It looks like my old home track, Island Dragway, in NJ is closing. That is a real shame. Been operating for 50 years.
Looks like "legal" drag racing is dying. So many tracks closing.
Two tracks in Florida, this year, also.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Sorry to hear that, Charlie.

Attendance has been down at almost every track I've been to over the last 4-6 yrs. Some will survive, I'm sure, but this is sad.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

which tracks in FL Charrlie ??


-Mike

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I am the Guardian, I hate helos, everything leaks.......

Just look at all the businesses that have closed in the last 4-5 years. I am really surprised that more tracks have not closed. Especially since none of us really "has to race"

Rick

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

Pretty big thread about Island on the Bullet now. General consensus seems to be mismanagement, but they also say that if investors can be found it will reopen.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I'm not sure, but I remember many years ago, The family that owns the track considered getting out, but couldn't sell. The track is allow to operate, do to being "grandfathered". I think it must stay under the same ownership. At one time the family leased the track out, for a couple of years, but they kept ownership.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Orlando Speed World, will not be open after Dec 2012.
Central Florida Racing Complex has no more drag racing. They are trying to get it going again, but who knows. They are open for "drifting" and other stuff.

Mike, JAX dragway, up by you, closed a few years ago. Was located in Pecan Park.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I'm sure some of this is due to the economy... not a lot of spare cash out there to build cars right now.

But it begs a deeper question: Is the drag racing hobby fading away?

That's good to know. I was planning to go to the Race Complex for an 1/8 mile run. I guess not now. Hopefully I can squeeze in a 1/4 mile run at Speed World. Hope there still open this weekend. They used to have a Wednesday test and tune. Do you know if that is still available?

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir

Part of the discussion is the landowners do not want to renew the lease for the present owners/operators. Sounds like a big mess to me. Also seems to be some discussion that they have run afoul of the EPA.

Coles County is the same kind of deal. The owners of the track do not own the land. Fortunately it has about 70 years left on a 99 year lease. The golf course next door has tried many times to get the lease out from under the track owners, but have never been successful.

Rick, most of the tracks around here seem to be doing pretty well. Rt 66, Union Grove, Cordova, Byron, and Osceola all have thriving bracket programs.

US 41 is filling the void for the grudge guys by catering to them. Can't say I blame them either. Charge them an entry fee, charge them more money to turn off the clocks, no track prep, and no payouts. They can't lose.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Orlando Speed World, last race day is Dec 14-15, 2012
http://www.speedworlddragway.com/schedule.html

Brennen, Lakeland is not too far from you. 1/8 mile.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

orlando speed world will still be open for drags and circle track in 2013 according to the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/orlandospeedworld?fref=ts

-Mike

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I am the Guardian, I hate helos, everything leaks.......

Mike, I don't do facebook. I was going by the track website.
EDIT: I just called the track and spoke to a live person. They are doing the last race of 2012 as we spoke. As of this point in time, the dragstrip will not be running in 2013. That could change "IF" the track is sold as a dragstrip. At this time there is no sale in place.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

well dang it anyway lol, guess I need to start find tracks up near me here in Jacksonville,fl lol

-Mike

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I am the Guardian, I hate helos, everything leaks.......

Mike,


It appears that Gainsville Raceway is only 1.5 Hours away from you.
http://goo.gl/maps/YT7Sb



Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack