Epping, NH NHRA divisonal

[Michael Beard]

Nice track. That said, it was chock full at the last IHRA Nat'l event I attended there. Don't think they could physically handle an NHRA Nat'l. Even if the rumor was true, I wouldn't think they'd make a decision until they see how their Nitro Jam event works out for them in Sept.

[Mark Markow]

i was there this past weekend , and they have created more parking area, or they are working on it. the area on the left going down the return has been leveled from the overflow parking area all the way to existing pits that ended about where the scales are. so now the pits will go almost to the end of the shutdown area. hopefully they will plant grass or something to keep the dust down. right now it's just a flat dirt lot.


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Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Nice track. That said, it was chock full at the last IHRA Nat'l event I attended there. Don't think they could physically handle an NHRA Nat'l. Even if the rumor was true, I wouldn't think they'd make a decision until they see how their Nitro Jam event works out for them in Sept.

[W J]

Joe Lombardo, manager of the Epping track is a good, no BS man.... He has kept making improvements up there. Track, pits and surrounding areas are kept clean, w/nice rest rooms and respectable concession stands. It's fast, for me usually a full tenth quicker than LVD...(just barely above sea-level) hooks good, and has a plenty long shut down area. It's close to major highways and has a major state summer recreation area (Hampton Beach, NH) close by... I wish Joe Lombardo and New England Dragway continued success up there...they work hard to make it a top notch facility, and it is.

Warren Lederer. WJ

[daninline]

Originally Posted by Mark Markow

i was there this past weekend , and they have created more parking area, or they are working on it. the area on the left going down the return has been leveled from the overflow parking area all the way to existing pits that ended about where the scales are. so now the pits will go almost to the end of the shutdown area. hopefully they will plant grass or something to keep the dust down. right now it's just a flat dirt lot.


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Right now there calling that area there monster truck show grounds but it's looking very smooth for a place to have some trucks run over cars lol

We race there weekly and it was fun watching the All Star race lst weekend

Dan

[Tom Goldman]

I have'nt raced at NED in over 20 years, but my memories of going there are long bumpy rides between the cattle chutes on I 84, Christmas Tree swinging in the wind at the starting line ,and [I still have nightmares over this] The Cops confiscating all your beer at the gate!!..........Sound like some things have changed. .................Tom.............................. ..............Rich, you forgot the most entertaining things in the stands at Sanair, the girls in bikinis and hi heels, and of course, Captain Canuck!

[Jason Oldfield]

I was at NED 2 years ago for the first time for the IHRA National Event, and it struck me as a decent track. It certainly wasn't up to NHRA National Event standards, but my recollection is that it was just as good as any other track where we currently only run division events (LVD, Numidia, Cecil Country, etc.)

Personally, I think it makes geographical sense. There's a VERY large population base in MA, CT, RI, and NH, and it always struck me as odd that there wasn't at least one race in that area. I realize that the people in southeastern PA aren't exactly going to be thrilled with losing a race, but recently Division 1 has become the Southeastern PA / Northern MD / Eastern NJ racing series, and you can't tell me that the Philly area can't stand to lose one race. As it stands right now, if you live in the Philly area you have 5 division events and 2 National Opens within a 2 hour drive of your house. Must be tough.

So, nobody is going to get any sympathy from me because once a year they have to get in the truck to drive 6 hours to get to a race. The CLOSEST race for those of us living in Rochester is Lebanon Valley which is a 4 hour drive. In Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and anything West of Toronto you're actually better off racing Division 3 (which is also why I believe we have such a large IHRA following in Western NY & PA, and Canada).

Granted, I realize in the general vicinity of Philly you're also drawing from the major metropolitan areas of Baltimore, DC, and NYC. But, there's a pretty large population base in the Northeast that is outside of that area too. Maybe NHRA needs to create a new division for everything 2 hours outside of Philly (I'm half-joking here)...

[Tom Goldman]

Jason, Keep in mind , the tracks that currently host points races are the ones capable of handling the fast cars, and also the ones willing to poney up the reported $15k to NHRA for the privledge of holding one of their races. .....Our area just has more of this type of track. ......... Epping could change that.............Tom

[Jason Oldfield]

Originally Posted by Tom Goldman

Jason, Keep in mind , the tracks that currently host points races are the ones capable of handling the fast cars, and also the ones willing to poney up the reported $15k to NHRA for the privledge of holding one of their races. .....Our area just has more of this type of track. ......... Epping could change that.............Tom

Tom, I totally agree, and I realize that the New England area is really mostly devoid of this quality of facility except for Epping. There are plenty of tracks that I'm not sure that I'd want to race down with my Corvette, let alone in a T/D or T/S car (or a fast S/G car for that matter).

With it's proximity to Boston, you could argue that NHRA should be working with the Epping owners to upgrade the facility if possible (i.e. they have the surrounding land to do so, which I'm not sure they do) to make the track NHRA National Event capable.

It's sad to say, but there aren't many tracks in the Northeast that I get excited about going to:

- I have fond memories of Maple Grove but the pits there suck
- Atco is decent and certainly fun (the bar rules)
- Englishtown is certainly great
- Cecil County is only serviceable (especially depending upon where you end up being pitted, like in an area that is so sloped that it is impossible to level the motorhome to get the refrigerator to even work)
- I personally love Numidia, but the last time I was there the property certainly wasn't as nice as Atco is now.
- I don't think I even need to say anything about the disaster that is LVD.
- The last time I was at Delmar (probably close to 10 years ago), it sucked (the pits were horrible).
- Boiling Springs is 1/8th mile.
- Spencer Speedway is 1/10th mile!
- I've never been to Napierville, Capitol, Mason-Dixon, Island Dragway, Luskville, or ESTA (which is surprising because it's not that far from me), so I can't comment about them.

That's every member track in Division 1.

Unfortunately, with the economic downturn and attendance and TV ratings falling for drag racing (and even auto racing as a whole, including NASCAR), I think it is going to be a while before we see any new tracks built.

Regardless, your point is a good one, and not one that I didn't realize, but definitely one that I didn't mention. So, thanks for pointing that out.

[Rich Biebel]

Originally Posted by Tom Goldman

I have'nt raced at NED in over 20 years, but my memories of going there are long bumpy rides between the cattle chutes on I 84, Christmas Tree swinging in the wind at the starting line ,and [I still have nightmares over this] The Cops confiscating all your beer at the gate!!..........Sound like some things have changed. .................Tom.............................. ..............Rich, you forgot the most entertaining things in the stands at Sanair, the girls in bikinis and hi heels, and of course, Captain Canuck!

I didn't forget Tom! and some men wore less clothes than the girls! Thongs were all the rage up there......geez....

Captain Canuck was on my must see list at Indy in the 1000' club seats.......he was very funny....... "and the crowd went wild" as Bob Frey always says

[Doug Blackley]

Originally Posted by Tom Goldman

I have'nt raced at NED in over 20 years, but my memories of going there are long bumpy rides between the cattle chutes on I 84, Christmas Tree swinging in the wind at the starting line ,and [I still have nightmares over this] The Cops confiscating all your beer at the gate!!..........Sound like some things have changed. .................Tom.............................. ..............Rich, you forgot the most entertaining things in the stands at Sanair, the girls in bikinis and hi heels, and of course, Captain Canuck!

The swinging tree lol. That's been gone a long time. You'll find the roads have improved too. NED is def not the track it was and you'll find is def worth the trip.