Dover Drag Strip , in Wingdale, New York, opened in May 1961 and closed in 1976, and is a place to race or watch a quarter-mile drag race in the Northeast US. The track was touted as "the most subtle and sophisticated facility" of its kind at the time. The track features epoxy-based asphalt, 60 feet wide. It has its own time "clock tower" which has a time device, and serves as a center of operations, with the operator calling Time Elaps [ET] and MPH from each pair of racers via the intercom to the "Slip Times booth" at the other end of the track. It's also where the announcer entertained and told the audience about the action. All this was considered 'New Technology' in 1961. In 1964, the starter flag was replaced with a homebuilt "Christmas Tree", with many colored lights, counting backwards at the beginning. This is one of the first of its kind across the country..
The track was founded and operated by Danbury gas station owner Chet Anderson and partner Joe Archiere of Germantown, Connecticut. It fills a regional gap left by the closure of Car Club Racing in Montgomery, New York, the airport. Dover preceded another track to follow him, the famous in the area, the Connecticut Dragway (now closed) and the surviving Lebanese Valley Track, near Albany. Racers from as far as Maine, Massachusetts and New Jersey regularly will often strip.
There has been a recent revival of interest in this now defunct line, thanks to the ongoing reeting of the Nostalgic Dover Strip annually at Lebanon Valley Dragway. Dover is host to the walking exhibition by the legendary Don 'Don Doppy' Garlits, California "Tommy Ivo TV", the original Batmobile and Car Jet. Funny Cars race matches by every major player throughout the sixties and early seventies, presented a steady diet to feed the audience and racer's taste for speed, average more than 400 regular car entries with more than 4000 spectators on special occasions.
Video Dover Drag Strip
External links
- website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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