Lost Drag Strips

[BadBanana]

Originally Posted by ram air WS6

remember tri-city dragway?
http://dearbornflashback.com/tricity_thumb.jpg
this is what it looks like today

I remember taking the trek up to Tri-City from Detroit often.

[BadBanana]

Originally Posted by Tony Curcio

York US 30 as it appears today.

As I remember this was also an airstrip and, like Dunkirk, NY, you would occasionally have to stop racing for an incoming plane !!!

[JRyan]

Originally Posted by rawhide

I was stationed at Fort Hood in 1968 and went to Temple Academy/Little River a couple of times. I remember the Christmas tree hung over the track on a cable attached to the tower on one side and a tree limb on the other. When the wind was blowing the light was all over the place. If memory serves me correctly it was a traffic light they were using but it has been a long time.
thanks, Roland

You're right Roland. It was a couple of stop lights. I was stationed at Ft. Hood in 68' and 69'. I took my 50 Olds V/Stocker (theres a photo in Mark Yacavone's collection) down there in 1969, and won 17 of 19 Stock Eliminator races with it. Imagine a V/Stocker on a PRO TREE. Aah, but we had the tenth break-out in effect back then, and not many cars could run under the index. The other two races were runner-up finishes, as the clutch locked up once and the spider gears broke on the other, both in the finals.

I loved that track, not just because I was successful there, but because it was just a neat, tree-lined track with a shaded grandstand and always had great traction. The cows used to graze the trees during the week, so you had to police the pit area for cow pies before you pitted, but it was always lots of fun. Also, remember that it was all CLASS RACING as they didn't yet have brackets. Funny thing is, everyone understood handicapped racing back then, but now it's often used as an excuse as to why spectators don't watch us. Must have been a bunch of stupid people born in the last thirty years!!

I think the most impressive thing about that track to me was that the conditions never seemed to change. Even when it was hot, it wasn't HOT. The starting line was always shaded and so were the pits. So the traction was always consistent. Reher-Morrison used to go there to test because of the conditions, or so I've heard.

If anyone on this forum remembers those races at Temple-Academy (Little River) in 1969, I'd appreciate it if you'd PM me.

Jerry

[ss wannabee]

Originally Posted by BadBanana

As I remember this was also an airstrip and, like Dunkirk, NY, you would occasionally have to stop racing for an incoming plane !!!

Dave...do you know when Dunkirk closed and why? Was one reason the fact that Niagara opened? Any more Dunkirk stories and/or photos...I think you posted some before?

[Jimbo17]

Any one remember Montgomery Drag Strip at the old airport just south of Route 84 near Newburgh, New York.

How about Pocono Drag Lodge near Wilkes Barre and Bear Creek in PA.

They ran from the late 50's into the 60's

Jimbo

[ss wannabee]

Originally Posted by Jimbo17

Any one remember Montgomery Drag Strip at the old airport just south of Route 84 near Newburgh, New York.

How about Pocono Drag Lodge near Wilkes Barre and Bear Creek in PA.

They ran from the late 50's into the 60's

Jimbo

Went to the Drag Lodge Reunion a couple of years ago. Track still there...part of the tower..everywhere's rough and overgrown...It'll never run again....

[Jim B]

Originally Posted by Jimbo17

How about Pocono Drag Lodge near Wilkes Barre and Bear Creek in PA.

They ran from the late 50's into the 60's

Jimbo

Back in the day (the 60's) Pocono Drag Lodge was the weekly stomping grounds of such noteables as Tim Richards, Joe Amato, John Gulius and several other well known figures.

[Redman Div 3]

redman in the house.j ryan i was at ft hood 67 to68.went to temple and austin raceway.if bob rice posted them there should be some pics from both tracks on dradnut .com.look under bill floyd (redman).

[GaryGoFast]

National Speedway Mid 70's

[Duane Dagostino]

Harmony..in North Jersey I think it was open only a year or two, we ran a flat head dragster and got spotted half the track to the Riley Bros.small block dragster..flag start