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General Info
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Recreation and Sports
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Roadside Michigan
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Motor City Dragway |
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Name: Motor City Dragway Street: Meldrum Rd and 26 Mile
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City: New Baltimore County: Saint Clair Zip: Unknown
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| Status: Closed |
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| Web Address: N/A |
| Notes: Closed in 1978 |
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| Number of visits to this page since February 23, 2007: 134700 |
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Entry Date: - 7/9/2010 - Bob - I was there in 1970, 71 and some of 72. Those times are a bit fuzzy sometimes? I was just a kid walking and jumping the fence or snuck in mostly in the trunk of a 66 green Mustang, six banger three speed. He used to race a yellow 66 Dodge Dart, also a six banger, just about every week. I lived just about three or four miles away then. I am in the process of creating an HO (1/64) scale electric slot car track of Motor City Dragway as best I can from memory and photos you fine folks put up on the net. Pretty cool. Thank you.
Entry Date: - 6/13/2010 - rick rzepka - Hello Mickey, I dug out the limelight funnycar article. Looks like the owner was Bill Mckesson from dearborn,mi. Car ran 160mph 8.95 in test at motor city dragway fall 1966. Only crew member named in article is 25 year old Rob Holloway of romulus,mi. Article is from rodder/super stock magazine 1966. I email me scoopi40@sbcglobal.net if you want a copy of article. There are more pics of crew and car
Entry Date: - 5/11/2010 - dan polovich - hello all. i thought i recieved some info about a motorcity dragway reunion, on may 23 at milan dragway. all i see now is a detroit dragway reunion, on tha same day at milan. can anyone give me more info about a motorcity dragway reunion at milan dragway on may 23? my father was a frequnt visitor at motorcity dragway with several friends, Greg Leidecker, Jim Fry just to name a couple. maybe someone rremembers a rust brown colored 57 chevy delivery , gregs gotha now the shadowmaker, or a fron and rear engine top fuel or top alcohol dragsters of jim fry''s. please give any and all info available about a motorcity dragway reunion, that i saw on facebook about a week ago. thanks for any info given. important to dad!
Entry Date: - 5/9/2010 - Dick Birchmeier - The B-altered red roadster #777 belonged to the Birchmeier Bros. Dick, Dave& Bob,racing against the Matthew Bros. in the mid 60''s I think we won!
Entry Date: - 5/7/2010 - Mickey Hershey - I was looking through the pictures and noticed on of the Lime Light funny car, wondering if any one has more info on the car my dad traveled with them somewhere between 66-69 ?. Asked my mom but she doesn''t remember and dads gone.
Entry Date: - 5/7/2010 - Mickey Hershey - Any one remember the owners name ? I know he"s still around (My father in-law was in a heart rehab class with him) that was a couple of years back. Would love to find him, I like to see his picture collection to get them up on the web before there gone. To every one else Please get them up on the site love to look at them.
Entry Date: - 4/28/2010 - Mickey Hershey - LOVED this place. Dave Kanners (before he passed) was sharing some old war stories about Motor City.He"d won a championship there back in 69. I use to sell the weekly strip paper on the week-ends while my dad announced. Matter of fact I was born 4/1/62 and was in the tower 4/20/62 ? for opening day,Saw and rode in Mavericks "Little Red Wagon" there. Between Motor City and Tri -City our great state had some of the best there was. You had Kanners,Ron Reader,Paul Mecure (sp?),Mike Fonz,Al Mannard,Sam Gianino,Teddy Bochma,Rick Ellis (Trick T rules!!!!!!!),Danny Elkins and the Elkins Bros Great 62 Nova 1 st Gen Funny Car, of course the "Bounty Hunter" Connie Killita ( Loved the landing of your plane at Tri-City it was awesome ) ,Fast Eddie,Little John,Jim Cornell,Larry Pain,Charlie Owner of Troy Auto Body,Dick Maskin,Booth and Arons,John and Butch Deloren,Ram Chargers ect.ect.ect. Yes Yes I know you can''t go back but between Woodward Ave (Street Racing capital of the world !969- we had the station at 14 1/2 and Woodward) and those two Drag strips, growing up then and there was perfect. it was "American Graffiti 2". What was the saying back then "Gas,Ass,or Grass no one rides for free. Michigan Muscle "the originator not imitator". "World" you are welcome for the greatest industry of all time.
Entry Date: - 4/11/2010 - Tom Nankervis - We used to race seturday night and sundays at good old MCD. I even won a trophy on my mini-bike one time with a time of 22 sec. Think they uses a sundial. My car was a 53 Chevy green 4-door with a 327 4spd. Ran in the high 12s with 7" tires still have a stack of time slips. Would lift the front wheels in first and second gear. My partners were Bill and Dick Maas. Only sponser was a case of Valvoline a month from a neighbor who worked for Valvoline. Now known as "cousin Tom" by the guys at MHRA and started by cousin the best rod builder RUDY and his son Race. Still judge at the worlds best car show AUTORAMA each year at Cobo hall. Before we got together my partners ran a 292 1955 Chev at MCD called the Hustler, followed by a 1966 Poncho 421 called Yankee Hustler. Anybody out there remember me? We ran against a little yellow Simca 4dr called SEE SPOT Run also raced a ton of really great guys from about 1965 to 1969. I sure would like to see an historical marker placed by the state to mark a great landmark at MCD. Now living in Mesa,Az. tbn1953@hotmail.com
Entry Date: - 4/10/2010 - hg990 - were is this drag way? what exit do get off of 94 to get to it? who owns the property? it would so cool if a couple of these drag ways would open back up again
Entry Date: - 2/12/2010 - Unknown - i sent in a note about ace novaks bike the (hand gernade) in this note i misspelled the word HIGHWAYMEN M/C out of respect please correct this mistake. THANK YOU!
Entry Date: - 2/4/2010 - Bob - I never knew the place as Motor City. (As a matter of fact, before I found this website, I posted a message on the New Baltimore circle track site! http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/speed.asp?id=1763&type=9. Moderator, please ignore my post to the New Baltimore site. )
I raced there myself, in my own car, in 1959 and ''60. Ran a ''55 Chevy with a Latham-blown Pontiac engine in B-Gas Supercharged. I belonged to a club called the Tappet Tickers out of St. Clair Shores at the time.
At one point, due to the track being too short, it was run as an 1/8th mile.
I can''t remember the exact year, ''59 or ''60, I remember Don Garlits running here, in an exhibition race, when it was 1/8th mile. (Those were the days when those "supposedly in the know" claimed that Garlits had reached the ultimate speed possible, one hundred fifty (150) MPH, the claim being that that was the limit of adhesion of the tires so no higher speed than that would EVER be reached! So much for those "in the know"!)
Track was quite popular at the time as, I believe, it was the only drag strip in SE Michigan. Cars came from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to run here. Sponsorship was rare at the time. Maybe one could get a set of tires, plugs, etc. from some parts store or racing-oriented dealership such as Royal Pontiac, of Royal Oak. (I managed to get about $50 from them!) I do remember one competitor from Ohio who (tongue in cheek, I''m sure!) was "sponsored" by Jack''s Donkey Farm. Slogan on the car was "We Haul A__!"
As the run-off area was so short, some drivers would try to turn their cars onto the return road rather than going straight off the end of the pavement into a plowed field. One Saturday morning before racing started, I distinctly remember the track manager deliberately driving off his street car off the end of the track to prove to the drivers that it was safe in doing so, rather than attempting to turn, rolling their cars in the process. The reason that he did that was that had been either a death or a serious injury (can''t remember which) the week before as a driver had turned rather than run into the field.
Track itself was pretty rudimentary in that the pits were dirt, maybe only one (1) small building and no lighting at all. I do remember running there at one night race when one of these huge, World War II era arc lights (used for scanning the night skies for enemy aircraft) was placed behind the starting line to illuminate the track. Driving it was scary as hell what with the extremely strong light at your back. The problem was that one''s own car blocked the light, darkening the track in front of the car all the way to the end! Sure made it tough to keep yer foot in the "kitchen" through the entire quarter mile! Yes, those of us who had headlights turned them on but the arc light was so strong that it was still dark in front of the car and the arc light made it very difficult to see the features of the ground or the track. If memory serves, that was only night race ever held there although the track may have been upgraded in later years.
By that time, I had shifted into road racing (sports cars) so I no longer followed drag racing.
Please feel free to correct me on my recollections. Keep in mind, it has been a few years . . . at least fifty (50)!
(Wrote this post on February 4th, 2010)
Entry Date: - 1/29/2010 - Greg Hofmann - A freind of mine went back to the strip a few years ago and took a bunch of pics for a class he was taking at Macomb College. The tower at the starting line was burned, kids went back there and broke a bunch of bottles on the track, and there was a 5 inch diameter tree growing through the blacktop about at the 500 foot mark. I think I''ll get with him and see if he can scan the pics and post them. The thing I remember when I went back there about 10 years ago was that the track was so narrow, with no guard rails... just a fence which went south a long time ago. I wouldn''t get out of an electric chair to run on something like that again. My car is way faster now... I used to run 14.50 @ 98 with a 65 Plymouth Sport Fury, now I have a Mercury Capri running 8.60 @ 153... a big change.
Entry Date: - 12/7/2009 - Dennis S. - While scanning this page, I saw where a couple of guys were discussing who was the starter there, and when. All I know is that when I was the PA announcer there in ''74, the starter was a bit overweight guy with dark hair and a beard.
I ended up working as announcer purely by chance. I was working security at the spectator gate for a week or two. (Which was really boring, since EVERYONE went into the pits.) When we closed down the gate, I would go down to the starting line area and be there if the needed any help with oil downs, or whatever. A tall African-American guy, I think his name was John, was the General Manager at the time. He was doing the announcing that night, and called me up to the tower and said, "Can you talk?" I said, "Sure I can.", not knowing what he was getting at. Next thing I know is he hands me the mike and takes off out of the tower. Guess they needed him somewhere else.
Later, all of us had gathered in the office, like we always did after the races. John was saying, he had to find an announcer, because he can''t run the track and do that too. I asked if he had a chance to hear how I did on the mike. He said, "No, not really." He asked some of the others, how I did. I guess I did pretty good, John said he''d give me another chance next week. It was never discussed again the rest of the year, so I guess I had the job.
Entry Date: - 11/28/2009 - TODD BORKE - I WAS BORN IN 1964 AND I GREW UP LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE TRACK.WE WOULD WALK THROUGH THE FIELDS AND SNEEK IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SUNDAY.I CAN STILL REMEMBER WATCHING THE LITTLE RED WAGON DOING WHEELIES ALL THE WAY DOWN THE TRACK.ON SOME OCASSOINS MY UNCLE WOULD RACE HIS 69 Z-28. WE WENT TO THE TRACK UP UNTIL IT CLOSED. AT THE END OF ITS HISTORY THEY WERE RACING ANYTHING THEY HAD,VW,S TRUCKS AND STATION WAGONS.AFTER THE TRACK CLOSED WE STILL SPENT MANY HOURS THERE.WE WOULD STAY THERE ALL DAY AND SEE HOW FAR WE COULD RIDE WEELIES DOWN THE TRACK ON OUR MOTORCYCLES.I HAVE MANY FOND MEMORIES OF THE TRACK.
Entry Date: - 11/28/2009 - randy zack - Anyone know any thing about the syncronizers club they used to race at all the local tracks. My uncle used to race with them and I am hoping to find some old video for him for christmas his name is Will Zack he''s a great guy and I would like to find some thing special for him for christmas from me from his old drag race days. Any suggestions would be great
Entry Date: - 11/10/2009 - merek chertkow - you can never go back. but you can share the experience with your family to keep it alive. merek chertkow. driver ramchargers aa/fd 1966
Entry Date: - 11/2/2009 - Dan Hawley - I went by mcd on Sunday Nov.1st what a shame.I set my odometer and it was 21 miles from my house in port Huron.then after thinking of the track for a few hours and thought it would be nice to have a reunion,get together,of the guys and gals that used to race or just spectate. I thought maybe get a hold of the owner ask if we could clean a spot at the track or rent a hall to show pictures,movies,or just plain get a chance to see the people you raced with or watched.Just an idea.
Entry Date: - 10/29/2009 - Robert - Response to Frank''s question posted March 17, 2005 (I think): yes there is someone who remembers the "Fugitives" car club in the early 1960s. Yes, most were from Denby except I know a former member from a Catholic school. They had a jacket that was to be worn only at Club functions. The club went bad from some bad elements and got themselves in trouble. Common bond of early members was the Dragway and cars.
Robert
Entry Date: - 10/9/2009 - Unknown - I grew up in the 60's in Fair Haven and loved to get my friends together and go out to the MCD waiting for the day we could all race there after we got our drivers license of course. We had great times with all the funny cars, dragsters racing was cool and we got to see all the national acts! In the 70’s we finally got to race on the track with what we could build. We finally settled on one car and all of us built it, a Mercury Montego with a 428SCJ with tri-power an a 4 speed. We sure spent a lot of time there what great memories! Kids today won’t have that too bad for them.
Item Two: The announcers I believe for this commercial are my uncle Wally Blanton and friend William [Bill] Ennis they both worked for KFJZ in Fort Worth Texas. I remember them cutting one of these commercials there in the studio in 1966 for MCD my dad and I got to watch them tape it. They did this for a local track and they told their friends and in time they did these commercials for about 200 +/- tracks all over the country in a few years after that. Both are now dead from cancer unfortunately. Who ever has these I would greatly appreciate a copy of these no one in the family has any of this and at least I would treasure it. If you look up KFJZ on the net there is stuff around if you like to see more on that.
Item Three: I pitched the idea of a article on MCD to a friend of mine that publishes monthly articles for a few national magazines. He told me to write it and with your help I think we can get it done. I would like to get info on the strip who was there photographs etc to do a full story on it. Any takers? If so I would like to hear from you.
jbflys@sbcglobal.net
Entry Date: - 10/9/2009 - Garrett Pierce - Went on a trip over to the area today and I had a tough time even seeing where the track used to be. Everything is so grown over you can''t see much of anything but a couple of old light/speaker poles. Judging by the amount of high dollar houses just down the street from it, and the "urban sprawl" that is creeping up on it, I would say this place is off the list of possible tracks that could ever be re-opened. What a shame. I still think a little plaque or some kind of monument needs to mark this place for all it''s history. It is an important piece of Michigan Motorsports history that is sadly being eroded by time.
