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.

[Paul Ceasrine]

jimi,

The NHRA 'banned' the use of Nitro-Methane in the Dragsters
on April 1, 1957.

But NASCAR permitted the use of the 'super fuel'.

Not sure if any 'Super Charged Digger' reached 200 MPH at
Montgomery Airport-Dragstrip.

The First Big Event in the 'Spring of 1959'......'The Fuel and Gas Invitational'

* Art Afrons ran a 9.40 @ 169.61 MPH on 'pump gas'.

* Don Garlits ran an 8.36 @ 180.50 MPH in the 'Swamp Rat 1'

[Paul Ceasrine]

July 1959.........."Fuel and Gas Invitational"

Approximately 150 Dragsters participated in the 3-Day Event.

Final Day Attendance......10,000


The Danbury Modifiers,,, had one of the fastest 'Rails' classed in A/D





* Art Afrons 'Green Monster #5'.......
* Engine........Allison V-12...'1710 Cubic Inches'....Liquid-Cooled and Supercharged = 2000 Horsepower
* Pump Gas

Timed at........9.40 @ 169.61 MPH

[ss wannabee]

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

July 1959.........."Fuel and Gas Invitational"

Approximately 150 Dragsters participated in the 3-Day Event.

Final Day Attendance......10,000


The Danbury Modifiers,,, had one of the fastest 'Rails' classed in A/D





* Art Afrons 'Green Monster #5'.......
* Engine........Allison V-12...'1710 Cubic Inches'....Liquid-Cooled and Supercharged = 2000 Horsepower
* Pump Gas

Timed at........9.40 @ 169.61 MPH

Not 100% sure...but think that noise ended Montgomery's days...Paul, I don't want to drag this on...but wondering if you got anything on Dunkirk, NY?

There's a bit of a "tie-in" there..."Mr. Bad Banana"...Dave Colbert...who frequents this site...had his early days there...And speaking of that name...I think there was a '57 Chevy wagon...a Stocker back in the day...owned by a guy named "Ted" ...from Western NY..who called his car "Bad Banana"...and he may have run there too...

I'm wondering if there were TWO "Bad Banana" cars...from the same region...run at the same time? Maybe somebody knows....

Also wondering that once Niagara Dragstrip got up and running...it pretty much spelled the end of Dunkirk...which I believe was an airport...like Montgomery?

Think Garlits ran at a major NASCAR-sanctioned drag race at Dunkirk also...but that's all I know....

[Paul Ceasrine]

Mr. SS Wannabe,

Dunkirk Airport-Dragstrip (Dunkirk, New York)

Near the Western-Tip of New York.

Chattauqua County, along Lake Erie in Western, New York.

Many Drag Racers from;
* Western New York
* North-Central and North-West Pennsylvania
* Northeastern Ohio

An active Airport, which was closed on Sunday's and used for 'Timed Accelerated Drag Racing'.

May have started Drag Racing use in 1955, and ran thru 1963.

I believe it was a NASCAR sanctioned track.

Big Strip that was 5000' in Length and 100' in Width
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Swamp Rat 1', was a rail built on a 31' Chevrolet Frame-rail..

The Engine was a ''454' Chrysler Hemi, that was Super-Charged with Nitro-Methane Fuel.

On June 29, 1959 - Don Garlits had a 'fiery crash' with the Dragster at Chester, South Carolina - when the
Blower 'expolded'.

The Dragster was then 'modified' with an extended cockpit for the 'taller' Art Malone. It was called the 'Swamp Rat 1-B'

In September 1959, the "Swamp Rat 1-B" reached a 'Top Speed' of '195.63 MPH' at Dunkirk Airport-Dragstrip,
with 'Art Malone' at the wheel.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Don Garlits (1960) at Dunkirk Airport-Dragstrip

[ss wannabee]

Wow! Thanks again Paul...for the history lesson.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Thanks,,,,,,,,,,Mr. SS

Looks like the Dunkirk Airport was built in the early 1940's.

A { 5000' x 100' } "Asphalt-Paved Runway" was put down around 1950.

The Drag Racers loved it, because of the 'traction' and perfect grade.

Called the 'Dunkirk Airport-Dragstrip'

It was referred to as, 'a glass smooth track'.

NASCAR sanctioned.

Accelerated Timing Tests (Drag Races) started around 1955.

An additional { 764' x 100' } Auxiliary Taxi Runway was added around 1958.

Looks like Drag Racing ended around 1963 or 1964.

An additional { 4000' x 100' } "Asphalt-Paved Runway" was added sometime in 1973.

Currently listed as Chatauqua County/Dunkirk Airport, though it is referred to as Dunkirk Airport.

At the moment, loses a 'ton of money' per year.

Local Chatauqua County Residents want it returned back to a Drag Strip, where they can lease it out to bring in some revenue.

Located 6 Miles East, away from the center of Dunkirk, New York.

Some controversy about the recorded 'Top Speed' results at the Dragstrip-Airport, when MPH results exceded readings
at other Airport-Dragstrips.

