Heres the 34 coupe I drag raced at Old Bridge in the late 1950s. 265 SBC, three Strombergs, Corvette dual point distributor, Buick trans (could never find a laSalle) home made dropped axle that I got with the car. By 1959 I was on the road in Northern New Jersey. Very few rods on the road in those days.
This is me operating one of the timers pictured above by Kurt. Here were are using it as a MPH clock and I'm looking up the displayed trap time on the chart to get the MPH. This picture was taken about 1959 at Island Dragway when the meets were operated for the owners by the New Jersey Timing Association for the first several years. The owners then bought their own clocks and managed their own crews.
This picture is in the old timing stand at Old Bridge. It was on top of the bleachers about even with the finish line. This is probably about 1959 or 1960. The box in front of me is a device that Art Grotyohann developed to detect fouling at the starting line. We started with flags in those days. There was no christmas tree or other automated starting system. The starter had to judge whether a car fouled. If he thought they fouled he would pull the red flag. These calls were usually controversial and led Art to develop this device. The starter would begin with his green flag on the ground. Pulling the green flag off the ground signalled the start. Art devised a small box that was placed on the ground by the starter's feet. On the top of the box was a momentary switch which tha starter pressed down with his flag when he was ready to start. If the ET starting line beam was broken before the flag came off this switch there was an obvious and indisputable foul and a light went on in front of me on this box. I think there was also a light at the starting line. This cool device ended all fouling disputes.
Here's another item from my collection of early NJ drags stuff. This was 1954 and the event was covered in Hot Rod Magazine.
We used to go to Old Bridge Stadium. I remember seeing the new Knoblock Dodge /FX hit the wall and a match race between Matt Fenton and Ted Fenucci(sp?)
I'll see what I can do. I see them OK when I get on. The whole picture procedure is strange. I musta screwed it up. Back in a minute.....
Louie got 'em. Dunno. Maybe because I made my album private instead of public. Would that do it? How can I change it without uploading everything again?
My Dad ran there in 63-66 with a b/c roadster called Miss Jan II I have his log book from back then a lot of Win's marked at old bridge marked in the book he put every thing in that book even what they spent on beer on the way home LOL ROCKY in NJ
This is the watch given to me by Sol and Harold - Old Bridge Owners - when I went into the army in 1961. It didn't scan very well but the face says Old Bridge Stadium Drag Races
The subject of Old Bridge came up several years ago on the Hemmings web site. I responded with a rather lengthy posting of some of my memories. Nobody ever posted again. It's still there if you want to look. http://forums.hemmings.com/viewtopic.php?t=828
Frank, Thanks for all of the pics and the info, they're very interesting. Frank, I hope you don't mind me posting YOUR ARTICLE below, if you do I'll remove it.
by f.e.c. » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:37 pm Not sure I've got this site figured out yet. Trying to respond to an article I no longer see. Anyhow, it was about Old Bridge Stadium. There were a few errors and omissions that ought to be corrected. It wasn't clear that the New Jersey Timing Association was an organization of clubs - not of individuals. Art "Grote" as we called him was probably one of the original guys but I don't think we can credit any one person with the founding. Others I remember from the earliest years were Tom Collow, Rusty Gardner, Ed Hienkel, Pete VanIderstine, Bubby Isaacs, Walt McKewen (sp?) and Matt Herbert. Fred Shulz was not a car guy. He was an engineer who somebody knew and he designed and built our timing equipment. In the late fifties we had him built several new timers including a dual lane ET unit. I ran the timing stand at Old Bridge in '60 - '61 time frame and dealt with Fred all the time. The NJTA was also operator of Island Dragway in Great Meadows in the beginning. We were contracted to run the whole meet - inspect cars, time the event, etc. After a few years Ed and the other owners took it over themselves. We also timed events for other people. I wasn't usually on these teams. Forty Fort Pa was one we did from time to time. Al Brown was usually on these teams. I don't remember Christmas trees at Old Bridge but it may have come after '61 when I went into the army. Art and Fred did design a foolproof fouling system so we didn't have to rely on the flagman's judgement to decide if a driver fouled. The flagman pressed his flag onto a switch on the ground that was tied to the timer. If a car broke the start beam before the flag came off the switch the red lite went on. This ended all fouling disputes and the flagmen loved it. We also had win lights over each lane at the finish line. So we didn't need a finish line judge to make the call as was necessay at the old Linden Airport drags in '54. Art always liked to try new things. The owners Harold and Sol wanted us to run during the week. None of us really wanted to but we agreed. As part of the Tuesday eve program we tried LeMan's starts. The cars were placed halfway down the track. The drivers were flagged off of the starting line on foot and had to run to their cars, start them, and get to the finish. We had a staffer at each car to insure seat belts were fastened. The Tuesday night thing didn't last long and we were all grateful. I remember leaving Old Bridge after closing - after midnight - stopping for breakfast at the PeterPank Diner near south Amboy, getting into bed around 2 AM, then getting up at 5 or 6 to head for for Great Meadows. I'm surprised this original article hasn't attracted more responses over the year it's been up. I guess there aren't too many of us left. The NJTA scrapbooks still exist. They cover 1952 to abount 1962. A friend of mine and fellow NJTA member has them. We should probably get them out anded make an article for one of the now popular "Old School" rod magazines. <DL id=profile5583 class=postprofile><DT>f.e.c. <DD>Muffler Bearing Inspector <DD> <DD>Posts: 1 <DD>Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:39 pm </DD></DL> this article was originally written and posted by FRANK CAREY on another site.
