old-but-not forgotten drag-strips
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
old-but-not forgotten drag-strips
This post by Panuuz made me think that we should begin a thread, listing the location, name, and time-frame that old-but-not forgotten / abandoned drag-strips operated, while some of us remember them and know where they were located.
When I raced during the early-'90s in S.W. Taxylvaniastan, Eastern Ohio and West-by-Gawd Virjinnie, I befriended a guy who won the last day that Pittsburgh International Dragway was open in 1976:
after being rained-out one day in '92, he took me to show where the track was located, and although we took no-pictures, he explained the general layout of the facility.
Here are a few pictures from PID that I have found on-line:
At the time, we were competing weekly at Fairmont Dragway (formerly an IHRA track, Eldora Dragway ), in West Virginia, an 1/8-mile strip which closed following the '99 season, and has since been converted into an industrial complex:
when my fiancee & I went there in '04, there was no-trace of the strip at-all, but I found an on-line picture, taken from the water-box in it's later years -
I am now in central Floriduh, and would like any help in finding the location of the drag-strip in Lake Wales (due-East of Tampa, and almost due-South of Orlando ), where Don & Pat Garlits attended their first-ever drag-race while dating, and Large Father made his initial runs, as-well-as any other drag-strips between Tampa & Orlando.
When I raced during the early-'90s in S.W. Taxylvaniastan, Eastern Ohio and West-by-Gawd Virjinnie, I befriended a guy who won the last day that Pittsburgh International Dragway was open in 1976:
after being rained-out one day in '92, he took me to show where the track was located, and although we took no-pictures, he explained the general layout of the facility.
Here are a few pictures from PID that I have found on-line:
At the time, we were competing weekly at Fairmont Dragway (formerly an IHRA track, Eldora Dragway ), in West Virginia, an 1/8-mile strip which closed following the '99 season, and has since been converted into an industrial complex:
when my fiancee & I went there in '04, there was no-trace of the strip at-all, but I found an on-line picture, taken from the water-box in it's later years -
I am now in central Floriduh, and would like any help in finding the location of the drag-strip in Lake Wales (due-East of Tampa, and almost due-South of Orlando ), where Don & Pat Garlits attended their first-ever drag-race while dating, and Large Father made his initial runs, as-well-as any other drag-strips between Tampa & Orlando.
#2
Melting Slicks
SUNDAY!-SUNDAY!-SUNDAY! at beautiful Aquasco Dragway!
Or substitute 75/80 Drag-O-Way, Suffolk Dragway(Home of the Little Guy Nationals), Emporia, ....
I miss them all!
Dave
Or substitute 75/80 Drag-O-Way, Suffolk Dragway(Home of the Little Guy Nationals), Emporia, ....
I miss them all!
Dave
#3
Race Director
That drag strip in Lake Wales was at the old airport...Marc has seen it...his paint guy and the speed shop guy both ran with Garlits at that track back in the day...
There was a drag strip on the runway at Sebring not all that long ago...
You already now about Lakeland and how it was originally opened by Biggs as a 1/4 mile strip...
Years ago there was a very busy 1/4 mile track in Hollywood, down south so they tell me...
There was a drag strip on the runway at Sebring not all that long ago...
You already now about Lakeland and how it was originally opened by Biggs as a 1/4 mile strip...
Years ago there was a very busy 1/4 mile track in Hollywood, down south so they tell me...
#4
Race Director
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by hookedup
SUNDAY!-SUNDAY!-SUNDAY! at beautiful Aquasco Dragway!
Or substitute 75/80 Drag-O-Way, Suffolk Dragway (Home of the Little Guy Nationals), Emporia, ....
Or substitute 75/80 Drag-O-Way, Suffolk Dragway (Home of the Little Guy Nationals), Emporia, ....
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dice
That drag strip in Lake Wales was at the old airport...Marc has seen it...his paint guy and the speed shop guy both ran with Garlits at that track back in the day...
There was a drag strip on the runway at Sebring not all that long ago...
You already now about Lakeland and how it was originally opened by Biggs as a 1/4 mile strip...
Years ago there was a very busy 1/4 mile track in Hollywood, down south so they tell me...
There was a drag strip on the runway at Sebring not all that long ago...
You already now about Lakeland and how it was originally opened by Biggs as a 1/4 mile strip...
Years ago there was a very busy 1/4 mile track in Hollywood, down south so they tell me...
I recall hearing about a track in Florida by the name of 'Hollywood' about 15 years ago, but I am not-sure when it closed.
#6
Team Owner
Oh man I love that old nostalgia drag strip history thing, Hot Rod (or is it Car Craft or is it Popular Hot Rodding LOL) always has a section in the beginning of the magazine that shows a pic or two of a now defunct drag strip, some are really sad too.
#7
Melting Slicks
[QUOTE=Glensgages;1564378247]
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
Glen, actually "The Duck" is still running today, made some good changes, lotsa' dates every week, even have an "Old Timers Race" night!
Suffolk was west of the Norfolk area on an old WWII landing strip, ALL concrete, great bite in the days before VHT!
Hey Fuzzy, did ya' ever run "Valkarie"(sp?)? Another old WWII bomber strip somewhere south of the Melborne area.
Dave
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
Glen, actually "The Duck" is still running today, made some good changes, lotsa' dates every week, even have an "Old Timers Race" night!
