Remembering Englishtown

[wickedmerc]

As I continue to wallow around the ceasing of drag racing activities at Raceway
Park, Englishtown NJ, I was looking back at some of my video clips. Here’s 1 I figured you guys would appreciate...from a gathering way back in 2013.

https://youtu.be/fpHk-HOeLJg

[the fat bastid]

woah, wtf? Seriously? what happened?

[wickedmerc]

woah, wtf? Seriously? what happened?

No more drag racing at Englishtown after 52 years in business. It’s still “open” but only for motocross, go-karts, and, believe it or not, drifting. They didn’t state a reason why so there’s lots of speculating (insurance, noise complaints for decades, urban sprawl). But the big rumor is that they’re getting $75mil for a 15 year lease to use the whole back area as parking for Copart, an online auto auction site.
Sucks! I’m so pissed!!

[Comin' in Hot]

This was first ever 1/4 mile pass, glad I had a chance to run there.
https://youtu.be/KPAi56oZhY0

[fastblackmerc]

SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY!

[jsignorelli]

I used to live in Hazlet NJ. Driving my car to E-Town was a no brainer for my high school classmates. We learned to race in a "safe" environment. As I have gone through life, E-Town was where we did our test & Tunes on my Mustangs, and yes, even the 04 Marauder.

My Mustang club used to have drag days twice a season. We got our own lane and we filled it .
The word we have gotten from contacts at Englishtown is that falling attendance, and noise complaints have finally done them in. I will miss them.

[the fat bastid]

I was only at englishtown once and ,sadly, it was the worst drag racing experience of my life. It took two hours for our lane to be pulled once because it was totally packed. At that point it was a victim of its own success and the falling attendance is surprising.

I did know the town kept growing around it and everyone was getting pissy all the time but with all the other motorsport areas and the airport remaining open, is drag racing that loud over the rest of that going on?

[jsignorelli]

Isn't it amazing. You buy a house next to a race track, and then you complain about the noise. What ever happened to "Buyer Beware"?

[Joe Walsh]

Isn't it amazing. You buy a house next to a race track, and then you complain about the noise. What ever happened to "Buyer Beware"?

Yep.... bunch of friggin' Numb Nuts!

I can't remember which track it was....a SAAC event.
Either VIR or NJ Motorsports Park.
They wouldn't let me run the 427 Cobra on Sunday morning because the sidepipes were too loud!
WTF!

:mad2:

It's a G*d D*mn RACETRACK!!!

[wickedmerc]

Isn't it amazing. You buy a house next to a race track, and then you complain about the noise. What ever happened to "Buyer Beware"?

When they built this track over 50 years ago, it was literally in the middle of nowhere. Dirt roads to and from, the real deal. Houses have been built closer and closer over the years. In fact, 2 years ago, there was a proposal to build a “house of worship” literally across the street from the track, complete with “meditation rooms” and apartment for those on retreat. The track responded “Do you know what we do here?” Legal battle ensued, again. More time, headaches and, probably most importantly, money spent to fight.
To be fair to the people around the track, not everyone complained. I’ve heard from several in that area who claim that the sounds of the track were sounds of their summers and they loved it. I’m not sure when it was instituted, but people wishing to buy a house in Manalapan, NJ (town just south of track) had to sign a document as part of their closing that they were aware the track was there and they were accepting what came along with that awareness (I.e. noise, occasional traffic jams, etc...).
Since they didn’t state a reason and they only shut the 1/4 & 1/8, it is my belief that several economic factors led to this.....rising insurance for Drag racing, legal costs for complaints, and, yes, declining attendance. I’ve heard some people complain about the “young kids just not interested” and blaming the “millennials”. From what I’ve seen with my own eyes and what I’ve heard from talking with some “old timers” at the track, that is unfair and untrue. In fact, the younger, tuner crowd has been unofficially credited with keeping the track open this long. Attendance for the Honda/VW/Toyota events was huge! Conversely, when I brought my 442 to the GM Show ‘N Go last year, I was set to win 1st place in the BOP class. Not because my car is super-awesome (FAR from it!) but because I was the only 1 there.

Sucks!

[Mr. Man]

Isn't it amazing. You buy a house next to a race track, and then you complain about the noise. What ever happened to "Buyer Beware"?Same thing happens where I live when people move from your neck of the woods and complain about "farm smells". :shake: Then they proceed to complain to the town " Where is the town pool, where are the rec. parks, and organized youth crap." Stay in the city if you want all that stuff. Rant over:mad2:

I used to go to Englishtown for the Diesel Truckin' Nationals in the '80's and '90's. Haven't been down in a long time though. Pain to get to with all the traffic in that area now. Hope the masses flow to Atco and not Island.

