History
Opened as the New Ascot Speedway in January 1924, the banked 5/8-mile oval in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles drew about 35,000 people to its first meet. After early legal troubles for its promoters, the Glendale American Legion post took over promotion in 1928, giving the track its lasting name.
The speedway became a center of West Coast racing, hosting AAA championship events in its final seasons, but about two dozen people died there. Racing ended after a crash in January 1936 that killed Al Gordon and his riding mechanic; the track was denied a new AAA license, and an arson fire damaged the grandstand later that year. Multnomah Elementary School and homes were later built on the land.
Why it matters: Southern California's leading racetrack of the late 1920s and early 1930s, notorious for its fatality toll.
Timeline
- January 20, 1924
About 35,000 spectators attended the first auto and motorcycle program.
- 1928American Legion takes over[1]
The Legion began promoting races and leased the track in 1929.
- January 1936
Al Gordon and riding mechanic Spider Matlock were fatally injured, ending racing at Ascot.
- April 1936
Part of the abandoned grandstand burned.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Multnomah Elementary School and a residential tract.[1,2] |
| Surviving remnants | The track's south curve survives as the curve of Hatfield Place.[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Venue facts
| Other names | New Ascot Speedway (1924); Ascot Speedway |
|---|---|
| Location | Along Soto Street between Valley Boulevard and Multnomah Street, El Sereno, Los Angeles (El Sereno), California[2] |
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Motorsports |
| Level | AAA Championship |
| Opened | January 20, 1924[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | January 26, 1936[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 12,500[1] |
| Surface | Dirt, later asphalt |
| Owner / operator | George R. Bentel (1924–1925); operated by Glendale American Legion Post 127 (1928–1935) |
| Closure | Repeated fatal crashes; the track lost its AAA sanction after the January 1936 deaths. |
Documented details
- A former janitor confessed seven years later to setting the 1936 grandstand fire.[1]
Connected venues
Sources
- Legion Ascot Speedway, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, remnants
- Legion Ascot Speedway, El Sereno Historical Society. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, closed, current land use, opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia dates the final race to January 26, 1936; the El Sereno Historical Society says January 25 and links an article dated January 27.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.