History What's your favorite old drag strip?

Thunder Valley, Norman Oklahoma http://www.okthunder.com/index.html

 

That Beech Bend track seems perfect. Old look with the bleachers still there, and they obviously don't mind the old stuff being out there.

Plus, you have the Corvette Museum there as extra incentive for folks that are coming from further away. I, for one, put value on the "side attractions" like the Corvette Museum and the Springfield swap for locations to draw people to the show.

I don't know if the Bowling Green area is East enough for what you are wanting, but I think it's Central East is an advantage. More chance that guys drive from Florida, or Texas to Kentucky than to NJ.

I like the idea of the Ohio tracks, but it seems like they get a ton of Nostalgia Drag events already. Plus, Ohio is Mid West, not East!

 

Is Norman East or West?

 

Not in the right area but Union Grove in Wisconsin.

 

Another vote for Bowling Green (Beech Bend). Real cool place and they have an amusement park next door for the kids and wife to hang out at if watching racing isn't their thing. Also has the covered stands and the cleanest drag strip "John's" I've seen.

 

You're gonna have people looking for Famoso in Fresyes . Is there a dragstrip in Fresno?

Thanks,
Kurt

 

COLTON CA. GENE,S BRAKE SHOP SPL.- JOHN BRADLEY

mr. flathead
top eliminator 1955

 

Track is still there but it is closed down

 

Tulsa has a lot of history, but it's been totally remodeled. Ark City, KS is pretty old and is pretty cool, but it's in the middle of nowhere but town is pretty nice and quaint.

I know this is neither east or west as per the OP.

TVRP in Noble, OK would be my home track, it's family owned, but not that much history. I've heard that Guthrie is trying to get a 1/8 mile track, (maybe a 1/4 mile) and it's a VERY historic town, you could block off most all of downtown for a car show and they'd LOVE it.

Hmmmmm, maybe I could talk to the powers that be just for an event and get back with you Ryan......

 

Most of the older dragstrips in the Southeast are 1/8 mile. Your options are much more varied if you want to include them.

Carolina Dragway, across the river from Augusta, GA runs 1/8th and 1/4. Spectators are pretty close to the track. I like that. It's a "bigger" track than Mokan but still has character. It's in the country but close to civilization. There are shade trees in the pits. Plenty of bleachers, but not overwhelming like a modern track.

I don't get up that way too often, but Mason Dixon Dragway in Hagerstown, MD has the right feel too.

 

HAHAHAHA.............yeah right, there's NOTHING in Fresno.

 

Amarillo Dragway. Me an a buddy went there for the winternationals in 1966 when I was a freshman in high school. They had a bridge that went over the staging area that connected the pit side to the spectator side. Walking across that bridge and seeing/hearing those nitro burning AA fuelers being push started then making an ear splitting smoking pass was almost sureal. Hell I thought my balls were gonna fall off from the vibrations!

 

Gotta be Beech Bend in Bowling Green,Kentucky. Home of the original "Sports Nationals" from 1974 through 1980. Beautiful facility, great surroundings and covered grand stands. FC

 

I don't have a specific recommendation, but for the East, keep it somewhere central (like somewhere along the Mason-Dixon Line). Us southern boys ain't allowed into NJ, and the upper east coast guys have a tough time getting passports to get into the Confederacy. Seriously, it has to be located centrally to draw from all parts of the eastern U.S. The track in Kentucky might be good as far as location goes. Either that or rotate each year between a track in the north and a track in the south.

 

Bakersfield (Famoso)

 

http://www.gulfportdragway.com/

Every body might have to pawn their car if the stay at the casinos to long?
The beach hotels resturants near by.

http://www.cruisinthecoast.com/

We can do a car show.

 

ANY bridge in Pittsburgh

 

Thunder Valley Raceway
27121 469th Ave.
Tea, Sd. 57064
United States
605-207-3777
info@tvraceway.com
IHRA 1/4 Mi. Dragstrip


not that far from souix falls,and few other little towns the place is great for familys and camping,up hill shutdown, mainly cuz i been going there forever very classic

 

i will post this address maybe hambers know but this is about the best list on the web for any track of any kind, i suppose there are other sites but this one has always been great
http://www.carhopp.net/track_information.htm

 

I'll give a second recommendation to Quaker City outside Salem, OH. It's been in existance since 1957, the town of Salem is maybe 4 miles away and it's only 10 miles off the Ohio Turnpike. Beautiful facility with grass pits, paved return road, unique up hill burn-out box and no dust.

 

Here is some old pictures if you would like? http://www.fergenboysinc.com/tvd2album/
http://www.fergenboysinc.com/tvdalbum/

 

I'll second grate lakes dragway in union grove wisconsin. I like bowling green and cordova but the grove is close to home.

 

Another one for "the Grove".

 

With these parameters in mind I think that the east strip should be without a doubt Beech Bend. I know it is not that far East but it sure is within easy driving distance, prolly at the most 12 hours for the majority of folks from any direction.

Others have itemized the ambiance of the place so I will not repeat them.

My vote for the East is Beech Bend.

BB

 

FAMOSO!!! first strip i ever raced at awwwwww

 

I am gonna have to go with Atco .Great track and ony 15 minutes from my house

 

Should more 'weight' be on the 'vote' of people that plan to race versus static display and/or spectate, with bonus points for HA/GRs? How about a track (in each region) nearest the most HA/GRs ready to run? At a track that'll work, of course. Something like "screw you Warshington, Northern California has more HA/GRs"? It could help to motivate more HA/GRs to be built.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

Eastside Speedway in Waynesboro, VA would be a good one. Waynesboro is growing fast so there are alot of hotels there.
The drag strip was opened in the early sixties and still looks the same as the day it opened. It still has a good " old time feel".
http://www.eastsidespeedway.com/