Island Dragway

Photos & story by John McCartney

Island Dragway Celebrates Sixty Great Years of Drag Racing

Photos and story by John McCartney

Back in the day the radio was filled with classic ads screaming about funny cars coming to your local drag strip. When these ads were on folks seemed to make a point to come out and check out this iconic cars at drag strips such as Island Dragway located in Great Meadow, New Jersey. This year marks the 60th year that Island Dragway has been holding drag races at this famed drag strip. Over their storied historic past many a funny car show has taken place at the track. So It comes as no surprise that funny cars make it a point to come out and take part each and every year as part of their Ol’Daze nostalgia event which serves as a way to celebrate each and every of Island Dragway’s birthdays.

Funny Cars of shapes and styles came out to lend their support to Melissa and Carl Milano who own and operate Island Dragway. Whether it be nitro or blown on alcohol they were on display doing long burnouts and racing side by side. When all the smoke cleared George Reidnauer took the win in the blown alcohol class over Krista Massarella. M&H Tires and DJ Safety stepped up to the plate and helped sponsor the burnout awards which were awarded in each round. The winners of these awards came in the form of two great smokey burnouts laid down by the Time Bomb and Fireball Monza funny cars. S&W sponsored the low et and top speed awards which were won by Joe Morrison behind the wheel of the Super Camaro. The very special Rocky Roxlau Determination Award was presented to the entire Time Bomb Vega funny car team for their hard work to make round two after a little event in round one. A trio of nitro funny cars filled the air of Island Dragway with the great smell of nitro and they came in the form of the cars owned and raced by Keith Davidson, Bill Dee and Chuck Exton each one laying down great burnouts dry hops and all the cool stuff from back in the glory days of drag racing and funny car match race wars. The great folks from North East Timing Organization (NETO) were on hand racing at Island Dragway on the day as well. On this day the winners came in the form of Mike Grafas over Vinny Laurita in NETO Comp. With Vinny Laurita picking up the best reaction time award in NETO Comp with his .024 reaction time. While over in NETO Nostalgia class Jerry Hillier picked up the win over Steve Pirritano. The best reaction time in NETO Nostalgia class went to Steve Consentino with a great .013 reaction time to pick up the award.

In addition to all the great racing action that took place on the famed Island Dragway there was huge car show. For inside the car show fans could check out all sorts of cars spanning the many decades that Island Dragway has been in operation. From customs, hot rods, muscle cars, vintage race cars all on display for folks to look at and check out and perhaps take them back in time and place when things were just a bit more fun and easier. On display in the staging lanes Tom Brown brought out a 1965 Corvair funny car. This car was owned by Tom’s dad Al Brown was the first track manger of Island Dragway when it first opened up back in the early sixties. Looking just like it did back in the day plans are to get the car restored and hopefully back on the track to make perhaps a pass or two in the future.

With all of the restrictions that are in place because of Covid-19 Island Dragway made sure that they stayed within all of the social distance guidelines that are in place in state of New Jersey. All that came out to take part in the event made sure to wear a mask and keep six feet apart while enjoying a fun day at Island Dragway. It was a great day to celebrate another great year of hosting drag races at famed Island Dragway as they have done for the past sixty years.