ISLAND DRAG-WAY..Hackettstown NJ-Good news.

[1320racer]

Joe, I got no problem with the truth and facts.

Rich, we'll see. They didn't have good car counts the past several years and not much of a super pro class but I know steve and larry will be the first one's at the gate if/when it reopens.

That said, getting the green light from the state and NHRA still doesn't resolve....


no money
no EMS
no fuel supplier
no credit
no insurance
no water
no food

[RJDUDEK]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Here's the truth about why Island closed and why it will fail again IF it reopens.

The interesting twist here is the guy who made these comments is the same guy that started this thread....Bob Dudek and I quote HIS WORDS right from the save island dragway facebook page...

"The track has been run by Ed and Kate’s daughter Kathy for the past decade or better. ....."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For CS's What the hell is up with you..I started this thread as FYI ONLY..not to throw gas on a (personal) fire.
Not MY words ..geez....a quote that I singled out from a POSTER on that FB page, with out any personal COMMENTS OF MY OWN.
I had and still don't have any inside "knowledge" of the behind the scenes events..except that I had have been going there every year since 1966(55 Chev.e/gas) till 06,with various bracket and street cars.

I would find a car to go back and support my dormant habit..in a heartbeat.

[RJDUDEK]

Originally Posted by J.LISA

Ed,as much as I hate to do this to ya (lol)
As of today island is a go with the state
And with NHRA. Just waiting on the town.

-----------------------------------------------
X2.

And Hope Uncle Gerard still races.

See you at the Patch 2.0 some day.

[Glenn Quinn]

I have never been to Island. But, WHEN they open I will make a few trips. We need all the tracks we can get. My glass is half full, is yours?

Glenn Quinn

[RJDUDEK]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

I was also told earlier this week they would be NHRA again.............(THAT'S A BIG HURDLE)

Personally I see no reason to spew hatred at them at all....what purpose does it serve....NONE....is the answer....(AMEN TO THAT)

...

Anyone with a brain knows it is very difficult to run a dragstrip.....and please everyone...just like it is in any retail business......(AND DEAL WITH THIS STATE)

..in quotes.

[RJDUDEK]

Originally Posted by RJDUDEK

..in quotes.

Well its looks like the principals involved.. are "Moving On" for the better...!

https://www.facebook.com/IslandDragw...ocation=stream

http://www.islanddragway.com/



Can a Lucas event be next (?) :}

[ss wannabee]

RJ...The place is a bit too small for a Lucas race...Yeah, I know Island may have
hosted Points meets back in the day...but with TODAY's trailers and rigs...and the
amount of entries that a typical Lucas race draws...uh uh!!!

I was at the Open they had a few years back...(did they only have it 1 year?)...
Think it was what...2006-07-08????

Don't think it was that well attended...but the place was packed...guys were pitting
on the return road...and it was a bit tight in the pits...gotta be careful there...

Wouldn't mind seeing Island as one of the stops in the East Coast Stock/Superstock
schedule though....how about it guys?

[Rich Biebel]

The Open series was there 3 years. Car counts were pretty light and management decided not to keep going with it.

I was at the last WCS points meet held at Island .....about 1967 I would guess.

A trailer was a luxory back then......or a ramp truck.....many people still flat towed....

No way they could host a big race with the rigs people have today...

The first Open series race was fine.....I thought maybe it would give the place a much needed shot of adrenalin.....it didn't

And S/SS races were run there including at least one of Dave Ley's events around 2006 or 2007 and had a decent car count.......I was there and ran it with my Firebird........

and a number of Stock-SuperStock races were run there back in the 80's with pretty big turnouts....

I raced Jerry Stein in the final of one....around 1981.....He won that one....

[1320racer]

I honestly wish Melissa and John the best. IF Melissa can divorce herself from her mother and father as it relates to the operation of the track and keep them away, she might have a chance but she'll need more than the just the weekly bracket racers to come back which I suspect most will. Car counts MUST increase significantly and that I see as her and John's biggest hurtle after rasing operating capital. Increasing entry fees without increase the purse will only hurt car counts.

[1320racer]

Two suggestions...1. while I know that Island can't compete with Numidia and will never be Numidia, I would suggest that Melissa and John, take a ride to Numidia on a saturday, stand back and take notes while watching over 125 weekly bracket racers who feel lucky and proud to race and represent numidia dragway, racers that are thrilled with the program and thankfull to have an owner, manager and family that go out of their way to ensure that everyone that comes through the gate is treated like family and enjoys their experience whether racer or spectator.
2. it couldn't hurt to personally reach out to the bracket racers that have moved on over the past several years, asking them to come back.