Englishtown Raceway Park is closing?

[redsoxsstink]

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/bad-news-raceway-park-englishtown-new-jersey-will-cease-drag-racing-operations/

Big bold words stated in this article. Brian Lohnes is a big name in racing reporting and i have to trust he wouldn't be spreading BS around. Holly cow this is not good news.

[BonzoHansen]

Great, you broke bangshift lol


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Googling fails at anything recent

[redsoxsstink]

screenshots attached

[BonzoHansen]

it popped up for me. Huh, that sounds bad. NHRA is scheduled there 1st weekend of June

BangShift.com has learned that Raceway Park will cease racing operations in 2018. This is unhappy news to say the least. At this point our understanding is that there will not be a 2018 drag racing season at Raceway Park and an announcement regarding the track’s future, or lack thereof is forthcoming. In conversations with various parties close to the track’s operation we have learned that the Napp family who owns the facility has effectively leased some or all of the property to a company who plans to use it as some sort of vehicle storage area. We have not spoken directly to track ownership or management at this point but are confident with the information that we have gathered from those we have spoken to. We cannot speak to the other facets of the track (i.e. the motocross course, etc) but we can speak with a level of confidence that drag racing is over at one of the nation’s most well known and longest running facilities.

[BonzoHansen]

a lot of chatter on Lohnes FB page

https://www.facebook.com/brian.lohnes

[redsoxsstink]

a lot of chatter on Lohnes FB page

https://www.facebook.com/brian.lohnes

i read the comments there. also a friend of mine that knows some people at the track is saying racing there is over.

[IROCZman15]

I just was sent the article from a coworker. wow, this is awful. really really awful

[LS1ow]

this will really help with getting people to stop street racing !

[elle]

this will really help with getting people to stop street racing !

Is street racing really still happening on a large scale in the tri state area?

[LS1ow]

Is street racing really still happening on a large scale in the tri state area?

Yes & no. Its not like what you see on tv were there 14 cars going at it every weekend, but there a lot of action. Long Island, Jersey City, Philly, out in the woods by toms river. Its there, you just have to find it. Id post up some vids but last time i did that i got a warning :lol:

[BonzoHansen]

https://thecapitalsportsreport.com/2018/01/17/raceway-park-shuts-down-racing-operations/

[IROCZBeast]

It's official. Englishtown will no longer have drag racing. Sad. This sucks.

http://www.etownraceway.com/mydocuments/nappfamilyrestructure.pdf

[BonzoHansen]

all these years you thought the town & the new neighbors woudl push them out. Not just what appears to be a sheer money decision.

[BonzoHansen]

I will add....hope for the future can be held onto since it appears the will be keeping the infrastructure in place.

[Blackbirdws6]

I know I will never see it but I would be curious to see how the financials panned out for the drag racing side of the business. I can image a facility like this has some fairly significant running costs even on a test and tune night.

Guess we should all become drifters now.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I live 4.2 miles from Island so my racing plans are unaffected :bertstare:

That does suck though, anytime a major facet of the local sport and history is shut down.

[elle]

I know I will never see it but I would be curious to see how the financials panned out for the drag racing side of the business. I can image a facility like this has some fairly significant running costs even on a test and tune night.

Guess we should all become drifters now.

Rumors are a 15 yr lease for $70 ish million. Basically free money and they still own the property and get income from other sources on the property. Not a hard business decision imo.

Island should reap the benefits with every test n tuner for miles. Some other tracks will absorb some and some will just sell or tuck their cars away. Sad, very sad

[MDSheds_SS]

Maybe they will do no prep events at the airport. Or #AtcoFTW

[unstable bob gable]

An icon is going away. Just sucks.

[BonzoHansen]

I wonder if the traffic form the new usage will be better or worse for the locals.

[WildBillyT]

all these years you thought the town & the new neighbors woudl push them out. Not just what appears to be a sheer money decision.

I think it could be both.

Sick of the neighbors and a reasonable way to make money.

[edpontiac91]

I remember racing my new 1967 GTO when the track first opened. Not much was paved and it was pretty much open. I have pictures of some of my cars with the ONE STORY racing tower. I knew Vinnie and then his sons also. It was a shock to learn that another tract of land may someday soon belong to the Real Estate WORLD and another landmark will become "I remember WHEN".:facepalm:

[sweetbmxrider]

****ing copart is parking their **** there now?!?! ****ing sellouts.....

[BonzoHansen]

I think it could be both.

