This postcard from 1947 is a photo by A. Dallaire of Manchester, NH. It is an aerial view looking west to east over the Hudson Speedway track. Old Derry Road (Derry Road) is behind the bleachers with a field of the Nadeau Farm across the way being used as a parking lot.
For 80 years, from 1946 to the present, race enthusiasts of New England have participated in and watched events at the Hudson Speedway. Located in northern Hudson at what is now the corner of Robinson and Old Derry Roads this 1/4 mile short oval asphalt track banked at 12 degrees. It was initially a dirt track and by 1953 it was paved.
Often times the racing schedule called for 11 individual races during Sunday afternoon or evening. At one time as many as 4,000 race fans were reportedly on hand for these events. Some amateur, and not so amateur drivers participated in events using stock cars they themselves modified and painted for the occasion. Stock car races were of several types: sportsman, modified, demolition derby, powder puff, and spectator races.
The neighborhood and roadways around the Hudson Speedway have changed significantly these past 80 years. Before the early 1950’s, the part of Derry Road (Route 102) from Old Derry Road just beyond the Hills House to the Londonderry Flea Market had not been built. The road we know of as Old Derry Road was The Derry Road. Robinson Road ended at what is now Old Derry Road at Potash Corner near the Senter Cemetery. There was an unnamed cross road from this corner to the Litchfield line. The intersection of Robinson Road, West Road, and Derry Road at The Irving Station and Dunkin Donuts did not exist.
The neighborhood was rural; Nadeau Dairy Farm, Jasper’s Poultry Farm to the south. On the north towards Londonderry there were there were 2 or 3 houses between the cemetery and the Londonderry line. The property on Old Derry Road between the speedway and Putman Road, where some 6 houses now exist, was undeveloped and one family lived there. The property was later owned by the town of Hudson for unpaid taxes and in 1955 sold at public auction and by 1971 again sold to a local developer. By the mid 1970’s there were some 6 families living adjacent to the speedway on Old Derry Road. Local property owners were issued seasonal passes to the speedway events.
With the increase in residency and continuation of the racetrack activities, conflicts occurred and the local residents organized to seek regulations of the speedway. The speedway had been in existence for about 25 years before this occurred. The issues centered around noise, crowd and traffic control before and after races, litter along highway, and even trespassing on private property. Neighborhood fields were used for parking with property owners charging for parking. Race hours were controlled so there were no evening races when school was in session the next day. To this day, Sunday races continue. To some of the residents in the area it is part of our neighborhood activities, to others, I am sure, the noise and activities is more than just an inconvenience.
The post card was a donation to the Historical Society’s collection. Article has been updated from the original found on https://rememberhudsonnhwhen.com.