Suffolk was west of the Norfolk area on an old WWII landing strip, ALL concrete, great bite in the days before VHT!
Hey Fuzzy, did ya' ever run "Valkarie"(sp?)? Another old WWII bomber strip somewhere south of the Melborne area.
Dave
Last edited by hookedup; 03-04-2008 at 01:10 AM.
#8
Tech Contributor
I moved to the area 9 years too late to see that track. I heard from the owner of my shop that they used to have 2 tracks and run 4 cars in parallel (not all 4 racing each other).
#9
Race Director
[QUOTE=hookedup;1564381472]
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
Glen, actually "The Duck" is still running today, made some good changes, lotsa' dates every week, even have an "Old Timers Race" night!
Suffolk was west of the Norfolk area on an old WWII landing strip, ALL concrete, great bite in the days before VHT!
Hey Fuzzy, did ya' ever run "Valkarie"(sp?)? Another old WWII bomber strip somewhere south of the Melborne area.
Dave
Nah, I got down here a bit too late, Dave..I did start my racing career at Englishtown in 1965 on a Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!...never forget those old ads on the Cousin Brucie radio show...
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
Glen, actually "The Duck" is still running today, made some good changes, lotsa' dates every week, even have an "Old Timers Race" night!
Suffolk was west of the Norfolk area on an old WWII landing strip, ALL concrete, great bite in the days before VHT!
Hey Fuzzy, did ya' ever run "Valkarie"(sp?)? Another old WWII bomber strip somewhere south of the Melborne area.
Dave
#10
Drifting
I grew up in Rhode Island. One of my best friends dad raced at Charleston Dragway. It was an abandoned airstrip on the coast of RI. It closed in the early 60's.
http://nitrogeezers.com/charleston_dragway.htm
In the early 80's by friend and I raced at Connecticut International Raceway. It closed I think in 1986.
http://nitrogeezers.com/charleston_dragway.htm
In the early 80's by friend and I raced at Connecticut International Raceway. It closed I think in 1986.
#11
Team Owner
What about "George Ray's Drag Strip"??
http://www.quartermilestones.com/hallucination.htm
http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/AR/GeorgeRay.html
http://www.geocities.com/georgeray12345/
http://www.quartermilestones.com/hallucination.htm
http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/AR/GeorgeRay.html
http://www.geocities.com/georgeray12345/
Last edited by GrandSportC3; 03-04-2008 at 12:42 PM.
#12
PID Raceway
I am so glad I found this site, I was actually search for an old track that my dad raced at, seeing this pics brought back memories. My dad was the 1st one to win @ the PID track on the day it actually opened, so that was kinda ironic when I saw your post about ur friend...when that track closed he then raced at Eldora in Fairmont, and also Keystone Raceway Park....thanks for posting the pics
#13
Melting Slicks
I never made it down-to 75/80 (or Mason-Dixon Dragway ) from 'da Burgh when I was racing, but my buddy from PID went at-least once a year:
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
..... where is the 'old ' airport in Lake Wales..... I know there is a current airport South-west of the Rt. 60 / Rt. 27 intersection.....
I recall hearing about a track in Florida by the name of 'Hollywood' about 15 years ago, but I am not-sure when it closed.
30 years ago I knew a guy who ran Competition Eliminator who'd raced at 'Summerduck' (is that Suffolk? )
..... where is the 'old ' airport in Lake Wales..... I know there is a current airport South-west of the Rt. 60 / Rt. 27 intersection.....
I recall hearing about a track in Florida by the name of 'Hollywood' about 15 years ago, but I am not-sure when it closed.
#14
Tech Contributor
I was AT "The Last Drag Race" at Miami-Hollywood in 1992.. They expected around 400 cars to show, but there were at least twice that amount that showed.. first round for Pro ET (the bracket I ran in at the time) didn't start until 12:30AM, and all first round winners had to come back Sunday morning to complete the race, or get their entry fee back to take as "winnings" and call it a night (which is what we did)... it was COLD that night, with the temp at 39 degrees by my weather station at 12:42 AM (when I ran). I have a picture on my wall of that event.
#15
Race Director
Thread Starter
I am so glad I found this site, I was actually search for an old track that my dad raced at, seeing this pics brought back memories. My dad was the 1st one to win @ the PID track on the day it actually opened, so that was kinda ironic when I saw your post about ur friend...when that track closed he then raced at Eldora in Fairmont, and also Keystone Raceway Park....thanks for posting the pics
you might like this site on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=...14678031879941
#18
Team Owner
I remember seeing some old ones from there a few years back.
Another classic track out that way was Westhampton or LID (Long Island Dragway), I made my first pass ever on a drag strip at that track over 20+ years ago.
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Another classic track out that way was Westhampton or LID (Long Island Dragway), I made my first pass ever on a drag strip at that track over 20+ years ago.
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Last edited by LS1LT1; 04-14-2010 at 12:52 AM.
#20
Melting Slicks
I had google maped out Aquasco Speedway. Much of it is still there in the woods. I got the coordinates and everything planned on making a trip but just haven't got to it yet. I really like the old abandoned drag strips. There was a pretty large thread on yellow bullet with some great then and now photos.
Here is Aquasco:
http://www.atomicpinup.com/Aquasco_Speedway.html
Here is Aquasco:
http://www.atomicpinup.com/Aquasco_Speedway.html