So is e-town really going away?

BKSG1198 · 04-24-2007, 05:41 PM

E-TOWN IN DANGER OF BEING SOLD!?
Over the last couple of years DRO has reported many times concerning rumors about Englishtown Raceway Park in New Jersey being forced to close over noise pollution issues. It is no secret that the local towns and housing developers lust to close the venerable track down and develop the property. Now DRO has heard from a source that has been very reliable in the past with info that the E-town track is really at risk and for several reasons. First, the money offered for the 500-acre tract is seriously large and, second, the noise issues that are on-going are due to be brought up again at the New Jersey state level, which would cost the Napp family a lot of money to fight.

DRO has been told that the Napp family recently turned down an offer of $180 million for the property but counter-offered saying that if the offer was raised to $200 million the family might consider. DRO has been told that eight people own the track, and a $25 million ?golden parachute? for each of the owners would be pretty hard for anyone to resist. With houses being built closer to the track literally every day, history indicates that it seems inevitable the track will eventually be closed and sold. It will be a sad day when it happens. [4/23/2007]

frank v · 04-24-2007, 08:36 PM

ive been hearing this rumor for about 7 years .

s/g 1620

BKSG1198 · 04-25-2007, 01:18 AM

Frank,
So have I about them selling the land to build more houses, etc. I think it's only a matter of time before it gets sold. I just like the fact that the track has been there for 35+ years and now they build houses around it and people complain about the noise. It's like "wake the hell up, you moved next to a drag strip. It's not like they built it overnight" I just think you throw as the BS that the NJ state laws and 25 million to each person and someone is bound to break and say lets just sell it.

sc1153 · 04-25-2007, 07:37 PM

I am not sure about any of this "RUMOR" however, there are a few facts that have E-Town smelling like roses.

1) they have complied with every request to shorten the noise curfew.
2) they were there BEFORE ANY housing was built
3) If you buy a house within a certain mileage (not sure of the exact) you HAD TO sign a waiver understanding that there is a racetrack nearby and it does produce noise.
4) "THE KICKER" before Vince Knapp died he had all the land (aprox. 360 acres) approved by the federal govt to put up low income and HUD housing. They do NOT have to go to the township for approval to do this, because it is govt sanctioned. So If they want to close the track down and make it un-raceable for the owners, they will simply build LOW INCOME housing and drive the prices of the homes in that area INTO THE TOILET!
That was brought up at the last Township Meeting.

I say if they dont like it MOVE AWAY! Racers will move in!

Thanks,
Chris DePascale
S/C 1153....Addicted Racing
Jad153@aol.com

J Adams · 04-26-2007, 12:19 AM

Sounds like a California story, our tracks are in danger every day it seems.

NorCal 7071

Walt Frey · 04-26-2007, 07:27 PM

Guys! Rumors of our impending demise are just that, rumors!
Raceway Park is quite healthy and is not in danger of closing. We believe that we know who the "reliable source" is and we are fairly certain that it is a former (from an ancient time) employee that still has a vindictive bug in his ale when it comes to E-Town. All it would have taken was a phone call from Jeff Burke to find the truth. VERY irresponsible journalism In my opinion. Jeff, you have to check your sources more thoroughly, especially when it comes from the likes of someone that has now been banned from TWO NHRA facilities!
We are currently hard at work completing our brand new 1.35 mi. road course. This is a very labor intensive and expensive proposition. Hardly the sort of effort and enterprise that you would expect from someone about to sell!
As far as impending noise legistlation on a State level.......There is none! Total fabrication.
Of course, we would love to have no noise restrictions or curfews, but we have been able to live with what we have and still thrive. We have been battling these sorts of rumors since 1973! This one seems to have an air of legitimacy only because it appeared on a well known web site. DON'T believe everything that you read!
Walter Frey: Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park

BKSG1198 · 04-27-2007, 02:19 AM

Thanks Walt,
It's good to know that Englishtown will be around for years to come. It sucks how ex-employee's like to spread horrible rumors just to try to get back at people.

