Another one bites the Dust- So long Richmond Dragway

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SLOPAR72

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Yep, owner got called out on some intel and few weeks ago and denied it was for sale and then whammo made his official announcement on Friday. He didn't directly blame the "Chinoman flu" but he did elaborate that since he did not run after it all started in March he realized the amount of family time he was missing operating the track. Opinions will vary but this is a game changer for many based on travel.....

He did not offer that if would remain as a track and supposedly our local Airport (RIC) bought the property....

JW
 
That is very bad news! Between Suffolk and Richmond those were my learnin tracks. Lots of good memories.
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Damn, and in the south no less. I expect this kind of crap over here in the PRK. Bums me out to see it happening all over, especially there, I tell you what.
 
I met Scott Geoffrion at Richmond many many years ago with a good friend of mine back then. We helped him push the HEMI car around. He was a MOST COOL dude!!

How much for Richmond?
 
I met Scott Geoffrion at Richmond many many years ago with a good friend of mine back then. We helped him push the HEMI car around. He was a MOST COOL dude!!

How much for Richmond?

Interesting question. From what has been gathered it is permanently closed meaning the property has been sold and will be used for other purposes....

It's an interesting scenario. The owner has changed what he wants out of his lifestyle but typically that is not what kills a track such as this. I doubt anyone will know the true story however it would be impossible to turn it into a track again since society as a whole wants no parts of something like this in their community..

JW
 
Yep, owner got called out on some intel and few weeks ago and denied it was for sale and then whammo made his official announcement on Friday. He didn't directly blame the "Chinoman flu" but he did elaborate that since he did not run after it all started in March he realized the amount of family time he was missing operating the track. Opinions will vary but this is a game changer for many based on travel.....

He did not offer that if would remain as a track and supposedly our local Airport (RIC) bought the property....

JW


Back when I was young and the nearest drag strip was 1 1/2 hours from here, street racing got very popular...

Luckily they opened the Route 66 race track in Joliet and people can just go there, so there's not the street racing here like they used to... Why take a chance and get busted by the cops, when you can go to the track and race legally???


It sucks when you loose your race track....
 
Back when I was young and the nearest drag strip was 1 1/2 hours from here, street racing got very popular...

Luckily they opened the Route 66 race track in Joliet and people can just go there, so there's not the street racing here like they used to... Why take a chance and get busted by the cops, when you can go to the track and race legally???


It sucks when you loose your race track....

Yes it does. We have a really nice facility in Dinwiddie, Va. (VMP) but it's apples to oranges. A small track like RD is more intimate (maybe there is a better word for it lol) and everything is just easier to make passes.

I am glad this all happened as I was awaiting for a car to come availble in 2 months and I shut that down. I prefer a street bruiser and not trailering. Times are changing and it is what it is.....

JW
 
@SLOPAR72 I was just at the NHRA site and there selling tickets to the tracks future events. But there site says differently.
RICHMOND DRAGWAY | UNLEASH THE EXCITEMENT
In a little digging around, since the COVID came to town, the track owner said he really hasn’t opened up the strip and has spent a lot of time at home realizing what he is missing, so, wrapping up the life at the strip for the family is most likely the reason.

Now since I haven’t been to Dinwiddie Va. in about 20 years, is it still not a bit out in the sticks some? How close is “Town” to be disturbed?
 
@SLOPAR72 I was just at the NHRA site and there selling tickets to the tracks future events. But there site says differently.
RICHMOND DRAGWAY | UNLEASH THE EXCITEMENT
In a little digging around, since the COVID came to town, the track owner said he really hasn’t opened up the strip and has spent a lot of time at home realizing what he is missing, so, wrapping up the life at the strip for the family is most likely the reason.

Now since I haven’t been to Dinwiddie Va. in about 20 years, is it still not a bit out in the sticks some? How close is “Town” to be disturbed?

Correct Rumble.... He and his family have built wealth and has the option to let it go and he did. No since in crying over spilled Milk but what rubs me personally is killing off the track because you want more family time is not an excuse to close it down. Put it up for sale and see if anyone bites. You never know. Or let someone manage it (they had it in place honestly.)

As for VMP, they have their own twisted story. Tommy Franklin bought it a few years ago. Big time racer. And he has thrown money at it. Record setting track (Warren Johnson, Tom Bailey, etc.) and is a beautiful facility. It's not in the sticks but a little off the beaten path. The community fought it when they built it and helped run NHRA out of town (and a mismanaged track.) What Dinwiddie didn't realize was the econonic impact of it and from what I hear are glad to have it back. Think of it as a Top of the line Englishtown. It's the only option for us locals now.

As for noise, any track is noisy and will never get smiles from everyone. It backs up a RV Campsite which has made it a tough deal...

JW
 
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