined by the concrete walls at the entry to turn one...


This picture was taken from the road you turn on after exiting TC Hwy 104 - looking toward the race track. The cleared area in the foreground was 11 acres of trees and is now a satellite parking area for Riverside Speedway. A bridge crosses the stream that bordered the old pitside parking area, linking the two. There will be five entry/exit points to the new parking lots...Those familiar with the site can use the backside of the McDonald's billboard in the middle of the picture as a reference point...


The new pit road entry is approximately 50 feet away from the old, and at least doubles the length of the pit access road - allowing the team haulers to get off the main access road - and lessen congestion on race days. It runs along the outer perimeter of the old pit side parking lot winding in to the track crossover - which is now 20 feet wide - compared to the former 12 feet - and straight in, rather than angled like it was...The boggy area that ran alongside the back stretch has been filled in...The cars parked by the trees on the left side of the picture are on the bridge that connects this parking lot to the new one shown in the picture preceding this one...


Support structure for the new grandstands arrived at Riverside Speedway July 20.


Installation of the grandstands began shortly thereafter...At the same time, a concrete walkway was being poured in front of the grandstand area.


July 23 shows they are making progress with the grandstand installation...


Floorboards have been installed (July 26).


August 1, 2006 - The new tower is starting to take shape. It will house the canteen and washrooms on the lower level; the second level will be home for four guest suites, race control and the announcer.


August 1, 2006 - The starter's stand is the only piece of the old track that was used in the rebuilding project...



August 3, 2006 - It will be easy to keep track of your favourite driver at the new Riverside Speedway...A 10-position electronic scoreboard has been installed.


August 8 - Brand new state-of-the art lighting has been installed - powered by generator - to rid the facility of the electrical problems that have plagued it for the past several years. The photo on the right shows the angled parking pads in the pit area, designed to allow maximum parking for the rigs, and maximum visibility for the fans.


August 8 - This is a 35,000 gallon sewage tank - not exciting, right - but it's for the 40 new washrooms. Now that is exciting!


August 14 - Construction nears conclusion on the elaborate two story tower complex looming over the speedway. The building will hosue the washrooms, canteen and a souvenir shop on the first floor. The second floor will see four hospitality suites along with race control and the announcers booth.

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