It was 1959; the birth of east coast organized drag racing. In Montgomery, NY, something was happening and word travelled fast. The airport was being used to hold quarter mile acceleration races. Drag racing was clocked by the elapsed time and MPH at the end of 1,320 feet. Now hot rodders could do what was happening all over the country, in this area. The N.H.R.A. (National Hot Rod Association) Safety Safari was helping local organizations and car clubs set up safe, timed, and classed competition.
So, one weekend, Mark Mastriani, and the Danbury Modifiers took off to race with a guest. He was Chet Anderson, from Brookfield, CT, who ran a gas station. Chet rode with Mark in Marks 55 Chevy to see what it was all about. Mark raced his car but Chet disappeared for the day. He was checking it all out. The very next day, Anderson searched for a place to build his own track. He had met Frank Marrata, at Montgomery and asked him to be his partner to do a drag strip in Connecticut. Frank turned him down, but later built Connecticut Dragway in East Haddem, CT. Anderson found 144 acres of farmland in Wingdale, NY, and promptly purchased it. Now he needed the land developed and cleared. Enter partner Joe Archiere, who had the heavy equipment to do the job.
They opened the track on May 14, 1961. They enlisted the help of the Danbury Modifiers to be the crew and inspectors. At the gate, sleeping overnight, to be the first ones in, was a pair, camping out in a 59 Pontiac. They intended to race. At daylight, someone thumped on the trunk lid to wake up James Grover Grove. Grover became the first paid customer and still has the ticket. That someone was Mark Mastriani.
The first track manager was Charles Van Muren, known as Van. Then, Tim Hallock took over in 1962. Mark Smokey Mastriani was manager until 1965, then Joe T Tanner, managed up until 73'. Then, the last manager was Christ Swift until closing in 1976.
The original starter was George Hosford, known for his acrobatics with the flag starts. Al Popalatis Svarplaitis came along soon after.Track announcers were Harry Blue Goose Loper, followed by Ralph Chink Butera, Gary Teto, and then Dino Weirdo Lawrence from 65 to 72. Joe Tanners son, Charlie took over until closing in 76.
Frank Rice and Mike Mannion ran and repaired the clocks. Mike had married Joe Archieres niece. The American Legion (Not the Lions Club) always ran the food concession.
The track was sanctioned by N.H.R.A. for only one year. It seems the precarious drop off the left side of the shut down area and inadequate guard rails wouldnt meet NHRAs insurance standards. Dover became the place to be for racers from five states.