Sick of the neighbors and a reasonable way to make money.

yes totally. i am sure the hassles & costs of running drag racing weren't worth the far easier money now offered them.

I just thought they'd fight the good fight. I'm more like this now:

****ing copart is parking their **** there now?!?! ****ing sellouts.....

[Jersey Mike]

I live 4.2 miles from Island so my racing plans are unaffected :bertstare:

What happens when Demand remains constant, but Supply decreases? Expect to see some new faces in your local staging lanes and, pending popularity, perhaps some new staff members.

[LuvMyF8LWS6]

Rumors are a 15 yr lease for $70 ish million. Basically free money and they still own the property and get income from other sources on the property. Not a hard business decision imo.

Island should reap the benefits with every test n tuner for miles. Some other tracks will absorb some and some will just sell or tuck their cars away. Sad, very sad

A lot less than 15 year lease.....

[ThoR294]

so atco or island now? sucks

at least summer nationals are still going?

[BonzoHansen]

at least summer nationals are still going?

No, cancelled

https://www.nhra.com/news/2018/nhra-statement-old-bridge-township-raceway-park-nhra-summernationals

[elle]

A lot less than 15 year lease.....

I heard 5- 15.

[BonzoHansen]

they stripped drag racing off their site except on the main menu bar across the top.

[qwikz28]

I don't think I would have ever raced there again when I can just go to Island and not wait three hours for a run, but I have a lot of old memories there. This does make me sad.

[3.4 grape of wrath]

Totally Sucks! I grew up in Old Bridge and I remember the first time I went there, I was hooked.So many memories at that track. My friends dad used to work for Lee filters back in the 70's and he would get free tickets every year to the summer nationals. The van shows, party's, swap meets with my sons,test and tune nights. What a lost treasure. I made it to the night of thrills this year, my last show. Here's to all the great memories!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26xg9wUKNwg

[V]

Now where will i get used toilets and rusty bicycle frames twice a year?

[BonzoHansen]

Now where will i get used toilets and rusty bicycle frames twice a year?

they say swaps meets are still on!


Besides, you probably have extras in that garage of yours somewhere buried

[Paul Huryk]

Krap - this affects me in 2 bad ways, 1 is the track itself - Island is stuck in the 60's and Atco is a haul and 2 - majority of my big events to sell etailing product are there: Waterfest & Bimmerfest in July. So I'm pissed.

Good news is that the McMansion owners are now going to have less traffic during "big weekends" - but are now going to have 18 wheelers moving cars in and out of there constantly. Roads will look like the road to Baghdad airport within 2 years.

The owners took the easy way out turning the property into an annuity vs operating it as a drag race track.

[ThoR294]

will NHRA ever go to Atco? i think atco is way too small for that :( sad really I always had a blast at the NHRA finals

[6spdg37s]

i heard it was a 50 year lease... but whatever it is this is terrible i live 2 mins from there i would go race every week sometimes more than once.

might sell my car

[The_Bishop]

This is going to have a few unintended consequences: Other 'local' tracks are going to be crowded now. Machine Shops / performance oriented businesses in that area are going to take a hit/close down. There will be a bunch of race cars up for sale, when locals that won't/can't commute to further away tracks bail out of the hobby.

[MDSheds_SS]

I think the way they went about doing it was just ******. Had many events scheduled for 2018, The Nationals and all the other events that people travel to see. And what about all the money people spent for the up coming season. Not talking the test n tune guys, the guys that actually run points and race Jr dragsters ect. I think little heads up would have been the right way to do it, plus one last hurrah would have been an awesome event to be at. I understand the money thing... and think they are smart for leasing and not selling yet, but you had many loyal fans and employees at least do right by them and give some type of notice. Plus I have $300 in Gift Cards left, guess that’s just wasted money now.

[elle]

. Plus I have $300 in Gift Cards left, guess that’s just wasted money now.

I'm sure they have tons of t shirts and hoodies left:-P

I know people are upset about how and what they did. It was an easy business decision in my eyes. Money changes everything and for millions of dollars they could care less about feelings and one last hurrah. If you won the lottery would you still work for one more year so everyone else could be happy? :mrgreen:

I keep reading about everyone USED to go and so on. That is part of the issue. Drag racing is dying and so is their fan base. Points days are ridiculously low numbers and a lot of their events were suffering. Even the national was low on numbers. We go almost every Friday night (to the national)and stay until 10 pm at least. This past year racing was done by 7-730 pm and it was very light on spectators. My dad went to the modern muscle or efi event they have. He pulled in , walked around and left. NO ONE WAS THERE.

