New England dragway

[mowerman]

We used to go there quite a bit when we were a teenagers. I haven’t been there since about 1974. I just looked it up on Google to see if it was still there and it says yes it’s still standing and it’s still active but it says they closed on Saturday And Sunday this did not sound right to me. Does anybody know anything about the place or is that a misprint or what’s the deal weekend? That’s when everybody is off why would the drag strip be closed? I figured somebody would know. Thanks, Bob.

[Geoff Weeks]

"SUNDAY_SUNDAY-SUNDAY" is how the ads of radio started, for the dragway. I remember them all these years later. Epping, NH

Edited Saturday at 09:36 PM by Geoff Weeks

[other dog]

I have no idea, but I do know a lot of local drag strips have closed. Gary Wisecarver told me years ago that insurance was one reason, it was getting more and more expensiver all the time.

The drag strip I used to go to a lot when I was a teenager, Richmond Dragway, just closed in the last few years. New London Dragway, just out of Lynchburg, also closed.  I think Waynesboro and Natural Bridge are closed too, but I'm not sure.

[other dog]

10 minutes ago, Geoff Weeks said:

"SUNDAY_SUNDAY-SUNDAY" is how the ads of radio started, for the dragway. I remember them all these years later. Epping, NH

YES! Same thing at Richmond Dragway!

Like "SUNDAY, SUNDAY,SUNDAY at Richmond Dragway! Match race madness, come see Larry in Battlestar Galactic vs. Gary in the Wisecarver Brothers Chevy II- It's Ford against Chevy, Sunday at Richmond Dragway -BE THERE!

[mowerman]

well tom most of the time they start building too many houses around them,,,when originally the track was built way before they started building there   sucks most of the california tracks were closed due to it,,,,and yes geoff,,,i remember those radio ads,,,,seems they used to boast sunday sunday sunday new england dragway day  carlsbad ca and pensa cola both closed now and they were both on my short bucket list,,,,atleast sonoma ca is right in the middle of grape vine territory theres no houses around it,,,,just winerys,,,im sure the place is safe for now anyway,,,,i try to go out there every couple years

[Geoff Weeks]

18 minutes ago, other dog said:

YES! Same thing at Richmond Dragway!

Like "SUNDAY, SUNDAY,SUNDAY at Richmond Dragway! Match race madness, come see Larry in Battlestar Galactic vs. Gary in the Wisecarver Brothers Chevy II- It's Ford against Chevy, Sunday at Richmond Dragway -BE THERE!

You nailed it, I can hear it in voice of the radio ad.

[mowerman]

i think the same guys did all of the track ads,,,,when i moved to california,,,,i heard what sounded like the same guys out there doing radio commercials or maybe all upcoming events

[Mark T]

41 minutes ago, other dog said:

I have no idea, but I do know a lot of local drag strips have closed. Gary Wisecarver told me years ago that insurance was one reason, it was getting more and more expensiver all the time.

The drag strip I used to go to a lot when I was a teenager, Richmond Dragway, just closed in the last few years. New London Dragway, just out of Lynchburg, also closed.  I think Waynesboro and Natural Bridge are closed too, but I'm not sure.

🤔

[other dog]

Suffolk was another one in VA. that's closed, that's where they had the national events, NHRA sanctioned races. The others, even Richmond, were pretty much the locals, "run what you brung" type of tracks. I went to Suffolk a couple of times and saw some great racing. Saw a couple of Chevy II's there running in the 11's with 6 cylinder engines. Not a big deal now I guess, but this was in the 70's. And a solid black Corvette with the "big 6" GMC truck motor in it. 

When it left the front wheels came up about 6 inches, same thing when he hit second, third, and fourth gear. And ran arrow straight, and turned consistent 10.00's. Might run a 9.99 or a 10.01, but it was a very impressive car, to me anyway.