Entry Date: - 10/3/2009 - Ernie - We have Motor City Dragway T-Shirts available. $14.95 + 5.95 shipping. Add $2.00 for 2x and 3x. Makes a great gift for the Holidays. Visa, MC and Discover accepted. Contact ernietoolman@yahoo.com
Entry Date: - 9/9/2009 - Dennis Fetter - I raced at motor city from 1971 thru 1973. I had a 68 rOADRUNNER BUT THE CAR i LOST PICTURES OF IS A 65 DODGE CORONET. IT WAS YELLOW WITH A TILT FRONT END AND WAS CALLED MAGIC. I AM TRYING TO GET A COMPLETE PHOTO ARAY OF ALL OF MY CARS SO I AM LOOKING FOR THIS CAR. ANYONE KNOWS OR FINDS THIS PICTURE PLEASE E-MAIL ME.
THANKS
Entry Date: - 8/18/2009 - jay coble - I USED TO RACE AT MOTOR CITY DRAGWAY,I LIVED IN HAZEL PARK MICHIGAN AT THE TIME BETWEEN 1972 AND 1975,I HAD A 1965 COMET CALENTIE WITH A MUSTANG DRIVE TRAIN,IT HAD ABOUT 320 HORSEPOWER,457 DETROIT LOCKER,REAR END I HAD 4SPEED TRANSMISSION,ALLTHE ITEMS TO RACE PER NHRA AT THE TIME IT WAS HARD TO GET A FAIR RACE ,THEY ALWAYS PUT ME IN WIERD CLASSES BECAUSE OF THE WAY I BUILT THE CAR AND ENGINE,I HAD ALOT OF FUN TOWING IT AND RACING IT WITH MY FRIENDS.MOTORCITY WAS ALOT OF FUN.
Entry Date: - 8/10/2009 - Tony Achatz - I was a local boy from Marine City who had a 68 Z 28 never beaten at motorcity. would any one have any pictures?
Entry Date: - 6/21/2009 - Chris - Looking for any photos of several MHRA weekend regulars at MCD - from about 1953 to 1961.... Gene Haddad, Louie Kohler, Richard Wilt, Connie Kalitta, Doug Kalitta (Sr.), Paul Kemp. Bearingburners/Modifiers, Gratiot Hot Rod Supply. One car was a brown 55 Ford......
Entry Date: - 3/3/2009 - Steve Fraley - There is a picture of EJ on his bike in the Detroit Dragway section.
Entry Date: - 2/10/2009 - Steven Fraley - I am looking for pictures of the AA/S 1964 Galaxie 500 sponsored by Bob Ford of Dearborn. NOT the T-Bolt Fairlane.
If I remember correctly it was white with blue or black lettering. Any help would be greatly appreceiated.
I use these pictures to create decals for static models and slot cars and I''d like to be as accurate as possible.
Thank you!
Entry Date: - 12/28/2008 - mike lewis - Just wondering if anyone knows of some old junkyards around the area that have 1970 and older cars. I just like to look around. I love the old stuff and at the moment im building a 1950s studebaker gasser so please let me know of any info...
Entry Date: - 12/17/2008 - Steven Fraley - I am looking for pictures of Roger Lindamoods 1965 S/S and A/FX "Color Me Gone" and any other 1965 Dodge Coronet S/S and A/FX cars that raced in the Detroit area.
Funny I''ve only found a right rear quarter wheelie shot of the 65 Color Me Gone car.
Thanks!
Entry Date: - 11/23/2008 - Steven Fraley - Well, the good news is that you can build a sound proof dragstrip. The new NHRA track in Charlotte NC is a shining example.
So the noise problem, as I''ve stated before, can be defeated.
To Susie Koffel: On the left hand side of the page there is link to post a photo under "General Info" almost at the bottom of the list.
I''m still working on the 8mm photo caps. I just can''t seem to get them clear enough.
Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Drag On.
Entry Date: - 11/20/2008 - Dave & Susie Koffel - Would like to enclose a picture of Dave Koffel''s "Flintstone Flyer" Barracuda Funny car running a match race against Al Joniec''s "Bat Car" in 1967. We were part of the NASCAR Gas Funny Car Circuit.
Dave, in his youth, was also a member of the Blue Angels from Massillon, Ohio that is pictured from 1958 in this site.
Great pictures and memories.
How do I go about e-mailing this picture?
Susie Koffel
Entry Date: - 11/15/2008 - Robert Genat - I''m currently doing a book on the glory days of Woodward Avenue, 1950s and 1960s. I''m in need of good photos of Detroit area cars taken in the 1950s and 1960s. Please email me at robertgenat@yahoo.com and I can give you more details.
Entry Date: - 10/12/2008 - Robert D'Alessandro - In 1971 my uncle bought a 1964 GTO from the neighbor across the street. It had spent most of it''s life on the track. He since has restored it to street trim but left the original Motor City Dragway sticker on the vent window. Pretty cool.
Entry Date: - 10/7/2008 - MarkM - Spent many days and nights in childhood years (60-67) at Motor City as my father was the Track Manager and Promoter. He is still alive and kickin at 80.
Would love to share some of my memorabilia with others and reminisce.
A highlight memory is when Garlits did a test session at track and he let me sit in the SwampRat ( I was 8 or 9 years old )
Entry Date: - 9/24/2008 - dwight fackender - I have 5 pictures coming tomorrow of the first 1/8 mile drags in Mi. 1959 these are black & white. I can e- mail them if anyone is interseted. Dwight hardfacfks@tc3net.com 9/23/08
Entry Date: - 9/21/2008 - dwight fackender - I have been a member of M.H.R.A. and Motorcity Modified Auto Club since 1953I Ihelped build Motor City when we owned it. All hand labor and a shovel to build the pits. I raced a 1933 Ford 3 window coupe with a chopped top and a flathead in B/gas. I knew Al Dortenzio as he was in our club. The last time i remember being out there was when we had 1/8 mile drags. I guess late 50''s. Bob Larivee also had a lot to do with it.
Entry Date: - 9/15/2008 - Steven Fraley - Pictures people! Post your pictures!!
Entry Date: - 9/9/2008 - George Ealem - Doug,
I worked at Detroit Dragway from 1988 until it closed at the end of 1997. Ralph Turgeon was the starter that whole time. Gil Kohn owned both Detroit Dragway and Motor City Dragway. My question to you is what years did you work at Detroit and Motor City?
George
Entry Date: - 9/2/2008 - Bob Leverich Jr - I was the one who uploaded the video to youtube, the video was taken with a with a 8mm camera that didnt record sound, My dad used to race injected nitro there (the red dragster that you see the most of) the Leverich & Frye car if anyone remembers or maybe you may remember some faces from the pit shots, don''t forget about the high quality option too. I just now made it here to let everyone know I uploaded it but someone beat me to it, I guess I was caught sleeping on the line and my rt was very slow.
Entry Date: - 8/14/2008 - John Nowak - Go to Youtube and type in Motor City Dragway. Someone loaded old video footage from the 60''s on August 8th. No audio, just background music.
Entry Date: - 6/18/2008 - Bruce Richards - I came across this site today, and it brought back MANY Memories. I lived in Redford Township, on Ivanhoe in the 50s, and was a car nut from about 10 years old. One of my neighbors was Ron Radholf who was President of the Quartemilers Hot Rod Club, and also MHRA.
I learned a lot about cars from him, and went to New Baltimore many times in the late 50s. I never knew it by any other name till recently. I moved from Michigan in 1959, and then went into the Army. I loved looking at the pictures here, and would love to hear from anyone that knew Ron, or knows where he is now. I am Retired now, but am still a car guy. I still go to the local drag strip at least once a month with my week end play car.
Bruce Richards
wd4ngb@charter.net
Entry Date: - 5/12/2008 - Doug Pentzien - I worked from 1966 until the closing of Detroit Dragway and MCD as a starter and fire crew for any of the fuel shows at both tracks. Contact me as I have numerous photos and memories of all the years and fun times at the tracks.
Entry Date: - 5/6/2008 - tootsie - It''s really a shock to see a picture of the Funny Car - Cougar Country.
Although, the picture doesn''t do justice to just how beautiful that Cougar was.
I sat in the stands breathing the sweet smell of nitro-methane fuel/exhaust emitted by the two contestants (I don''t remember who the opponent was).
As the light turned green & tires sent their clouds of burning rubber into the air they both did wheelies.
The competitor regained four-tire traction & roared down the 1/4 mile track.
But that''s not who we were watching.
Cougar Country accelerated before the front wheels landed. The tires bounced as the vehicle continued to pick up speed. Suddenly, it lost control careening from side-to-side. At over 100 mph it''s fiberglas body started breaking apart.
The car edged toward the stands. Pieces of fender & hood flung into the air, landing among the spectators. Traversing the small barrier fence it slammed into the front of the bleachers. Little chunks of Funny Car flying everywhere.
Finally it rolled & flipped & skidded to a stop. Only the frame/cage remained.
To everybody''s amazement, the driver (with a little help from rescuers) walked away unharmed.
Thankfully, (to my knowledge) nobody sitting in the stands were injured either.
If I remember correctly, admission was only $4 and parking free.
Best $$$ I ever spent.
Entry Date: - 4/28/2008 - Steve - I wonder if anyone has approached Connie Kalitta about the track. I know Kalitta air Services makes outrageous profits. Would be nice to see someone like that invest in the area where he started. Just a thought. Steve/Shelby twp.
Entry Date: - 4/27/2008 - Joe - Has anyone seen recent pictures of Motor City?
I have posted some on my site that were taken during the fall of 2007 - check these out!
http://forums.michiganclassics.com/showthread.php?t=505
Entry Date: - 4/12/2008 - Steve Rehak - hello, I saw a dvd series called "detroit at war" a few years ago. It has most of the local drag racing tracks broken up into 5 different decades. I was wondering if anyone has or knows of someone or some place where I could buy this? I have checked online for it and there is next to nothing about it. If anyone knows anything about it, please get a hold of me at srehak86@hotmail.com, thanks
Entry Date: - 4/7/2008 - Wild Bill - THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN !!!!
Entry Date: - 3/29/2008 - Joe - Looks like there may be a new drag strip in St Clair County?
http://forums.michiganclassics.com/showthread.php?t=1059
Entry Date: - 3/24/2008 - Steve Fraley - Pat, Read the post again, real carefully. :)
Entry Date: - 3/23/2008 - Patrick LaMontagne - "I will build a new Motorcity Dragway." - Steve Fraley
Did I miss something? Are you serious?
You sound like that guy in East China Twp., by Saint Clair Shores. I think Dan Griffin is his name who wants to start something out there.
Entry Date: - 3/23/2008 - Erik Fetter - My dad Dennis used to race here before circle track.
I here lots of stories about the old drag tracks,but me being so far from
any tracks ,I only have stories of street racing.
I would love to have stoires about drag racing and a TRACK!!!
I kept hearing about this new race complex tring to get aproved
can I bring my shovel??
ha-ha but anyhow good luck!!!!
p.s. not kidding!!!!
Entry Date: - 3/10/2008 - Bruce Herron - Correction/Alteration: Hi Guys, in my posting 3/7 could you change slightly the second line to: email your address to herronbs@msn.com. Thanks - this will just save some time. Thanks. Bruce
Entry Date: - 3/7/2008 - Bruce Herron - Greetings from this MCDragway fan. I submitted the DVD - a Day at the Races - a while back. I can now make copies so whoever wants a copy - email me at herronbs@msn.com. To refresh, it''s just a 4 minute or so film I shot back in the day, but really captures the scene. Check out the rides on Hot Pit lane as the main show - a match race between Seatons Shaker and Color Me Gone - goes on. Cool Gassers, Tower footage, good crowd, all in 4 Minutes!! I only wish I had Dad''s 8mm in hand when I saw the Green Monster shooting flames, and the Little Red Wagon wheelstanding down the track, or Linda Vaughn!!.......
Bruce Herron - Fraser ''72
Entry Date: - 3/2/2008 - Steve Fraley - To Rich
20,000 an acre?!!! Why aren''t the farmers selling everything off? Geez, my grandpa used to own practially everything from Church to Meldum road along 26 mile. If he only would have known, he could have been rich!
Funny thing is, the taxes on MCD property are only $644.00 per year on 44 acres. Somehow for property is supposed to be valued at $880,000 dollars it seems it would have a higher tax burden.
Something smells like old fishflys.
But the news is, I will build a new Motorcity Dragway. I''m just checking out if I''ll have room for 1/4 or 1/8th drags. Shut down is the big concern. I''m checking on timing systems now and what surface to use. The track will have updated electronics and computer system. But I will recreate the original tower and buildings.
A road course will also be intrigated into the project and if space allows a 1/2 mile roundy round track.
As soon as funds are confirmed construction will start. And, I do not have any resistance from the township. No sound problems, and no effect on the current enviroment either.
I''m planning a race schedule every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until 10 pm with test and tune on Thursdays until 8:00. Bracket racing and class racing, the track will be independent with no sanction body.You''ll be allowed run either 1/32 or 1/24 cars. :)
Entry Date: - 2/25/2008 - lilhotrod33 - My dad used to race there every weekend before he went to Vietnam, he since now has passed but my husband and I have carried on the torch with the muscle cars. I would love to see the DVD that is going around, that was the last year my dad raced. Can someone send me some contact info???
Just wanted to let you know about a new complex that a man named Dan Griffin is trying to start in St. Clair Township. One township meeting has already passed, and of course people were against it. I live near there and I would probebly hear it from my house. Here is an article about it.
http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/NEWS01/802010309
Entry Date: - 2/17/2008 - Scott Schroeder - As I stated in a post a few years ago, I had some great times at MCD back in the 70''s. I hope someone can do something to save the old facility before it is gone forever.
While re-opening it as a functioning drag strip may be impossible I always thought it would be a fantastic place for a Detroit area drag racing museum. With the right people involved the facility could be restored as part of a museum complex that could showcase the evolution of Detroit area organized drag racing and the history of cruising Gratiot and Woodward.
I''ve had a picture in my mind of the museum building being built so the staging and starting area of the track is actually in the building with the track continuing on through a window wall. This museum could also include the history of Detroit Dragway as well. It seems like something Connie and Shirley could even be part of as a personal museum.
Just my thoughts,
Entry Date: - 2/11/2008 - Donn - Selfridge? Doubtful. The ANG won''t even allow part of the base to be used as a civilian airport. Besides, the area surrounding the base is a suburb now. The locals complain about the occasional jet noise. Drag racing two or three nights a week? Never happen.
Entry Date: - 2/11/2008 - rick rzepka - http://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/equalization/search.aspx
i was checking on the property and as written by people on this site mr kohn does still own the property on church st where the track was ( parcel#''s 74-23-004-1012-000, 74-23-004-2008-000) and the taxes are up to date (: . guess drag racing there will never be again but hey thanks gil for the memories you did give us: ) also gils address is listed as boca raton fla. ill bet its nice down there....
