Car race at Roby Race Track

The Roby Race Track opened in 1892 in Roby, Indiana, a mere hundred feet from the border with Illinois and Southeast Chicago and drew crowds of thousands from across the region. The track was originally used for horse racing and sometimes boxing matches. The track, however, would have problems with the state of Indiana over gambling. It sat vacant for a number of years before becoming a motorcycle and then auto racing track. Between 1920 and 1936, cars raced at what was then known as the Roby Speedway, a mile long dirt track located from 108th to 112th Streets that ran parallel with State Line Road. Over time there were six fatalities at the speedway and, in one incident in 1936, a wheel broke loose and flew into the stands injuring spectators. The track closed due to safety concerns.