Connecticut Dragway?

W J · 08-18-2009, 02:07 AM

Any senior members here remember the year/season that Connecticut Dragway in Colchester/East Haddam, Ct. stopped racing? Much thanks. WJ

danielct301 · 08-18-2009, 04:45 AM

I am going to go with 1986.
I know Mr. Santangelo knows so if he sees this I am sure he will give us the correct year.

Superfan1 · 08-18-2009, 08:45 AM

I just googled it, and the answer is that Connecticut Dragway closed in 1985.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1
Bridgeport, Ct.

W J · 08-18-2009, 10:17 AM

Thanks guys. I have many fond memories of racing my old '64 Chevelle Malibu SS stocker there. Many great stock and super stock 60's/70's cars ran at that place.....it was a great track. WJ

Mark Yacavone · 08-18-2009, 10:36 AM

I don't believe they even finished the '85 season.
I left there in '83 but of course had many friends racing there to the end.
The whole thing is a damn shame. It will never happen again in Ct either. I'll leave the political climate there, out of this.

Now you've got this situation:

George Mirza · 08-18-2009, 10:55 AM

Mr. Fitts died in late winter of 1986 and that was the end of it.

Mark, I remember they finished the '85 season and had the '86 schedule all set to go. I was planning my first full season of bracket racing, just bought a new U&W trailer and was ready to go. We ended up racing at New England instead, it was the only track left.

Had fun there, miss that place and the great people that raced there.

Manny Sousa · 08-18-2009, 01:24 PM

I used to go to Connecticut Dragway with my Dad alot! Anyone remember Manny Sousa? He ran Modified Production in a blue '69 Mustang that said Ridgerunner Speed Shop on it? He also had a red and white Maverick that was previously blue and had "Gate Crasher" on it. He retired in '78 so that may be going back far but maybe someone here remembers.

Anyway, I used to love going there. It was my first ever drag racing experience. I remember pouring bleach behind the slicks in the waterbox LOL. Man that was a long time ago...

Manny Sousa

Mark Yacavone · 08-18-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manny Sousa

I used to go to Connecticut Dragway with my Dad alot! Anyone remember Manny Sousa? He ran Modified Production in a blue '69 Mustang that said Ridgerunner Speed Shop on it? He also had a red and white Maverick that was previously blue and had "Gate Crasher" on it. He retired in '78 so that may be going back far but maybe someone here remembers.

Anyway, I used to love going there. It was my first ever drag racing experience. I remember pouring bleach behind the slicks in the waterbox LOL. Man that was a long time ago...

Manny Sousa

Let me guess, Manny. You're from the Fall River or New Bedford area?

Manny Sousa · 08-18-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Let me guess, Manny. You're from the Fall River or New Bedford area?

Your close. My Dad grew up in Bristol, RI. He moved to Warwick and that is where I grew up.

Manny Sousa

W J · 08-18-2009, 06:13 PM

Thanks for the awesome Connecticut pics....Anyone here remember a guy named Ralph Ridgeway who ran a blk/white '55 Chevy C/Modified Production car there and pretty much the rest of the tracks on the eastern seaboard? That car was 1 of the best C/MP cars in the country, bar none.

WJ

08-18-2009, 02:07 AM	#1
W J Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Paxton, Massachusetts Posts: 638 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Connecticut Dragway? Any senior members here remember the year/season that Connecticut Dragway in Colchester/East Haddam, Ct. stopped racing? Much thanks. WJ

08-18-2009, 04:45 AM	#2
danielct301 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? I am going to go with 1986. I know Mr. Santangelo knows so if he sees this I am sure he will give us the correct year.

08-18-2009, 08:45 AM	#3
Superfan1 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bridgeport,CT. Posts: 1,991 Likes: 1,664 Liked 2,632 Times in 438 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? I just googled it, and the answer is that Connecticut Dragway closed in 1985. Bill Seabrooks - superfan1 Bridgeport, Ct.

08-18-2009, 10:17 AM	#4
W J Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Paxton, Massachusetts Posts: 638 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? Thanks guys. I have many fond memories of racing my old '64 Chevelle Malibu SS stocker there. Many great stock and super stock 60's/70's cars ran at that place.....it was a great track. WJ

08-18-2009, 10:36 AM	#5
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,809 Likes: 2,900 Liked 5,114 Times in 1,948 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? I don't believe they even finished the '85 season. I left there in '83 but of course had many friends racing there to the end. The whole thing is a damn shame. It will never happen again in Ct either. I'll leave the political climate there, out of this. Now you've got this situation: __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

08-18-2009, 10:55 AM	#6
George Mirza Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Attleborough Ma. Posts: 522 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? Mr. Fitts died in late winter of 1986 and that was the end of it. Mark, I remember they finished the '85 season and had the '86 schedule all set to go. I was planning my first full season of bracket racing, just bought a new U&W trailer and was ready to go. We ended up racing at New England instead, it was the only track left. Had fun there, miss that place and the great people that raced there.

08-18-2009, 01:24 PM	#7
Manny Sousa Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 36 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? I used to go to Connecticut Dragway with my Dad alot! Anyone remember Manny Sousa? He ran Modified Production in a blue '69 Mustang that said Ridgerunner Speed Shop on it? He also had a red and white Maverick that was previously blue and had "Gate Crasher" on it. He retired in '78 so that may be going back far but maybe someone here remembers. Anyway, I used to love going there. It was my first ever drag racing experience. I remember pouring bleach behind the slicks in the waterbox LOL. Man that was a long time ago... Manny Sousa

08-18-2009, 06:13 PM	#10
W J Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Paxton, Massachusetts Posts: 638 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Connecticut Dragway? Thanks for the awesome Connecticut pics....Anyone here remember a guy named Ralph Ridgeway who ran a blk/white '55 Chevy C/Modified Production car there and pretty much the rest of the tracks on the eastern seaboard? That car was 1 of the best C/MP cars in the country, bar none. WJ