Entry Date: - 2/11/2008 - Nelson - Has anyone ever tried to speak to the Selfridge Air National Guard (ANG) people. As I recall, the Topeka, Kansas NHRA track was built on land that was part of a down sized Air Force Base. There is still an ANG base on part of the property along with a road course race track. It''s worth a try and the city or township would have less of a say on what gets put on the base. Selfridge would be an ideal location.
Entry Date: - 2/7/2008 - Patrick - That''s not a bad idea; move it up the road a bit so it''s not right by peoples'' houses. If Motor City Dragway was opened up again, even if it were not in the same exact location, I''d DEFINITELY be a customer very often and so would me buddies!!!
Entry Date: - 2/4/2008 - Mike S - I was in a small way involved in the late 80''s attept to buy and reopen the track.At that time we had Nhra,funding and Gil Kohn on board.It was not Gil that stopped the deal,it was the township.( see my early posts) Shortsighted and foolishness on their part ended any chance of the track reopening.It is my contention that a sight sightly north or northwest of the track could be found and bought without all the hassles dealing with the township.
I understand why they were against the track but the area is never going to grow like other parts of SE Mich have.Moreover with the economic conditions in the state it is important for any investors to move now.The area could really use an influx of money that a first class Motorplex (not just a drag strip) could bring.It''s always about the money and this area needs it badly as does the state.I think that local governments in that area may at this time be open to hearing a professional proposal from investors.
The state may even help if properly approached.There is not much going on in that area and hasn''t been for a long time. One important fact is that the track must be in short distance to the interstate.(I-94 in this case). Just my 2 cents..........Mike
Entry Date: - 2/4/2008 - Rich - STEVE,THE LAND AROUND THE TRACK IS GOING FOR MORE THAN $20,000 AN ACRE,YOU ARE LOOKING AT $800,000 FOR JUST THE LAND,IF IT IS ONLY 40 ACRES.A PERSON WOULD NEED 2 OR 3 MILLION TO OPEN THAT TRACK .BUT YOU COULD NEVER GET APPROVAL TO OPEN A DRAGSTRIP EVEN IF YOU HAD THE MONEY. TOO BAD.
Entry Date: - 2/3/2008 - Steve Fraley - I''ve been in touch with possible investors. #1 problem is NOBODY will touch this place as long as Gil Kohn has ANYTHING to do with it. The property must be bought from him free and clear. Then there is a chance of a spark.
Seems he ticked off quite a few people during his reign in the racing bizz.
Mr. Kohn must not be interested in selling. His taxes are dirt cheap for the 40 odd acres. It''s worth more to him to do nothing with it.
He doesn''t answer any of my letters I''ve sent for an asking price.
By land prices up north, I''m guessing about $40-60,000 for a down stroke and then the cost of resurrection which would depend on what your doing with it. Does anyone or any group have that kind of funding for such a gamble? And by gamble I mean twp approval. DNR approval. We don''t want to bother the Leapord frogs habitat now do we.
On the side of "historic" value, do you really think Grabbin'' Granholm would allow funding?
If Kohn would donate the land lock,stock and barrel to a group like the MHRA or NHRA, for a tidy tax write off, that would go a long way to getting started.
Entry Date: - 2/1/2008 - scott dortenzio - i have noticed that alot of posts are from people who ran at the track my father raced and ran the place for a while his name was al dortenzio just wondering if anyone knew him or might have some stories .he passed when i was 18 so never really got to know him,would like to hear something good or bad.my brothers and sisters would like to hear also thankyou
Entry Date: - 1/27/2008 - Art Thibault - also has anybody asked the m.h.r.a for help??they did build and own the track in the late 50,s.and alot of the original members are still around.how do i know?i,ve been a member for over 25 years.somebody has got to have a plan and set it forward first then things could start falling into place.first hurdle is trying to get china twp to approve it.
Entry Date: - 1/27/2008 - Art Thibault - like i said before i heard gil kohn still own property.also i heard the state is paying him a agricultural grant not to do anything with it.your tax dollars hard at work!!!good luck!!!first somebody needs to find out if the owner is willing to get anybody interested in in doing anything with it.then go from their.yes the place should be made into some kind of state history marker or something.but getting the state to realize the history of this place is another story.look at the packard proving grounds.instead of this being the motor city its more like the import city.people just let it all go way for the japanese crap.and people just keep on buying them.maybe if people would be more loyal to American manufactures they could get some help from gm,ford Chrysler and they might get on board too.when nhra started letting Toyota body funnycars run its all over.yes they build Toyotas her but where does the money go.not in the united states.c,mon people lets get this going and start making this state like it used to be!but everyone has to be willing to help.we need to bring back the track!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Entry Date: - 1/10/2008 - Don Sioma - Rick ...Thanks for the complement about the pictures of the Ramchargers. I still have more old slides that I have to download. I wish I also had the sound. Those were some great times and good memories.
Entry Date: - 1/8/2008 - Russ Emmons - I just sent a pic to the webmaster here of the MCD property I took in August 2007. The pic was taken from Meldrum Rd. I believe the 2 track shown is the south edge of the property. The rest of the MCD property along Meldrum is mostly overgrown along the ditch line with thickets, shrubs and saplings so there is limited visibility now into the property from the road especially when the leafs are out.
Like others here have said, I too would like to see this place again in action!
Along Arnold Rd. east from County Line Rd. is now the huge new Anchor Bay High School complex, said to be the largest High School in MI. All along Marine City Highway (26 Mile) are now industrial shops, strip malls, used car lots, trailer parks, and of course as mentioned the new huge Meijer Shopping Mall complex. There are though few new houses adjacent or near the MCD site, just the old farms. As mentioned by someone, there has been no agriculture use of this property.
As I mentioned on my previous posting of March 7, 07, we live less then 4 miles from the site and I would be happy to send email photos of the present day property if anyone so desires. Russ Emmons, Casco Twp.
Entry Date: - 1/3/2008 - rick rzepka - awesome pics don sioma! love the ramchargers coming off the line lifting the left wheel....killer! wish it had the sound too...lol. we have to treasure these photos as the days of motor city are gone forever.
Entry Date: - 1/2/2008 - Randy - Well as I was reading all the other posts on WaterWinterWonderland for the speedways and dragstrips, I thought there was one appropriate headline from an article about MIS...it states "A DREAM BECOMES A REALITY" so maybe there is hope for something to be done..now understand, this article was about MIS and had big $ backing from Mr. Penske. But I like how the headline reads...and if there was only the $ backing from someone like Mr. Penske.
Entry Date: - 1/2/2008 - Randy - Garrett, very good points...I think the biggest hurdle is that the property (as like Detroit Dragway) is privately owned. So the first thing is to get the property owners on board. That in itself, I think is a challenge.
BUT it would be nice for at least some sort of signage to be posted marking a historical area. Odd how there is not some retired racer to take the lead on something as this.
Entry Date: - 12/31/2007 - Garrett Pierce - As a vintage drag race fan, I frequent this site often and I am always amazed by all the people who want to try and re open this and other old facilities like it (Onondaga,Tri-City, ect.). While I would love to see something like that happen, the odds are very small because gaining the public''s sentiment for issues like this is like trying to start a fire without matches; you might get lucky but don''t bet on it.
What I can''t believe is how many people don''t understand what a significant piece of history this facility and others like it are to those of us who love motorsports; this is holy ground for us gearheads. Some pretty significant events in motorsports history took place here. We must remember that this track was founded by LEGENDS like Connie Kalitta and others without whom there would be no track in the first place. Let''s be honest; if this were some building like Tiger Stadium, you would see a large effort such as the one there was in that instance to preserve the stadium because of all it''s history.
Tracks like this are just as significant to fans of Drag Racing as Tiger Stadium is to baseballers. Yet no one seems to be trying to save this thing even though it has basically been sitting around for nearly 30 years with nothing going on there. I don''t know if there were NHRA National Events held there, but there were DEFINATELY some held at Detroit and look what happened to it. It seems to me if we want to save this piece of history, the time to act IS NOW!
Form committees, alert your local government and GET IT DONE before it is gone too.I wonder if we could get a place like this regested with the goverment as a historic landmark? That would maybe preserve it for prosperity,for a while wouldn''t it? It sure would be neat if we could save this place if for no other reason than to hold Cackle fests and car shows.
Entry Date: - 12/23/2007 - Jay Hicks - I raced a ''57 Ford 292 CI at MC Dragway. I was an also ran.
I remember a motorcycle called "the Cannibal" that was top eliminator a few times before it was finally beat by an Austin Healy with a lot of added muscle.
Entry Date: - 12/15/2007 - Mike Nunnally - It was great finding this site and reliving memories of the time and the area.
I was born in Mt. Clemens and spent a good part my wild (so I''ve been told)youth in Macomb county. I raced at Motor City twice, I used to race Sports cars and after rebuilding my engine I would take my car to Motor City to try out. If any one has pictures of my car it would be great to see them, it was a
1961 Fiat Abarth, the car was a 2 door and looked like a minature 48 Ford with number 44 on the side. I remember I going into a class by myself and winning trophies, one time I went to a elimination round against a 1968 Pontiac and beat him off the line, but he passed in just a few feet (After the shock wore off). I remember me and the car was a real crowd pleaser. After I left to go to Arizona in 1968, I sold my car to a friend who used as an Ice fishing shanty shuttle in Algonac and it lays on the bottom of the Bay.
Entry Date: - 12/1/2007 - RON GARZA - Marie, the car was the Green Monster,it was a jet car driven by Art Arfons ,I seen it run at Lapeer a few times in the 70''s it would run 285 mph.back in thoes days. real good show
Entry Date: - 10/27/2007 - Steve Fraley - One thing that really sticks in my memory of the "Mystery Mover" was the flames belching out of the back when the driver would rev up the motor. I don''t know if that was supposed to happen but as a boy it was "cool".
Was this named after the "Scooby Do" Mystery Van?
I know there was a contest that my brother entered to guess what type of engine was in the van whenever it came to MCD. Hence, the "mystery" part of the name.
Does anyone remember the ''48 Anglia that did a bumper scrapeing wheelie, came down with the wheels turned and then did a few barrel rolls, and the driver got out ran back up the track and picked up his shoes!
I know it wasn''t Pappy Ellis but it was a dark colored car.
Entry Date: - 10/25/2007 - Bill Layton - Hello, was wanting to know if anyone out there knew the whereabouts of the Mystery Mover Wheelstander. Corvair Van built by my Father Jack Layton. Any pictures or leads appreciated. It was driven by Bob Ries from Howell Michigan and did full length wheelies against the best wheelstanders of their time. Little Red Wagon, Hurst Hemi Underglass, LA Dart and more.
Thanks,
Bill Layton 517-861-7308
Entry Date: - 10/8/2007 - Steve Fraley - OMG! Marie! What, something like thirty five years!!?? One of my e-mails is listed in a 7-07 message, use that and we''ll catch up. Grandpa''s friend was Andy Findel. The car your probably thinking of is the Green Monster jet car. Do a google search and there is a fan site. Little John is drag racing up here and was doing pretty well.
Great to hear from you!
Entry Date: - 10/8/2007 - Marie (Williams) Fish - Steve, I have all of Mom and Dad''s old photos, I''ll check and see if I have any, and get them posted.
Entry Date: - 10/7/2007 - Marie (Williams) Fish - To Steve Fraley; Hi Cuz, fancy meeting you here. We left the house on the corner in ''67 or ''68. I think I was about 3 or 4, but I remember playing outside and hearing the Drag Strip. At that age sometimes I thought it was scary. One car has stuck in my mind all these years and I have been trying to find a picture of it because I was too little to go to the track, I''d love to put a picture with the sound. I believe it was called the "Green Hornet" or the "Green Monster" something like that any way. I guess it could be the "UFO" you have been talking about, but I don''t think so. One more question, Grandpa''s (john G. Williams) best friend lived near them. I remember his name was Andy, do you or your mom remember his last name?
Entry Date: - 10/7/2007 - Steve Fraley - Bruton Smith is the guy to have on your side if your planning on building a dragstrip!
After breaking ground to build a dragstrip on his Lowes Motor Speedway property the local zoning board rezoned the area so he COULD NOT put a dragstrip on his property. Who says you own land.
So he''s looking for a new location to move the speedway to! The track is 40 years old so it''s probably wouldn''t hurt to haver a rebuild anywho.
But think of this! A track that brings Millions into the local community gone! All because of some stoneheads that don''t want a dragstrip on a race tracks property!!
Entry Date: - 9/28/2007 - GJ Rusch - +Still proudly display 3 trophys won at the Motor City Dragway with a green 67 Mustang
convertable. Drove to track from Roseville with neighborhood friends who had racing type vehicles. Raced only on Trophy Night. Won Class Trophy on September 6, 1970 (M Automatic class); July 25, 1971 (KA2 class) and 35 years ago today on September 24, 1972 (KA2).
Was a cool promotion. Still proudly display all 3 trophys on the fireplace mantle.
Milan Dragway is a good choice when the mood strikes. Racing is still a blast and therapy too.
It is great to be in the Motor City area where so many people support very fine car cruise/show events. We can go do our ''thing, meet people, have a good time, for even more memories.
Entry Date: - 9/20/2007 - Randy - TO Mr. Dangerous...I guess the thinking on that would be the prison is funded by the State/County and a dragway would be funded by a private source/owner. So the state cannot raise any taxes to fund a track, but they can to fund a prison.
Just my ''quick'' opinion...I agree, I would take a dragstrip making noise over having to worry 1, 2, 3 or 5 years down the road that there could be a possible encounter with an escaped convict intruding into my home.
But all this is hypeathetical...there is that chance of nothing ever happening...right?
Entry Date: - 9/18/2007 - MrDangerous - You know whats funny? We all know its all because of the Noise. and yes, I would agree if Konnie or Shirely applied to build a new track it would be approved......but anyways, we cant have a Drag Strip but we can have a Prison built and its okay. Property Value has since gone down and most locals are scared of an escape. so lets review this.....noise vs escape. Ill take the noise, it wont affect my property value
Entry Date: - 8/31/2007 - Ron Gross - Paul your post on 7/24/2007 (In 1984, an investor attempted to reopen this track....) sounds EXACTLY like what happened at Onondaga Dragway. I was at the Onondaga township meetings and hear all the same complaints from the clueless neighbors. Did you maybe make your post on the wrong track?
