| In the East Bay region of San Francisco , is a | | | | spark plugs to the type of tires). On a summer |
| suburb called Antioch . Though it is over fifty miles | | | | Saturday night, throughout the city of Antioch can |
| drive northeast of San Francisco, Antioch has | | | | be heard the roar of revving engines and the |
| become a hugely popular “bedroom | | | | cheer of excited patrons. |
| community” for those working in San | | | | The track is a quarter of a mile oval (about 400 |
| Francisco and Oakland. Until the real estate crisis in | | | | meters ) with a semi-bank. It’s made of clay, |
| 2007, the soaring price of real estate forced | | | | which behaves like a dirt track, but is a little more |
| would-be homeowners further and further from | | | | resilient to wear and tear. As a dirt track, it is |
| the place of their jobs. Though Antioch is one of | | | | limited to certain kinds of events and vehicles and |
| the oldest cities in all of California , it is only | | | | can’t host other events, which can only occur |
| recently that its population has begun to soar as | | | | on paved raceways. But the patrons don’t |
| one of the few places anywhere near San | | | | seem to mind, as the track always brings out a |
| Francisco where the real estate is still affordable | | | | cheering crowd each Saturday, not just from |
| to the working class. Many suburbs closer in have | | | | Antioch , but many surrounding suburb cities to |
| become white-collar refuges that are terribly | | | | watch the racers compete. The speedway opens |
| expensive, but if one can deal with a commute | | | | in mid to late March and runs until mid to late |
| that is perhaps an hour or more, Antioch makes | | | | October. Antioch summer nights are anywhere |
| owning a home still a possibility. | | | | from mild to uncomfortably hot, so there would |
| This combination of factors have led to a more | | | | be no need for dressing warmly. The track opens |
| blue-collar demographic in Antioch and contributed | | | | at five, and the races start at six. Patrons can |
| to the popularity of the Antioch Speedway. Hailed | | | | grab dinner at a number of local restaurants near |
| (by itself) as “ California ’s Action | | | | the fairgrounds area in Antioch featuring |
| Track” this speedway offers up races every | | | | everything from three-star dining to fast food |
| Saturday night in the summer for $12 a person, | | | | and from Mexican to sushi, or they can avail |
| or $30 for a whole family. Occasional | | | | themselves of the concession stand at the track |
| championship races bring the price up to $16 and | | | | which serves a number of Americana confections |
| $42 respectively, but they only happen once or | | | | like hamburgers and hot dogs as well as wine |
| twice a season. Patrons can watch Wingless | | | | coolers and beer. As a premier site to visit in |
| Sprints, Super Stocks, Limited Late Models, Dwarf | | | | Antioch , it offers much of the local flavor and is |
| Cars, and Mini Trucks battle it out in races (each a | | | | demonstrative of the culture of suburban |
| separate category of vehicle with their own set | | | | Americana past the track homes and high-class |
| of in-depth rules for vehicle specifications involving | | | | hills. |
| everything from acceptable brand names for | | | | |