Island Dragway in New Jersey Closing

[leach]

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-c...#incart_m-rpt-2 (http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/express-times/index.ssf/2013/01/island_dragway_in_independence.html#incart_m-rpt-2)

Island Dragway closing after more than 50 years of operation.

[Salvatore]

yep, another one bites the dust!

[olredalert]

----Bob Hamiltons "Red Alert"s home track back in the early 70s. We have several pics of it running there. Ill bet it will be missed....Bill S

[RichSchmidt]

It will probably be bought and reopen. They owe $350k in back taxes,and the township is taking the place. It is a huge chunk of acreage that is not really developable. A few racers have talked about buying it for the tax lein and keeping it open. It had nothing to do with the town,or noise or anybody wanting the develop the property,and everything to do with the fact that the owner has a drinking problem,and ran the place into the ground. They have had huge issues with the track over the last few years and the car count dropped to nothing. They had water weeping thru the cracks in the track(they actually fixed that) and persistent timing system failures that led to reruns and delays. They were also about to loose their NHRA sanctioning because they couldn't afford to replace the steel guardrails with the mandatory concrete walls. Any new owner will have some work to do,but the track could easily be turned around. It is one of the few tracks around here that didn't have any real neighbor issues.

[bbbenny]

I was told the the EPA, has issues with the track. I was there last sept, for a big nosta race. And around 3;00pm. The septic system, backed up. The holding tank was full! And the pole in the staging lanes, fell over. Both issues delayed the race, about two hours. Plus they never start a show on time.Island has alot of issues ahead of them! Good luck. The Dutchman

[Salvatore]

I hope they reopen it Rich. Don't want to see another track go down. many great Stock/SuperStock racers cut their teeth there.

[1970Bluel78]

Last there in 2009 for the Dover Dragstrip re-union. Raced there back in 73 and saw Frank Iaconnio flip his Pro Stock Vega. Track had some flaws but it was an alternative to E town

[WILMASBOYL78]

Spent a lot of weekends at Island back in the 70's...we used to drive down to race at nite...can't remember if it was Friday or Saturday..too long ago <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif

I do remember one nite one of the guys using lots of &quot;duct tape&quot; to hold something in the rear suspension together for &quot;one more run&quot; <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

Hopefully they will re-open and continue the tradition <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

wilma <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[Salvatore]

The tradition of the &quot;duct tape&quot; suspension products?

[x Baldwin Motion]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The tradition of the &quot;duct tape&quot; suspension products? </div></div>



<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif

[WILMASBOYL78]

I can think of a few places the duct tape could be used <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smirk.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

It just needs someone who is willing to take on the debt and make some improvments. The property itself is virtually worthless realestate and there are no neighbor problems. The Cabbage Patch is rich in history and still looks like it did in '62 (except for the newer advertising signage)

Verne

[RichSchmidt]

I heard an announcement will be made at the end of this week.

[1970Bluel78]

Any more news ??

[bbbenny]

The info I got came from a speed shop? Island will not open in 2013. But they;re going to fix the issues this year. Reopening in 2014. Just passing on what was told to me? The Dutchman

[Salvatore]

Great news Professor. That is what I like to hear!

[foster]

thats sad my old race track had close in the the mid 90.s that open in 1963 the later part, the great track of suffolk raceway in suffolk virginia where in 1974 little guy national,s broke over 52 nhra national records in that one weekin. bill jenkins and other great racers ran there. the track is still there but use as a airport runway for sky divers. o well, only if the city of suffolk kept that track going who know,s!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif

[foster]

that great keep it alive, 1/4 mile is the only way of drag racing <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/burnout.gif