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.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Dunkirk Airport - Dragstrip

Dunkirk, New York (Chatauqua County)

Western Tip of New York { Near Lake Erie }

Location.....Dunkirk Airport
* Middle Road - Dunkirk, New York
* Route 5

* Airport Opened................1952
* Drag Racing.....................{1956 thru 1963}

* Race Day........................Sunday

* 1/4 Mile Track

* NASCAR Sanctioned

* The Airport was 'closed' for Sunday, to allow for 'Timed Accelerated' Drag Races.

* Drag Racing stopped in 1963.

* Now listed as the.....Chataugua County/Dunkirk Airport
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* The 'Main Runway'................5000' x 100' consists of Asphalt and Bituminous-Concrete and was put down in 1954.

* An 'Auxiliary Taxi Runway'.....764' x 100' was added in 1958.

* A 'Second Runway'...............4000' x 100' was added during the 1970's.

* Regarded as the 'Glass Track' by Drag Racers, in reference to its smooth surface.

* Also called the 'Fast Track, as some incredible Top Speed performances were logged at the there.

Attracted Drag Racers from
Jamestown............................(30 Miles Southeast)
Fredonia................................(5 Miles East)
Buffalo....................................(50 Miles North)
Niagara Falls, Canada.........(70 Miles North)
Erie, Pennsylvania................(50 Miles Southwest)
Northeast Ohio......................(125 Miles Southwest)

* Popular Track for the 'High' Top Speed Dragsters, as the track conditions were regarded as the best in the Northeast.

'Hey-Day'..........{1958 thru 1962}

Car Counts.......250 to 300

Featured
* Big-Name Dragsters
* Stockers
* Street-Roadsters
* Gassers


'Big Daddy' Don Garlits (1960)

[Paul Ceasrine]

DRAGS - Pittsfield, Massachussets Airport

Pittsfield, Massachussets (Berkshire County)

Located on the border of Massachussets and New York

Location.......Pittsfield Airport
* Tamarack Road - Pittsfield, Massachussets
* Route 7

* Airport Opened........May 1941

* Drag Racing............{1957 thru 1963}

* Race Day.................Sunday......Once-a-Month Events (May thru September)
* Track........................1/4 Mile Track

* The last 'monthly' Drag Racing Event was held in September 1963

* Flag Starts

* Top Speed 'MPH' was measured.
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* 'Main Runway'.........5007' Length x 100' Wide (Asphalt)

* 'Second Runway'....3496' Length x 100' Wide' (Asphalt)

* Monthly Events sponsored by the 'Pittsfield Kiwanis Club'

Attracted Racers from
Western Massachussets
Springfield, Massachussets.................(55 Miles Southeast)
Massachussets - New York Border......(25 Miles West)
Albany, New York...................................(45 Miles West)
Poughkeepsie, New York......................(80 Miles Southwest)
Northwestern Connecticut......................(30 Miles South)
Torrington, Connecticut..........................(85 Miles South)

'Hey Day'...........{1958 thru 1961}

Car Counts.......125 to 150

Featured
* Stockers
* Sports Cars
* Street-Roadsters
* Gassers

General Overview

* Primarily a 'Monthly Event' held throughout the Summer months.
* Sponsored by the Pittsfield Kiwanis Club, to generate funds for the Town Recreation Department.
* The Pittsfield Airport let the 'DRAGS' use the Airport Strip on Sundays.
* There was never a desire to develop the Airport for 'full-time' Drag Racing.
* Held successful 'monthly events' from 1958 thru 1962, where Car Counts reached 150.
* Participation 'dwindled' in 1963, as other 'Drags Strips' opened up in the surrounding areas.
* In 1963, Car Counts dropped below 100.
* Lack of Racer participation in 1963, ended the Monthly Summer 'DRAGS' at the end of the year..
* A 'once-a-year' 'DRAGS' event was held in the month of August from 1964 thru 1968.
* Over the years, a 'Yearly' Car Event was held at the Airport, where Sports Car Drag Racing takes place.

[Paul Ceasrine]

North Hudson Dragway

North Hudson, New York (Essex County)

Located in Northeast New York

Location....
* Duntley Road - North Hudson, New York
* Route 9
* Exits 29 or 30.... I-87 'Northway'

* Drag Racing........{1964 thru 1975}

* Race Days...........Saturday Night and Sunday

* Track....................1/4 Mile
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Attracted Racers from
Adirondack Region
Lake Champlain Area
Ticonderoga..................(10 Miles Southeast)
Port Henry......................(15 Miles Northeast)
Lake Placid....................(40 Miles Northwest)
Saranac Lake................(50 Miles Northwest)
Plattsburg.......................(70 Miles North)
Lake George..................(55 Miles South)
Albany............................(120 Miles South)

