Here is a cool article from 1958 when Montgomery, NY drags opened. Hope you enjoy it. Sorry, the file was too large to attach in one piece. Open both attachments to read the full article.
He started this thread on October, 3, 2007 and has a total of 11 posts, this has to be some type of HAMB record. Maybe his computor broke?
Got a whole topic On Montgomery along with topics for most other North East Tracks: http://www.doverdragstrip.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=677&hilit=montgomery Heres A Program cover Bobby Lagana Sr. Got Garlits to sign
OK. I guess I'm the old fart yourvlooking for. I was flagman at Montgomery on opening day and for a while after that. I still have the article that the Middletown newspaper ran about the new Montgomery drag strip. I'm in the picture they ran of 2 1955 Chevs coming off the line and they mentioned me by name. Garlits set a national ET record at Montgomery. I also ran a channeled 34 coupe in C/A. Will post more when I have time. BTW Montgomery was a NASCAR drag strip. The staff was recruited from the short-lived Garden State Hot Rod ***ociation. More to follow.
I know a guy who raced an Olds powered 34 highboy roadster in B/R around '58 and '59. Car was dark green and said Conn. Yankee on the sides. He still has some of his trophies and one has a plaque that says the car turned 108 mph in 13 seconds. Boy,would I love to see more pics from Montgomery in those days,especially of that car. Haven't seen the Since '56 deuce in many moons but used to see it on the street occaisionally around Norwalk and Westport CT. Great car.
Bob...B/D won that day was George Snizek-Charlie "Dodge" Hagenmayer (Pacers Auto) have the results page posted at our topic that was stapled to program cover. heres a link to Good Article with good history: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081012/SPORTS/810120334/-1/LIFE02 .....By the Way Bob..YOU EVER going To Finish that car? Know a few that Might Be interested in it and would Do it Real Right.
Tom, Heres a pic of My grandfather, my Cousin Bobby & Me at dover in 1961 when i was 12!Check out my cousins "highwaters" & the way i'm standing!!lol JimV PS Is that you in the background?lol
i would love that picture and any more info on montgomery. i grew up here, and just recently moved back. building a 55 chevy.
This is a decal I created in memory of the old Montgomery Drag Strip. Keeping the memories alive is what's it's all about. Jimbo
Dino: I saw your shop truck in the latest issue of Sign Craft magazine is that the same one you did a few years back? Still using that Gerber? Jimbo
Brewster55: The newspaper that Edmund posted here last year has the picture I referred to. It's the left page lower pic.
I have a couple of shots from Montgomery NY, Fuel and Gas Invitational 1959. I'll have to dig up the poster and the other pic's.
I found some You tube of roundabout NASCAR racing out there http://youtu.be/UMAzO-0uXq0 http://www.bangshift.com/forum/showthread.php/14419-ORANGE-COUNTY-NY-DRAGS Article by our local paper.
I was at Montgomery a few times in 1958-9 and somewhere I have a few 35mm slides. If I can find them I'll scan and post them. I'm looking for information, pictures and remembrances of a modified sports car racer that ran at Montgomery. He also ran at at least one of the NHRA nationals in Detroit and down in Florida also ... Art Hocking with a Pontiac powered Kurtis Kraft sports car. I recall the car and talk about him but can't come up with anything. I believe it was white, or a very light color. I think he was an heir to the Anchor-Hocking company or some large well known industry. Englewood and southeast Florida comes to mind as to where he was from. I also seem to have a memory of him running at the two south FL strips, Miami Masters Field and Davie, FL. Please reply via my home email racenart@optonline.net Thanks. Joel
In 1961, the drag racing was moved from the Montgomery Airport to the dirt track in Middletown, NY - OCFS, and they drag raced on the front stretch. Did not go over to well.
At the Clinton Street Car Show in the Village of Montgomery this coming Sunday, Sept 24, 2017, they are going to run a short film history of NASCAR Drag racing at Montgomery including some drag footage. They also have some articles about the opening and closing of the track.
Was looking for something specific and came across this Forum. Two fun stories re the Montgomery Race Track: .Recalled seeing Don Garlts race in late 1950's. Was at the Darlington SC Drag Strip (where I have lived for the past 38 years and Don was there at an AHRA National Event in 1991 (when they were still here.) He was selling his book, which I bought. I mentioned that I saw him at Montgomery when he had eight '97 carbs, no blower. Remarkedly he said, "Yep only was there once, turned 8.36 ET." Sure enough his book has all races he every ran and in 1958 that was exactly the speed! Another fun time is when we drove from North NJ to the Track thinking there would be a Drag race. Turned out it was a NASCAR race (which I did not follow at the time.) We were late so got in free and saw #42 and #43 racing with hay bails in corners. That was Richard Petty and his Dad! Was a sponsor for Richard from 1986 through 2000 when I retired. Mostly worked with Dale Inman his cousin and crew chief for many years. They were in Level Cross NC at he time and we have given them 25 welding and plasma cutting machines (my business.) We would teach the team welding and cutting stuff and visited frequently with my training folks. Richard always came out of house to say hello. Know Dale was arranging! Great folks. By Cousin saw Dale at a race in Bristol VA last year and he recalled our ***ociation- He's 83. Recall mentioning that Montgomery race to Dale and he said, yep remember, we pulled the cars on flatbed trucks and we slept in them as well!
The Jalopy Journal