Wonder where NHRA will move the Summer Nationals?

[WhatsUpDOHC]

I know, I'm still bummed about the news.

Yo Doug!!

[the fat bastid]

Hope the masses flow to Atco and not Island

Whaaaa? Island all day everyday, son! Only place you can get in 800 pulls in one friday!

...also it is only 30 minutes away so that is nice.

[Turbov6Bryan]

Isn't it amazing. You buy a house next to a race track, and then you complain about the noise. What ever happened to "Buyer Beware"?

This is exactly what shut down the track that was 1.5 miles from a house i bought (just to be closer to the track)

They built a housing area for $750,000 homes and within 6 years they worked with the city, had a person buy the track that committed to keep it open for 20 years. Then sold it to the city that year to make a few million dollars.

Now its a parking lot with some swing sets, they cant build on it because of all the oil and nitromethane in the ground. F ukin really ticks me off. Closest track is 80 miles away and 1/8th mile, other is different direction and gravel pits. But my house has gone up 50K in value in the last 3 years :shake:

[wickedmerc]

I know, I'm still bummed about the news.

Yo Doug!!

Hey Mark! I hope you and your family are well. If you guys ever get together again, I’ll try to make it. Maybe Simeone Museum again?


Wonder where NHRA will move the Summer Nationals?

I just read recently that NHRA is adding another event in VA to replace the SummerNationals...but it’s getting a different name.

[jsignorelli]

I have run my cars at both the VIR and the NJ Motor Sports Park. The Factory Five Cobra has side pipes which pass as exhaust. The track noise levels really are't that bad at the fence along the property line. I can't believe they had a restriction on the car exhaust.

[Mr. Man]

Whaaaa? Island all day everyday, son! Only place you can get in 800 pulls in one friday!

...also it is only 30 minutes away so that is nice.My point exactly, but not if everyone from Englishtown migrates to Island.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Hope the masses flow to Atco and not Island.



Gotta believe that Akko (local pronunciation) is hopeful.

Maybe more racing will come south.

[Grimrepairman]

Whaaaa? Island all day everyday, son! Only place you can get in 800 pulls in one friday!

...also it is only 30 minutes away so that is nice.

Wednesday nights were even better. Ran my SC Taurus sho so much I over heated the clutch. Was having too much fun to let the car cool down. Will be interesting to see how much extra traffic will be there. Just got my marauder last month, looking forward to running it this year.
Thankfully etown is still doing the swap meet. Just got my renewal today. Although attendance has been dropping over the last few years. Both from vendors, and foot traffic.

[schefs03]

I'm going to give Island Dragway a try. I love Atco but for me it's long trip and not worth it for time trials and tuning sessions. But I do love Atco and will go if an event warrants the trip.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

I'm going to give Island Dragway a try. I love Atco but for me it's long trip and not worth it for time trials and tuning sessions. But I do love Atco and will go if an event warrants the trip.Text me if you're considering coming South (to Akko)

[jsignorelli]

I have another dumb nuts request:

A high school buddy is on the town council in Keansburg NJ.

How about residents with homes ON THE OCEAN wanting to know what the township will do to protect their houses from the next hurricane.

This is no different than buying a house next to a race track, and then complaining about the noise.

[Blackened300a]

Hey I know that car in the video ;)

That was my first 12 second pass with the trilogy.

[jerrym3]

I'm from Hudson County, NJ. In the 60's, we'd eat, breathe, and talk cars for hours at hangouts like Shirley's Diner (West New York), Russell's Diner, (Cliffside Park), Callahan's Hot Dog (Ft Lee), and cruise Bergenline Ave.

On most warm Sundays, I'd head for Englishtown to race my 57 stock 283/220hp BelAir. I'd always lose. (Later years, I ran a 68 Merc Cyclone GT fastback, 302/4v. Lost again.)

My buddy had a fast 62 Vette and was doing good until somebody threw sugar down his gas tank. He never went back to Englishtown.

One of the biggest crowd draws was seeing one of the first 413 MoPars. Car could run!

They set up an exhibition race between the MoPar starting at the 1/4 mile starting line, and a Corvair starting at the 1/8 mark. The 413 won the race.

Irony. One Sunday on the way to Englishtown, I got a ticket for speeding. The cop and I started talking about the new Mustang, and he gave me a break on my actual speed so I wouldn't lose my license.

[schefs03]

Is anyone going or have been to Island Dragway for me coming from Long Island without E-town it seems like a logical choice.

[Grimrepairman]

Anyone else going to the swap meet this weekend?