The Racers Edge
 

I think most of you guys, especially from the New Jersey area and/or who raced or were spectators at Island Dragway especially in the 1960s and 1970s, will enjoy this thread. Brings back lots of good memories. Here are some excerpts:

"The Junior Stocker class was huge in the mid to late sixty's. Walt and Ann Towes had a 57 and 58 Chevy sedan deliverys called "Special Delivery 1 and Special Delivery 2. Almost anyone could run a competitive car. Then the money kicked in and money won.Good times though. Buddy Smith ran a 55 Chevy out of Hackettstown"

"Jerry Stein of "Teachers Pet " fame was from Hopatcong NJ...he was a school teacher at the time...my wife used to babysit for his kids...she had no idea he was a famous drag racer...and i remember the Hairy Greek...that van could pull its wheels off of the ground all day...it had that 440...slung very low underneath...the chassis...wasnt Buddy Smiths 55 chevy an old Bill Jenkins Monster Mash 55 Chevy i remember one of Jenkins old 55s being around Hackettstown..."

"yes times change or do they most of the guys who had service stations had a race car of some type
the guy who worked in our station had a sharp 302 boss mustang wayne gero from oxford

we had a girl come to the station and we had her pumping gas she was wearing white boots to the top of the caft and short shorts and halter top man we sold a lot of gas that day"

"All, thanks for the memories. I used to run at Island back in the early 70's. Had a 65 Pony Mustang. Ran with Woody and Walt Parliman out of Woody's Chevron in town. Boy could Woody tune an engine! Freddy Dalton had his Hemi Cuda there as well. Many late nights and fun times had by all. I also ran Allamuchy flats in a 63 Falcon."

"Here's a small history lesson and a picture or 2 This was Bill Izokowski's car that was sold to Pat McVickers. I remember it sitting behind the Armstorng's house with the Kicks lettering for awhile before he got it re-painted and re-lettered. It met it's demise on the way to a points meet at York when it broke loose from the tow car (Bill Cunningham's I believe) and crashed into a boulder. He later built a 66 Biscayne called Badfinger which ran in Super Stock and I think was rolled over by the guy he sold that one to."

http://www.hackettstownlife.com/forum/130431