04-24-2007, 05:41 PM	#1
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,602 Likes: 94 Liked 1,251 Times in 382 Posts	So is e-town really going away? E-TOWN IN DANGER OF BEING SOLD!? Over the last couple of years DRO has reported many times concerning rumors about Englishtown Raceway Park in New Jersey being forced to close over noise pollution issues. It is no secret that the local towns and housing developers lust to close the venerable track down and develop the property. Now DRO has heard from a source that has been very reliable in the past with info that the E-town track is really at risk and for several reasons. First, the money offered for the 500-acre tract is seriously large and, second, the noise issues that are on-going are due to be brought up again at the New Jersey state level, which would cost the Napp family a lot of money to fight. DRO has been told that the Napp family recently turned down an offer of $180 million for the property but counter-offered saying that if the offer was raised to $200 million the family might consider. DRO has been told that eight people own the track, and a $25 million ?golden parachute? for each of the owners would be pretty hard for anyone to resist. With houses being built closer to the track literally every day, history indicates that it seems inevitable the track will eventually be closed and sold. It will be a sad day when it happens. [4/23/2007]

04-24-2007, 08:36 PM	#2
frank v Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ny Posts: 286 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ive been hearing this rumor for about 7 years . s/g 1620 __________________ s/g 1620

04-25-2007, 07:37 PM	#4
sc1153 Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Parlin, NJ Posts: 420 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I am not sure about any of this "RUMOR" however, there are a few facts that have E-Town smelling like roses. 1) they have complied with every request to shorten the noise curfew. 2) they were there BEFORE ANY housing was built 3) If you buy a house within a certain mileage (not sure of the exact) you HAD TO sign a waiver understanding that there is a racetrack nearby and it does produce noise. 4) "THE KICKER" before Vince Knapp died he had all the land (aprox. 360 acres) approved by the federal govt to put up low income and HUD housing. They do NOT have to go to the township for approval to do this, because it is govt sanctioned. So If they want to close the track down and make it un-raceable for the owners, they will simply build LOW INCOME housing and drive the prices of the homes in that area INTO THE TOILET! That was brought up at the last Township Meeting. I say if they dont like it MOVE AWAY! Racers will move in! Thanks, Chris DePascale S/C 1153....Addicted Racing Jad153@aol.com __________________ Chris DePascale S/ST 1531 & S/C 1153....Addicted Racing Jad153@aol.com

04-25-2007, 01:18 AM	#3
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,602 Likes: 94 Liked 1,251 Times in 382 Posts	Frank, So have I about them selling the land to build more houses, etc. I think it's only a matter of time before it gets sold. I just like the fact that the track has been there for 35+ years and now they build houses around it and people complain about the noise. It's like "wake the hell up, you moved next to a drag strip. It's not like they built it overnight" I just think you throw as the BS that the NJ state laws and 25 million to each person and someone is bound to break and say lets just sell it.

04-26-2007, 12:19 AM	#5
J Adams Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sounds like a California story, our tracks are in danger every day it seems. NorCal 7071

04-26-2007, 07:27 PM	#6
Walt Frey Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bellmore NY Posts: 20 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Guys! Rumors of our impending demise are just that, rumors! Raceway Park is quite healthy and is not in danger of closing. We believe that we know who the "reliable source" is and we are fairly certain that it is a former (from an ancient time) employee that still has a vindictive bug in his ale when it comes to E-Town. All it would have taken was a phone call from Jeff Burke to find the truth. VERY irresponsible journalism In my opinion. Jeff, you have to check your sources more thoroughly, especially when it comes from the likes of someone that has now been banned from TWO NHRA facilities! We are currently hard at work completing our brand new 1.35 mi. road course. This is a very labor intensive and expensive proposition. Hardly the sort of effort and enterprise that you would expect from someone about to sell! As far as impending noise legistlation on a State level.......There is none! Total fabrication. Of course, we would love to have no noise restrictions or curfews, but we have been able to live with what we have and still thrive. We have been battling these sorts of rumors since 1973! This one seems to have an air of legitimacy only because it appeared on a well known web site. DON'T believe everything that you read! Walter Frey: Old Bridge Twp. Raceway Park

04-27-2007, 02:19 AM	#7
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,602 Likes: 94 Liked 1,251 Times in 382 Posts	Thanks Walt, It's good to know that Englishtown will be around for years to come. It sucks how ex-employee's like to spread horrible rumors just to try to get back at people.