[jimi]

Arfonse did it first at montgomery with the allison powered dragster, the noise was never a problem , the treasurer from the american leigion that ran the races there was pocketing money he got caught and a whole big thing went down eventually causin g the drag races to be shut down at the air port. everyone was so pissed off about it that the local police staged races on rt 17 k in montgomery for the rest of the season, at least it was organized. i spoke with a woman from the historical society in montgomery who at thew time was 81 years young, and her quote to me was "i am sure the residents of montgomery would love to have our race track back" 30 years later i might add , but she explained that everyone in that small town would come to the drags and everyone loved it. i go by that air port at least once a month , freddy that owns the "crank shop" is right next door and it kills me everytime i drive by it . i can see grand stands, race car trailers, the nhra traveling circus road show there for a national event . on the east sid eof the air port there is a 277 acre farm that the farmer will not sell , montgomery is 565 acres the main air strip is 5400' x 100' wide 3' thick concrete,zero pitch and is a whopping 265 feet above sea level. there is also another 3400' air strip there as well,can you say records!!!!!!!! other than the town of montgomery which is about 1 mile east most land around the air port is farms and mostly zoned for industrial use . prime area for a racing facility

Originally Posted by Paul Ceasrine

July 1959.........."Fuel and Gas Invitational"

Approximately 150 Dragsters participated in the 3-Day Event.

Final Day Attendance......10,000


The Danbury Modifiers,,, had one of the fastest 'Rails' classed in A/D





* Art Afrons 'Green Monster #5'.......
* Engine........Allison V-12...'1710 Cubic Inches'....Liquid-Cooled and Supercharged = 2000 Horsepower
* Pump Gas

Timed at........9.40 @ 169.61 MPH

[Paul Ceasrine]

In 1958....they ran 'Monthly' events.

It was such a success, that in 1959 they started off with 'Bi-Monthly'
events.

According to some historical information, the reason they were able
to get use of the track for racing, was because the Track Operators
were donating the 'profits' to the local Montgomery American Legion
for a Veterans Charity.

For 'Track Operation' it was well organized by,
* NASCAR
* Garden State Hot Rod Association
* Empire State Timing Association
* Orange County Street Rodders Club

The United States Air Force (Eastern Sector) approved of the
operation 'Airstip' for Drag Racing use, provided that the racing
was sponsored in conjunction with the American Legion Post #521
(Osborne-Fitzsimmons Post) out of Montgomery.

Basically, the American Legion was used as a 'front', to get access
to the 'out-of-use' Air Force Airstrip for the New York and New Jersey
racers.

The American Legion #521 'track personel' handled the 'Ticket Sales'
and reconciled the receipts, as per the agreement with the Air Force.

All 'monies' went through the hands of the American Legion, who then
paid all expenses 'first', before any funds were deposited into the
'Charity Account'.

NASCAR officials and the Empire State Timing Association associates
were 'paid employees'.

The Garden State Hot Rod Associaton and Orange County Street Rodders Club
donated their time, as 'safety inspectsors' and 'general track personel' in exchange
for 'free racing'.

1958 'gate receipts' could not be found in the archives.

In 1959, the Montgomery Airport-Dragstrip had 'Gate Receipts' well over $60,000
for 6-Months of Racing Events (April thru September), with 'Bi-Monthly Racing'.

A 'total' of 12 Racing Days, with 'Gross Gate Receipts' of approximately $5000 per event.

In 1959, car counts had reached 200+, as that was all the 'track operators' could handle.

Nearly 100 other racers were turned down at each event during 1959.

Stories of racers showing up on Saturday Afternoon, to get in line so they would be able to
participate on Sunday.Drag Racing were the normal routine.

The rule, 'first to come, first to enter'.

This led the 'track operators' to institute "Invitational Meets' and 'Stocker Events', which ended
the problem of an overflow of Drag Race Cars, and unhappy racers who could not enter on Sunday.

The Main Players in getting the Airport-Dragstrip operational;

Edward Otto
Vice-President of NASCAR, who was instrumental in bringing Drag Racing to New Jersey and
New York, and other Northeast Regions.

Merton Gundry (Rochester, New York)
A Race Steward, who also worked for NASCAR, and was part of 'TANA" Timing Association of North America.

Paul Jackson (Savannah, New York)
The Eastern Seaboard Manager for NASCAR, who also owned 'Jackson's Speedway', a Drag Strip in
South Butler, New York. President of 'TANA", and one of the first to institute 'calibrated timing devices'
for Drag Racing.

Commander Andrew Skibitsky (Montgomery, New York)
The President of the American Legion Post #521 (Osborne-Fitzsimmons Post) in Montgomery, New York.
Was the liason between the Drag Racing Group, the United States Air Force and Orange County Officials
in Tuxedo Park, New York.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Art Afrons set the NHRA Top Speed mark { 172.08 MPH } at the
1959 Indy Nationals (September 1959).

In December 1960, the NHRA annpounced that they would
restrict the use of engines as 'automotive only' in Dragsters
for the 1961 Racing Season.

But, that Speed Mark was 'topped' in several non-sanctioned events,
including one at the Montgomery Airport-Dragstrip in 1959.

That was with the Green Monster #5, with the V-12 Allison 1710 'Cubic Inches',
and on 'pump-gas'.