East Coast Rod and Custom Ole’Daze Drags at Island Dragway

One of the most historic racetracks on the east coast has to be Island Dragway located in Great Meadows, NJ. The track well know for being the track where Don Garlits became the first driver to set the NHRA Official 200 mph record way back August 1964! The facility has become a mainstay in NED 1 throughout its fifty two years of operation and on September 9th held its nostalgia event which included a wide array of period race cars along with the North East Timing Organization, plus some very cool hot rods and custom cars. New York area DRHOF.com representative, Albert Bambace, attended the event and reports that it was a great event with plenty of friendly racers and spectators talking about the old days and how many of them made their first passes down the track in such-in-such year. Albert also took a bunch of (PHOTOS) of the track and many of great cars in attendance. Needless to say, Island Dragway's nostalgia event was a great one! (9/13/2012)

Pocono Drag Lodge Reunion 2012 (Photos)

The fourth annual gathering was held on Saturday, August 11th and saw some decent weather, but a much smaller event than in previous years. The founding fathers of the event did dress up the original timing tower, but those in attendance could not get a good feel for the original track's layout as there was overgrowth of weeds, trees, etc. A number of nice race cars, show cars and hot rods were on display, but nothing historic as in the past as well. For the event to grow more thought needs to go into the inclusion of vintage race cars from the era and racers and personnel that competed at the lodge in its hay day!

We have received word from Wade Laplatte, that for the 2013 event Jerry Stein will bring out the original Jack Werst owned "Jersey Duke I" wedge powered 1964 Plymouth hardtop. Jerry purchased the car several years ago and added it to his stable of Mopar Max Wedge race cars. (9/7/2012)

East Coast Rod and Custom Ole’Daze Drags set for Island Dragway...

The annual gathering at Island Dragway in Great Meadows, NJ will take place on Sunday 9th. The track is a very historic facility dating back to 1960. Over the years many great events and records were set with the most epic being in August 1964 when Don "Big Daddy" Garlits became the first racer to officially record a 200 mph run during a match race against the fabled Chris Karamensines, better known as the "Greek"!

The event will features a variety of vintage style drag cars, hot rods along with N.E.T.O.(North East Timing Association). N.E.T.O. is a club of east coast nostalgia drag racers racing pre-1974 cars. Other highlights will be the induction ceremonies of Duke Snyder, who has more years doing tech in NHRA Division 1 than anyone else. Gates open 8:30 a.m., time trials beginning at 10 a.m. For additional event information contact Kathy at Island Dragway (908) 637-6060. (8/15/2012)

Photos from the 33rd annual Nostalgia Summernationals

Event Review update (click here)

PHOTO PAGE Raceway Park

Here's a teaser picture as we work on the photo layout page of the photos sent to us by Albert Bambace from this past Sunday's (7/29/12) nostalgia event held at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. The car in the right lane is Dave Sano and his ultra clean Pontiac matched up against the "Agent Orange" Dodge funny car. Also, don't forget to take a look at the event review as well! (Summernationals event review) (8/3/2012)

33rd annual Nostalgia Summernationals July 29, 2012
Larry Lombardo headlines……………

PHOTO PAGE Raceway Park

The annual event held at Raceway Park or better known as Englishtown or E-Town once again was a great event with lots of vintage drag race car, racers and fans despite the shaky weather forecast. The excessively hot weather of late makes for the possibility of thunderstorms and the event did get a mid-day shower, but things got right back on schedule. The shower forced the Raceway Park staff to only permit one qualifying pass, but the majority of those in attendance didn’t mind and wanted to get the race underway. The nostalgia funny cars, always a draw, made several exciting passes that excited the crowd! Many will remember the so called “old days” and this was how it was with competitors breaking engines all the time. Of course, back then most race engines used a combination of stock parts and leaned on the can pouring a little more nitro in the tank to run quicker and faster.

Wayne Meli had his beautiful replica Bill Jenkins 1976 Pro Stock Monza on display along with Larry Lombardo, the 1976 NHRA Pro Stock World Champion and driver for Jenkins. Larry talked about the great times he and Bill had while working at Jenkins Competition and traveling around the country in pursuit of the coveted NHRA Championship. Larry is a well renowned engine builder since giving up driving and builds many race engines for dirt track racers on the east coast.

