Rumor has it that Island Park Dragway in Great Meadows has shut down for good. The land that it sits on was formerly owned by the LHR, and was used as a turning wye for the steam era. In 1962, Ed Kowalik purchased the property and converted it into a drag strip. Many stories have been told of race cars crashing through the barrier at the end of the strip and landing on or near the LHR tracks. In 1964, Don Garlits made the first officially recognized 200 mph run in drag racing history there.
Paul Miller wrote:Rumor has it that Island Park Dragway in Great Meadows has shut down for good. The land that it sits on was formerly owned by the LHR, and was used as a turning wye for the steam era. In 1962, Ed Kowalik purchased the property and converted it into a drag strip. Many stories have been told of race cars crashing through the barrier at the end of the strip and landing on or near the LHR tracks. In 1964, Don Garlits made the first officially recognized 200 mph run in drag racing history there.Paul,
The wye you peak of was originally just to the West of the drag strip. Part of the drag strip is built on the East/North leg of the wye. I was there one evening when a car went off the end of the strip and landed on the tracks. Was quite a frantic rush to get the car off the tracks. It is a shame we are losing the Strip.