Lapeer Dragway

Info Updates:

7/6/2018 - Milo Janus

I've also raced@Lapeer, though last time was in 2005. As some of my stuff reached the 120+mph Mark, there was a notable dip in the track near finish line. Wonderful to see it being renovated and especially replaced. I believe I worked with the new owner at KUKA in Fenton. He's a good, straight up guy who I wish nothing but the best. As soon as my car is running, I plan on making it's maiden run at Lapeer!! Good luck Vill.

7/6/2018 - Randy Cronk

Jennings bought the track from its founder, Ed Vakula, in April and closed it the following month to begin massive renovations to the property — including ripping up the half-century old asphalt drag strip and replacing it with six inches of polished concrete the full length of the quarter-mile track. He said he’s sinking $260,000 just in the track itself and plans on spending $2 million in improvements to the 60-acre site. Jennings has big dreams for the facility. He’s already purchased an additional 83 acres to the south and has his eyes on more. Along with repaving the track, he’s in the process of upgrading the electrical service, repairing the bleachers and fixing the restrooms and concession stand. Jennings plans to replace all of the asphalt on the property, which is just south of Vernor Road. But, he added, he also envisions the property as a motorsports park with a BMX track, a campground as well as a restaurant and possibility other racing opportunities such as mudbogging.

6/18/2018 - rick rzepka

Good news. New owners. track is currently being repaved. lots of upgrades planned.

3/2/2016 - Marc Chezepock

Ed Carpenter, I need to talk to you. I have your Dad's 69 Biscayne. Looking for photos and history. Thanks, Marc.

12/17/2013 - Ed Carpenter

My dad owned and raced a brown 69 Biscayne 427 4 speed. He worked at GM at the Flint plant. He sold his car to Dick Ross. Dick painted it blue and as of 10 years he still had it. My dad tried to buy it back but Dick wouldn't sell it. Ed.

3/8/2012 - J.G

I just noticed 3 turn arounds in the color picture I thought there was only 2 ?thanks Ed have a great 2012.

1/1/2012 - Diane Monroe-Szabad

I am the sister of Dan Monroe owner of 1968 GTO he raced most every weekend at Lapeer Drag strip. I also raced the GTO in the powder puff raced, what a fantastic time.

12/26/2011 - Ron Starking

I graduated in 64 and soon began working for the Vakula Bros. , meat market store, in the mid 60s. It was my idea for them to put a drag strip on their farm land. They did and I worked on the starting line for 2 years once it opened. I was tall and skinny then and wore a white pith helmet. I had just gotten married, in 67, and my wife worked in the concession stand. I am now 65 years old and have many great memories from those times. Ed and Mike were great bosses. Mike is gone but Ed is still out there doing it. I still stop by now and then and watch the racing.

9/18/2011 - Rob Perryman

My father Jay Perryman had a 69' Nova ss that was called The coffee grinder in the 70s and raced at lapeer dragway regularly. I heard that car was still around the Flint area somewhere. If anyone has any info on this could you please let me know? I would love to find out where this car is and possibly see if it could be bought. Thanks Rob Perryman.

5/19/2011 - RON GARZA

I had a bunch of pictures I took of art arfons and the Green Monster and the mich. mad man ,also all the big top fuel dragsters that ran at Lapeer Dragway in the 60's and 70's. but when I got a divorce my x wife destroyed all the pictures along with a lot of other stuff i wanted.

5/10/2011 - mark kennedy

does anybody have pics of art arfons in the cyclops car at lapeer drageway?.

10/22/2010 - Randy

Meant to post this earlier, but last weekend at Lapeer there was some big event from what I saw, as I was in the area and there were all kinds of trailered drag cars. It was a perfect weekend for racing too. Anyone have any pics of last weekend (10/16-17)?.

10/22/2010 - Mike S

Hi, would anyone have any info on a 68 Dodge Dart that ran at Lapeer many years ago? I recall it was a black car that may have been run without the hood. It may have been lettered Exact Change at some time. Thanks for the help. threerail@msn. com.

10/30/2009 - Rich

Great place to race, and test/tune sat. i can get in 20 test runs.

7/23/2009 - Rick S

Hi All
I am looking for any photos or information on the General Tooler racing team from the late 60s.
They were based in Kalamazoo.

Thanks in advance.

Rick

9/1/2008 - erik

well first time at the dragstrip! we will be back had a great time !! who seen my 98 monte ??? 12.5 made me very happy thanks for beeing so LEGAL...

5/27/2008 - dean

Man i was at LAPEER sat. and sun. memorial weekend and the place was packed both days about 180- cars sat. but istill got 12 test runs in. I love that place they have the best test/tune program of any strip.And you don''t have to spend a fortune for gas to get there.I MAKE IT ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND.

9/13/2007 - Randy

LEON...that is awesome...looked like there was going to be a good turn-out statring out that early with a good amount of cars. And the weather was perfect.

As they say Leon, gotta go back and get ''em next week!!!

9/13/2007 - LEON HART

Randy, you should have stopped in I was there ,they ended up yith over 200 cars,The last run was about 7:pm.I went out in the 3rd.round.

9/11/2007 - Randy

I went by Lapeer Dragway Sunday (about 12:30) and looked like a good turn out of cars. I did not have time to hang out...but it was a good day for racin.

Need to get more of the ''weekend warriors'' out there...and it is very cost effective for fans and participants.