[70mackMB]

Hey Bob! NE Dragway is still open. Right now they might be running snowmobiles. 1974 l had a '64 International 49 passenger school bus converted to a camper. The girlfriend and l would go to Star Speedway an oval track couple miles down the road Saturday afternoon. Stay overnight then go up to NE Dragway Sunday morning. Back when it was fun!😉    .....Hippy

[mechohaulic]

54 minutes ago, 70mackMB said:

Hey Bob! NE Dragway is still open. Right now they might be running snowmobiles. 1974 l had a '64 International 49 passenger school bus converted to a camper. The girlfriend and l would go to Star Speedway an oval track couple miles down the road Saturday afternoon. Stay overnight then go up to NE Dragway Sunday morning. Back when it was fun!😉    .....Hippy

is the new England Dragway being discussed same as the Connecticut dragstrip located in Colchester CT?? if so the CT Dragway closed years ago, last of my knowledge it was being used by consumer protection for testing misc items. fact I went there once through Cummins sponsored program for testing ???? don't remember . Fred Munday was instructor. somewhere I know I have pictures of the funny cars running there.

[70mackMB]

1 hour ago, mechohaulic said:

is the new England Dragway being discussed same as the Connecticut dragstrip located in Colchester CT??

mech, no this track is in Epping NH just off NH Rt101. About four miles from the NH State Liquor store.    .....Hippy

[mowerman]

And 74 I had a 55 Chevy convertible and a station wagon four-door and a girlfriend ha ha ha I think I’ve been to  star once I’m not sure me ann nod  a buddy of mine, I’ve known since we were 10 drove up somewhere to an oval dirt stock car truck I’m not sure where we were or what the name of it was. Does that sound familiar? In fact I still keep in touch with that kid. I just talked to him on the phone last night, he’s doing really good as a body shop in Tennessee now and still works. 

[other dog]

Natural Bridge Speedway was like that, they had a dirt track and a 1/8 mile drag strip. I never even went there, but a lot of people from around here did. Once I started driving a truck I'd be gone all week every week- for the most part anyway. If you got in on Friday you were leaving Sunday. If you left on Thursday you didn't get home until late Friday or or Saturday, so you just didn't have much time to do anything.

 

[mowerman]

lol same here tom started working nights in 76 not but freedom after that to do anything  bob

[Brocky]

11 hours ago, other dog said:

Natural Bridge Speedway was like that, they had a dirt track and a 1/8 mile drag strip.

Fonda NY, on the Mohawk river was like that.. The shut down was over the bank between 3rd and 4th turns.. If you did NOT get it stopped you went swimming!!! Went there several times in the early 60's..

[mechohaulic]

On 12/20/2025 at 9:26 PM, 70mackMB said:

mech, no this track is in Epping NH just off NH Rt101. About four miles from the NH State Liquor store.    .....Hippy

thanks; that's why it's still open=two different tracks being discussed.

[mowerman]

I’m sure I in an area where it didn’t explode with way too many houses …. Excellent 

[other dog]

I just looked at Natural Bridge Speedway on Google maps, and apparently it has reopened, along with Natural Bridge Dragway. 

Liberty University bought the New London Dragway a few years ago, after it had been closed for several years. A lot of people were hoping it would reopen but it doesn't look like they have any plans for that. 

I just looked on Google maps and it looks like Liberty still uses the airport. The dragstrip was the airport runway.

They give flight lessons there every day too, in case anybody wants to learn how to drive a plane. 

[other dog]

33 minutes ago, mowerman said:

I’m sure I in an area where it didn’t explode with way too many houses …. Excellent 

I don't know of course, but that would be my guess about Richmond Dragway. It was near the airport in Richmond, but kind of back behind it. It was in Seven Pines, which was just east of Sandston, which was actually pretty much a rural area in the 70's. But you know how that goes, being that close to Richmond and being 50 years ago it's probably surrounded by houses by now, and if it's not the land would be much more valuable for homes or binnesses than having a drag strip on it. Or more profitable for whoever owns it I should say.

And now they have the Dinwiddie Motorsports Park just down the road a bit, near Petersburg. They have big time national events there all the time, so it probably made a lot of sense from a financial standpoint to sell the Richmond track.

[mowerman]

Well, not surprised two of a really fun amusement parks are both gone due to homes homes homes money, money money I’m sure a lot of be back there. Remember Salisbury Beach amusement park and Lincoln park both gone nothing but condos now 

[mowerman]

I guess the wild cat  at Salisbury Beach didnt quite qualify for a historical landmark