Carlarena1

A sad farewell to a heck of a fun place! Anyone in, or near South Jersey will feel this 1... So far I hear its another loss to an Amazon warehouse...

Carlarena1

I grew up going. I'm sad for the generations to come who loose out on this kind of excitement now

Charlie Jones

Is this the one in Englishtown?

no1oldsfan

We are feeling your pain out here in Denver. So hard to believe that Bandimere will be no longer. I literally grew up at that track. As a kid we would sit at the traps. Thunder Mountain is going down. Sucks.

oldcutlass

Sorry hear of this. Where is the closest one to Central Jersey now?

No, Englishtown already closed a few years back.

Oldsmaniac

This leaves Island Dragway in N Jersey as the only track left. Maple Grove in Pa. is about an hour or so away from Central Jersey west.... Sadly it seems Drag racing is a thing of the past as us geezers age, the ones who grew up with the muscle cars.

BlueCalais79

Wow this really sucks. I have a photo of the prior 79 H/O I owned that Brian Monahan used to own beating a stock 1979 Firebird Trans Am at that track. His wife took it. Brian beat it out of the gate and never gave up the lead. The Pontiac owner was quite miffed he was beat by an Olds, I was told. But he was more interested in smoking his tires off the line than in winning the race. That had to be between 1981 and 1986.

Oldsmaniac

Great memories, Post that Picture! Yeah ATCO was a big part of my life, late 70's with spectator and bracket racing visits...

Carlarena1

English town is still open, they just added a section for motocross not that long ago.

Carlarena1

They actually expanded about 200 acres up there. They were able to fix some of their money problems by renting a lot to an auction company as I understand.

Oldsmaniac

They have events but NO drag racing at E-town...

leftlaneonly

Gone but not forgotten

twilightblue28A

Cars Magazine Championship, Atco Dragway, July 29, 1972.

Atco Dragway, Track Record Holder, both E.T and MPH, June 2, 1973.

Atco Dragway, State of New Jersey Championship, August 5, 1973.

All over the news in Philly. Lot's of great memories at Atco Dragway. I raced pure stock at Atco in '72 and '73. No changes to the car. Street tires, no headers or open exhaust permitted. I remember others protesting the validity of the car and the track officials would verify the engine being stock and in compliance. If I remember, by successfully defeating protests, I would earn either $100.00 or $300.00 that the protestors posted. I still have at least thirty trophies and approximately twenty-four Atco Class Winner Decals. I used to race with Paul Mayo, who was my Oldsmobile mentor. Paul showed me the significant performance changes by changing the timing, dwell, jetting the carburetor, increased tire pressure, all of which were legal. Paul had a white '70 convertible, four speed. My car was a '70 twilightblue convertible, automatic. Great times.

shiftbyear

What chaps my hide is beautiful facilities like Pomona won't do street cars. Only big money events get the nod.

edzolz

Probably because the big money funds the insurance for any accidents that happen during the races.

Carlarena1

We used to roll in with my Winnebago, park right next to the stands and watch from the roof with lawn chairs. Best seat in the house ill have to see if I've got a picture somewhere.