8/30/2007 - Steve Fraley

This looks like a nice strip to race at! We need more pictures you shutterbugs! Although a bit out of reach I hope to one day "make the circuit" of the strips still active in Michigan. Smoke ''em if you got the ponies. :)

7/17/2007 - tony kaller

Thanks for repaving the return road ,it is so nice and smoooooth,evervone loves it. Tony

6/10/2007 - Unknown

Fred Zurcher To Bill Gray and Paul Kaminin. I raced at the tecumseh dragstrip back in the early 60''s. I can remember when they wanted to land or take off an airplane, they would hold up the dragracing and let the airplanes do their thing. We would all meet up at the Richards Drive-in in Redford, Mi on a Saturday night and take off around Midnight to drive out to the Bill Meyer Airport in Tecumseh to go racing. I''ve got some pictures around here of tecumseh and Detroit Dragways in the late 1959 and the early 1960''s. I live in the Dundee Mi area and every once in while I drive out to Tecumseh and the Airport, which by the way is still there, and relive some of the good times I can remember.

4/28/2007 - BILL HART

Hey i see Super Bee Lee was up there a few weeks ago racing,he has another red Doge again. GOOD OLD SUPER BEE LEE, BILL

3/30/2007 - Pat

tony, I am trying to remember that Biscayne. I cannot seem to place it.But I ran a red 69 427 4 speed Biscayne in the 70s what a great car too bad I was not smart enough to hang on to it! I sold the car in 1978 to a guy in flushing. It got fully restored and last I heard it was still around Sure would like to see it again

3/13/2007 - Pat Stone

You will see a lot of me and my gang this year.As we are from the Detroit area,and you are the nearest strip to us.We can''t afford to spend $ 100 round trip to haul to the other strips with gas at the price it is.Hope you will be open every weekend. Pat.

2/22/2007 - R.SNOW

BUTCH. I remember both of these good racers.I don't know what ever happened to Les Perice,but the last I knew Dick Ross was still alive and living in Flint on Court st. Two good old boys. R.Snow

2/15/2007 - BUTCH HART

Back in the late 60's and70's there was 2 guys one named Dick ROSS and Less Perice that would be at Lapeer Draagway about every weekend .Boy could they ever drive. both were real good racers. dose any one know if they are still around?

11/9/2006 - Tony

Does anyone remember a brown 1969 Chevy Biscayne 427 / 4-speed car run at Lapeer in the '70s? Second owner's name was Richard Charles; first owner unknown. I would love to know more about this car-please shoot me an email if this car sounds familiar. Sorry, I posted this in the Detroit forum too. Thanks!

8/9/2006 - Paul Kaminen

I remember Tecumseh dragstrip. A friend of mine had a full house flathead in an "A" bucket. In Sept. 1957 we flat towed it from Ishpeming Mi (500 mi.) for the Sunday drags. It ran low 14s at around 100. We used the runway at the Meyers Aircraft factory, as far as I know It was one of the first strips operating in Mich.

7/9/2006 - CHUCK FARINGTON

I WAS THERE 2 WEEKS AGO ON SATURDAY AND HAD A GREAT TIME,THERE WAS ABOUT 150 CARS RUNING TEST AND TUNE AND I STILL GOT 15 RUNS IN.IT WAS GREAT.CHUCK

7/6/2006 - Bill Gray

Just a note about Art Atfron and the Green Monester. I recall in 1956, at Tecumseh Draqgway, when he turned in a 248mph. He blew the leaves off the tree, 50 yeards behind him. Anybody out there recall drag racing at the Tecumseh airport?

4/17/2006 - MARK SWANKO

I HAVE BEEN GOING TO LAPEER DRAGWAY SINCE 1968.HAD A LOT OF GREAT TIMES THERE, I WAS THERE THE DAY ART ARFONS HAD HIS GREEN MONSTER JET THERE IN 1970 AND HE WENT 280 MPH. HE SAID THAT WAS THE FASTEST HE HAD EVER RUN ON A DRAGSTRIP AT THAT TIME. I STILL SPEND MANY WEEKENDS THERE RACING AND WATCHING.ITS JUST A FUN PLACE TO GO.AND EVERYONE HAS A GOOD TIME.I HOPE THEY NEVER CLOSE THAT TRACK. MARK

2/7/2006 - Terry Neeley

I used to race on the streets of Clio in the late 70s until I found Lapeer Dragway. It was so nice not to have to look over my shoulder for the cops!! I fell in love with the sport and the track and raced there through the mid and late 80s. I kind of owe my life to Lapeer Dragway. At the time I was laid off from the Flint Truck Assembly Plant and had submitted an application at the Milford Proving Grounds. I was first in line to start the elimination rounds, when a man approached and asked if I would mind if he went first because his race car was over heating and would not make it through the long wait. It did not matter to me, so I let him go ahead of me. A week later I received a phone call about the job at MPG. When I showed up for the interview, youll never guess who was sitting there. Yup! The guy I let go ahead me ended up interviewing me for the job. Needless to say, I got the job! Ive been there now 28 years.

11/23/2005 - Ed Graf

My next door neighbor Joe Vlk [yes its VLK] runs a very fast Camero with a monster motor [engine] at Lapeer. I have asked him to post a pic of the car on the site.

5/23/2004 - Jim Martin

I was at the track when I was a teen ager on opening day July 4, 1968. After a long battle with the township, Lapeer finally opened. I have had a lot of good times at this track over the last 35 years. I still race there. I hook up better at Lapeer than any other track and I have been to all of them. I like the laid back fun atmosphere at this track. The owners run it right.

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