History Dragway 42 West Salem, Ohio (mid 60's)

Gents,
My wife and I went to her class reunion a couple of years back and one of her classmates who was big into cars said he had quite a few pictures of our old drag strip, Dragway 42. He said he would send them to me so I'm presenting some of them here.
Dragway 42 was built in the early 60's in the farmland south of Cleveland, Ohio. It was just north of West Salem, Ohio. In it's heyday it drew racers from all over the country with events like the Drag News Invitationals etc. At one time it was so big they used all 4 lanes for racing.
Over the years it operated as and NHRA track, an IHRA track and a couple more.
It's main downfall came because of the layout of the track. It couldn't be lengthened to accommodate the speeds as they got faster. The starting line end was close to the state highway and the shutdown end terminated at the county road. There was talk at one time of putting a jog in the county road to lengthen the strip but that never happened.
It still operates today but only in the shadow of Norwalk Park.
gbritnell

 

More pics

 

Love the old pics. I ran there a few times in the 70's & early 80's. For me , it never had the appeal of Norwalk though.

 

More pics.

 

More pics.

 

More pictures.

 

And yet more pics.

 

These first two are of our car. '49' Merc, D-gas. R-H Automotive.

 

Great pics. Thankyou for sharing.

 

Thanks for sharing especially the shots of Gene!!

 

Let us see more. These are great pictures from the past.

 

Very cool pictures. I live about 5 miles from 42 and spent many weekends there. Norwalk is bigger and more famous but there's something awesome about a small track like 42. Would have been nice if they could have got the shut down lengthened but its still a cool place to go.

 

I hear 42 has a new owner and he is moving the start line back about 400 feet. Sounds like he has some big plans for the place.
I hope he can bring it back to life. I had my first job on a top fuel car there in the 70's. JC

 

Cool pics...

Dragway 42 was huge from the 60s up untill the mid 80s. Thats when the cars got too fast for the track, and Norwalk started growing. I remember Norwalk had the bmx and dirt bike track beside the strip too in early 80s...That when Midwest Auto Specialties was still around and Summit Racing was still a catalog order small building...

I went to a few of the AHRA Stroh's Grand Nationals at 42 in the early 80s. Had all the big names there, I even saw Evel Kneivel there at one of the Nationals.

 

AHH Dragway 42. my old stomping grounds when I was just a youngster.
I was there a few yrs ago with an OT vehicle. The track sure isnt what it used to be.
Still had a great time there.

 

Great old photo's and they sure bring back some wonderful memories from the good old day's of drag racing.

Jimbo

 

Ok, going through my archives I found colored pictures form 1963. Not too many famous names except Dave Koffel with the pre Flintstone Flyer. but maybe the old timers will recognize some of the cars.
gbritnell

 

More pics.

 

A few more. How about adjusting your valves out in the dirt? The last one is a shot of GM's small V-6 at the time with a Jimmy supercharger on it.
gbritnell

 

Now that's some COOL stuff from back when drag racing was real drag racing! Thanks for the post!

 

Great pics. Thanks for posting, hope there's more.

Never made it to 42 in it's hayday, it was a bigtime track back then.

 

I have attended a few Rock and Race events there. The first few were like being in the past
Not sure about lately
Heard it was for sale and I guess sold. Hope they et a few things back going.

 

My dad took me to dragway 442 when I was very little he raced there till he got in to stock cars and did that tell they closed the track

 

The Bach's Body Shop '33 Willys in post #17 was Jim Clinton's and was sold to Chuck Stolze owner of S&S Parts Co. in Va. at the end of the '63 season, and it became the first KS Pittman / S&S Parts AA/GS in a series of KS / S&S gassers...At the end of the '64 season it was one of 8 cars picked to go to England for exhibition drag racing...
Ohio George was the other gasser....

 

awesum pictures! thks for sharing, love the merc.

 

Really dig pictures from early 60s drag racing. Thanks for posting!

 

Great pics. Did not have the rear view of Ron Readers Pontiac powered 57 Vette before. Never got to see it run in 65 with the 421 but watched it run many times with a 427 Chevy. Bunch of great pics. Thanks.

 

great pics from 42
thanks

 

Wow..thanks for the history lesson Fred. I'm glad you're here.

 

I'm hoping the new owners will continue the Rock & Race event. I'd like to check that one out.