Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back!

Jim Kaekel · 03-03-2010, 01:50 PM

I just heard that Onondaga Drag Strip is back, being approved last night by local politicians to begin racing. From what I've been told, it closed back in '78. Good news, another track back in business, particularly for Lansing area racers.

Bill Koski · 03-03-2010, 02:19 PM

That's unbelievable. We raced there in '63 and '64.
I've tried to figure out where it was driving up US-127 towards Lansing several times?
Who is opening the place?

D.Holly · 03-03-2010, 02:28 PM

This is "GOOD NEWS". I was there last fall to a car show. The track has a long ways to go before you would get too excited about running there.
The group that has been using it are slowly bringing it back to life.
It is located west of Leslie MI.

http://www.youtube.com/user/cameronh.../3/hWdPcMSezwQ

Last falls car show video

Racing at Onondaga

Ron Miller · 03-03-2010, 05:37 PM

Heard this Rumor a couple weeks ago. A New Drag Strip being built at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It is supposed to be near the Yankee Air Plane Museum. Construction was started last fall and will be completed this spring. Looks like a road trip is in order.

Chris "drooze" Wertman · 03-03-2010, 09:10 PM

CORN ! All that corn reminds me of 42, I like it already, corn does an amazing job of slowing vehicles down

I can say from experinece when your in an open chassis car it also hurts like ****.

Thats awesome, well have to make a run over that way.

Any word on whose "sanctioning" it IHRA, or AHRA ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Holly

This is "OOD NEWS". I was there last fall to a car show. The track has a long ways to go before you would get too excited about running there.
The group that has been using it are slowly bringing it back to life.
It is located west of Leslie MI.

http://www.youtube.com/user/cameronh.../3/hWdPcMSezwQ

Last falls car show video

Racing at Onondaga

Bret Kepner · 03-04-2010, 01:00 AM

Actually, they started racing again at Onondaga in mid-2008.

charlie westcott · 03-04-2010, 01:39 PM

that track would need some MAJOR $$$ to be driveable. If the ground it, and cut down the corn, it would make a decent track. We went over there to see what was going on last summer, met the guys that are in charge. They seemed real nice. They were "racing" 2 cars at a time to the 1/8th mile cone. No seat belts, I think the guy had on a helmet. It was a little on the scary side. I wish they would make it nice, its only about 15 mins from here, and my dad raced there when he was a kid.
Not one thing has been in the paper about it, so I dont know what is going on up there.
cw

D.Holly · 03-04-2010, 03:33 PM

Posted on another site.
Ray Comer: Hi there, this is Ray Comer owner of the Onondaga Dragway, I applied for a special use permit so we can keep things going on the track. The public hearing is on 3/2/2010 at 7:30 P M onondage township hall , Onondaga Mi. I could use all the positive suport I can get, to get this to pass.

Thank you
Ray comer

Dan Nepstad: Congrats to the owners/operators of Onondaga Dragway! The township approved their special permit! I can''t wait to see cars in competition on the track. Great job guys, you brought back a piece of living history. If y''all need help, Wildhorsesclub.net has plenty interested if you need anything.

Dago Red · 03-04-2010, 09:57 PM

"......Even the longest of journeys begin with a single step...."

Old Chinese Proverb

njk53 · 03-05-2010, 01:50 PM

Ron Miller, where did you hear that they were building a dragstrip at the Willow Run Airport? I live in the area and haven't heard that rumor. Although, WR Airport would be a great place for a track.

I never understood why someone didn't approach the people at Selfridge Air Force Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan to build a track there. Heartland Park Dragway in Topeka, Kansas is built on a currently operating National Guard facility and is a great place.

At Selfridge AFB, the government cut the activities and budget there so it isn't being used to it's potential. What a great location that would be for a premier dragstrip because it is right off of I-94.

03-03-2010, 01:50 PM	#1
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,226 Likes: 133 Liked 529 Times in 107 Posts	Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! I just heard that Onondaga Drag Strip is back, being approved last night by local politicians to begin racing. From what I've been told, it closed back in '78. Good news, another track back in business, particularly for Lansing area racers. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

03-03-2010, 02:19 PM	#2
Bill Koski Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 213 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! That's unbelievable. We raced there in '63 and '64. I've tried to figure out where it was driving up US-127 towards Lansing several times? Who is opening the place?

03-03-2010, 02:28 PM	#3
D.Holly Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 149 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! This is "GOOD NEWS". I was there last fall to a car show. The track has a long ways to go before you would get too excited about running there. The group that has been using it are slowly bringing it back to life. It is located west of Leslie MI. http://www.youtube.com/user/cameronh.../3/hWdPcMSezwQ Last falls car show video Racing at Onondaga Last edited by D.Holly; 03-03-2010 at 03:43 PM. Reason: added info

03-03-2010, 05:37 PM	#4
Ron Miller Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brownstown, Mi 48134 Posts: 196 Likes: 35 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! Heard this Rumor a couple weeks ago. A New Drag Strip being built at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It is supposed to be near the Yankee Air Plane Museum. Construction was started last fall and will be completed this spring. Looks like a road trip is in order.

03-04-2010, 01:00 AM	#6
Bret Kepner Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA Posts: 418 Likes: 1 Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! Actually, they started racing again at Onondaga in mid-2008. __________________ Bret Kepner BRETKEPNER@Prodigy.net Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

03-04-2010, 01:39 PM	#7
charlie westcott Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 131 Likes: 0 Liked 216 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! that track would need some MAJOR $$$ to be driveable. If the ground it, and cut down the corn, it would make a decent track. We went over there to see what was going on last summer, met the guys that are in charge. They seemed real nice. They were "racing" 2 cars at a time to the 1/8th mile cone. No seat belts, I think the guy had on a helmet. It was a little on the scary side. I wish they would make it nice, its only about 15 mins from here, and my dad raced there when he was a kid. Not one thing has been in the paper about it, so I dont know what is going on up there. cw

03-04-2010, 03:33 PM	#8
D.Holly Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 149 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! Posted on another site. Ray Comer: Hi there, this is Ray Comer owner of the Onondaga Dragway, I applied for a special use permit so we can keep things going on the track. The public hearing is on 3/2/2010 at 7:30 P M onondage township hall , Onondaga Mi. I could use all the positive suport I can get, to get this to pass. Thank you Ray comer Dan Nepstad: Congrats to the owners/operators of Onondaga Dragway! The township approved their special permit! I can''t wait to see cars in competition on the track. Great job guys, you brought back a piece of living history. If y''all need help, Wildhorsesclub.net has plenty interested if you need anything. Last edited by D.Holly; 03-04-2010 at 03:36 PM. Reason: added info

03-04-2010, 09:57 PM	#9
Dago Red Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fort Worth TX Posts: 51 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! "......Even the longest of journeys begin with a single step...." Old Chinese Proverb

03-05-2010, 01:50 PM	#10
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Onondaga (Mich.) Drag Strip is Back! Ron Miller, where did you hear that they were building a dragstrip at the Willow Run Airport? I live in the area and haven't heard that rumor. Although, WR Airport would be a great place for a track. I never understood why someone didn't approach the people at Selfridge Air Force Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan to build a track there. Heartland Park Dragway in Topeka, Kansas is built on a currently operating National Guard facility and is a great place. At Selfridge AFB, the government cut the activities and budget there so it isn't being used to it's potential. What a great location that would be for a premier dragstrip because it is right off of I-94. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345