Entry Date: - 8/30/2007 - Dave Gray - Alex is right AT Lapeer Dragway they won''t put up with that stuff. One time when i was there some people had that dirty rap music blasting on their radio as loud as it would go,,Ed told them to shut it off and they kept playing it,he threw them right out the gate.That is the way it should be.
Entry Date: - 8/27/2007 - Randy - KUDO''s to Lapeer personnel for taking that action...I cannot believe some people would even think of wearing something like that to a family/public event(and I know all about the freedom of speach deal)
Good going LAPEER DRAGWAY!!!
Entry Date: - 8/22/2007 - Alex KERN - Steve, you are right about all the smut that is pictured at the Dragstrips.Last year when i was at a race at Lapeer Dragway there was a guy wearing a t shirt that said something on it about go get fu***d ,the owner seen it and told the guy he had three choices,he could take the shirt off,turn it inside out,or leave now. That there was family''s here and he would not tolerate this stuff.The guy turned his shirt inside out. I thanked him for not letting him get away with wearing something like that. Alex.
Entry Date: - 8/20/2007 - ricbee - Dennis: I just picked up the current issue of ''Hot Rod'' magazine,and the ''blue racer'' is featured in the ''barn finds'' feature.
Entry Date: - 7/30/2007 - Randy - Steve...that NOPI thing is running rampid...it is the drag racing for the tuner crowd and that is the kids with mama n daddy''s $$$. So of coarse Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc. are going to buy into this and as good ole corperate Amercia goes...if there is enough money, they will promote it. Sad but true. If it was like back in the day when Chrysler, Dodge, Chevy, Pontiac, Ford, etc backed teams to race on Sunday (and not the extreme version of drag cars, just good ole Stockers), we would be seeing those commercials. I am not about the tuner scene and drag racing to me is done with Amercian made steel built by Amercian''s (American citizen''s) the U.S.A.
Entry Date: - 7/26/2007 - Steve Fraley - Here''s an interesting bit. I was sittin around with a buddy watchin'' ESPN2. Something to do with NASCAR, he''s into that so I let him watch it. While discussing what Junior was going to do, that stupid NHRA Stylefest or something like that came on. What a blow to drag racing this show is! The car owners look like greasy tatooed gang bangers, girls running around(bouncing around) 2/3d''s naked shaken their butts and bouncing for screaming crowds, like a strip joint. No pun intended. Stupid "hip" commentators. Some broad named Crash?!! This is tv exposure of a family sport? My buddy ground my nose into that! Little jap cars buzzing down the strip. The "new" drag racing? No wonder tracks are closing left and right. How are you supposed to get local approval for a track when ESPN and NHRA allow such CRAP at the tracks! How do you counter such a contradictory display when your trying to tell the local people how wholesome and family oriented drag racing is supposed to be. Yeah, thanks NHRA you just threw our battle back 40 years.
Entry Date: - 7/25/2007 - Nelson - The only way you will get a dragway in the near Detroit-Metro area is to have a guy like Roger Penske, Connie Kalitta, or Bill Davidson come in with deep pockets to build a class act, national event facility. They would have the best chance to sell the idea to a small township. I don''t see the "traffic" as being an argument not to resurrect the old Motor City Dragway. They are currently building a huge Meier Thrifty Acre on 26 mile and I''ll guarantee a Lowe''s, Home Depot, or Wal-mart will soon follow. The only place I think you could get a drag strip in the area is to build it in an unused area of the Selfridge Air National Guard base. This way you are dealing with the Federal Government who can over rule the local government. I was to a dragstrip in Topeka, Kansas who did the very same thing and it worked out well for the people of Topeka.
Entry Date: - 7/24/2007 - Paul - In 1984, an investor attempted to reopen this track. Me and several friends from my high school attended the township board meeting in support. The local opposition was fierce and in the end, the proposal was denied. If the parcel had been zoned industrial, it would have reopened, but with the lack of local support, the request to rezone was denied. The most common issue from the local opposition was the traffic, people street racing, as well as bringing in a ''bad element'' and drug use. Before the track closed 1978 , it became very seedy, which didn''t help the cause. The track still exits today, but it''s so badly deteriorated, it''s barely recognizable.
Entry Date: - 7/22/2007 - Sean Fitzgerald - Last night I saw the Friends of Dennis Wilson playing at the Fourth Street Fair in Detroit. The lead singer who is about 25 was wearing a Motor City Dragway speed capital of the mid west T shirt. Detroit deserves and needs an oval/dragstrip/road course.
Entry Date: - 7/17/2007 - Steve Fraley - Does anyone have a copy recording of the MCD advertisement Ba Ba Ra Ra Cu Cu Da Da? If I remember right it was a promo for Ronnie Sox''s A/FX Cuda in a match race or maybe Hursts'' Hemi Under Glass. Maybe while you were using your reel to reel tape recorder getting the Beatles or Jan and Dean or maybe the Beach Boys you accidently got the ad off CKLW?
Entry Date: - 7/12/2007 - ALEX KERN - Steve, I remember back in the 70"s that UFO car running a lot at Lapeer Dragway. I was there every week. I will check my old pictures and see if i can find any.
Entry Date: - 7/10/2007 - Steve Fraley - Doesn''t anyone else have pictures to submit? This was the best times for detroit iron. These cars from the 30''s to the early 70''s were beautiful works of art. Especailly the mid to late 50''s and through the 60''s. Today I can not tell you one thing from the other thing driving down the road. They all look like chicken eggs layed in a high wind to me. So dig around in the basement and attic for some pics from your days at MCD. Thanks everyone that helped me out with my UFO picture request!
Entry Date: - 7/7/2007 - larry malski - steve,a good friend of mine sells photos.His name is Daryl Huffman,lives in Ohio.He has items listed now under drag racing photos on ebay.He goes by Gate job classics,great photos and he has color photo of UFO.I have Daryl number if neededContact Larry at moosehead2@lighthouse.net
Entry Date: - 7/5/2007 - Steve Fraley - Does anyone have a color photo of the A/FX car UFO that''s pictured on here? Thanks!
Entry Date: - 7/5/2007 - Randy - Steve, Bravo on the pix...those are awesome... Well here''s an idea, don''t know how well it would fly and the first part would be "who''s going to fund the track IF there is a potential" but what about a petition of some sort to - back the track reopening? Can''t tell me there isn''t people out there that would not sign this...and who knows who might jump on board (get the right political figure(s) that wants votes that see''s how many people want this part of history back) and you never know. Of coarse there would have to be a proposal and plan in place with the right backing. BUT again this is just an idea for a small piece of the puzzle....and I know this all would take a lot of energy and time, but using the Detroit Grand Prix as an example, once it left Belle Isle who''d thought it would ever be coming back. Just need those key people... I won''t throw out any names, but I know there have got to be some big name Michigan Drag racers that would back this somehow (I''d hope anyway). (and on a side note-I did run at MCD in the 70''s nothing ground shaking, but still raced there)
Entry Date: - 7/5/2007 - Steve Fraley - Thanks Jack, we used to have oodles of pics. I''m trying to get some good captures off from 8mm movie film, it''s a bit more difficult than I anticipated. I loved watching Tom''s Nasty Torquer 62 Galaxie. That baby screamed! That car influenced me even to today as I own two 64 Galaxie 500s one a street car and one a drag car that emulates the 60''s gassers like TNT''s 62.
Entry Date: - 7/5/2007 - Steve Fraley - According to some of the messages on the board it was because of a combination of lack of racer support and fish flies! My theory is this, it''s zoned as agriculture. The government pays you not to grow crops. (wonderful eh?) The owner, gets big bucks for NOTHING!! It makes great business sense. No track bills, no employees, no racer headaches ect! Trump does it, Turner does it and the corporate farms do it. I don''t know how much acreage is there but money for nothing, can''t beat it! As long as it pays the taxes and a bit in the pocket it''s profit. Just a theory though.
Entry Date: - 7/4/2007 - Ron Gross - They tried to reopen the long-closed US30 Dragway in Indiana recently, but couldn''t overcome the opposition. MCD would face the same opposition from the narrow-minded "not in my backyard" set. I''d love to see MCD reopen, but I can''t see it happening. It would need some big time support to make it happen. If the NHRA was interested in coming here, maybe. But they aren''t....our "Michigan" national event is now in Norwalk Ohio. Having someone in Lansing who actually cares about tourism and bringing new business to the state would help too, but that''s not going to happen. Sad to say, but there''s far too many obstacles my friends. I admire those who remain hopeful though! So, WHY did it close!?
Entry Date: - 7/4/2007 - Jack - Thanks you Steve for posting those new pics, nice to see something different on the website. I don''t know if this place will ever reopen but I would be willing to pull weeds with tweezers on a hot summer day to have somewhere closer to race. I have friends who would be willing to do the same, so keep me in the loop @ Slick0101@aol.com. Thanks
Entry Date: - 7/3/2007 - Steve Fraley - Kevin, Contact me off board. At tinymotors AT(use @)netonecom.net Steve
Entry Date: - 7/2/2007 - Kevin - Pardon me STEVE but I was wondering myself if you have any valid information on the current owners location or the where abouts of the owners of the MOTOR CITY DRAGWAY,incorporation????I have made many different attempts in the past few Day''s to find this out on my own and have just stumbled into this forum....Also if could please inform me as to why the Track closed and why it seems to not be re opened you seem to have a vast knowledge of this track..Not to pull punches but I''m interested in restoring it to it''s original design and condition..along with some more updated items...The Tower is a must be there item and the advertisement boards as well..The round metal lights along the track..I have a strong desire to see it live again so please please e-mail me any information that may be helpful...IRA TOWNSHIP claims it is ZONED FOR AGRICULTURE..BUT YET THERE IS NO CORN SINCE 1983...OR SMOKING TIRES....Metro Detroit has lost alot of it''s ICONS and yet they brag about revitalizing DETROIT so let''s do it ALL OUT I SAY.....
Entry Date: - 6/28/2007 - Steve Fraley - Chris, I don''t remember. My mom''s not sure. We knew the Koloffs somewhat, and my brothers best bud at the time was a guy named Tommy Tenyer on Arnold road down by the school. And my bud was a freckled face, red haired kid named Alan James. I had a big crush on his mom, Judy. :) They lived on Meldrum past Arnold road if I remember right. North from Fair Haven. I was just a little shaver running around with my cousins. All I cared about was riding my pedal bike, BB guns, drag racing and collecting "Weird Dohs" and model cars. My uncle Floyd Williams lived on the corner of Meldrum and 26 mile and my Grandpa, John Williams lived on 26 mile rd toward Church rd. Both have passed away. My brother used to sneak my moms 56 Pontiac out to MCD, he painted "Telstar II" on the rear quarters. That car had the hi po 316 package! We moved north in Oct 68. We were told our old ranch house on 26 mile burned down soon after we left. Funny thing too, we we''re told that MCD was turned into a mobile home park with the dragstrip being the main road with trailer houses lining both sides. Guess that was wrong! Mid-Michigan Motorplex is a great place to race and they have NHRA division 3 series every year. I thing they just had the meet this past weekend. They used to have IHRA Northern Nationals but switched back to NHRA after US 131 got the Nats. I saw my first 6 second 200 mph run at MCD and my first 4 sec 300 mph at Mid Michigan. Don Garlits gave me the 6/200 and Blaine Johnson gave me the 4/300. I really doubt MCD will ever reopen. It''s a shame it ever closed but if Detroit Dragway can''t stay open with a larger population how could MCD. Like the man says, use it or lose it. Steve
Entry Date: - 6/28/2007 - Chris Wilt - Steve Fraley, We lived on Meldrum, a couple houses south of Arnold Road. Did you know the Cummins family across the street from MCD? Or the Borke''s down off Arnold? It would be an injustice to try to reopen MCD. I say let it be. Someone needs to open an NHRA Supertrack somewhere farther south. It''s a shame Michigan doesn''t have a big NHRA facility. Had some great times there at that little track though.
Entry Date: - 6/28/2007 - Steve Fraley - To Kurt Martin, I mean no disrespect. Anyone that has 40 years experience in any field has my admiration. I sent in a bunch of pics of some cars from the mid sixties at MCD. The webmaster must be going crazy writing the paths to them. LOL Steve
Entry Date: - 6/27/2007 - Steve Fraley - Sorry, I''m not just a fan. I was involved in the process to reopen Northern Michigan Dragway in the late 80''s and I have owned a few businesses. I have to mention that the Ledfords were great with their help and support and I hope NMD continues to grow. Many business''s in the NMD area now have customers spending money in the area that otherwise wouldn''t be spent. Gas stations, restaurants, machine shops, parts stores .....ect. I see the "big picture". While polling spectators soon after reopening NMD, I asked anyone, racer or fan, what draws them to the race track and almost to the person they would mention the sound. I''ve seen 7 sec muffled cars they weren''t that quiet. But they just didn''t have the excitement either. I was raised with Motor City Dragway practically in my backyard. I''ve raced on and off for over 30 years. Noise is a political excuse. Period. It''s an easy wedge for the "green anti''s" to use. The noise issue can be countered on every level if someone were really serious. A business venture will go to the cheapest place to build with the least resistance rather than spend money to appease the local politics. I don''t think telling a board that cars would have mufflers would change their minds at all. Heck, even electric cars would make too much "wind" noise. I wonder if someone tried to put up a NASCAR track where MCD is, if they would have such a rebuke. Probably not, due to the positive publicity that NASCAR does. It''s a conspiracy man, to keep the innovator''s and free thinkers under "their" control, man. "They" don''t want us to gather where we can express ourselves, man. LOL!!!
Entry Date: - 6/26/2007 - Dave Gray - Your dead wrong boys.Noise is the big issue.If dragstrips were as quiet as golf courses,we would have them all over the place. Kurt is right on the mark,he has first hand experience and knows what the facts are.You boys are race fans and can''t see the big picture. No noise no problems with neighbors. Can''t N. H.R.A. and I.H.R.A. see the light that a muffler could solve the problem , or is it like Kurt said they just don''t care. Dave
Entry Date: - 6/25/2007 - Randy - I agree about noise not being an issue, but I am sure the county / community officals would use that as another nail (look at when Neederlanders wanted to do a Motor City Speedway at the Michigan State Fair Grounds) in the coffin...this also sounds too fimilar like the situation with Thunder Road Raceway also in Cass City. They had new track owners that wanted to rebuild the track and re-open it...the city, county and community shut the door with rezoning laws to stop the forward motion. This was just last year. It is the closed minded officals that do not think outside the box. What a shame, as there can be $$$ to be made for all (city businesses, new employment, etc.) but no one in the city organization wants change or to benifit the community. We all know that the drag racing (as well as stock car racing) has come a long way from the ''leather jacket clad'' crowd. Auto racing has become more of a family sport to attend AND participate in. Heck, I wish there were Jr. Drags when I was growing up. It is a shame that the state that has a city titled "the MOTOR CITY" being Detroit, does not have any kind of track near the boundries. It is sad that I have to drive an "hour +" just to get to a track whether it be drag or stock car...guess the new Motor City is in N. Carolina, even Detroit Speed & Engineering moved there.