{Hey-Day}......................{1966 thru 1971}

Car Counts....................175 to 200

Featured
* Local Street Stockers
* Super Stocks
* Street-Modifieds
* Gassers

General Overview
* '12' local businessman from the surrounding Adirondack Region invested in opening a Drag Strip in 1964.
* Difficult to get to, as the access to the Drag Strip was Rural Route 9 in 1964 and 1965.
* In 1966, when Interstate-70 (I-70) 'Northway' opened up, 'Drag Racer' participation increased.
* Popular during the summer months, with the influx of vacationers into the area.
* Yearly "Super Stock Meet" in August was the 'Highlight Event of the Year'.
* Occassional 'Junior Fueler' and BB/FC Funny Car 'Match Race Events' each year.
* Racer participation started to fall off in 1972

[Jimbo17]

Thanks Paul for taking the time to do the research and posting all the great information.

There are so many great old drag strips that are rich in history and they really are a large part of what made drag racing what it is today.

I was talking to a guy the other day about Island Dragway closing and he as known the owners for the past 40 years or longer. We talked on the phone for quite a while. He called wanted to purchase decals and instead we talked about the good old day's instead.

Many of these great old drag strips mean so much to many of us.

When I think of Dover around 1963 and 1964 and all the fun I had up there watching the drag races and see Antone and his girlfriend getting the car staged and started and Vic and Geno with their Let It Fly car.

Those were the day's for sure. I was only about 14 years old but every Saturday I begged one of the guys to let me ride from Stamford to Dover with them to watch the races.

Thanks again for posting it really means a lot to me.

Jimbo

[Paul Ceasrine]

Fulton Muncipal Airport Dragstrip

Fulton, New York (Oswego County)

North Central New York

Location......
State Route 3.......Fulton Airpark, Fulton, New York

* Drag Racing.......{1956 thru 1962}

* Race Days.........Saturday and Sunday

* Track..................1/4 Mile
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Attracted Racers from
* Oswego County
* Lake Ontario.........(15 Miles North)
* Syracuse................(30 Miles Southeast)

* 'Hey-Day'...............{1956 thru 1961}

* Car Counts............200 to 250

Featured
* Stockers
* Street Modifieds
* Gassers
* Roadsters
* Dragsters

General Overview
* Opened as a 'Dirt Runway' Airpark in 1943
* Went under several names; (Reid Airport, Fulton Auxiliary Field, Fulton Airpark)
* Used by the National Guard (27th Division) thru 1952.
* Ceased operation in 1952
* A Dragstrip was opened in 1956.
* A 1/4 Mile Asphalt Strip was put down where the 4000' Runway was located.
* The Eastern States Championships were held there every year.
* Successful operation thru 1961
* Competition from surrounding Tracks with better facilities was its downfall.

[Casey Miles]

Paul, good work on the research. When I was around 12, I went to Roosevelt horse track off Old Country rd. in Westbury N.Y.. They set up an 1/8 mile dragstrip in the parking lot, I can remember the Pacers racing there. One day there was a 1962 Ram Charger that showed up with an automatic in it. It put all the 421 Pontiac, 4 speed's to shame.
I think that the year was 1962 that they had the race track set up.

Casey Miles
248H "F" NHRA Stock!

[Paul Ceasrine]

Casey,,,,,,,,,Thanks

Pacer's Automotive started out in Valley Stream,

And were frequent visitors to Montgomery Airport-Dragstrip.

Roosevelt Racetrack (Horses), had a nice open parking area.

Pacers Auto Club also ran some 'races' at the Deer Park Airstrip in Bay Shore, Long Island -
just across the the border of Nassua County and into Western Suffolk County.

That Airstrip laid a 2200' Foot Paved Runway in 1958, and was a 'nice run'.

Later (1962) had their shop at;
3391 Lawson Boulevard, Oceanside (Nassau County) in 1962.

They were a pretty sharp crew.

Did all those Performance Tests for 'CARS Magazine.

[Jimbo17]

Paul the very first speed shop I ever went to was in Mount Kisco, New York.

It was a Strauss Auto Store that also sold speed parts.

I needed motor mounts to install a 282 in a 1951 Chevy I was building at the time. I think I was about 15 years old at the time.

It would have been around 1963 or 1964 when that store was there.

Jimbo

[Paul Ceasrine]

Jimbo,

I was born at Northern Westchester Hospital........

Strauss Auto Store, Mt. Kisco.

The first area 'Speed Shop', as they had all the 'newly issued' items.

Holley Carburetors, Cyclone Headers, Hurst Shifters, Sun Tachometers, Mickey Thompson Wheels,
and Cal Custom accessories.

They had some stock.........