Went to the local Nascar 1/4 mile track

[PhastPhil]

My two brothers and I went to Riverhead Raceway here on Long Island.

They ran Pro Chargers, Blunderbusts, Figure eights, and Pro Trucks, as well as spectator drag racing, and the Demolition Derby National Championship.
We had a blast!
Watching the Blunderbusts, I realized where all of the 80's Chevy Caprices went. Theses were the last of the box style Caprices. There were a few other models, but GM dominated the class. Not a single Panther to be found.

I wish I had the time and money. It'd be fun to run an old Police Interceptor in that class.

[rayjay]

Due to a rain out last night I have to take my daughter to the church of the blessed modified for the inaugural New Yorker 200 this morning at 10:00. 35 small blocks doing 200 laps for $10k top prize should be interesting.

[OneBADLsE]

I didnt know riverhead still had a track???

[PhastPhil]

Oh Yeah, they sure do !

Rumor has it that 2008 will be the last year they are open. They have races almost every Saturday night starting at 6pm until around 10:30 pm or so. I think the tickets were $25.

Next Saturday is the final races for 2007.

Maybe this would make for a cool Northeast group event next year?

[larryo340]

I'm not into circle track racing, but it's a shame to see the last racetrack close on Long Island :shake:.

[PhastPhil]

Even for those who are not really into circle track, or NASCAR type racing, this is a lot of fun.

The races are usually 25 - 30 laps. The Blunderbusts are a blast because they are like the old Jalopy class, and most of the people running in it are not much different than you or I. In other words, just regular people.
The Figure Eights always gets the crowd going. And of course everyone loves the Demolition Derby. Other nights they School Buss Figure Eights.
There were a lot of women, wives, girlfriends, at the race, and a lot of families too. It's aslo cool to know that many of the drivers / teams are local people. Some are from further along the East Coast.
I think you would have a good time there. Especially if you can go with some friends.

[rayjay]

$25 for basically an under card of racing? Ouch. DIRT tracks are prevelant up here in CNY area. $11 - $12 gets you a full card of racing, usually 4-5 classes depending on the track. Big block or small block modifieds, Sportsman (modified w/2 barrel carb), Pro Stocks (full body, tube frame), IMCA modifieds (old style, built out of the junk yard), Street Stock (entry level full body) and usually Crate Sportsman or Mini Mods (motorcycle engine). Heck when the ESS Sprinters are at the track its only $20. Must be an insurance issue down there. What ever happened to Isilp Speedway?
http://www.uticaromespeedway.com/cb97f610.jpg

[PhastPhil]

Islip Speedway, and Freeport Speedway are both long gone.

Basically, what happens around here is, as the tracks do well, businesses such as resturants start popping up. As the area builds up, more people want to live there. The people buy a home near a racetrack, and then complain about the noise comming from the track. Eventually the track owners get tired of fighting harrasment from the residents and town govt., and with people living nearby the property value goes up. Then the property becomes very valuable to the point where the track owner gives up, sells the track land for millions of dollars and retires.
And we are left with no racetracks. So the kids resort to more street racing, then the residents complain about the street racing. It's a vicious cycle.

There is a proposal by a large company to buy a huge chunk of land further east on the Island. They want to build a nice Motorsport complex with multiple types of racing. They want drag racing, circle track, go-karts, dirt bikes, auto cross, etc. all in one facility. This summer a group of local car guys planned to get together as a show of support for this facilty. The word spread, and many many people planned to show up. At the last minute somone who is against the idea complained to the local town and demanded that a permit was needed for a large gathering. That killed the gathering.

[larryo340]

There is a proposal by a large company to buy a huge chunk of land further east on the Island. They want to build a nice Motorsport complex with multiple types of racing. They want drag racing, circle track, go-karts, dirt bikes, auto cross, etc. all in one facility. This summer a group of local car guys planned to get together as a show of support for this facilty. The word spread, and many many people planned to show up. At the last minute somone who is against the idea complained to the local town and demanded that a permit was needed for a large gathering. That killed the gathering.
Phil,
That would be great, but I don't think it will ever happen. Too many snoody people. To them autosports is driving their Porsche convertible 55MPH in the left lane on the L.I.E.:mad2:

[jfclancy]

Islip Speedway, and Freeport Speedway are both long gone.

