Atco is done
 

Atco dragway was sold today to an investment group it's done as of today

Re: Atco is done
 

Wow. A friend just texted me about it. It's on Facebook, for one.

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What happens with the divisional in 3 weeks?

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New ownership

https://www.dragzine.com/news/sold-a...-in-ownership/

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That was the last sale, 2012

Looks like they are totally closed now. All events will be cancelled.

Kp

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That article says 2012

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Well that's a real kick in the nuts . Thank Lenny

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Well thats a real kick in the nuts Len

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sorry didn't see that.

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The track manager on Facebook posted it’s true
This sucks

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Capitalism is great until we are affected by it. Sucks it's gone to become something that's not a racetrack. First RP, then Atco, maybe it will be a home run for Island Dragway for the local racers. I hope they can capitalize on it since that land is not allowed to be built on.

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Ummmm, I know that it's been years since this came up at Island but it can be commercial or industrial warehousing. It can't be residential. It IS a flood zone. Someone that I know personally was in negotiations with Ed Kowalick to buy the track and build a "gasoline alley" alongside of it.

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May have been hacked.

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Not hacked, it's true.

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Maybe, just maybe, it's time for NHRA to take some emphasis off of the 'Big Show' and big money, as well as well heeled 'sportsmen' with stackers and the financial ability to take weeks off of work, and then focus that effort on local racers, tracks, and operators while they still exist. But, that's the opinion of an old man.

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Sad but it’s true :/

https://6abc.com/amp/atco-dragway-cl...y-is/13520196/

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More like an influx of communism over the last 3 years that created high costs and killed local businesses.

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Dead on Bobby Dead on.

Randy Wells
I/S 5628

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Good morning to all,
Well after suffering through the shock of this news, now where do we go from here? So is the Divisional race that is scheduled for August 4,5,&6th 2023 completely scrapped or will an alternative location and / or date be put together to take Atco's place ( for now )? I hope our new Division Director can come up with a acceptable plan on this matter. He has had his fair share thrown at him in the last couple of weeks. I'm hoping for the best, we can't control what happens behind closed doors, so we'll all have to make the best of a bad situation.
Not a good way to start a new day.

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz H/SA 1534

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We did have a double at VMP one year

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Im sure the owner had a fire under his *** to sell after being shot down a few years ago to have IAA (the same company who is leasing ETown) move in. RIP Atco

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Maybe I am naive. Chances are that who ever sold (assuming it was not an investment company) made a good profit on the sale. If there is racing in your blood and you just sold why not look for more property in the country (ie low cost per acre) and start over? I realize that might be impossible in NJ but it is not impossible in other states. When all these tracks were built in the 50's and 60's they were built out in the country and did not bother anyone and now one was looking to buy the property to develop it.
I loved Englishtown and I really enjoyed Atco. NJ is a great place to race. NJ has some of the best air in the world. I will miss Atco Ray

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Maybe, but this does expose a glaring weakness in the NHRA track contract agreements, the NHRA should have a clause in there to protect the racers and employees at the track from a sale and immediate close......ie its ok to sell the business, but you MUST complete the season or you will get SUED by the NHRA, who would ask for an immediate injunction to stop the closing.

Perhaps the NHRA has such a clause and their legal team of pit bulls is allready straining at the leash.........Bobby, maybe you could inquire this question to them as part of your podcast........

Eric

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Maybe the NHRA can save the day.......If they can it would be a track wake, and I think racers knowing it was the last divisional for the track would flood the place, I'd certainly have to bring the Gremlin, as the late Ed Fernadez won that race, it would only be fitting be have it go down the track one last time.

Eric

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Here's the opportunity for NJ Motorsports park to expand to drag racing. There was talk about this the last go round with closing ATCO so here ya go. Also US13 to come back to NHRA and 1/4 mile drag racing. Hoe about those tracks in Maryland??? Believe Capitol is open as test and tune and grudge events.....

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Doubles only work when there is no rain. They sound great when they schedule them, but we get rain almost every race here in D1.

I see Cecil only has a test and tune the weekend of the Atco Divisional. Maybe D1 will reach out to the Halsey family and see if that could work.