Including me, I would say 80% of my friends race less now than they did 10 years ago. A lot don't even race.

[Street Lethal]

Yeah this was a big blow. One of the main reasons why the wife and I chose to stay in Old Bridge when most of our friends and family went back to NYC and Long Island. I'm actually considering moving back to New York now, especially if Long Island gets its' wish and opens a drag racing track. Old Bridge seems very empty with just the thought of no drag racing in e-town and it's only been a few days since the announcement. Very sad...

[WildBillyT]

With the rising cost of fuel, tires, insurance and other expenses of speeding from a standstill to more than 200 mph on a 1,000-foot track, drag racing has become too expensive for the mostly amateur racers who drive on weekends and Wednesday nights at what is officially known as Old Bridge Raceway Park, said Steve Mamakas, executive officer of the Old Bridge Township Mayor's Office of Economic Development.

Saw this on NJ.com. I don't know if I buy this explanation.

[Blackbirdws6]

Sure....(insert all the political related finance topics in NJ).

In the midst of all the uproar, I find the online petitions pretty hilarious.

[sweetbmxrider]

Does that dumbass not know a 1/4 mile is 1,320 feet?

[LTb1ow]

Does that dumbass not know a 1/4 mile is 1,320 feet?

The really fast guys only race 1000ft bro.

[deadtrend1]

The really fast guys only race 1000ft bro.

Ironically, because of what happened at raceway park

[BonzoHansen]

is it wrong i want to boycott anything there like swap meet?

[Blackbirdws6]

is it wrong i want to boycott anything there like swap meet?

No. Funny thing is I'm not sure where there will be parking with all those auction cars in the lots.....

[WildBillyT]

is it wrong i want to boycott anything there like swap meet?

I have a feeling they may be in for a bit of a shock. I feel for some of the local businesses, too. Racers also bought food and fuel in Old Bridge.

[sweetbmxrider]

The really fast guys only race 1000ft bro.

And go faster than 200mph, **** that ******* :rofl:

[6spdg37s]

No. Funny thing is I'm not sure where there will be parking with all those auction cars in the lots.....

as far as i know the auction cars will be on the physical drag strip, pretty sure thats where they went during hurricane sandy

[Blackbirdws6]

as far as i know the auction cars will be on the physical drag strip, pretty sure thats where they went during hurricane sandy

Ahh. I guess that makes sense so they can still run their other events....except drag racing.

[The_Bishop]

Well, it's not like drag racing was how they got started in the first place or anything.

At least there will still be space for rusty garbage and toilet bowls car parts at the swap meet!

[MDSheds_SS]

I heard they were going to close in the stands and make that area for concerts and other events. They want to keep the suites for those events. I’m sure the cars will be pit side. Lots of room over there for them. They also mentioned they are still having monster trucks there. Only event that will be good is the diesel nationals, the show part Obviously

[Paul Huryk]

I can see the motocross and the road race track events going on as in the past.

But say for instance the large events I sell detailing products at - Waterfest and Bimmerfest as examples, no. Those events (and some others) have drag racing, car shows, parking lot autocross, and lots of other things going on and honestly the organizers will just find another venue this year, or in 2019 if things are already booked up at Maple Grove or other larger venues with a 1/4 mile.

[MDSheds_SS]

I can see the motocross and the road race track events going on as in the past.

But say for instance the large events I sell detailing products at - Waterfest and Bimmerfest as examples, no. Those events (and some others) have drag racing, car shows, parking lot autocross, and lots of other things going on and honestly the organizers will just find another venue this year, or in 2019 if things are already booked up at Maple Grove or other larger venues with a 1/4 mile.

I follow OGs1320/ESR on IG, looks as if HDay is gonna be moved elsewhere. I’m sure all the other guys will follow. Went to a G8/Holden event this summer that I’m sure will also be moved to a location where there’s 1/4 mile.

[Fast92RS]

I have a friend that works there and he said they only gave the employees a couple hours notice that they were no longer needed before they made there announcement. There has to be more to the story because those big events made them a lot of money. In the end it may all come out in the wash when the family fights with each other with the decision and the place totally closes.