InstaGRAM Report: Long Island’s Race Track History, An Introduction
Long Island was once home to a number of race tracks in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. This multi-part series will step back in time to uncover the fond and vivid memories, the unique stories, and the unmatched treasure trove of information about Long Island’s racing history – beyond the Vanderbilt Cup.
Regular readers of the website are already familiar with the Vanderbilt Cup races from 1904 through 1910. While this article series will focus on Long Island automotive races that took place after 1910, I will attempt to find a connection between each race track and the Vanderbilt Cup. These connections and comparisons will include the Bridgehampton Vanderbilt Cup series and the advancements that were made in race track safety, particularly at tracks like Riverhead Raceway that is still operating today.
This article will serve as an introduction to bring attention to the tracks that I will explore in greater detail in future posts.
By Gram Spina
This article series is inspired by a list – shared with us by the Marty Himes family – of all the race tracks that were once operating on Long Island. Some of these race tracks are very well known, while others have faded into obscurity. It is my hope that this series will preserve the history of these race courses and offer a glimpse into what they were like back in the day.
If anyone has historic photographs or information about these tracks, please reach out to us. You will receive credit for helping to preserve Long Island's racing history.
If Marty Himes were alive today, he would be a fantastic source of information. Let's combine our knowledge to digitize Long Island racing history as a tribute to Marty Himes. Here's Marty after winning at the last ever race held at Islip Speedway.
Long Island was home to a variety of different track types. Here are a few examples:
Indoor arenas — Island Garden Arena, in West Hempstead, circa 1962. Photographer Ed Appoidt.
Oval tracks — Dexter Park, in Queens, circa 1955. Image provided by the Marty Himes Family.
Drag strips — Islip Drag Strip circa late 1960s. -Image provided and taken by my friend Glenn.
Closed public road racing — Montauk Point Grand Prix, 1939-1940. Image courtesy of the Dewart Collection.
And a purpose-built paved road racing track, Bridghamtion. Here is a sports car racing photograph from Bridgehampton in 1964, photographer unknown, VCR archives.
Did you know that before the Bridgehampton race track was established, the races were held on the closed streets of the town of Bridgehampton? That is where I will begin this article series, so stay tuned.
Comments
Great article. Can’t wait to see the rest of the series!
Very interesting! Looking forward to more LI racing history
Photo below: Woodside street drag racing on Laurel Hill Blvd west under the BQE, 1970s. Photo by Joseph McGowan
I see the lead photo, the race track has an ad for Abe Stark. In Ebbets Field, if a player hit the sign with a batted ball, he won a suit. I wonder if the driver would get the same if he hit it with his car? ????
Howard, Interesting topic…Can’t wait…
Sheepshead Speedway 1915. A number of international racers competed on this wood track before WW I.
i beleive there is archival footage of board track racers(motorcycles mid to late 20’s) at the 2 mile wood oval in sheapshead bay available on line that i have seen.
Dexter Park in Brooklyn, NY (William E. Stock Collection)
Commack Arena, 1961.
Al DeAngelo 707
Fred Stutz 12
(William E. Stock Collection)
Mineola Fairgrounds, 1949 (William E. Stock Collection)
1949, Mineola Fairgrounds (William E. Stock Collection)
Freeport Municipal Stadium (William E. Stock Collection)
In 1973 the 1/5 mile oval was lengthened to 1/4 mile and renamed Freeport Speedway until its final season in 1983.
Racing historian Marty Himes once told me pictures of soap box derbies held at Long Island race tracks were “the rarest of the rare” because the track photographers would take a break during intermission when the derbies were run. Well, I’ve got some and donated them to “The Himes Museum of Auto Racing Nostalgia”. My friend Cliff Stock’s father Bill Stock used to bring his sons to many racing venues and always brought a camera. Marty was very pleased!
Islip Speedway, `1949 (William E. Stock Collection)
Stock cars and “Run what you brung” races
Winner - Al DeAngelo
Riverhead Raceway dirt track (William E. Stock Collection)
James King - WOW! You have found some excellent LI racing history! Thank You so Much!!!
I have never been able to find anything on the Mineola Fairgrounds from 1949
Does the William E. Stock Collection have a website with his work?
The William E. Stock Collection has been entrusted to me and its contents have been posted on Facebook. Search for “William E. Stock Collection”.
Shortly after I began working for the Postal Service, I was wearing a Riverhead Raceway shirt at work one night. I was approached by Cliff Stock who said “I’ll bet I have pictures of Riverhead Raceway before you were born.” We became fast friends and Cliff began showing me his father’s pictures: loose photos, groups of pictures in family albums, etc. We knew there would be interest in seeing his father’s pictures so I began scanning them and built “Pops’ Racing Site featuring the William E. Stock Collection” (now defunct). Most of the content is now posted on Facebook. Unfortunately my friend Cliff passed away several years ago. I miss him.
Westhampton Raceway, 1967 (William E. Stock Collection)
Junior Ambrose 7-11
I was given this Polaroid of me, say I’m about 4 yrs old here. At first, I figured this was Riverhead Raceway. I lived in Manorville until 7 yrs old. But then I discovered we lived very near the National Speedway. I’m posing in a Dragster. And this was a straight track.
Islip Speedway, 1965 (William E. Stock Collection)
Riverhead Raceway, 1967 (William E. Stock Collection)