Island dragway to reopen!

Just In From Melissa :
“Hey Dino! We are working on the grand reopen, I have finally convinced mom that we’ve got to do it. I do still have your number and will give you a call later today or tomorrow. Swamped right now with emails and other work to do, so just wanted to let you know I saw your message!”

Melissa

YES!!!!!!! GREAT NEWS! 😮 😀 😀 😀 😀 Pete

ITS OFFICIAL…Grand Reopening JULY 5th-6-7
New Website:
http://www.islanddragway.com/

schedule is tentative:
http://www.islanddragway.com/index.php/2012-03-05-03-39-30

Grand Opening
Scheduled for July 5, 6, 7
■Friday, July 5 – Friday Night Street Legal
■Saturday and Sunday, July 6 & 7 – Nostalgia Nationals with optional Test/Tune. Race and Show Classes for all vehicles 1983 and older!

Weekly Pricing Pricing is subject to change

Wednesday Family Nights Spectator: $10
w/ Military ID: $8
Racer, Driven in: $20
Racer, Trailered or Unmuffled: $30

Friday Night Street Legal Spectator: $12
(w/military ID): $8
Racer: $25

Raceday with Points Spectator: $15
(w/military ID): $10
After 1st Round: $10/carload
Super Pro: $70
Pro: $60
Street: $40
Bike/Sled: $40
Trophy: $35
Jr. Dragster: $35 (includes 1 adult)

Test/Tune
Spectator: $15
(w/military ID): $10
Racer: $35

……To ME this is GREAT NEWS ❗ ❗ ❗ 😀 I can not tell you how much this means to ME 😀 ❗ I am so HAPPY ❗ and will load up the Fairlane and head down to ISLAND ❗ ❗ ❗ ,its not forever but I have been going to ISLAND since 1997 …………….and two of the “DOVER RACES” were at ISLAND ❗ The only thing that would be as GREAT as this would be “DOVER ” opening again …….. 😀 so off to Island ❗ …………………. heres a picture of me racing with my BEST BUDDY V-BOB at ISLAND ❗ 😀 ……. see you soon ❗

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Attachments:

Just got this e mail from Les.

The original owners granddaughter will be handling the operation,
( Not Cathy the drunk, who ran the place into the ground ) !
Contact him with any questions about this e-mail.
This is not a rumor !

Just got this from Les from Westchester St. Rods. Looks like a great turn out to support the grandaughter
More photos on the WSRA Facebook Page…
Via the WSRA web page …
http://www.westchesterstreetrodassociation.com

Melissa DeMarcky said this on Face Book:
Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen! This weekend was unbelievable! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Ps, I corrected them, I am not owner nor am I Eddie Kowalicks daughter, I am one of 2 managers and his granddaughter. Other than that a very nice article

Article in Local Paper

Lehigh Valley Times Express

Amid the loud, screeching sounds of revved engines, Island Dragway in rural Warren County reopened this weekend after unexpectedly closing in January.
The family race track that first opened in 1960 hosted a grand reopening weekend that began with street-legal and “grudge” races Friday. The celebration continued with bracket racing today, and “nostalgia nationals” and a car show were scheduled for Sunday.
“We were expecting a big crowd; we were not anticipating that big of a crowd that we got and it’s really pretty fantastic that we did,” Island Dragway owner Melissa DeMarcky said of the turnout to Friday’s races.
DeMarcky said the track was closed due to financial difficulties, largely from flooding. The closing of the 53-year-old, quarter-mile track was announced in January by the National Hot Rod Association, which sanctions drag races.
DeMarcky said closing the track just off Hope Road and Route 46 in Independence Township “sort of helped us in a way.”
“People realized that it’s not something to be taken for granted and that it is a family-run business and is vulnerable, especially to weather changes,” she said.
DeMarcky credited public support to spur the reopening. Shortly after the closing, a Facebook page called “Help Keep Island Dragway” sprung up and quickly garnered followers.
“The town and the community is behind us 100 percent,” she said. “Even the police were directing traffic. I told them ‘I’m sorry I didn’t mean to, you know, block the road,’ and they said we want to see you do good.”
Race fans were pleased.
“It’s nice to come down and watch the track and watch the cars and have fun,” Elizabeth Alexander, of Liberty Township, said at the races Friday. “It’s exciting.”
Chris Redington, of Susquehanna, Pa., said he raced at Island Dragway in the past and that he’s looking forward to racing there again.
“(I’m) looking forward to it; of course (my sons) can’t wait to get behind the wheel too,” he said.
DeMarcky, the daughter of former Island Dragway owner Eddie Kowalick, plans to offer more varieties of racing in the future, particularly novelty cars.
“We plan on doing a lot more specialty events and catering to the crowd to try and get more spectators in and get more races that people like to come and watch,” she said.
Island Dragway will host family nights July 10 and 24 and street-legal races July 12, 19 and 26.
The venue celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. Drag racing legends “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Jungle Jim Lieberman, Joe Amato and TV Tommy Ivo were among those who have raced at the facility.