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

[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. When Kate became too ill in the late 90′s to run the track alone, Kathy and her (then) husband Tony “managed” the track, while also “managing” to pad their own pockets, buy new cars, trucks, cruises all over the world and a whole host of other things that benefitted themselves. Tony (although I am not a huge fan of his) at least had a passion for keeping the track running. Kathy on the other hand, couldn’t “manage” to add 2 and 2 together let alone handle a business. Kate died in 2010, and the track was left solely in Kathy’s care. She kicked Tony out on his ***, and took over the entire operation alone…..that is when the big decline started. Taxes went unpaid, Kate’s remaining assests were foolishly spent, on drugs, booze and God knows what else. Kates remaining daughter (the oldest passed away in 2007) was frozen out of the business all together….hell she wasnt even allowed to attend her own mother’s funeral because of Kathy’s greed. I am not suprised that this all happened….just a damn shame that Ed and Kate’s hard work all came to nothing. I hope that Kathy gets what she has coming to her….karma is a bitch, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more"

[H Hoover]

Well based on the info posted by 1320, it would be foolish to reopen with the same cast of characters. My hope would be that the old management is gone. Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to come back stronger. If it is being brought back by the same crowd, 1320 may very well be right.

I think the track could be profitable but it would take someone good at customer relations and marketing to do it.

[1320racer]

All I can tell you is that I speak every week to one very close to the situation who has a vested interest in the track reopening AND I spoke to the former track manager and kathy's boyfriend 2 weeks ago. I was told that 1.there is an operator out of Florida interested in leasing the track from the great meadows timing association aka Kathy Demarky and 2. Melissa Demarky is trying to raise the capital to lease the track from the great meadows timing association, again kathy her mother.

So the "old management" is still very much in place and will always be in place IF island dragway continues to operate.

[Charlie Yannetti]

If the money figures that I'm hearing, and who they are owed to are even close to correct, re-opening may not be as easy as stated earlier.. there may be more loop holes than we are aware of in this case..

Island Dragway was a great family run place to race back in the day, and I commend Mellisa for trying to bring it back.. and I will say that from what I have heard, "old management" will NOT be in place.. best of luck on that venture..

Re-opening the track may be a big problem, but I think the bigger problem is IF you complete Step One, what is going to be Step Two.. could be a very big financial stumbling block.. what do you do with it once you re-open it..

I do find it a little ridiculous though to bash an entire family for the business mistakes of one, or maybe two.. Ed and Kate gave us exactly what we racers wanted and needed for many many years.. let's not forget the good stuff..

[SGSST109E]

Second that.

[H Hoover]

Originally Posted by SGSST109E

Second that.

Me too. My days there were mostly in the 1980 to 1990 period. I moved from Hackettstown to Pennsylvania in 1989 and never really got back much. Those days in the 80's at Island were classic. When we weren't racing we were sitting on the spectator side with cases of beer getting tanked watching the great cars of the day. Being a drunk wasn't such a bad thing back then....

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by H Hoover

Those days in the 80's at Island were classic. When we weren't racing we were sitting on the spectator side with cases of beer getting tanked watching the great cars of the day. Being a drunk wasn't such a bad thing back then....

That was a longgggggggg time ago and that was NOT the island dragway I and most of my competitors experienced from about the late 90's till they locked the gate back in december.

[1320racer]

More facts reported on another website from another long time island racer in the loop...

"This is what I was told a couple days ago...


Water is NG
Septic is NG

So...No food concession can operate.....

A Lunch Truck or some sort of portable food stand was the plan

No bathrooms or running water either....Porta Johns


REEEEEdiculous.......

Maybe they could bring back the raingutters in the mens room like they had in the '60s"


So for those at home keeping track...

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

but "they're back", too funny!

[FINESPLINE]

If Island Dragway is coming back it is going to be one expensive long ride to operating status. After reading about the hoops they have to jump through , I would not bet on this one.

[SSDA Hemi]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

but "they're back", too funny!

Nothing really funny about losing another track.

I had alot of good times there in the eighties. Saturday night at Island, Sunday at Raceway. And don't forget about stopping at the "Sunset" on the way home! Alot of good weekends.... Sad if it does close for good.

While it is a far distance from what it was back then, the memories will live on forever. It may be against the odds, but I hope they do pull it off...