History Long Island Race Tracks

Anyone have memories of racing at Westhampton, National Speedway or Islip on Long Island? They are all gone

 

yea raced west hampton for the last 3 years they were opend it was a **** hole but boy do i miss it...

 

I hear ya! some great times out east!

 

We raced at the Westhampton 1/4 mile track and the East Islip 1/8 mile track in the early sixties.

 

I grew up racing go karts out at westhampton. 1990 4 cycle jr1 champ right here!

 

Glad to see some one who remembers those tracks,will post some National Speed Way pic's when the kids get home and show me how to use a scanner. There have been several post on LI tracks on the hamb.

 

Worked at Westhampton for a long time. It was a dump then and just got worse. Ran the 1/8th at Islip and will never forget going between the concession stands and bleachers and trying to stop before that telephone pole at the end. Also had fun at National before they shut it down. Those were the days.

 

I didn't even get into Riverhead and Freeport ovals...at least Riverhead is still operating...Freeport was the Best!...saw some real "Legends" race there!...Eddie Brunhhoezel, Richie Evans, Dutch Schaeffer, Tony Romit(Midgets), Anderson...We were there every wed/Fri/Sat....came home with rubber allmover our faces! Good , Clean?, Fun!

 

I grew up at west hampton/ long island dragway. My dad ran there lat 80's into 90's and i drove in early 2000. Wish they could figure out a new track.

 

Check out my Racers photo album on my profile page for some shots I took at Hampton, Islip & National in the sixties / seventies!

 

Without a doubt my most proud possesion back in 1964 was the Westhampton "100 Mile per Hour Club" window decal.

 

Posted on another thread, but here's my dad's 1954 Merc winning its cl*** at Westhampton, May 1961:

 

Watched the figure eight demolition derby at Islip often on ABC's Wide World of Sports.

 

Back in the sixties I raced at Islip, New York National and Westhampton. New York National was the nicest, but I had the most fun at Islip. The worst part about running there was that I had to swap the rear end gears for the 1/8th mile. Islip was a Nascar track.

 

I p*** Riverhead Raceway frequently and I really don't know how long they can keep open with only Saturday night specials and school bus demolition derbys, the land is just too valuable where it is located. It's only a matter of time before the owner realizes he can be in Key West with a Pina Colada instead of trying to keep Riverhead afloat.

 

The Westhampton facility had a fast 1/2 mile track. It ran until around 1977 or earlier. Part of the track was used for go karts into the 1980s.

I ran Islip and Riverhead from 1982 to 1984. My best finishes were at Riverhead in 1982. That was a handling-track. I p***ed many guys out of the 4th turn that had their RR tire blazing.

Islip was fun, but trouble came up fast with the 300' straights. I finished 4th the night it closed up.

 

First one my MG at NY National around 1967, 2nd was the first day out for the MG in 1962 at Westhampton 3rd picture I took of Dave and Willie at Westhampton in 63 they won a lot of times there. Last picture us Sal Accardi at Slip he seemed to own that track and was a favorite.

Pat

 

Pat was that Dave Daly in the picture with Willie. I remember Dave's address from many ears ago. 63-18 83'd place, Queens, N.Y.

 

Yes Nick, Dave owned the car, Willie built it and they both drove. Dave did most of the driving. The car is at the New England Racing Museum in Louden NH now.


Pat

 

Where the Corvette is parked, this was the track entry/exit from the pits. At the apex of the ramp, you were blind for a couple of seconds due to the steep angle.