Another HWD Original!
Many of you know Paramount Ranch for its Western Town filming set (destroyed by the Woolsey fire). But did you know that during the 1950s it was home to a world-class race track? The broken sections of asphalt that twist through the eucalyptus trees and around the old Western Town was in fact an official racecourse with international prestige!
Track History
The 2-mile Paramount Ranch Raceway opened for its first event over the weekend of August 18th and 19th 1956. Among the notable names competing were Dan Gurney, Lance Reventlow, Ritchie Ginther and Bob Bondurant, who made up a more than 350-strong entry list of drivers across a variety of categories.
It was a narrow and twisting course with ups and downs. Due to many accidents and tragedies the track closed 7 races and 18 months later. After closure it was used for the next several years by Paramount for filming movies.
Movie History
The track was used for filming many movies, including 1957’s “Devil’s Hairpin”, “Roadracers” (1959) and “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” (1965). Perhaps the most famous depiction of the circuit on the big screen came during 1965’s ‘Spin Out‘, notable for starring Elvis Presley. Cameos also followed with 1966’s ‘Munster Go Home‘, ‘The Love Bug‘ (1968) and its sequel, ‘Herbie Rides Again’, in 1974.
Hike will be 3-4 miles with 200′-400′ total ascent and rated EASY. See the HWD Hike Rating Guide
–> Depending on unanimous decision of group I can extend this hike as far and as high as your legs will take you.
DIRECTIONS
2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills, CA, 91301
GPS Coordinates: N 34.1181 W -118.7525
From the Ventura Freeway (US 101) in Agoura take the Kanan Road offramp and turn south. Follow Kanan, turn left on Cornell Way, bear right onto Cornell Road for about 3 blocks. Turn right at the main gate to Paramount Ranch.
From PCH turn north onto Kanan for 6 miles then turn right onto Mulholland. After 5.5 miles turn left onto Cornell Rd. Turn left into Paramount Ranch
WHEN YOU ENTER PARAMOUNT RANCH GO TO THE END OF THE ENTRANCE ROAD (YOU’LL SEE IT AS YOU TURN IN) AND TURN LEFT (you’ll be driving on racetrack straightaway) . PARK NEAR THE END.
IMPORTANT:
The Organizers and members in this group are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per the ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER – https://www.meetup.com/localhikers/pages/322667/Liability_Waiver/
