[Mr_GTO]

Effective immediately: Atco Dragway is permanently closed. We will not be open from this point on. The remainder of our schedule for 2023 will be canceled.
Thank you all for your patronage and memories over the years.
Special thank you to our 29th annual Pan American Nationals racers & crowd for making Atco Dragway’s last event the biggest and best one ever. This isn’t the end for import racing in the northeast!
To all of our staff, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sticking it out with us and being the best in the business!

[Half-Inch Stud]

What is the reason for closing, THIS time?

[4dblnkldude]

Very sad. But we all knew it was coming.

[stags]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

What is the reason for closing, THIS time?

I believe it's similar, if not the same, as the E-town deal - to be turned into a parking lot/ auction site for used vehicles and probably some miscellaneous other business. Been in the works for several years if so.

Funny how little old Island Dragway is the last man standing in NJ. Looks pretty much the same as it did in the 60's.

[ANDYA]

May be a good time for Island Dragway to modernize the facility and start drawing in bigger crowds and venues. It’s a shame about Atco. There are plenty of cars in the NYC and NJ areas with no place to race. This is especially hard on the Long Island guys. There are TONS of cars out on the Island and it’s nearly impossible to get to a racetrack due to traveling and insane traffic.

[BILL BOWMAN1]

Sad to see another one gone. I always like running there.
Good news for Cecil Co.

[MarkS57]

Firey Smokey Burnouts!!

Man, what a shame.

[Mike S]

Atco is "was" my home track. It was a 30 min ride for me. I really loved the Tuesday night gamblers race. they had every week. Hung out with a lot of great guys. Now I have a 1.25 hr. ride to Cecil once a month or 2hrs to maple grove. Luckly I can run the 10.0 class at Cecil.
There was no hint that Atco was going to close. I just wish they would have given an explanation and thank the racers that supported the track. I feel like us racers got a big F You after years of support.

I will be dropping the compression and putting a bigger fuel cell so I can enjoy the car on the street more. Still plan on running 10.0's

Mike

[BDHABT]

I saw last night on Facebook that they closed.

After reading a bunch of comments,the owner sounded like a scumbag.
Supposedly,he was offered $8 million,and that person was gonna keep it a track,but the owner refused.

Our local track is 2 hours away,so when we bought land in South Carolina,I was excited that Atlanta dragway was 45 minutes away,but we all know how that turned out.

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by ANDYA

May be a good time for Island Dragway to modernize the facility and start drawing in bigger crowds and venues. It’s a shame about Atco. There are plenty of cars in the NYC and NJ areas with no place to race. This is especially hard on the Long Island guys. There are TONS of cars out on the Island and it’s nearly impossible to get to a racetrack due to traveling and insane traffic.

The true beauty of island to me is that it isn’t modernized. But I get what your saying

Long Island needs to make one of the small airpirts a race track plenty of cash in the island should be able to get it done . And w electric cars the sound issues are lessening .

[KS circutguy]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

What is the reason for closing, THIS time?

Most likely super high insurance rates..
Nobody wants to pay see electric drag cars.
Fer christ sakes.

[scott70]

Originally Posted by KS circutguy

Most likely super high insurance rates..
Nobody wants to pay see electric drag cars.
Fer christ sakes.

Next generation won't know what's it's like to own and drive a real car,,lol.

[GT182]

Atco was sold to a warehouse outfit. I was told the owner got 10 or 12 million for a track only worth 5 million. All the guys that had given money to have races could be out of luck getting it back. And it was a huge surprise to the ones working for him and his daughter.... out of a job with no notice at all.

[BILL BOWMAN1]

I heard Kenny Koretsky has invited the Atco racers to come run their scheduled events at Maplegrove.

[GTO-relic]

and the tracks will just keep on closing,
because we have to take care of business first,
before we can enjoy hobbies,
of the regime will take those hobbies away, permanently
the general attitude is money will fix everything,
it won't. not when they outlaw cars, gasoline, etc.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Seems to me that 1/4 mile track could only prosper in rural areas. And yet suburban scrawl has moved out to bump the racetracks in land value, noise complaints, etc.

Well, the obvious solution is to RELOCATE, into the present day rural areas. Low cost, Plenty of parking, no ordinances, and well just perhaps Build em and they will come.

[KGTO]

One of the tracks I used to run at was Firebird (7-8 hr drive) awesome facility and family who run it. Perhaps more track owners should reach out to the New family for more information on making their track(s) a historic site, if possible. Housing developments began encroaching on the track with ensuing complaints of noise. Now its safe...
https://firebirdonline.com/news/fire...onal-register/
Obviously the appeal of $$ wins out typically.