Entry Date: - 6/24/2007 - Steve Fraley - In regards to reopening MCD, however remote, the noise wouldn''t be an issue in this area. By the satellite photos it''s amazingly sparse in regards to residences. Also there is a motorcycle race track right across the road from the old track. Nothing is more annoying than the sound of a two stroke on the pipe. :) At least that what my neighbors used to yell at me. :) With the advances in sound control and if put into use the track could co-exist with the home owners in that area. Example, Northern Michigan Dragway is located in a wooded area. Trees on the east and north and less dense woods surrounding the rest, other than what has been cut for pit area ect. You will have an awfully hard time hearing the cars 1/4 or even 1/8 mile away. And if there were berms surrounding the track to force the sound upward it would disperse the sound even further. Also, you could have curfews, no Sunday racing, Sat night racing if you have to run a night race, which by the way is a big spectator night. Let the locals, what there is, in for free. Ask them to be involved, hire them ect. And above all, a STRONG security presence to keep the track a family friendly experience. Bottom line is if there is an open mind in the local government, there is no real reason not to reopen MCD if someone put up the money and resurrected it to be residential friendly. Or for that matter to open a track anywhere. The biggie is getting local support. That would take a campaign to show that your track would not be a threat to the community. Also I don''t believe that race mufflers are any issue on a properly tuned car and that''s why NHRA and IHRA haven''t really pushed them since the late 90''s.
Entry Date: - 6/22/2007 - KURT MARTIN - STEVE, THE PEOPLE ARN''T AFRAID OF THE LEATHER JACKET TROUBLE MAKERS.THE REAL PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A STRIP APPROVED IS THE NOISE.THE N.H.R.A. AND I.H.R.A. HAVE PUT THE KISS OF DEATH ON ANY NEW DRAGSTRIPS.BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT MAKE A MANDATORY RULE THAT ALL DRAGRACING CARS MUST HAVE MUFFLERS. THE OVAL TRACKS SEEN THE LIGHT 20 YEARS AGO AND PUT A MUFFLER RULE IN ORDER.THIS WOULD HAVE GONE SO FAR TO HELP DRAGSTRIPS WITH NEIGHBORS.WHAT SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC TO A RACER WHEN A CAR BURNS OUT WITH OPEN HEADERS, SOUNDS OBNOXIOUS AS HELL TO A NEIGHBOR HAVING A BAR-B-Q IN HIS YARD 10 MILES AWAY THAT HAS NO INTREST IN RACING.I HAVE WORKED AT RACE TRACKS FOR 40 YEARS AND I KNOW THAT THIS ONE THING WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TO APPEASE NEIGHBORS AROUND DRAGSTRIPS.BUT THE RACING ORIGINATIONS COULD NEVER GET IT THROUGH THEIR HEADS,OR COULD CARE LESS.
Entry Date: - 6/22/2007 - Dave Gray - This my friends is why you should support your local Dragstrips, Because it don''t look like there will ever be any new ones,and if the few that are left close they are gone forever,and than what?NO more dragracing. Dave
Entry Date: - 6/21/2007 - Steven Fraley - Unfortunatly it''s the close minds of township leaders that actually fight against what would be a benefit to the community. It''s this way in many parts of the state/country. Oceola county had a chance to have the Midwests premier national event dragstrip. If I remember his name was Burton Smith, he wanted to build a "state of the art" dragstrip on an unused airport that used to be used for private planes of a local company. This is out in the middle of nowhere. Sound berms were planned and the proposed track looked a lot like Route 66 in Chicago. He bent over backwards to appease the local supers. But they were still believing in the leather jacket troublemaker stigma. I went to one of the meetings and these people had no idea what this would do for the local economy and they didn''t care either!!! Now the freeway goes around the little town and it''s dieing, the streets are lined with closed businesses. But by goodness they don''t have those dragstrip thugs running around their town! It sad that people in power are so arrogant. The only thing left to do is vote them out and support people that are really interested in the public needs.
Entry Date: - 6/17/2007 - DAVE GREY - Randy, you are having a pipe dream.that track will never reopen as a dragstrip. That is a fact,just call the township. Dave
Entry Date: - 6/14/2007 - KMPX2 - I live just a few miles from Motor City Dragway and would kill for it to reopen. I would not have a problem with putting mufflers on my car if that is what it would take to get the track up and running again.
Entry Date: - 5/22/2007 - Steve Fraley - Hey guys, I''d like to get a copy of the MCD dvd that ''s floating around, Can you help me out?
Entry Date: - 5/22/2007 - Randy - this is to Ralph Burges - How are you so certian that the track will ''never re-open for racing''? I remember an old saying that goes something like this "Never say Never". Once there was a statement that said there would ''never'' be a forgien car manufacturer in NASCAR racing.... and who ever thought that the Grand Prix would be returning to Detroit. I know it is a long shot, but I believe until there is a new structure in it''s place, there is always a glimmer of hope that someday, there ''possibly'' could be a comeback. Can''t tell me if someone like a Roger Penske came out there and started the $$$''s rolling, that all would turn it down and say "no thanks, we have plenty" I am just an optimist, that''s all! and just want to say THANKS WATERWINTERWONDERLAND for this format and website to voice all our views and opinions
Entry Date: - 5/22/2007 - Steve Fraley - Oh Boy! My family used to own the land from Church Rd to Meldrum along 26 mile rd in the 50''s and 60''s. My uncle lived on the corner of Meldrum and 26 and my Grandpa lived near the corner of Church Rd and 26 and we lived right in the middle. Next to Golders truckng. Now there looks to be a junk yard where my grandpa house used to be, our house is gone and looks like a storage area and my uncles place looks to be a drum storage or something and the pond is gone too. We saw everybody, Garlits, Ivo, Lindemood, Arfons, Maverick, The Professor, you name ''em we saw them. We used to call Kalitta "Wild eye" and he would chase us out of his pit! Garlits sat me in Swamp Rat VI on the starting line during some down time! Detroit test cars, first run drag cars, test run drag cars ect. It was like having a pass to something really special. I can''t even begin to add up the miles my cousins and I put on our bikes riding up and down that strip during the week. Plus all the time there during the races. We moved north in 68 to get away from the riots and the Rock and Roll "sphere" nearby although I haven''t been back my brother went down in 72-73. We had boxes of pic''s and film but most of it disappeared during our move so we only have a pitence of what we had. Once I figure out how to post a pic I''ll put some up.
Entry Date: - 4/27/2007 - RALPH BURGES - Sorry boys it will never reopen for racing.
Entry Date: - 4/25/2007 - art t - i heard the same guy gil kohn still owns the land.china township wouldnt let them reopen because of noise.problem is nobody still lives by track but that old farm and house next door.and further down meldrum.with all new technology and use of berms.that could make it acceptable.i wish somebody could contact the owner and some petitions going.we need a local track.and that site has alot of history.
Entry Date: - 4/22/2007 - earley - Recently visited this track, I wish I was an old man so I could have been around in its time, now u have 2 drive an hour to get to a track and nobody shows up. Back then racing was going on all of the time, I''m not sure who owned the track but, who ever sold the track made a huge mistake.
Entry Date: - 4/20/2007 - larry roberts - yeah i was just at the track on 4/19/06 today and i just felt all of the memories. i wonder how much they would be wanting for this property just to keep it in safe hands so they cant build on it even if i cant ever reopen it i would like to keep it so people can go in and see what used to be?? if you have any info call me at 5864054876.
Entry Date: - 4/10/2007 - jim phelan - good to see old photos, of the old strip. in the early 70s i raced my opal agented my cousins vw super bee. i beat him ,by a bumper. it took about 2min to get to the end of the track. great fun thanks j.phelan
Entry Date: - 4/5/2007 - Bobby Z - I knew Mike from Mancini racing Detroit location and Grosebeck. Real nice guy! He Helped me out setting up a 440 Charger R/T. Hated small block guys! never was nice to me when I had a 340 Dart! Mike was nice enough to give me some small parts I needed at his home. I offered to pay him, but he only asked for a diet coke next time I visited the shop. He had a awesome black 1966 or 67 Hemi Charger! Super shine paint job and straight as an arrow! He also had a LeBaron super gas type drag car with a hemi at the time. I believe it was called the "God Father". I was shocked when I asked for him at Mancin''s, and they said he had passed away.
Entry Date: - 3/18/2007 - Steve Stasko - Hello, I''m looking for any pictures of the "Zoom-O" 1964 Dodge that was raced by Ron Mancini in 1969. I now have the car and am trying to make a scrapbook of pictures. Anything you have will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Steve Stasko sixpakdodge@yahoo.com
Entry Date: - 3/12/2007 - Bill Bergman - I was browsing a Google search for New Baltimore and ran across this site. Wow did it take me back. I raced at Motor City Dragway at various times from 1966 to 1973. My late father-in-law Levi Hand talked of his good times there in the 50’s and 60’s with the Bearing Burners of Mt. Clemens. Levi ran a HEMI powered 1950 I think Ford that the club members helped him build. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of myself or Levi’s car at the strip all I could find was an old 13:99 time slip from my I/S Lime Green 340 Duster. I think I kept it because it was a short lived record run. Through the years I ran a 1966 Honda Super 90 in 1966 (my first vehicle). Bruce Miller’s of Louie’s Honda 1965 Honda Super Hawk 305cc drag-bike in 1967, my 1970 340 Duster in 1970, my B/S B/M 1970 Honda 750 four in 1971 (one of the track announcers always called the bikes “Kamikaze Crotch Cars”. I remember the right lane after the lights was sometimes a hand full if I wasn’t right down the middle of the lane, but the excitement of the run trumped all else. The last time I remember running there was during an event the drag-strip was promoting as new car day. I took my new 1973 455 cu. in. 4 speed Buick Gran Sport there. I think it was the only manual transmission Buick at the track that day. If you can imagine it didn’t hook very well with the factory tires. Anyway like many of you I think that location could have really thrived if reopened and improved, there was a real resurgence in the 90’s. Some guys or gals only raced there once just to say they had done it and for little more than admission they purchased a lifetime memory.
Entry Date: - 3/7/2007 - Russ Emmons - We live only 4 miles NE of the old Dragway! Moved here in 79 1 year after it closed. My youngest son Marty manages the big Auto yard, Auto sales "Auto Farm" on 26 mile near Meldrum now. As a teenager in the 50s I ran around with the original "Bearing Burners" bunch who started the whole thing. We did the Mt. Clemens/ Gratiot cruise thing! I rode with Connie Kallitta, Billy Werderman, Ken Johnson and several others whose names escape me. My brother Bob and I were early participants racing "stock" class cars there in the late 50s. Among others we ran our stepdads hot little stock 54 Chev. pickup which I still have here in decent running condition! I pulled in there with my wife in the late 80s and took maybe my last run down the strip then. (Very slowy tho) Yes the weeds, saplings, all the trash, broken glass, debri etc. Such a shame. We go by there often and nowadays I don''t see a way to get in there anymore. Shrubs growing everywhere now! Not that many homes being built around it surprisingly. Lots of industrial shops going in along 26 Mile (Marine City Highway) in the area. That big farm house shown in many of these photos is still there. I remember I think in the mid 80s, someone started a thing to get it going again to no avail. I ran various stock & Super Stock cars then up to the mid 60s but with a new family, several kids and starting a business my running there faded away. I ran once at "Detroit Dragway" but living in St. Clair Shores, "Motor City" was the place to go! Sure wish I had taken some old photos of those days! Wow the Memorys! I wonder if I dare walk in there when the weather gets nicer and get some photos? I wonder who owns it now? I bet the property taxes are way up there now! Russ Emmons Casco Twp. MI
Entry Date: - 3/4/2007 - chad boise - I know at one time there was proposal on the board to build a strip near St Ignace, don''t know how it died or why but maybe something worth bringing up again. The UP is begging for tourist traffic, and with the car show it would be a great location for a track. No fussy neighbors!
Entry Date: - 3/1/2007 - danielle - My grandfather is Don Douglas who used to like run Kohler dragway .
Entry Date: - 2/20/2007 - Chris Wilt - I actually lived just down the road from MCD in the '70's. My Dad Richard Wilt was a regular there in the early 50's, he raced with Gene Haddad, Louie Kohler and Jimmy Cavaliero & Conrad Kalitta. They had a brown 55 Ford and other cars as well. Does anybody recognize those names? And is the DVD still available? Please Email me dupioneerhockey@yahoo.com
Entry Date: - 2/18/2007 - Sheila Schenk - Hello MrDangerous.... I know where Mike Schenk wife life but she no longer has any tapes or pictures of him after all these years.. so if you are so inclined I would love what ever pictures or tapes you have..... His mother has no tapes of his races or pictures at the race track... Sheila Schenk mrsbob02@yahoo.com
Entry Date: - 2/8/2007 - Dave Gray - You wold be wasting your time and money to even try, I was with some people that had millions of $ and tried for years to open a strip in Michigan and could never get any place with the townships.They ended up in N.Carolina.took them 6 weeks to get the ok from the local zoning board.They spent 3 million dollars on a dragstrip and the town loves it.but not in MICHIGAN,these sponge headed officals don't know what their missing.crazy thinking on their part. DAVE
Entry Date: - 2/8/2007 - rusty2win@aol.com - Tom, I know exactly what you mean. I know there have been proposals for drag-strips and speedways with no success. It is sad that the state that revolutionized the automobile cannot give any support. Seems like the racing mecca is now in the Carolina's and the southeast. It would be nice to see a local track of some sort come to be, as there are still parents that want to hand down that 'good ole racing knowledge' and re-live the good ole days...yep, very sad that the kids have to depend on video games for that now. I will still keep the spirit and support local tracks of all kinds.
