MONEE DISTRICT FAIRGROUNDS

Years of operation: approximately 1924 to about 1941

Location: Monee, Ill., said to be about 25 miles south of Chicago on old U.S. Route 49 (currently Route 50) – Historic Aerials shows the track being located between present day Fairground Ct. (to the north) and Park Lane (to the south) and running almost parallel to Ruby St. (to the east).

Notes: early races held on half-mile dirt track; three fatalities are known to have occurred there – Roy Nonnenman (1924), Ed Graves (1937) and David McKinney of Harvey, Ill. (1938) – all involving single-seater, open-wheel “big cars”; midget races held there later (as early as 9/26/37); smaller track cut in for midget races; Grundy County Fair (Mazon) officials, headed by Wayne Carter, presented midget races during Monee Fair on Sunday afternoon, August 24, 1941 – total purse reported to be $550.00.

Ray Richards leads a pack of midgets during competition at the Monee District Fairgrounds, circa 1941.
(Bob Sheldon Photo Collection)