Corona once turned Grand Boulevard into a famous race course

Corona’s Grand Boulevard is easy to spot because it makes a near-perfect circle around the older center of town. In the 1910s, that shape gave the city an unusual idea: turn the road into a race course.

The first major race came in 1913, with a big prize purse and well-known drivers of the day. The route sent cars around the circle again and again, with different races for lighter cars, heavier cars, and a long free-for-all. At a time when auto racing was still young, Corona managed to draw serious attention.

The city tried again in 1914 and improved the course with paving, fencing, and bridges. For a while, Grand Boulevard made Corona feel like a major stop in early car culture. The event mixed local pride, new machines, daring drivers, and the excitement of a town showing what it could host.

The racing era did not last. A severe 1916 crash helped end plans for future road races, and the city moved on. Grand Boulevard carries more story than its round shape suggests. It is a reminder that Corona once put itself on the map with speed, noise, crowds, and a very bold use of a city street.