The 422 Allstars were also part of the show with a total of twenty-nine teams showing up for race #4. Once again the weather and oil downs slowed the program and were able to complete four rounds of eliminations pitting Gary Nies and Sean Pickett against each other for the final run and title. The drivers decided that they would split the money and points to finalize the race. In the semis, Nies took out Dan Woods who was having a great outing and on the other side of the ladder Pickett beat Bob Fort, Jr. in his Jersey Duke II Plymouth. Race #5 with be held this Saturday, August 4th at the "Glory Daze Nostalgia Race" event at Maple Grove Raceway.

Also attending the event was Joe Black and Joe Bambace, Jr. with the 1964 altered wheelbase Plymouth that they campaigned. Joe Bambace, Jr’s. Dad Joe, Sr. drove and raced the 11th Commandment Plymouth back in the 1960’s and can be seen. Incidentally, Joe Black has been chosen as one of the Drag Race Hall of Fame.com inductees for 2012. Joe will bring his car and be inducted at the Southern Nostalgia and Muscle Car Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park, November 3, 2012.

Needless to say, there was plenty going on at the event and is definitely one to put on your calendar of must see nostalgia events. (July 31, 2012)

NORTHEAST ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW March 23-25, 2012
The Northeast Rod & Custom Car Show was a great show with tons of beautiful cars and display! The Hudson Performance team was on hand and spoke with many of the attendees and a bunch of drag racers from NHRA Division1 all antsy ready to get back to racing. Several well known motorsport celebrities were on hand as well like Scott Sharioff, Al and Rich Hanna, Ken Hall, Vinny Budano and more. Racer photographer Joe Grippo took plenty of photos of the cars and motorcycles in attendance, so take a look at this link to see them NE Rod& Custom Show photos.(3/29/2012)

Super Chevy Show 2012 Palm Beach International Raceway

The second annual Super Chevy Show held at PBIR was a decent event, but nothing like those of the past. In the past, the SCS, at the then named Moroso Motorsports Park was one of the largest of the series, but seems to have lost its essence in recent years. The 2012 event did see a group of very friendly attendees and about eighty swap meet vendors along with a nice cadre of show and race cars. Our representative, Harry, was on hand speaking with all and a group that hailed out of Colorado, who made the trip to the iconic race facility located in Jupiter, FL.PBIR SCS RESULTS (3/31/2012)

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY EXHIBIT Hershey AACA

DRHOF.com's George Case along with friends Bob and Jo Moon attended the opening ceremonies of the Alternative Energy Exhibit at the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) at their Hershey, PA museum. The exhibit featured a vast variety of vehicles some dating back to the early 1900's all the way up to a 2012 Fisker Karma. One of the more notable cars on display was this 1930 Rausch-Lang gasoline-electric hybrid sedan. Just goes to show you, that nothing is new and hybrid technology has been with us for almost a century!

Although alternative energy powered vehicles really doesn't have anything to do with nostalgia drag racing, we thought that it it might be of interest since on the east coast no drag racing is underway due to the weather. Incidentally, we do participate in a many different types of automobile themed events throughout the year. (3/4/2012)

DRAG RACE HALL OF FAME.com reaches 1 year Anniversary!

Its hard to believe that we've hit our first year anniversary, hopefully providing information about the history of Drag Racing along with anecdotes here and there about the events the DRHOF.com staff attends. Harry Laplatte is presently in Florida attending the Super Chevy Show at Palm Beach International Raceway, plus working on a list of original owners of the Hemi powered 1964 Plymouth Savoys and other stories as well. George Case will be at the North East Rod & Custom Show this weekend in Oaks, PA and will be reporting throughout the season on the 422 Allstars Nostalgia Drag Racing Series events as well as racing the 1964 Comet wagon Dyno Don Nicholson clone in the series with his son Ian driving. Their car runs 8.60's and was originally wheeled by Jay Zolko, who went on to win the 2007 NMCA championship in the same car. As they say, there is lots more to come....stay tuned!

DRHOF.com 2012 Schedule...........so far!

The staff will be once again be attending many events during the season beginning in Florida at six of the Hot Rod Sunday events to be held at Palm Beach International Raceway, the complete 422 Allstars Nostalgia Super Stock Race Series a nostalgia drag series run in the northeast, the Super Chevy Show at both PBIR and Virginia Motorsports Park, York US 30 Dragway Reunion, 2012 Northeast Rod & Custom Car Show Nationals and more to come. We will update the schedule as we confirm additional dates. Oh yeah and don't forget the 30th annual Lead East Show in New Jersey. The whole Laplatte clan will be at the show in New Jersey, so make sure you stop by. Maybe Wade will bring out the original "Satellite: 1964 Hemi Plymouth for display this year! (12/31/11)