.

There is a proposal by a large company to buy a huge chunk of land further east on the Island. They want to build a nice Motorsport complex with multiple types of racing. They want drag racing, circle track, go-karts, dirt bikes, auto cross, etc. all in one facility. This summer a group of local car guys planned to get together as a show of support for this facilty. The word spread, and many many people planned to show up. At the last minute somone who is against the idea complained to the local town and demanded that a permit was needed for a large gathering. That killed the gathering.

HEY
Know of a good place WAY east on the Island the OLD radar site at Montauk.
most of the land around is a state park or something.

Spent a few years there during the 7 late 70's

Joe Clancy

[BigCars4Ever]

Islip Speedway, and Freeport Speedway are both long gone.

Basically, what happens around here is, as the tracks do well, businesses such as resturants start popping up. As the area builds up, more people want to live there. The people buy a home near a racetrack, and then complain about the noise comming from the track. Eventually the track owners get tired of fighting harrasment from the residents and town govt., and with people living nearby the property value goes up. Then the property becomes very valuable to the point where the track owner gives up, sells the track land for millions of dollars and retires.
And we are left with no racetracks. So the kids resort to more street racing, then the residents complain about the street racing. It's a vicious cycle.

There is a proposal by a large company to buy a huge chunk of land further east on the Island. They want to build a nice Motorsport complex with multiple types of racing. They want drag racing, circle track, go-karts, dirt bikes, auto cross, etc. all in one facility. This summer a group of local car guys planned to get together as a show of support for this facilty. The word spread, and many many people planned to show up. At the last minute somone who is against the idea complained to the local town and demanded that a permit was needed for a large gathering. That killed the gathering.

Who are you kidding. Even in Islip Speedway's hayday Deer Park ave was still the venue of choice! Besides that ridiculous hump in the beginning of the track was way more dangerous than street racing.:D

[PhastPhil]

Deer Park Ave. was T H E place to be. The turnout was huge on the weekends. A lot of the serious racing (for money) was done by meeting on DPA and then deciding on where to run. Sometimes Crooked Hill RD., or Rt. 109 in Farmingdale, or John St. off of 231. Not mention 231 itself with the starting line painted across the highway using official DOT paint. Heck, we even made into Car Craft Mags Top Ten Cruising Spots in the U.S.A. !! My favorite parts of the article where the comments on the cars. Everywhere else people cruised in little cars with big motors. Here we cruised in big cars, Torinos, Chevelles, Skylarks, etc. with big motors !

[larryo340]

Deer Park Ave. was T H E place to be. The turnout was huge on the weekends. A lot of the serious racing (for money) was done by meeting on DPA and then deciding on where to run. Sometimes Crooked Hill RD., or Rt. 109 in Farmingdale, or John St. off of 231. Not mention 231 itself with the starting line painted across the highway using official DOT paint. Heck, we even made into Car Craft Mags Top Ten Cruising Spots in the U.S.A. !! My favorite parts of the article where the comments on the cars. Everywhere else people cruised in little cars with big motors. Here we cruised in big cars, Torinos, Chevelles, Skylarks, etc. with big motors !
Back in the day 150th st by the Belt parkway had some serious racing going on. Guys used to trailer some cars there race then load it back up and settle elsewhere.

[PhastPhil]

That reminds me, I used to live very near the Belt Pkwy, on Mentone Ave in Laurelton. It is right where the Belt takes a sharp turn as it heads toward Kennedy. Ocasionally I used to go to the corner of my block with the kid next door who was older than me. His older brother used to hangout down there with the guys who raced. I didn't go down there very late, it was always daylight out. But I was only five or six years old, and I would go to watch the car race. I always got into big trouble with my parents for going, but I would always go again. Yeah, I had the car bug that bad at that young age !!
I also remember a guy they called Pops, he ran a Nova. The only thing I remember about the car, is the rear tires were a tall as I was, and bigger then me overall. As I grew older, it seemed to me that only Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars had tires that big. Then I realized my age at the time, so that why they seemed so big. :lol: