Dover Drag Strip

DOVER DRAG STRIP, Wingdale,N.Y. Opening in May 1961 until it closed in 1976, Dover Drag Strip was the place to race or watch, quarter mile Drag racing in the northeast. The track was touted as "the most Smoothest,state of the art facililty" of its kind at the time. The track featured epoxy based asphalt,60 feet wide. It had its own "timing tower" that had the timing equipment,and served as the operations center, with operators calling the Elapsed Time [ET} and MPH of each pair of racers,via intercom to the "Times slip booth" at the other end of the track.This is also where the track announcer,entertained and informed the spectators,of the action. All this was considered 'New Technology" in 1961. By 1964, the flag starter was replaced with a homebuilt "Christmas Tree", with multiple colored lights , counting down each start.This was one of the first of its type in the entire nation.

The Track was founded & operated by Danbury Gas Station owner Chet Anderson and his partner, Joe Archiere, of Germantown.It filled the regional gap ,left by the closing of the Car Club Racing ,at Montgomery,N.Y. airport. Dover preceded the other tracks to follow suit ,famous in the area, namely Connecticut Dragway (Now closed) and the still operational Lebanon Valley Track,near Albany.Racers from as far as Maine, Mass.& New Jersey would regularly frequent the Strip.

Lately there’s been quite a revival of interest in this now defunct track. Thanks to the ongoing Dover Drag Strip reunion run every year in Danbury, Connecticut. That Event is put on by Mark Mastrianni and James Grove. Mastrianni, a lifelong resident of Danbury, was the track’s first Manager. Grove of New Fairfield has the distinction of being the first paid customer, opening day. Fueling the interest is a Tribute website, put online, by former announcer Track announcer, Dino Lawrence. The Reunion celebrated its 20th consecutive year in 2010. That makes it the longest running reunion of its kind in the nation. Dino’s www.doverdragstrip.com , has already logged over 94000 hits with almost 1000 ‘Dover Guys’ registered on its active forum....as of May 2011. The website serves as “Dover Central” for anything pertaining to the old track To ask former racers why Dover means so much, and they tell you that participating at Dover was unlike any other track. They frequently use the word family to describe their experiences. It was about car clubs working on a project car all week, and then entering it on Sunday. It was where you could find your racing buddies and hang out in the pits; much like tailgating is now at major sporting events. Building a race car back in that era was mostly a homebuilt project. Tracks like Dover were instrumental in providing safe, organized racing to replace dangerous hot rod contests on the street. A day at the track was anticipated all week long, and was a full day at that. Frequently the operators would book in Drag Racing stars of the era. Dover was host to exhibition runs by the Legendary Don ‘Big Daddy” Garlits, California’s “T.V Tommy Ivo”, the original Batmobile and even incredible Jet Cars. Funny Car match races by every major player throughout the sixties and early seventies, served up a steady diet to feed spectators and racer’s appetite for speed. Average car entries of over 400 were common with upwards of 4000 spectators on special events. Still to this day, Dover racers are active with their original car or running a current style. Second generation racers are quite common. Go to any regional northeast Drag Strip now and the Dover influence, is well represented. Many of them, claiming their roots, and initiation to the sport, to Dover Drag Strip. The fields in Wingdale, where the track once stood, are overgrown now. About the only thing left of the old track is a section of pavement that once served as the shut down area. For ongoing Dover related events, visit the Forum page at the official Track Website: www.doverdragstrip.com