New York Drag Strips

[Paul Ceasrine]

Fonda Drag Strip

Fonda, New York {Montgomery County}

{ East Central New York }

Location;....Fonda Speedway - Montgomery County Fairgrounds
* Route 30A - Fonda, New York
* Exit #28 off "I-90' ({nterstate 90}

* Opened...................May 1957
* 1/8 Mile Track........{1957 and 1958}
* 1/4 Mile Track........{1959}
* Closed....................September 1968

Race Day..................Wednesday Night
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The 'Paved Dragstrip' ran thru the center-infield of the Fonda Speedway 1/2 Mile 'Dirt Oval'.

The 'traps' ran over the back end of 'center section' between turns 3 and 4 of the 'Dirt Oval'.

That section was referred to as 'The Hump' by the Drag Racers, as the quicker cars would literally come
off the track when hitting the 'The Hump' section.

Attracted Drag Racers from;
Albany.................(40 Miles, South East)
Schenectady.......(30 Miles, South East)
Johnstown City....(6 Miles, North)
Utica.....................(50 Miles, West)
Amstersam..........(10 Miles, East)

Popular 'local track' for the Tri-City Drag Racers (Albany - Schenectady - Troy).

"Hey-Day".........1958 thru 1965

Car Counts.....200 to 250

Track Owner...........Ed Guez
Track Manager.......Jim Gage

Referred to as an 'Outlaw Track'.

Followed the NHRA Classifications.

Featured
* Powder-Puff Events
* Mopar Super Stockers
* Northeast Speed Shop Drag Racers
* Tri-City Flywheelers
* Albany Hot Rod Club
* Fulton County Gassers Club
* Northway Sunoco Drag Racing Club
* Amsterdam Strip-Blazers

Shirley Muldowney raced here with
* 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne 348/315 HP '3 x 2 Barrel'
* 1962 Corvette
* 1963 Corvette
* 1963 Plymouth Fury '426 Max Wedge'
* 1964 Corvette

General Overview

* Drag Strip installed on the center-infield of the already successful, 1/2 Mile Dirt Oval Stock Car Track.
* Started off as a 1/8 Mile Dragstrip, and Wednesday Night Drag Racing.
* Was an instant success, and the Track was expanded to a 1/4 Mile in 1959.
* Car Counts reached 250, as there was an explosion of Drag Racers in the area.
* Shirley Muldowney (from nearby Schenectady, 30 Miles Southeast) was a regular there from 1958 thru 1964.
* The 'concept' of Wednesday Night Drag Racing, attracted many Weekend Racers who now could now race {2 or 3} times per week.
* But, the Drag Strip Track area was neglected, and the grounds were not maintained, and soon it was labeled 'A Dump'.
* The 'Track Operators' focused on the Stock Car - Circle Track Events, where there was a larger fan base.
* Racer participation stated to drop off in 1966.
* The bigger-name Drag Racers stopped attending, as there was no 'Large Prize Money' offered.
* By 1967, it was more of a 'local stockers' track.
* Car Counts were down to 125 in 1967.
* In 1968, very low Car Counts (50 to 75), and absolutely no fan attendance.