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Fazio metals already have the grandstands on their website and it says they must be removed immediately

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Duane Racing only works if there is no rain. I'm still in at Epping Nationals Only one race with rain.
Numedia Divisional would have been run the same way on Saturday because of the expected rain on Sunday even if it was only one race.

At least with a double you get the chance of getting one of the races in with a bad forecast for a day. Rain has been tough to deal with but so is $4.00 plus diesel cost and tolls.

Take a look at Lebanon Valley's attempt several times to run an open. One race even with good weather it's been a bust and a money loser for the track. How do you think it would have done if the Open was on Thursday and Friday and the Divisional was on Saturday and Sunday. Don't get how this was not the way it was run but now no more Opens at the Valley. I bet they would have had some of the best car counts at that track'

One tow with a chance of getting 2 races in is better than one tow and you know it's only 1 race and rain can play just as much of a part of not getting it in as with 2.

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I always figured this place:https://njmp.com/?utm_source=google&...saAnzgEALw_wcB didn't build a dragstrip because of the other's in the area (Atco was the closest), but maybe, just maybe...

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Virginia is a long tow if your coming from the New England area. It would make a lot more sense to make that the double. I know a of lot you guys from the Jersy, Pa area like the races in your backyard and don't want to travel hours to a race. Welcome to the of world of the racers that live in New England. BP

Flame away but first take a look at the participation at the Epping Nationals and Divisionals for the last several years.

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I attended a event locally with a friend, they said I don't think it should cost this much just to watch. I reminded them the vast majority of the year this property doesn't earn a nickle, even then it depends on the weather. NHRA lodrs series and the recent sportsnationals definitely show they don't fill the stands. I recently visited Dragway 42 in Ohio, they have a very large and varied schedule, it's interesting to look at.

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Drag racing in general don't fill the stands. Unless you have fire coming out of the headers. I think a lot of the track owners expect to just open the gate during a LODR and fans should know about it and show up. Well the ones that understand this is not the 60's and 70's and work at getting fans in the seats still do ok. Sportsman racing is the greatest traveling car show on earth. Have you ever heard a track use those words to promote it? BP

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An unrelated artice that I came across stated that Copart is targeting former race tracks because they can purchase the land with less EPA restrictions revolving around oil contamination that pre-existed/grandfathered, and will not impact cars being stored on the property.

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Good afternoon Barry and to all,
You've said a mouthful my friend. You were at Maple Grove for the points race and there was spectators! Besides adding some improvements to an already good facility they got people into the stands. People that eat food, buy T-Shirts and pay admission, maybe there plan should be one to look at and follow. Lebanon Valley also had spectators , Okay - the place wasn't packed , but there was people there and that's a "good sign" !
Yes its going to take some work, people want to be entertained and if the "people" don't feel there're getting enough bang for there buck - they aren't coming back. I'm sure racers feel the same way. After all Stock Elim. is the Original Small Tire class in Drag Racing, there has to be a way to capitalize on what we already have.

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz 1534 H/SA

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I thought there was a "decent" crowd at the Atco N/O in May. The rub of course being that admission was free. It seems there are multiple factors at play with the Atco sale beyond just "sportsman drag racing doesn't pull in crowds."

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Anyone need any grandstands? They're not wasting any time.
https://fazziosurplus.com/5000-seat-...stands-jf35596

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We are still going to lose a lot more tracks over the next several years. No matter what the owners do. The Real Estate values on so many tracks have far exceeded the money value they can make operating as a racing facility. Along with dealing with Government regulations and neighbors. We go to a race for the weekend and spend some money. At the end of the weekend we drive away. The owners are left with all the financial exposures and the long hours of work needed to be successful. As a racer I hate to see any tracks close. For the ones that stay open I stand by what I have said about promoting races. BP

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Maybe for his next business adventure he will buy the Yankees and then sale the statium

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Barry, you made a wise decision heading south to live. We still have 18 active dragstrips in NC. Granted, most are 1/8 mile, but Rockingham, VMP, Darlington, Zmax, and Galot are decent facilities to race at and not a distant tow. Another fine thing about this area is several divisional races are held not too far away in D1,2,3.

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In terms of prosperity for the sport of Drag Racing and especially in the North East region perhaps the N.H.R.A. and New Jersey Motorsports Park should have a conversation.