Entry Date: - 2/3/2007 - TOM WOODS - RANDY,THERE IS NO WAY IT WILL EVER HAPPEN, IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A NEW TRACK APPROVED BY ANY LOCAL ZONING BOARDS.THE LAST DRAGSTRIP THAT I KNOW OF IN MICHIGAN TO OPEN WAS LAPEER DRAGWAY BACK IN 1968,MANY HAVE TRIED SINCE AND NO ONE HAS SUCCEEDED.AND IT DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY EVER WILL.ALL THE TRACKS ARE CLOSING ONE BY ONE .IT WON'T BE LONG AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WON'T BE ANY DRAGSTRIPS OR SPEEDWAYS LEFT.SAD,SAD.SAD. TOM
Entry Date: - 2/1/2007 - Randy - Tim, if you head East on 26 mile road and then turn right onto Meldrum rd, it would be 'almost' immediately on your right hand side, the last time I was out there I could spot a speaker on a light pole, but a ways into the field and brush. It is mostly overgrown (as in pics) and not that accessible due to the thick brush. I do not think the owners of the property want folks wandering back in there snooping around anyway...sad that there is so much history back in that field and will probably be only memories forever....would be nice to see another Motor City Dragway appear somewhere near the Detroit area.
Entry Date: - 1/31/2007 - tim manetta - i have been looking for this dragway for 2 years,doe's anybody know where it really is location at, please give me a update,thanks t-bone.
Entry Date: - 1/7/2007 - Bob C - To Chris Campbell: I have very fond memories of your fathers very Bad Ass “ Killer Camino” It was 1970 BBC car and would leave wheels in the air. When I seen it, I was racing at Motor City and Detroit at the time in the very early 70’s Darrell Campbell the “ Killer Camino” member of the “Bearing Burners” car club. The “killer Camino” was a Sweet piece to say the least and one of my all time favorites. I even pushed one of my employees to purchase one about 20 years ago and still has it to this day. It’s a BBC car and pristine. Fred was sitting on the fence about buying it but I’m sure the stories that I told him about your dads car pushed him into buying it. Sorry no time slips and no pics but some very cool memories and I still talk about it to this day at the strip. Yep 40 years later and still drag racing. One kid never grow up Bob C
Entry Date: - 11/20/2006 - Jennifer Schenk - I am the late great Mike Schenks Daughter, and I would like to post a comment to thank you all for the wonderful things that you all had to say about my late father. I was only 6 when he died, and I am sorry to say that I do not remember much about him. It means so much to me and my family that you all have such fond memories of him. The reason that we were asking for any pictures-video's or even a memory that you have is because as a race car enthusist, he spent most of his time with his cars and at the track. I know that I have some photo's of him, but with his bad eyes, he rarely allowed his photo to be taken. I have very few photos, and I cherish every one of them. I also recently received a video of him at a race talking to the camera, and it made a dream come true, i knew that my dad was real and not just a dream. I know it seems like a lot, but if any of you have time, please e-mail me with any info-or photo's/videos that you may have at mrsnicks05@sbcglobal.net. Thank you all for your continued rememberence of my father, it means a -lot to me that he meant so much to you.
Entry Date: - 11/14/2006 - Randy Adam - I would like to get (or make) a copy of that DVD as well...I can be reached at rusty2win@aol.com Someone, please let me know sooner than later...Thanks!!! What a great site this is. To see so many people corresponding that would have no way ever been able to contact each other!!! Way to go waterwinterwonderland...
Entry Date: - 11/8/2006 - John Haven - Does anyone remember a drag race driver by the name of Jerry West of Flat Rock, Michigan. He drove Fords, but not sure what class in the 1950's and 1960's?
Entry Date: - 10/18/2006 - Terry Zimnickas - Can you send me an e-mail I'd like to get a copy of the dvd thanks SVOPRO@YAHOO.Com
Entry Date: - 9/30/2006 - Brian M - Bruce, I have copies I've been sending out(12 to date). My copy is exact except for the still pic in the beginning. Couldn't get it copied properly for some reason but your name is credited at the beginning. Anyhow the original copy went to a guy in Richmond. Now, would the gent in Richmond or anyone else that saved a copy please offer it up. Brian
Entry Date: - 9/29/2006 - Dave Lyall - Gary: Although I worked at Ford during my racing heyday, and I of course raced Ford products, I had two near-misses to change camps. In early 1963, my salesman friend Jack Gray intended to follow the Bob Ford Sales Manager Dick Spencer, who left to open his own Chrysler-Plymouth Dealership, Westborn Chrysler-Plymouth. Jack had Dick order what was to be our race car for 1963, a red Plymouth plain-jane two door 426 wedge with all the S/S options and deletes. But before the season started, Paul Harvey talked Jack and I into staying at Bob Ford. The red Plymouth was sold to one of Jack's buddies, an older fellow we called "Pappy Mason" who raced the car during 1963, even beating my Bob Ford S/S on one occasion. Then in 1966, I was racing my AFX Falcon in NASCAR's (yeah..that NASCAR) drag racing circut, and I was approached to run a Plymouth Hemi Baracuda for 1967. (Although the NHRA version did not show up untill later, several were built for NASCAR drag racing, including Bob Koffel's funny car) Once again, initially I accepted, but was again pursuaded into staying with Ford by the promise of more support including $1 cars and unlimited parts. I often wonder how my working and racing career may have been changed if I had gone through with either one of those opportunities. I went on to have many friends at Chrysler, including Dick Maxwell and the late Ronnie Sox. I even had Lunch once with Lee Iacocca when he was chairman of Chrysler Corporation, and had him autograph my copy of his book. I left Ford in 1984, but I am still working at an engineering supplier, and I have both Ford and Chrysler products. At 67 years old I am still racing, a 1995 tube-chassis Mustang I race in IHRA Top Sportsman when time permits, usually at Milan Dragway. As irony would have it, my tow vehicle is a Dodge Diesel Quad-Cab Dually, and my wife enjoys playing grandma hauling our grandchildren around in her Chrysler Town & Country minivan. Dave Lyall delyall@sbcglobal.net
Entry Date: - 9/26/2006 - Gary Bogusz - Dave Lyall- Thanks for the response and its good to hear your still around. You dont remember me but back then I was in the Mopar camp and a coulple of close friends of mine raced Fords and I remember you where approachable guy in helping them with ther cars. The younger guys may not remember but the compatetion between manufactures was fierce back then, so one didnt venture far from his own camp. Also did you run withthose guys from Al Long Ford Mustangs, they where Boss 302's I believe, and where that orange color. Boy could they haul the mail. I think one unfortunatly rolled into the spectator side ditch one night (1969 I believe) Are you still racing?
Entry Date: - 9/25/2006 - Bruce Herron - Hey Scott - I am your old neighbor from Summer Lane South! My Dad passed away but my Mom still lives there. Give me an e at herronbs@msn.com. And while I'm posting, I'd thought I'd give a shout out to see if the Motor City DVD I sent off is still circulating?
Entry Date: - 9/18/2006 - Bob Schenk - This is in respone to Mike Schenks 1972 six pack Charger, its still in the family and belongs to Mikes oldest son. Mike Jr. Mike hopes to restore and drive it again some day. Its been 16 years since Mike has passed and we still miss him dearly he woould have been 52 years old on September 10th. I hung around and grew up with Mike and spent many hours wrenching on the 72 Charger and going out to Motor City Dragway and street racing on Gratiot.
Entry Date: - 9/12/2006 - Chuck Kurzawa III - I was out at what is left of the track on 9-9-06 to spread some of my Dads ashes on the track. I walked the whole length of the track and couldnt seem to find the finish line too overgrown! I wish this track would open up again it would be nice to have something close to home. As always I am seeking pictures of my Dad at any dragstrips in the topfuel cars he drove. If anyone can help please email me at ckurzawa01@comcast.net or call me at 586-871-3266
Entry Date: - 9/12/2006 - Scott - i noticed bruce herron has been on here, from fraser, and just wondered if its my old neighbor from summerlane? if so do you remember the guy across the street with the blue ford thunderbolt?
Entry Date: - 9/5/2006 - Chuck Mohr - does anybody remember the daly drive-in on groesbeck we used to go there after racing at motor city dragway
Entry Date: - 8/17/2006 - Gary Jankowski - Sadly, I heard that John Bloom passed away a couple of months ago. He purchased the dragstrip in 1963 and owned it until 1968. Ironic that his passing was so close to that of Big John Mazmanian, a good friend of his. My brother and I had lunch with John (Bloom) a year or so ago. He also attended several Daly Drive-in reunions with us over the years. He was a great guy and well all miss him very much.
Entry Date: - 7/14/2006 - Dave Lyall - Gary: Yes, I am the Dave Lyall who was sponsored by Custom Speed Enterprises from 1967 through 1970. Originally I drove my own "street" A/S 1956 Ford at both New Baltimore and Detroit Dragway from 1957 through 1959. During the 1959 season, I meet Jack Gray, who was a salesman at Bob Ford in Dearborn, and who raced his new Ford Demonstrators (always with the biggest engine option and manual transmissions) and we struck up a friendship which lasted for many years. With my 2nd child due, I retired my A/S Ford (NASCAR engine option) and started wrenching for Jack Gray, ultimately going to work at Bob Ford as a mechanic. Being younger than Jack, I eventually took over the driving chores. We successfully raced Jacks succession of demonstrators untill 1962, when Paul Harvey came up from Indianapoilis to be the general manager. Our race team becaume a full dealership effort then, and we were soon suported by Ford Motor Company. At the end of the 1963 season I left Bob Ford to work at Ford Motor Company, and started my own drag race team. Paul and Jack were helpfull in both my getting a job at Ford and keeping my Ford racing support. Custom Speed Enterprises was my first "paying" sponsor, as in writing a check each year to have thier name on my cars, and thier help was esential as I began to tour nationally. Getting new cars from Ford to race for $1 is one thing, but preparing the car and maintenence with huge travel expenses was another thing. At the end of the 1970 season, I sold all my race cars, truck and equiptment and opened a service station in Garden city, Michigan, which I operated for seven years. I returned to drag racing in 1972 on a smaller scale, and have been racing on and off since, in Pro Stock, Pro 5.0 and IHRA Top Sportsman. I still race in Top Sportsman with my 1998 Mustang when time permits. Cusom Speed closed a few years ago, about the time Jack Gray passed away. I spoke with Paul Harvey several years ago, now in his 80s and his son runs his Indianapolis Ford Dealership. Bob Ford (who was a nephew of the original Henry Ford) sold thier dealership and it now is Fairlane Ford, in Dearborn. Dave Lyall, Livonia, Michigan
Entry Date: - 7/12/2006 - Gary Bogusz - I remember a Mike who owned a black 66 Hemi Charger (I know where this car is now) He lived near 9-mile and Kelly (I think) he also had a original yellow 1972 440 -6 pack Charger he made into a drag car. I also believe he raced a maroon 68 Dodge Charger. Anyway is this the same guy as Mike Schenk? Sure like to know what ever happen to the 72 yellow charger. Finally did Dave Lyall did you drive the custom speed enterprise Ford Mustang?
Entry Date: - 7/6/2006 - Bill Gray - A note to Dave Lyall.....He drove my fathers cars in the early 1960s. I would very much appreciate the opprtunity to communicate with him. Thanks Billy Gray #7348120545
Entry Date: - 7/5/2006 - MrDangerous - I also knew Mike Schenk, Mike was known to build the best Transmissions for any MOPAR (904 and 727) infact he built a few Transmissions for me. Mike, who owned The Godfather (The Original 1969 Roadrunner) and a late model Lebarron for Chyrsler was a awesome person. not only did he have The Godfather, but he had a 1966 Hemi Charger (Black) and a 1970 Superbird 440 6 pack car (Original) and a RARE Hurst Chyrsler 300 White and Gold. over the years he had many cars and when Mike died, many were lost. but anyways, the reason I find myself writting this is because, the person who posted Mikes name also had the last name Schenk, and why would you be looking for Photos? Mikes Wife not only had Photos when Mike died, but she had all his cars!...People to talk to would be Bob and Connie M. or Mancinni Racing on Groesbeck in Clinton Twp....or maybe Bruce or Gary Kimmons Owers of Heads Up Racing/Top Craft in Mt Clemens. I will make it a point to find what I have, and talk to Bruce and Gary. If your a family member, go to Mikes house in Clinton Twp, a small Yellow house.....Sorry about Mike, he was loved
Entry Date: - 7/5/2006 - MrDangerous - I had written a article on June 23, 2006, which was posted June 24,2006, about my memories of the Dragway and my Fathers 1968 Dodge Charger. In hopes of building the car before my Father passed away. ironically, my Father passed away the morning the original posting was posted. so...I guess he will never see what I wanted him to see, not just a Car, but My Brother and I doing something together as a team. but anyways, I know why they closed down the speedway, and it wasnt because of fishflies, it was because some money hungry person wasnt making what he felt he should. and yes, it has been tried to be reopened to no avail because the local residents didnt want the traffic and noise. some guy out of Texas was willing to reopen it and build tall dirt hills to deflect the noise but somewhere that idea was lost. like many things, power, money and greed takes over...as usual
Entry Date: - 7/3/2006 - Larry Lawrence - I worked at Fenders Performance Auto Parts on 26 and Van Dyke in the late 80s. According to Tom Fender who raced at Motor City the tracked closed due to pressure from local home owners who didn’t like the noise. He said the last straw was when the control tower mysteriously burned down. A group tried to reopen it some time in the 80s but got shot down by the local whiners. I may have taken the last pass ever down that track. In 1989 I snuck in on my 1974 Kawasaki 175 and ran a blistering 70 mph down it (LOL) ! Sure wish I could have been there during it’s hey day. I am back to living in the U.P. now and the closest track is Kaukauna WI, 3 1/2 hrs away. Sure miss having a track close by.
Entry Date: - 7/2/2006 - Art Thibault - Can i get a copy of that video?
Entry Date: - 6/30/2006 - Kyle - hello.i am looking for pictures of my brother Richard sawaich. he died at motor speedway in 1967. he drove a front engine rail and on his final run to win the event he crashed and died. if any one has any photos of him or his car could you please e-mail them to copoxl11@aol.com thank you
Entry Date: - 6/29/2006 - Chuck Kurzawa III - This is to mike the track closed because of the fish flys and because of lack of spectators.My Dad told me this before he passed away.The track is still there but overgrown I was just there not to long ago to spread his ashes on the track he raced there alot he drove top fuel dragsters.He told me that when he used to drive the RAMCHARGERS top fuel car he used to have the keys to the track when they wanted to do testing.I went there a long time ago when it was open and can only remember a little about it.I do know that in the late 70s early 80s my DAD and Connie Kalitta wanted to buy the track and open it up again but the city doesnt want it to happen so good luck it would be nice to have a track close by.
