Drag strips closing in US...

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Brooks James

Brooks James

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Google , Drag strips closing in US, Motor Biscuit
I thought that posts here about closing tracks, were exagerrated, now i believe it !!
 
Truly sad. When IRP closes and Great Lakes I’m going to be pissed.
 
When they announced that PBIR was closing, I legitimately got really sad. I have so many good memories at that track and I'm so upset that I didnt get back 1 last time to see it.

My wife and I used to go to the drag races there during college. 25 years ago! Back when the name was "Moroso Motorsports Park."

I met some amazing people there. Got on TV for the 1st time with Joe from Horsepower! Broke countless parts and quite a few hearts. I loved that place.

And now it'll be a goddamn housing development on that hallowed ground. Money always wins and sometimes it sucks.

Go hug your local tracks.

Just Send It
 
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Im an hour and a half from Gainsville and Speed World in Orlando. I will be extremely pissed if they both close !!! I broke my racing cherry in Orlando in 1975.
 
One of the problems with drag racing? Is that it takes alot of real estate. Thus older tracks that city growth approaches? Racing revenues are too low. This is what killed door drive in theaters. Just too easy for land developers to buy. And even if a track owner digs in their heels? Then county needs begin their pressures.

It's all about the $$
 
Just Send It said:
When they announced that PBIR was closing, I legitimately got really sad. I have so many good memories at that track and I'm so upset that I didnt get back 1 last time to see it.
My wife and I used to go to the drag races there during college. 25 years ago! I met some amazing people there. Got on TV for the 1st time with Joe from Horsepower! Broke countless parts and quite a few hearts. I loved that place.
And now it'll be a goddamn housing development on that hallowed ground. Money always wins and sometimes it sucks.
Go hug your local tracks.
Just Send It
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I know exactly how you feel.
The vast bulk of both my drag race attendance and later racing my '69 340 Swinger was at Orange County International Raceway here in SoCal. I loved that track and have so many memories from there: my first class win, bracket racing wins, trophies, great friends and fun times.
 
LA county has made a PSA on street racing claiming Irwindale is a safe place to drag race. You see, the trouble is Irwindale is 20 miles away and 2x that from the valley. Yes, real estate is limited in LA for a strip. It's interesting that Woodley drive where the CPW mopar shows are is basically deserted at night due to the park being closed after dark. Heck. It's probably being used as a midnight strip already, but the pavement is crap! Stay safe, race off the street.
 
ocdart said:
I know exactly how you feel.
The vast bulk of both my drag race attendance and later racing my '69 340 Swinger was at Orange County International Raceway here in SoCal. I loved that track and have so many memories from there: my first class win, bracket racing wins, trophies, great friends and fun times.
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Man...I'm sitting here getting all emotional thinking about what you just said. And the other other poster above about Orlando Speed World.

My Dad and I used to do heads-up racing at Speed World. Side-by-side down the track. He had a 68' Chevelle and I had a 70' Nova. Because, you know, you had to be different from Dad, right? My Mom and girlfriend at the time (now wife) used to cheer us on from the other side of the barriers by the 60ft mark. He was so proud. And I was so proud of him. It just felt "right" if that makes any sense at all.

I'd give anything to have them back and relive those moments. Just 1 more rip down the track with Dad.

You just can't put a price on that.
 
I hope ours will stay open. They are repaving it now.
 
hey toolmanmike make sure they dont paint parking stalls on the new pavement......just sayin
 
sabre67 said:
hey toolmanmike make sure they dont paint parking stalls on the new pavement......just sayin
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It has a rich history from it's conception in the early 60's. It's a pretty nice place. They keep working on it to make it better. Our Mopar club helps with the improvements as well.

CFMP.jpg


Neita antique.jpeg
 
pishta said:
LA county has made a PSA on street racing claiming Irwindale is a safe place to drag race. You see, the trouble is Irwindale is 20 miles away and 2x that from the valley. Yes, real estate is limited in LA for a strip. It's interesting that Woodley drive where the CPW mopar shows are is basically deserted at night due to the park being closed after dark. Heck. It's probably being used as a midnight strip already, but the pavement is crap! Stay safe, race off the street.
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I was disgusted to hear that AAA Fontana is closed. I still haven't heard a reason.
 
33IMP said:
I was disgusted to hear that AAA Fontana is closed. I still haven't heard a reason.
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Its getting remodeled for a smaller track. Developers bought 1/2 the land I heard, Hope they engineer triple pane windows and soundproofing?
 
Used to have one 20 min away. MAR. Mid America Raceway. Been closed now for about 20years. Used to go every weekend, they sold the land and put in a subdivision. If you are lucky enough to have one close, especially a small "local" track get involved support it any way you can. If it closes you'll miss it.
 
MoparDave said:
Used to have one 20 min away. MAR. Mid America Raceway. Been closed now for about 20years. Used to go every weekend, they sold the land and put in a subdivision. If you are lucky enough to have one close, especially a small "local" track get involved support it any way you can. If it closes you'll miss it.
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Agree. My local, Irwindale, closed for a while, and I sure missed it
I go every Thursday when I'm in california, whether racing or spectating.
I preferred it to Fontana because of the scoreboards as a spectator, and I have come to prefer 1/ 8 mile as a racer. Still gonna miss fontana......
I have seen 10 1/2 tracks closed in Southern California (or is it more? Might have to recount). Raced on at least eight tracks no longer here.
1/2 track? Yep, Pomona. Open to high dollar racers and pro's twice a year. Closed to the little guy all year round.
 
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Drag racin is a luxury. Luxuries always take a hit in hard times. Not to mention the current war against anything fossil fuel related.......well not anything. They still want their cheap stuff from China and ignore container ships.....but anyway, It's a sad situation for sure. We have what would be a perfect spot out here in the county for a nice motorsports complex. Many with money have floated the idea with no bites from local county gubmint.
 
I'm 45 miles from Zmax dragstrip...6 lanes of pandemonium...fairly new...should out live most...unreal Nice!!!!
 
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