Epping

[None]

Anything moved on this yet?

 

[cdag]

I haven't heard much lately, but at the end of last year there were new scoreboard towers on the property, and they appeared to be moving some earth on the pit side of the track. As far as I can see, some of the major work still to be done would be permanant guardwalls, paving of pit areas, and updating of concession and restroom facilities. Also, as others have noted on the subject, sufficient lodging seems to be an ongoing problem in the area.

On the good side, the concrete racing surface improvements of last winter seemed to be quite beneficial. The T/A cars at the Div. 1 meet last July were running quite well despite the 90 degree weather.


You can check newenglanddragway.com for updates.

 

[Pete]

I haven't heard much lately, but at the end of last year there were new scoreboard towers on the property, and they appeared to be moving some earth on the pit side of the track. As far as I can see, some of the major work still to be done would be permanant guardwalls, paving of pit areas, and updating of concession and restroom facilities. Also, as others have noted on the subject, sufficient lodging seems to be an ongoing problem in the area.

On the good side, the concrete racing surface improvements of last winter seemed to be quite beneficial. The T/A cars at the Div. 1 meet last July were running quite well despite the 90 degree weather.


You can check newenglanddragway.com for updates.

The track temp last July was close to 150 degrees...no BS and that track stuck hard!
The new scoreboards were onsite but not up as of yet and one of the biggest projects, the retaining walls, was given a pass by NHRA! SO for now, its 1000' on raising the wall, scoreboards, paving the pits and the new retention system at the top end.
The concessions and restrooms are efficient.

I believe thats it for now.

 

[Toejam]

I heard last year that NHRA was prepared to lend the track the money to make the Neccesary improvements!

 

[cdag]

I heard last year that NHRA was prepared to lend the track the money to make the Neccesary improvements!

And possibly some New England Ford Dealers, too....

I think it would be a worthwhile investment for NHRA. If the attendance for the D1 meet, as well as the IHRA races over the years, is any indication, the northeast is a great market to tap into.

 

[NitroRichFire]

So are we going to see a new national event there in 2013? The "New England Nationals"

 

[NYNitro86]

So are we going to see a new national event there in 2013? The "New England Nationals"

Like I said when they do the Inaugural event it's gotta be in a 3 race northeast swing w/Englishtown and Maple Grove so all 3 Northeast Markets (Boston, NYC, Philly) get NHRA in a month.

 

[Paul]

Like I said when they do the Inaugural event it's gotta be in a 3 race northeast swing w/Englishtown and Maple Grove so all 3 Northeast Markets (Boston, NYC, Philly) get NHRA in a month.

That doesn't make any sense. E-Town and Maple Grove are within 2 hours of each other and draw from the same population. You need to keep these 2 events months apart in order to maximize attendance.

 

[nitro]

In Connecticut, Epping is 3 1/2 hours , Englishtown is 2 hours, and Maple Grove is 3 1/2 hours away. So you are overlapping some of the same markets for fans. However, the touring guys would love the short trips, I'm sure.

Paul Weiss
Ultimate Warrior Funny Car

 

[None]

So are we going to see a new national event there in 2013? The "New England Nationals"

Just a guess. As far as an NHRA National, this is going to turn into another Banning/Tulare/Dinwiddie deal. All talk and no show.

 

[Toejam]

And possibly some New England Ford Dealers, too....

I think it would be a worthwhile investment for NHRA. If the attendance for the D1 meet, as well as the IHRA races over the years, is any indication, the northeast is a great market to tap into.

NHRA wants the New England Market in a Bad way! Now making it happen is something else...

 

[NYNitro86]

In Connecticut, Epping is 3 1/2 hours , Englishtown is 2 hours, and Maple Grove is 3 1/2 hours away. So you are overlapping some of the same markets for fans. However, the touring guys would love the short trips, I'm sure.

Paul Weiss
Ultimate Warrior Funny Car

thats how i look at it, the short trips, go from New Hampshire to NJ to Pennsylvania, either way there's gotta be a northeast grouping even if it's just 2 of the 3.

 

[Professor Dave]

The track manager at Epping is a friend of the Baders-there will be a national event there and things will be quite good-they had a packed house for the points race-this guy is from the Bader school when it comes to promotion. Plus all of us racers were treated well-can't wait to go back in July.

 

[FINMAN]

I heard last year that NHRA was prepared to lend the track the money to make the Neccesary improvements!

Joe, It was a tad over 12 million.

 

[vegasnitro]

Joe, It was a tad over 12 million.

The NHRA gave New England Dragway 12 million dollars? I find that difficult to believe.

My understanding of the situation at NED is that they don't own the property directly adjacent and the owners don't want to sell or lease. Without that property, being able to accomodate a National Event is basically impossible.

 

[NYNitro86]

The track manager at Epping is a friend of the Baders-there will be a national event there and things will be quite good-they had a packed house for the points race-this guy is from the Bader school when it comes to promotion. Plus all of us racers were treated well-can't wait to go back in July.

Joe Lombardo is a really good guy.

 

[sdwarf36]

Epping was always one of my favorite tracks to run when I was racing. And it ran just as quick as any other track on the east coast.
Does anyone have the rundown how many times they have changed sanctioning bodies?

 

[Pete]

The NHRA gave New England Dragway 12 million dollars? I find that difficult to believe.

My understanding of the situation at NED is that they don't own the property directly adjacent and the owners don't want to sell or lease. Without that property, being able to accomodate a National Event is basically impossible.

NHRA did not give NED a loan for 12 million. That figure was the original amount needed to upgrade the facility. Joe figured out a way to do almost a million in upgrades throughout the year and a half and the bulk of the remainder is a new tower.

NED is owned by shareholders and the Board of Directors decided last year that they did not want to take out a loan unless completely necessary.

Lastly, looking down track, the only parcel of land the track doesn't own is to the way left, which is owned by an enviromental "something something" company. All together they own roughly 260 acres in total.

 

[NYNitro86]

Epping was always one of my favorite tracks to run when I was racing. And it ran just as quick as any other track on the east coast.
Does anyone have the rundown how many times they have changed sanctioning bodies?

I remember 1992 was when it went to IHRA from NHRA, Then it switched again at some point during the 90s (I'll have to buy some tapes from my buddy in Florida to find out when), then it was IHRA For the whole 2000s until last year.

 

[James]

NHRA did not give NED a loan for 12 million. That figure was the original amount needed to upgrade the facility. Joe figured out a way to do almost a million in upgrades throughout the year and a half and the bulk of the remainder is a new tower.

NED is owned by shareholders and the Board of Directors decided last year that they did not want to take out a loan unless completely necessary.

Lastly, looking down track, the only parcel of land the track doesn't own is to the way left, which is owned by an enviromental "something something" company. All together they own roughly 260 acres in total.

I think the track has plenty of area for a national event. The problem might be spectator parking but I figure they'll make a deal with Star Speedway and shuttle spectators over from there when they run out of parking.