Island Dragway is done

[Ken Kopecky]

I just saw this on another site. From what I heard, some EPA issues and 1970s era buried oil drums started to leak into the stream. Can someone confirm this to be 100% true? That's the place that I did my first 1/4 mile trip back in the late 60s.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...3&Main=7493185

Ken Kopecky
1454 E/SA

Very sad, a neat place to race. A small piece of racing history.

[Dave Casey]

Happy to say that I went there to a Div1 open, good time, hate to see any track close. Hope it gets reopened

[Rich Biebel]

Unpaid Taxes......Septic issues......is what I have been told....and also that there are some people trying to find a solution ......BUT that might be just wishfull thinking.....

Never heard anything about buried anything......but that is certianly always a possible issue......

[CycloneFE]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Unpaid Taxes......Septic issues......is what I have been told....and also that there are some people trying to find a solution ......BUT that might be just wishfull thinking.....

Never heard anything about buried anything......but that is certianly always a possible issue......

Jimmy Hoffa?

[tommycarl]

i too made my first pass there in 1974 in my brother chips 63 impala. we were there for the div. 1 car club meet.( remember those?) my bros. were racing joe delorenzos old 57 chevy in s/s.

[Tom Goldman]

[QUOTE=Rich Biebel;360331]Unpaid Taxes......Septic issues......is what I have been told....and also that there are some people trying to find a solution ......BUT that might be just wishfull thinking...
Heard the same ,from a good source.The septic issue was a local problem they could have solved ,but the tax issue is supposedly Federal.

[Rich Biebel]

I am sure the federal government does not want to own a dragstrip and doubt that the place could be sold to anyone for just about anything other than possibly sod farms. The existing sod farms are already covering a huge swath of land and I seriously doubt that market is what it once was a few years ago....My understanding is that the present owner is willing to let it go into whatever process happens for unpaid back taxes......and I would guess this would include the home and barn building up on the hill......

Sure not a good way to end the families run of that property and I personally hope something is worked out.

Really sad to see a place I spent so much time at go down this route....and I sure hope someone can step in and turn it around....


Very doubtfull Jimmy Hoffa is buried there but there is definately parts and pieces from a lot of famous drag racers cars.....Don Garlits included.....as well as many others.....

I made my first run down that racetrack.....around 1965 or 1966.......and it was in my street driven '58 Pontiac......My legs were shaking I was so nervous and I remember it well....

Oh and Cousin Brucie......yes Bruce Morrow the DJ was there one day around that era and I was asked if I would let him drive my car so he could race Ed Kowalick.....the tracks owner... in a match race.......I said no.....I thought he would break it.....LOL They did race best 2 outta 3 and I think Ed won.....

I have zillions of stories from Island......

[Dan Bernay]

Very sad news.
Lots of good memories from there!

[Marty Knox]

Real sorry to hear about Island closing. The only time I won Stock Eliminator was at Island, in June of 72. I was going to go by there back in October but ended up cancelling the whole trip.