My cousin, Bobby Burgess from North Arlington N.J., owned NHR Speed Shop in Harrison, N.J., and used to run a '55 Chevy 210 in D/G, and a '56 Vette in C/MSP at both Old Bridge, and Island. I worked at the Speed Shop while in college from '65 to '69, and used to be the 'gopher' at the drags. I'm not sure if the shop is still there, but I believe he still lives in northern N.J. those pictures really bring back memories.
Pete L.: Thx for reposting my old msg here. Since I wrote that I have scanned the entire photo scrapbook of the New Jersey Timing Association and some of the photos I posted above are from that book. I could start putting them up somewhere on the net but not sure where would be best. I have also considered sending them to Hot Rod Deluxe magazine. one of the better retro mags that are now popular with the real hot rod crowd.
Frank, Don't know if you'll ever read this or not but I just wanted to clear up a little confusion. I'm Kurt's older brother Greg and I'm the one you probably remember from Old Bridge. I started going to the drags with Dad back in the Woodbine days. I was at Island Dragway the day Don Garlits ran 200 MPH. I had various jobs at Old Bridge such as selling Eastern Drags News and eventually reading the MPH timer until the end. I also remember the big white stepvan that held the equipment. I used to ride on the engine cover since it was warm. At Old Bridge, we had to install plexiglass in the windows and back the truck against the stands to stop vandals. Greg
I just wanted to say that I attended the most recent "Old Bridge" reunion at the little historic schoolhouse... I was sort of incognito (uh, low profile) didn't shoot any video or do any interviews for Drag Racing Underground like I usually do--- Just kinda went to enjoy the event as a civilian, and yeah, I sure did enjoy it... Was sort of laid back with a real friendly atmosphere-- All the people were real nice and it was interesting to hear the old stories that the folks were telling under the tent (I liked the stories from the fellow who used to sell ice cream at the track)... Also groovy to see some of the memorabilia that was on display... I had a real good time... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)... P.S. if anyone's interested, here's a link to a Big Stick video tour diary we put together, features a visit to the historic Sun Studio in Memphis, TN... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTFvqwC6E04
It may have been a bit early for him but my uncle, Joe Bielanski, raced in N.J. for some years. Maybe I'll do some digging.
FYI... The "other" track in Old Bridge that is still with us will be holding their 32nd Annual NOSTALGIA SUMMERNATIONALS and OLD TIME DRAGS & FUNNY CAR REUNION on Sunday, July 24th, 2011... This event is a "must attend" for those who truly consider themselves to be hardcore nostalgia buffs... You'll see Front Engine Diggers, Old Skool Floppers, Altereds, Gassers (the East Coast Gasser Assn.), Stock & Super Stockers, Street Rods, N.E.T.O. members (North East Timing Organization), Legendary Display Cars, Drag Racing Celebrities, Memorabilia & Vendors, etc, etc... There's definitely something for everyone at this superb shindig!!... I've been a part of this event since the very beginning, and I have seen it grow to the spectacular happening it is today-- It's certainly one of my favorite races, and I'll be there with Drag Racing Underground covering the action... I strongly recommend you make plans now to "Be There"!!... "The Doc" (Celebrity Drag Racing Authority & Visionary)... BRAND NEW FUNNY CAR REUNION VIDEO PREVIEW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgG5dlSXXeA ANOTHER BRAND NEW FUNNY CAR REUNION VIDEO PREVIEW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMzXUhGTXno
The car show at the Old Time drags is good as well. I couldn't make it last year but I've marked my calendar for this year - 'looking forward to a good time.
Hi Greg, Wow. Ancient history. Frankly, I don't remember you. I really thought it was Kurt I would see in the Old Bridge pits. This would have been late 1950s and I'd guess he was maybe 12 or 13 years old. Is that possible? Or was it you? Do you remember another timer operator from the sixties named Cookie? She married a good froend of mine and I'm in regular contact with them. BW, I've decided to make a CD of the New Jersey Timing Association scrapbook scans and send it to Hot Rod Deluxe. I should be able to get that out in a week or so. If I hear anything from them I'll post here.
Frank, It was me since I was born in 1952 and Kurt wasn't born until 1959. I think I remember a woman named Cookie. I probably didn't work in the timing stand until after you left. Some of the other names I remember are Bill Noe, Bob Daum, George Zanackous SP?. Greg
Greg I knew Bill Noe well. He was in a North Plainfield club. John Hunt was in that club, too. Cookie married Bob Daum. They are still street rodders and have a very nice 39 Chev. I see them most every summer when I'm up north. They're still in NJ. Frank
My brother Kurt gave me a CD with pictures from Old Bridge which can be viewed at: http://cid-5e921d9123aa0252.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=5E921D9123AA0252!238 Greg
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