Just Paul
Nitro Member
Question about the old Minnesota Dragways (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter The Swegian
- Start date
mick
Nitro Member
grew up in twin cities till age of 3, never lucky enough to go to this dragstrip.
driving down i-35 into st. paul recently with folks and right around
vandais heights dad says, 'i remember in late 50's, early 60's right around
here was the edge of the suburbs....that's about 6-7 miles straight north from downtown st. paul
....MN dragway was about 20 miles out from the downtowns;
suppose back then never in their wildest dreams would anyone think urban
sprawl would take over..... damn near same difference @ BIR.
as late as late 80's there was large gap of no development between
brainerd and track.....not anymore.
driving down i-35 into st. paul recently with folks and right around
vandais heights dad says, 'i remember in late 50's, early 60's right around
here was the edge of the suburbs....that's about 6-7 miles straight north from downtown st. paul
....MN dragway was about 20 miles out from the downtowns;
suppose back then never in their wildest dreams would anyone think urban
sprawl would take over..... damn near same difference @ BIR.
as late as late 80's there was large gap of no development between
brainerd and track.....not anymore.
The Swegian
Nitro Member
You're so right about BIR, Mike. 20 years ago, there was almost nothing from where you turn off 210 to go north on 371 to the track. Now, there's nearly every corporate hotel/restaurant/retail chain represented in that 6 mile stretch.
The Swegian
Nitro Member
I found this cool photo on Ky Michaelson's Rocketman website. I remember seeing some of his rocket cars (namely, the Pollution Packer) at Minnesota back in the mid 70's.
I recall that the tower was set forward from the stands, but I didn't remember the stands being back so far.
I recall that the tower was set forward from the stands, but I didn't remember the stands being back so far.
The Swegian
Nitro Member
Paul, the track closed. I believe, in 1977. It was a great time growing up in the 70's. Close to Minnesota, we also had North Star Dragstrip over in Mounds View. That site is currently occupied by those new Medtronic buildings off 10 & 35W. Previously, that site had The Bridges golf course.
To drive by where Minnesota was located now makes me thing of the Frank Sinatra song "Once There Was A Ballpark".
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.
Nitro Member
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Pollution Packer was owned by Tony Fox..... he lived across the street from Ky.
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Hey Krogan's Heros, you saying were Old? Lmao....
The Swegian
Nitro Member
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Pollution Packer was owned by Tony Fox..... he lived across the street from Ky.
I remember the name Brian, and I think you may be right. Looking at Ky's website, there's no mention of Tony Fox. Not that that means anything. Ky has a pretty neat website and it appears he's still involved with rocketry.
Hey Joe, here's an interesting bit of trivia for you (quoting Ky's website) "The fastest run that I know of was set by Vern Anderson on August 11, 1974 on a track in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a speed of 344.820 MPH in 4.62 seconds." This was regarding the Pollution Packer car. Jeez, talk about hauling the mail.
.
Nitro Member
Yeah, Ky is an interesting guy. I live less than a mile from him. When you drive by his house it's always fun to see the interesting things parked in the driveway.
kingcobrafan
Nitro Member
Some of the best booked-in shows anywhere were at Minnesota Dragways.
The Swegian
Nitro Member
Yep, for example, remember Evel Knievel there in 1972?
kingcobrafan
Nitro Member
Mark, I saw nearly all the shows from 65-70 and 73 til it closed.
The Swegian
Nitro Member
If you're talking about this one, as I understand it, there was a group of investors attempting to build a new track south of the Twin Cities near Owatonna. They were going to resurrect the name "Minnesota Dragways". As so often seems the case these days, it met with a ton of opposition, the investors after so many losing battles, decided to scuttle the whole idea. They had a website (www.minnesotadragways.com) that had a bunch of cool pictures from the original track.
DrRocket
Nitro Member
You're exactly right, Mark. They had options on at least one, possibly two parcels of land that would have put a 1/4 mile drag strip within less than an hour from the Twin Cities, and in both cases, the NIMBY's showed up in force and they were shot right out of the water. They finally got tired of beating their heads against the wall and gave up.
I wonder. Is it POSSIBLE to build a brand new drag strip anymore?
I wonder. Is it POSSIBLE to build a brand new drag strip anymore?
Just Paul
Nitro Member
I wonder. Is it POSSIBLE to build a brand new drag strip anymore?
Sure if your name is Bruton Smith
DrRocket
Nitro Member
Sure if your name is Bruton Smith
You got me there Paul.
