Montgomery Airport-Dragstrip (Montgomery, New York)

[Paul Ceasrine]

The Air Force had the Airport Base built in 1943..

'Two Runways were built.

The 'Main Runway'...................... 5007' Long and 100' wWde.
The 'Second Runway'................. 3664' Long and 100' Wide.

Smooth concrete with a .10% Gradient.

Used primarily for training excercises by the Air Force, for pilots
headng over to support the Korean Conflict.

The United States listed the Airport as part of the Eastern Air Defense Sector.

Around 1954 it was no longer needed by the Air Force, as they were
using Stewart Airport as the 'main base'.

It was deemed 'inactive for use', but was still maintained by the Air Force.
.
In the late-1950's the Garden State Hot Rod Association (New Jersey)
and the New York Street-Rodders (out of Middletown, New York) tried to
get the Air Force to let them stage 'drag races' at Stewart Airport.

But they were skeptical about the kind of 'element' that may be brought
into the area.

Finally in 1958, with the help of the American Legion Post #521
(Osborne-Fitzsimmons Post) out of Montgomery, New York -
and Commander - Andrew Skibitsky of Montgomery -

They convinced the Air Force to let them use the 'out-of-service' Airport
in Montgomery for 'accelerated timing and speed races'.

After approval from the Orange County Office (Tuxedo Park, New York),
all systems were go for July 1958.

The track was technically managed by the New York Street-Rodders
(Middletown, New York Drag Club) and the Garden State Hot Rodding
Association (New Jersey).

The track sponsor, was the American Legion Post #521, who
acknowledged that all 'profits' were to go towards a local Veterans Charity
set up in Montgomery.

The Chief Race Steward, Merton Gundry out of Rochseter, New York - was a
well-resptected racer, who knew the ins-and-outs of the technical aspects of
drag racing.

The Track Manager, Paul Jackson out of Savannah, New York, was an experienced
track manager, who oversaw several previous racing operations

For 'certification, inspection, safety requiements and class designations',
NASCAR was brought in as the 'sanctioning body'.

And, Empire State Timing Association was the organization that
provided the 'timing equipment' with 'certifified personel' to operate
the speed measuring devices.

A high quality operation, that even bought a new 'state of the art weight-scale'
to weigh-in each racing vehicle.

Even Pepsi-Cola was involved, as they provided the concessions during
the Sunday races.