... I remember driving BigRed down to the GSCA Nats for the first time, racing it, catching the drag racing bug, driving home and then the next weekend (or two ) driving down there for an event you guys were having I think I put over 3500 miles and 25 passes on my car that month :Brow: ...and Pollack even gave me his trophy for the effort :laugh:
Suffolk County Raceway. Later renamed Westhampton Raceway. It was the last remaining 1/4 mile track in NY- Two big block Oldsmobiles hauling down the 1/4 mile. Look how barren the surrounding land was back then! In the far lane of one of the pictures is a 57 Chevy Nomad called "The Fun City Hauler" . its now owned by a buddy of mine. Another famous track was NY National Speedway in Center Moriches. It was a 4 lane dragstrip with two Xmas trees! Its now a retirement Community:moonu: :blast: :rant: The starting line and guardrail still exist on a small section of undeveloped land. Closed in 1980.
Iwas looking at the photos and listening to this.......... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=O666kGBEvF0 kind of apt really.
Here's a short video of drag racing on Long Island. The first part is of Islip Speedway which was a 1/8 mile. Then some footage of Suffolk County Raceway. The end is the 68 Super Stock Nationals At NY National Gives me goosebumps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c_bTXtodQU
We had a track on out door step until the mid nineties when it shut. It was only half an hours drive away. Now im looking a either a two or four hour drive to a track but, they are much better than this old dump. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D1DsuIlZmIk Check out the MULLET:laugh:
Tomorrow night the 14th. I'll be dining with Vinny who drove & still has the Rye Ford Mustang. We have a monthly get together once a month during the doldrums winter months showing old movies, BS'ing & stuffing our faces.
Cut my teeth at Westhampton. Miss driving 20 miutes to go racing. Long Island sucks... here's and Idea, lets build more houses and another shopping mall!
I spent nearly every Sunday at this track from 74 to when it shut down in 1979. Northstar Dragstrip. I'm probably standing somewhere along the rail in the second photo! I also saw many of the big names of the golden age of drag racing at Minnesota Dragways from the mid-60s until it shut down in 1976. Check out this link, tons of cool stuff here - 20 pages worth. http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92140&page=20 Mark
A couple of years ago I bought a motor to rebuild for my daytona, (turbo 4, not hemi or 440) and the guy lived in east hampton? east haddam? Anyways it was a Sunday and no one was around, so I explored a little and found the old Connecticut Dragway. Yes Consumer Reports does own it now. There has been some scuttlebutt about the possibility of it reopening. Personally I don't think it will ever happen. There is a condo complex across the way, and condos dont mix with open headers too well. I was actually talking about it with Mike Frascatore, 1968 NHRA Pro Stock champion. Cool guy. I fixed his cable, thats how I met him. By the way Yacster, Long Island Raceway is no more.
I have been to Bremerton Dragstrip in Washington a few times, and it is my favorite track to go to. It used to be an old emergency landing airstrip and looks like really has not changed over the years. There is also a lot less cars that show up than at Pacific near my house, so it is less crowded. Usually has a lot of car shows too (missed the buick one last year). Just my.02:TU:
The now defunct Sanford drag strip where we hung out on Sunday morninings in the 1960s. This pic is cica 1967 I would say.
i am kind of to young to remember this. But if I'm not mistaking there use to be a drag strip in Kahoka, Mo. It was out at the fair grounds i think. The fair grounds is about 15 miles from me.
Sadly, I remember the Lubbock dragway, Lubbock, TX. Raced there in late 70's, and my son Tyler made his first passes there last year, 2008. They resurfaced to concrete, and it was wavy, so they shut it down until they can afford to fix it. I'm praying, but not holding my breath.
I know, that's why I posted. above. Been a long time since the track was open. Used to watch the roundie-round boys go off on each other at Islip speedway when I was a kid too. Long Island was a hot bed of motor sports and aviation. Except for some small contributions now, it is all gone to houses and shopping malls. Suffolk county is sitting on the old Grumman testing property in Calverton. This would make a Raceway park that would rival E-Town, bring in Billions and create jobs. Suffolk County Legislature and Town Supervisor have their hands out and pockets open-no way it will be a raceway-environmentalists will bitch about noise (no problem when A6-B's and F14's used to test landings and engines). Sorry, I can go on and on. I miss the Long Island of my youth, that's why N/E Tennessee will most likely be my home in the near future. They have taxed me out- Fu*& em!