Entry Date: - 6/27/2006 - Mike Campbell - Could anyone tell me why they closed this place down? What would it take to bring it back to life??? I am looking to get some friends together and try and open something up like this around this area!!! If anyone has any info or knows anything that could help me out that would be great! Thanks. Mike
Entry Date: - 6/24/2006 - MrDangerous - I can still recall the days when the drag strip was in full force. My Father who was a single parent, who always told us of his racing days of his 49 Merc Brought me, My Brother John and Sister Lisa to enjoy all that was. It was always exciting to see the races, cars blowing up, and some of the heavy hitters known to NHRA, Connie K, who resided on Jeffereson and 21, Shirely M, Jack and John, who resided on North Ave, and of course Don G, who made racing as it it known today. somewhere, some cheap greedy anus decided he wasnt making enough money allowed it to be closed down......well I say one thing for certain, life isnt always about money, its about bringing smiles to people.........but....Lisas Gone, the dragway is gone, but many memories will be never forgotten....John, One day we will build the 1968 Charger Dad once had in honor of things that will be NOT forgotten
Entry Date: - 6/12/2006 - Brian - Folks, I have the CD. Please email me at the address below for a copy. I SPAM proofed it so add the needed corrections. Brian gtx1970(AT)comcast.net
Entry Date: - 6/5/2006 - K Regal - You can see the layout still in the field in the Google Earth at this location: 42 43 4"N, 82 40 37"W You can see the main and return roads, some buildings. That used to be way out in the middle of nowhere but the housing pressure is moving into the area. I grewup in St Clair Shores in the 50s and never got out that way when I could have in the late 60s.
Entry Date: - 6/5/2006 - Brian Moceri - Hello. I recently took a trip to Motor City Dragway. Here is a link to the pics I took. Use any you would like. http://www.1970gtx.net/MotorCityDragway Brian
Entry Date: - 6/5/2006 - Jack - Bruce, the dvd is pritty cool. It was great being able to see how things looked then compaired to now. It really did leave me wishing I could see more! Im going to be sending it on to the first person who e-mailed me- Brian. Thanks again!
Entry Date: - 6/5/2006 - Tom - I also would like to see the dvd.
Entry Date: - 5/16/2006 - Bruce Herron - Hi everybody. I have sent off the Motor Ciy DVD -" A DAY - AT THE RACES" off to Jack. I have included a dozen pages of copied autographs, newspaper clippings and results, and etc. for your perusal. If you know anything about the various names feel free to add comments. Everyone who gets it - view it,burn a copy if you have access to equipment, sign the log, then be responsible for getting in touch with the next person who logs in wanting to get the package, and send it on to them. Everyone be patient - besides myself and the transfer people, you will be the first to see this footage in 35 years. Enjoy, Bruce
Entry Date: - 5/14/2006 - Nowak - Bruce: I would like to get a copy of the DVD and I would be willing to pay for the cost of burning another one and the shipping cost. If you could tell me how much it would be, I would send you the money in advance. The last time I was at Motorcity was in 1968 so I might be on the video. At that time I was driving a 1967 Royal Bobcat Firebird 400. John Nowak, jfnowak@webtv.net
Entry Date: - 5/14/2006 - Ron Gross/Michigandriveins.com - Bruce, I would also like to see that Motor City Dragway video. Please let me know at michigandriveins@yahoo.com. Thanks!
Entry Date: - 5/12/2006 - Jack - Bruce, I would be really interested in seeing that film and would be glad to send it on to the next person. Ive become rather fasinated with the dragstrip, I was there walking around and taking pictures three times last summer and to get a glimps of what it looked like when it was up and running would be great. E-mail me if you would Slick0101@aol.com. Thanks.
Entry Date: - 5/9/2006 - Bruce Herron - Hi guys, Was just raving about your site yesterday at the Mendon Old Car Dustoff! I have a question for you. I posted a commentary 12/8/05 on the Motor City Dragway site and in it talked about the film I shot in 68. I have had this transferred to DVD and would like to offer it up as a roving library copy. I would send it to the first person who wanted to check it out, and they would send it on to the next, and so on, each person gets it free, views it, then pays postage to send it on. How do you think this would work out? I could see that the original posting would eventually get buried a bit and maybe potential new viewers might noy scroll back enough. Maybe the person would view it, then be asked to post their "review" and that it was available to the next person. It is only a 4-minute film including the opening and titles that I added, but it is rare footage that if you view enough and start looking at the background scenery and action, you really get the feeling of the era and the Dragway itself. Just thought Id run it by you. Thanks, Bruce
Entry Date: - 4/20/2006 - Sheila Schenk - I am looking for information and or pictures on MIKE SCHENK, who owned a 1970 Superbird and raced. He died in 1990 and had many friends at Motor City Dragway. His cars are still owned by family members who are looking for stories and pictures for his mother. Can you help. Email: mrsbob02@yahoo.com Sheila Schenk
Entry Date: - 3/16/2006 - Gary Jankowski - I remember when John Bloom bought the strip and opened it in May or June of 1963. He invited all the guys from the Dalys drive-in on Greenfield and Joy Road to bring their cars out to try out the strip. The timing equipment wasnt finished so it was just run for fun. I was only fifteen so could only ride in some of my older brothers friends cars. It was free and we had a ball out there that day. Rick Cronin still has the 61 Corvette he blew the motor in that day. We had lunch with John Bloom a year or so ago and he shared a lot of memories. He sold the strip to Gil Kohn in 1968 as he recalls.
Entry Date: - 3/12/2006 - Ralph Stone - Hey I didnt know Superbee Lee raced at Motor City, back in the 70s and 80 when I raced at Lapeer Dragway, he was there every Sun. he was a hard one to beat no one wanted to run him. Boy he could really cut a light.
Entry Date: - 3/7/2006 - DAN HICKS - REMEMBER SUPER BEE LEE THAT RAN AT MOTOR CITY BACK IN THE 60S I SEEN HIM AT LAPEER DRAGWAY IN NOV.OF 2005 STILL RACING HIS DODGE. HE CAN STILL RACE LIKE HE DID YEARS AGO. HE WON THE TOPHY THAT DAY.DAN
Entry Date: - 2/20/2006 - Doug "The Creeper" Mutter - Was looking for info. on "Ace Novak", who campained a Triumph Drag Bike called the "Hand Grenade" in the 60s to possibly the 70s. Raced at Motor City Dragway. Please, any info. about him or the bike would be greatly apprecated. Pix, 1/4 mile times, any thing at all. Ill buy you a beer or ??????????. Thanks
Entry Date: - 2/12/2006 - Terry Dunham - Hi - At 5:00 AM this morning I needed something to do so I checked out Water Winter Wonderland and the recent comments on the New Baltimore (Motor City)Drag Strip! It had been a while. Wow! You really have captured the spirit of what went on there in the early days. From one who was drag racing there very early on after the track opened, my sincere thanks!
Entry Date: - 2/9/2006 - Jack Jacobson - Message for joe from the tach twisters: Im real glad to hear that you found the original Over Anxious. As I recall it was one of the First 427 Camaros. Rich still has his jacket, and hes is trying to find Sonny, to contact you. So we can get together and shoot the breese about the old days. I still get into restorations and Jimmy owns a repair shop somewhere in Imlay City. Hope to hear more. Jack
Entry Date: - 2/4/2006 - Dave Lyall - As a teen-aged member of the "Tappet Tickers" in 1956, a Michigan Hot Rod Association sanctioned Hot Rod Club, I paid dues to fund the land aquisition, and was required to work at the track site preparing the dragstrip. The track finally opened in the summer of 1957, with very primitive facilities, including a phenumatic timing system. Originally, the track had the quintesential starter flagman, and the E.T. clocks were operated with an air hose attached to a hand-held pole under a front tire of the participant, starting the clocks (an official pulling it away from the rear tires after the "launch" so it would not get damaged) and another air hose crossing each lane of the track at the finish line, which stopped the E.T. clocks. later, additional air hoses were added at the finish lin to facilitate MPH clocks. An official stood at each side of the finish line with a flag, and the official in the winners lane raised his flag to indicate to the officials and spectators which lane was the winner. When it appeared to be a tie, (not infrequently) both officials would raise thier flags, and the race would be re-run. I drove my personal A/S 1956 Ford at the track when it opened, and also raced it at Detroit Dragway the first night they opened in 1959. I went on to drive the Bob Ford Super Stock Cars at both tracks, before operating my own team through the 60 and 70s, (and now through the present) sponsered in the 60s by Custom Speed Enterprises. My last run there was in a pro Stock Match Race in 1970. I last saw the ruins in 1990, 20 years after my last trip down the track. The population boom, high taxes, land values, insurance, and energy costs are stripping our society of many of the outlets for fun and entertainment I knew in my youth. Dave Lyall
Entry Date: - 2/4/2006 - Joe - Re: "Tach Twisters" -To Jack, yes Im the Joe with the 1967 camaro. We found the same car awhile back and bought it. My son and I are in the process of restoring it back like it was. Send some contact information. Joe
Entry Date: - 1/27/2006 - Scott Earle - I havent been back there since 1998. The last time that I was there someone had dumped roofing materials on the strip, as well as a bunch of other garbage. My dad used to race there back in the 60s and 70s. I think the name of his car was "White trash".
Entry Date: - 1/25/2006 - Jack Jacobson - This message is for Joe, from the tach twisters club of detroit. If you are the same Joe that I remember then you ran a 68 camaro named Over Anxious. and a Pontiac catalina, I ran a 55 Ford and numerous other things back then. Rich and Spike and Jimmy are all still alive which is a wonder. I would hope that we would be able to talk and remiinise further. Rich Drives a Dodge coronet 500 and I have a 74 Vette. Jack
Entry Date: - 1/5/2006 - Christopher Suzor - I was recently at the old ruins of the strip, I am far too young to have any memories of the strip, or any racers or anything. My father and my buddies father told us stories of them going there as kids. The day we went 1/3/06 it was like walking into a rip in time. The track is still race ready with a lil weed-be-gone and a weedwacker. Standing on the track lookin ito the woods feels like so many memories are there that will be lost. A have heard that abilities to save places like this rely on the historic community not to reopen the track as a track but to restore it as a historic landmark . As we walked the premesis looking around we came across an old Corvair95 flipped over with engine and all and in the middle of the track there was a Plymouth hood. Just an overwhelming feeling being there the speakers and lights still on the poles as we walked down the track. A coyote ruffled through the bushes out of one of the booths most everything is still standing except one building which i dont know what any of them except the bathrooms where which might I add the seats are still in. The land is at the corner almost of Meldrum and 26mile we pulled in on the 2track next to the silo and walked in there has been new houses built on right next to the strip closley encroaching on the property. I have an email into the Marine City Historical Board aswell if anyone else would email them the more people prolly the better. Thank you all for leaving such a tradition for my generation to follow by.
Entry Date: - 12/8/2005 - Bruce Herron - My greatest day as a kid. Fraser, 1968 ,14 years old, a new neighbor moved in with a mechanic dad who somehow got us a ride on the Seatons Super Shaker car hauler to Motor City. And I was also able to use my Dads 8mm camera and got to film the action from atop the tower. I still have this film. Its a Match Race between SSS and Roger Lindamood in Color Me Gone. A couple of gassers are also there, The Hooker and Twist 'o Lemon. I panned the tower, got the match race and other race action, and a little pit footage. From a few of my visits there that summer I have my ticket stubs, promo shots, a mint pennant AND the pinback!! I also have a nice collection of autographs. I remember seeing the wheelie trucks, funny cars, jet dragsters and most of all I remember getting right up to the fence and when the nitro-methane was burning, so were my eyes and nose as the cars thundered off. We always got pit passes as you could literally walk right up to the drivers and touch their cars if you wanted. Ah, those were the days...and god bless Linda Vaughn!
Entry Date: - 11/21/2005 - Dennis - Hi all, Does anybody remember "the blue racer" it was a 1931 Mod A roadster channled on a 32 Ford frame, it ran B/SR class and it was number 424,... I think it ran a 312 "Y" block Ford engine,.... any help would be appreciated.
Entry Date: - 11/17/2005 - Adam Brown - This WAS a great track does any think that it is possibly to get it back to running order? my EMAIL is hockeyfreak3931@aol.com is you have any information on this track
Entry Date: - 10/16/2005 - Don - Does anyone remember a drag strip East of this one? Someone told me there was one on Starville Rd. south of 26 mile.
Entry Date: - 9/25/2005 - Chuck Kurzawa - This is to Chris, The track closed at the end of 78, They took the tree but the track was race ready until it was overgrown.
Entry Date: - 9/25/2005 - Chris - Hi i was wondering if anybody knew when Motor City was closed if Gil and Ed left the strip in running order, and if the tree and signs were left.
Entry Date: - 8/9/2005 - Joe - Response to Unknown 11/16/04 "Does anyone remember the "Tach Twisters" car club that raced at Motor City drag way in 1964 & 65?" I was a member of the "Tach Twisters" car club. The club meetings were held in the basement of my dads store on Gratiot in Detroit. Does anyone remember? Sure would like to hear from the old gang. We did a lot of racing at Motor City and Woodward the way it was than.
Entry Date: - 8/7/2005 - Fred Kuplicki - Still have a trophy from Motor City Dragway that I won with my 65 GTO as a member of the Outlaws Racing Team in the summer of 65. Turned a 13:15 / 101.11 MPH. Great Memories. Also have another that I won at the Detroit Dragway
Entry Date: - 7/6/2005 - Adam Brown - Hi i was wondering if any one knows the year Motor City opened. And if any body knew the where abouts of Gil Kohn and Ed Eaton and if they you do could you please contact me at hockeyfreak3931@aol.com
Entry Date: - 5/11/2005 - Stu Jackson - I drove past the old strip this past weekend after finding out where it was from this website. Im much to young to remember it but really wish it was still there. I couldnt see anything from the road which wasnt much of a suprise. Its sad that people from around the Detroit "Motorcity" area have to drive an hour or more to get to a track... i really wish someone could change that.
Entry Date: - 5/2/2005 - Chuck Kurzawa - Tri-City, Onondaga, Motor City closed in 1978. Ed Eaton who worked for Gilbert said they were tired of fighting the fish fly problem, and the lack of spectators. So they let it go.
Entry Date: - 5/1/2005 - Mark B. - I do believe that Motor City closed in 1978. I believe that 1977 was the last year that it was opened for racing. I drove down the old drag strip back in about 1980 when you could still get to the track, since about 1986 or 1987 they dug trenches accross the entrances so you could not get onto the property no more. I have lived in the area all my life and get this information from old racers and friends that lived in the area as well and that used to race there. I do believe from what I have heard that a guy named Gill Kohn owned the track. I wrote to him a little over ten years ago to see if I could get useage of the property for some car club activities and he sent me back a reply on my own letter stating that no way would he be able to do that because of liability reasons, he also owned Detriot Dragway. I dont know why he actually closed it down. I have heard a couple differant stories, that he was going to redo the track and never did because of lack of sponsership and particapation, the other story is that someone got injured or killed out there the last couple of years that Motor city was open. Does anyone out there really know?
