269 replies to this topic

[Gator Bob]

Was that the place at the E-Town Flea Market on Rt. 527?

[Uncle Fred]

Yes, not far from the flea market

[tonyp]

Yup. They finally closed after the third owner because of enviromental protected lands or some such nonsense where the landlord could not do anything to the property because it would displace some duck or some crap like that. So when he sold property the tracks were no longer considered grandfathered in.

[Gator Bob]

Was the place out of operation for awhile?

Probably deemed a migratory bird protected area if there was talk of ducks... speaking of quacks the NJ-DEP gets metric tons of uber liberal tree huggers that live in local Condos or McMansions. I don't think it's the duck hunters. The "Noise Police" are insane right there because of Raceway Park. Sure changed their program.
 
Grandfather use laws vary by state, county and/or township. I don't know how a scale track is judged but I can speak to a 1:1.
 
Back in 2005 when Chip Lofton and I were in the process purchasing Orange County Speedway in NC, the 'clause' with the county was that if the track did not have a least two events per calendar year the 'noise law', on-site waste water treatment plant and egress would loose it 'grandfathered" staus.

We ran two races one month apart with agreement from the county and the abandoned owner. I almost walled the rental car in a four-wheel lock... damn it's a good thing I remembered it was front wheel drive.

[tonyp]

Raceway was never pit of business but the other businesses in the building which was the majority of the floor space were.

[Gator Bob]

There was no lack of 'foot traffic' at that place, it was always packed out on weekends. Sitting in traffic on the way to Raceway Park waiting for all the 'shoppers' to pull in completely full parking lots.

[Pete L.]

There was a short lived track in the Atlantic Highlands about the same time that Bradley Raceway operated. It was located in a new strip mall that was built in the late 1980's or so.

 

They had one track, maybe a King, but I remember that you had to squeeze between the track and the wall of the building to walk around the place.

[Lone Wolf]

Forgive me if this was covered somewhere in this thread. I did not read the whole post. 
 
O'Dowds Raceway, Pine Brook, NJ

[Uncle Fred]

That raceway in the Highlands had a big hillclimb... 180 feet? That track ended up at Z&R Raceway in Howell for a brief period.

[Pete L.]

Fred,

 

 Yep really nice track, I raced there a few times, fun group of racers!!!

[gotboostedvr6]

I started racing at Wizards in Mercervile, Hamilton Twp, way back in 1993. My father and I bought our first slot car, a Koford brass and wire Group 12 wingcar and a Koford resistor controller. We had fun with it but never really learned how to run it till we went to Lugnuts Raceway in PA. There we learned how to properly glue a lane to go full punch.

We didn't actually participate in a race until Speedzone opened up in Hightstown, NJ. We were actively racing Group 12 and 20 wings on the 220 foot Hillclimb, 4.5" Nastruck and 4" NASCAR on the oval, and LMP Contenders on the flat track. We ran there for around three years until Frank had enough and closed up.

I remember nights racing 4" NASCAR where we wouldn't leave until 11 pm because so many guys showed up.

[tonyp]

Who knows this one? I do. Found picture in a bunch of magazines I got from Bob Emott.

[JerseyJohn]

Harrison?

[slotcarone]

I know I was never there!!

[tonyp]

John, Harrison Raceway had a 180? engleman, like Speedzone but small. At least the Harrison Raceway I ran at. There may have been another I never went to.

This track was more north. Noose and Howie I am sure would remember it.

[John Streisguth]

Was that up in Closter?

[tonyp]

Nope.

[Noose]

Upper Saddle River. I remember that track and I am sure Barry D does, too.

[tonyp]

We have a winner. That would make a great Retro track...

[tonyp]

A lot of great 1/32 NAMRA racers came out of Grand Prix Raceway. This track was a favorite of the 1/12 pros of the era, Emott, PVA, Rubin, etc. I remember at least one Car Model Magazine series race was held there. I never got to race on it, we went to practice a few weeks before, but I could not make it on race day. The raceway did not last much longer after that...

[Uncle Fred]

I ran a 1/32 NAMRA race there as well as the Car Model race. They had an oval as well.

[alainprost22]

That's a real memory jogger. Out of all the tracks I ran at, that's probably the only track I couldn't picture, in my head.  

 

In that Car Model race, I actually made the Main event. Heady stuff, for a real/clueless/low on the totem pole racer. With four sit-outs, making a Car Model Main was a huge accomplishment. At least it was, for me.

 

I honestly don't remember anything, from that race. Not a thing...

[Gator Bob]

Upper Saddle River was the first commercial track I ever set foot in. Think I was about eight or nine years old.

 

IIRC first it was named Grand Prix and then Hi-Way Hobby house. Globe motors were a hot set-up there.

 

I don't remember the fancy wall décor.

[Uncle Fred]

Al,

 

I don't remember the Car Model race either. I know that Roy Wong did tech but I am certain I did not have a good result. Same thing at the NAMRA race. 

[George Blaha]

Hey Fred,

 

Upper Saddle River was the late night hangout for a lot of NY, NJ, and PA, racers. Remember a number of 2 AM excursions.

 

Shakey George