Entry Date: - 4/30/2005 - Bob Adams - Hi, I was wondering if anybody knows the year Motor City closed.
Entry Date: - 4/27/2005 - Mark B. - I drove past the track back in the summer of 1977 in my 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. The cars were lined up all the way down Meldrum Road waitting to get into the pit area. You could smell the racing fuel and rubber burning from the track. I was only 17 at the time and was on my way to work. I wished I could have raced on the old track and tried out the 383 4 speed that was in my car. I happen to go by the old place from time to time and remember that day I was out there a couple of weeks ago and stood where the timing lights must have been and looked down the track it almost looks like you are looking into the woods. This place would make a great place for swap meets and car club meetings since the zoning will not alow reopening.
Entry Date: - 3/17/2005 - Frank - Does anyone remember the "Fugitives" car club. Its members were mostly from Denby High School in Detroit.
Entry Date: - 2/21/2005 - Mike S - Does anyone remember the match race about 64-65 between Art Arfons and an A/FX Dodge/Ply. The A/FX car got a running start at the line.The promo had to be the funniest thing I have ever heard. Anyone have it ? I recall it was a car from down south......Shirl Greer maybe? Thanks,Mike
Entry Date: - 2/21/2005 - Mike S - Chris C. I recall a blue 70 El Camino w/ 454 driven by Darryl Campbell back in the early 70-s. Ran very well. Was that your dad? He had a yellow 67 Chev II with a 302 small block 4/spd before the El Camino. As I recall we lost touch when he was finishing college. I believe he went on to work as an Engr for GM.Please contact me if this is correct info Chris. ...threerail@msn.com p.s. I am still trying to find those old tapes from the track that were shown on channel 50. Any help?
Entry Date: - 11/16/2004 - Scott Schroeder - Spent a lot of time there in the mid 70s. Used to pit with a friend of mine who ran a 69 GTX T.H.E. Mongoose. Another old friend Mike Schenk ran a Charger and later bought The Godfather Roadrunner. Some of the usuals I remember, Dick Ross, The Godfather, Gear Jammer Express, Rays Transmissions Plymouth convertible and an old guy we used to call the pig farmer. He would bring his old blue chevy pickup to the track, pull the exhaust off the headers and run it. Some of the best times of my life. Motor City, Detroit and Milan.
Entry Date: - 11/16/2004 - Scott Schroeder - Had some great times at Motor City. Spent a lot of time there in the mid 70s. I used to pit with a friend of mine, Paul Cieslinski that ran a 69 Runner T.H.E. Mongoose. Also another friend Mike Schenk who ran a Charger. Mike later bought The Godfather Road Runner and worked for Mancini Racing. Some of the names and cars I remember... The Godfather, Dick Ross, Moms Headache, Gear Jammer Express, Rays Transmissions Plymouth convertible, Thunderbolt and a guy we used to call the pig farmer. Hed show up every week with his old Chevy 3/4 ton pick up, drop the exhaust off the headers and run it down the track. After a Saturday at the track wed head for Gratiot and cruise.... I really wish somebody had been able to save the track and bring it back.
Entry Date: - 11/16/2004 - Terry Dunham - Hi - I am the guy that has what I think is probably the oldest photo taken at New Baltimore (Motor City Dragway) posted up in your web site. It wasnt called Motor City in the mid 1950s, it was just New Baltimore to those of us that raced there. Its the picture of the 1937 Buick going against the 1957 Chevrolet and it was taken in the spring of 1957. There is still scaffolding showing against the left side of the timing tower. I think it was still there because it had just been built. I also have posted on the Drag Strip Stories web site a photo of both sides of a pit pass issued at New Baltimroe in 1958, and the pit pass has the 1958 date on it. You are welcome to the photo if you want to use it here. At the time the photo was taken of the 1937 Buick, I also photographed the same car as it came through the staging lanes and after it was flagged off the line for a time trail. If you want me to send any of this stuff to you as an e mail attachment, just send me your e mail address and I will gladly send it along. And by the way, I think your web site is better than great, I think its magnificant! Keep up the really really good job!
Entry Date: - 11/16/2004 - Unknown - Does anyone remember the "Tach Twisters" car club that raced at Motor City drag way in 1964 & 65?
Entry Date: - 11/1/2004 - Chuck Kurzawa - The track was originally called MHRA Drag Strip (Michigan Hot Rod Association). The track was owned by car clubs, Bearing Burners etc. It was concrete and narrow. They sold it to John Bloom because it needed to be updated in I think in 62 or 63.
Entry Date: - 10/24/2004 - Dan Ostwick - Nobody has mentioned that when the strip opened the name was "International Raceway Park". I believe John Bloom was the original owner. We used to drive from Dearborn to race. I had a "57 Ford Fairlane 500. My friend drove a Corvair. One weekend he crossthreaded a spark plug. We borrowed a 10 foot chain from a club called "The Filthy Few" from Detroit. What a ride home!!
Entry Date: - 10/24/2004 - Don Gillespie - I was at (the former) Motor City Dragway on Friday, October 22, 2004. It was difficult to locate as you cannot see anthing from (Meldrum) road. I raced my 1970 Cuda there in 1972 and it was very exciting to walk the entire track. The place is so over-grown with trees it was difficult to recognize. There are the remains of the tower and another building, but they are burned out and have been exposed to the elements. You can still see some yellow lines in the staging area, but I could not locate the finish line. It was a great experience to go there and relive the past. The strip seemed so far away in 1972, funny how things change. DG
Entry Date: - 10/14/2004 - Mike S - Hi, I also have a lot of great memories of Motor City Dragway. Back in the late eighties, a professional effort was made to buy the track and upgrade it into a world class facility. Funding was in place and the NHRA was on board, however the Township refused to allow the rezoning on the track back to use as a Drag Strip. Sad, we still do not have a frist class track in the Metro area. Does anyone recall who produced the mid sixties tv coverage from the track? It was shown on Channel 50 but they are no help. Chuck K please email me been too long.....threerail@msn.com
Entry Date: - 10/14/2004 - Chris Campbell - Im looking for any pictures, time sheets, or print that may have my fathers old race car on it. The car was a midnight blue El Camino called Killer Camino. I cant remeber the year though.
Entry Date: - 9/19/2004 - John Nowak - In 1968 I was driving a 1967 Firebird 400 with a Royal Bobcat package and I towed my friends 1966 Chevy II with a 327/350hp up there to race one Sunday that year. He didnt win his class but we had a great time. Ill never forget Motor City Dragway and the cars we all loved from the 1960s.
Entry Date: - 9/15/2004 - Chuck Kurzawa - I first raced there in I think 1957, in 1964 me and my partner had a 1930 comp. roadster. In 1966 I drove Lou Smiths aaf/d at IRP as it was called back then. In 1967 I drove for the Ramchargers. I think we had a match race there in 1968 against The Greek, Ivo, etc... We had the keys to the track so we could test when we wanted to. John Bloom, Leo Martin, good people, great memories. It became Motor-City Dragway when Gil Kohn buoght the track in the late 60s. They closed the track becsuse of the fish flies that came in at night in the summer.
Entry Date: - 9/11/2004 - Ronald J. Muschong - I recall this drag strip as the "New Baltimore" drag way. I raced my 1957 Vette with a Chev 348 big block in B & C Modified Sport Division in 1960-61. As a matter of fact I think the picture of the Black Vet may have been me. If whoever submitted this pic please contact me. Many a time I went into the corn fields at the end of the track.....Great memories..Also recall Kallitta and Garlits also the Green Monster dragster.
Entry Date: - 1/7/2004 - Jerry Jeup - Was there in 56-62..Raced my 57 F.I. Corvette several times 1958,59,60. Great memories.. First saw BIG DADDY Don Gartlits ther with his Swamp Rat. That was a site to see. GRRREAT MEMORIES.....
Entry Date: - 12/30/2003 - Art Thibault - Spent lots of summers there in 1975,76,77. Saw Tom Prock race his funny car against Shadow Woods super stock. The funny car almost blew the Plymouth off the track when he passed him. Saw Warren Johnson run his pro stock Camaro one sunday afternoon. I raced there myself. Still have the trophies. We need to open that track back up. Its still rural. Who owns that land? The Motor City needs a strip in Macomb County.
Entry Date: - 11/29/2003 - Chris Wilt - Another great Michigan racetrack. My father frequented this track in the mid-50s, where he and friends fielded several cars in several classes. He was also good friends with racing legend Connie Kalitta; Conie was also a regular at this track. Later, in the late 70s, as MCD was nearing its end, we actually lived about a mile down Meldrum Rd. from the track. Also were good friends with the people who (then) lived in the farmhouse directly across from the track on the other side of Meldrum. I have many fond memories of either going to races there; or else sitting on our back porch hearing the roar as cars made passes at the track. GREAT PICTURES!!!
Entry Date: - 11/18/2003 - Mike Little - As a boy I attended a race at the Motor City Dragway. At this single event I believe I saw the Hemi Under Glass, Little Red Wagon, Hurst Hairy Oldsmobile, a 4-engine dragster (Ivo?), Art Arfons Green Monster, and Arnie Beswick. If anyone remebers that event, and its participants, I would like to hear from them.
Entry Date: - 4/11/2003 - WaterWinterWonderland - A recent site inspection revealed that much of the old dragstrip is still there, including the remains of the 2 lane blacktop and several buildings. The location is a little difficult to find - special thanks to Garth for his help in finding the place. The lot is extremely overgrown and is barely visible from the street, but as you walk around you can tell where the entrance to the parking area was, the pits, and finally the track itself. Unfortunately the Christmas tree is gone.
Entry Date: - 2/24/2003 - Stu Jackson - I remember this dragstrip with fond memories! Many a pass I made with my 63 Chevy 327. My girl, now my wife of 31 years, would always be cheering from the stands. We won a few and lost a few, but the memories will live forever.
Entry Date: - 1/7/2003 - Web - I was out at the old strip in april of this year it is a sad sight the towers where still standing one is burnt up and the other one the roof was falling in the concession stands where still there one on each side of track the entrance gates are still up i walked the length of the track the guard rails still in tact the annoucement speakers all shot up by shot gun blasts the return road was covered in moss it was a sad sight i have it all on video i never raced there i was much to young im sure lots of people still have great memories the track is on meldrum road about 3 miles east of i-94 south on meldrum about 1/4 mile down on the right look for yellow tower check it if you can im sure they will tear it down when somebody needs a new house built
Entry Date: - 1/7/2003 - Web - Only went to this strip as a spectator. Saw a great funny car meet there in the fall but what year it was escapes me...67, 68 or 69. (I recall that it was the year that the UAW was going to strike against Ford, if that helps anyone recall the year.) Cars there: Maynard Rupps STP sponsored Cougar, Ramchargers (set a new track record that night at 7.99), Doug Nashs Bronco Buster (non-blown 289 Ford in an old Bronco body). Maybe Don Nicholsons Mr. Eliminator and/or Eddie Schartmans Air Lift Rattler were there...my memory has faded. They ran Round-robin style (I believe this was also called Chicago-style but I know not why!) meaning that instead of a ladder-like elimination, everybody ran every "round" and Im still not sure how they decided who "won"! Great show. As a follow up, I went back to the dragway in the fall of 1990, long after it had closed. The burned out shell of the timing tower still stood, the pavement was there with wires sticking up through holes where timeing beams had once been set. Kind of nostalgic to walk the length of it and back despite it being totally overgrown with weeds. Anybody else have any fond memories of that strip?
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| BACK IN THE HEYDAY |  |
| OLD COLOR PIC FROM TERRY DUNHAM |  |
| OLD PIC FROM RON GROSS |  |
| JON LUNDBERG ANNOUNCING AT MOTOR CITY DRAGWAY IN 1964 FROM JON LUNDBERG |  |
| MERCURY TEST FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| LIMELIGHT FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| CAR CRAFT COVER SOURCE RG |  |
| FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| FROM DICK BRANNAN |  |
| MOTOR CITY PROMOS SOURCE RG |  |
| FROM RICK ZEPKA |  |
| 1971 CUDA PHOTO FROM GARTH |  |
| GOAT COMING OUT OF THE HOLE |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| FROM DON SIOMA |  |
| MOTOR CITY 1967 FROM TOMMY MYL |  |
| SHIFTERS CLUBHOUSE |  |
| OLD ARTICLE |  |
| EARLY PHOTO |  |
| EARLY PHOTO |  |
| EARLY PHOTO |  |
| EARLY PHOTO |  |
| OLD POSTER |  |
| SIGN |  |
| BUILDING THE STRIP |  |
| OLD POSTER |  |
| SCREAMING GTO SOURCE RG |  |
| FLYER FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| FLYER FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| FLYER FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| FLYER FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| OLD SNAP FROM 65 SOURCE RG |  |
| PENNANT SOURCE RG |  |
| OLD SIGN PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| LONELY SIGN IN SUNSET - PHOTO BY ROBERT RITZ |  |
| STRIP PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| STRIP PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM PHIL DERSAM |  |
| OLD BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| TRACK PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| WRECKED BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| ANOTHER BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| SPEAKER TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| INSIDE TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| CONCESSION STAND PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| BUILDING PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| ANOTHER BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| LONELY SIGN IN SUNSET - PHOTO BY ROBERT RITZ |  |
| OLD SIGN PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| STRIP PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| STRIP PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| OLD BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| 1959 FROM DWIGHT FACKENDER |  |
| 1959 FROM DWIGHT FACKENDER |  |
| 65 CHEVELLE FROM KENNETH DENNETT |  |
| FROM PHIL DERSAM |  |
| TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| DAVE KOFFEL FLINTSTONE FLYER BARRACUDA 1967 FROM SUSIE KOFFEL |  |
| TRACK PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| WRECKED BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| ANOTHER BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| SPEAKER TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| INSIDE TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| FROM JEFF KIBBE |  |
| CONCESSION STAND PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| BUILDING PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| TOWER PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| ANOTHER BLDG PHOTO FROM WATER WINTER WONDERLAND |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| FROM STEVE FRALEY |  |
| PIT PASS FROM TERRY DUNHAM |  |
| PIT PASS FROM TERRY DUNHAM |  |
| TROPHY FROM MARK |  |
| TROPHY FROM MARK |  |
| FROM JOHN NOWAK |  |
| MOTOR CITY AERIAL SOURCE RG |  |
| AERIAL |  |
| AD FROM RICK RZEPKA |  |
| AERIAL PHOTO |
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