Drag Racing New York National Drag Strip Long Island May 1969

Home Video of Drag Racing in New York, May 1969
Video courtesy of the collection of Tim Lopata of The Forge Invitational Musclecar Classic

[@JonWLundbergSr]

Thank you! Enjoyed the memories. Announced the track's opening in 1966, and a few others too. Great times!

[@zxtenn]

Cool, I am from LI and remember NY dragway, I used to go there a with a friend about 1971 when I was 16. I never remember 4 cars racing at 1 time. Loved the old muscle car battles and the smell of burning rubber, back in those days even getting into the 13's with a street car was impressive Back when America was great

[@6bblbird104]

I'm surprised that I haven't seen this one before. Thanks for the memories!

[@JHV166]

What a wonderful film. MUsic is PERFECT for ths film... What a fantastic era. I see my Friend Lundberg popped in here... another Legend!

[@loufelice2141]

Great footage. I was there that weekend , my first time at the drags. Too bad Long Island will never hear the sound of a top fuel engine again. N.Y. National closed at the end of the 1980 season. Really miss it.

[@Coronet_shop]

Where in Long island? I'm from Nassau county near the coliseum

[@paulmokidespaul5347]

In Suffolk County, exit 70 on LIE, around about Centermoriches.

[@powell888]

Thank you for this, I worked every weekend selling programs during this time period so I looked carefully for myself in the grandstands but no luck. Either way, an instant memory trip right back in time. So clear!!

[@fiddlerpin]

Thanks for posting. I can still hear the Jingle Sunday! Sunday!

[@rangerjones5531]

Very cool, thanks for uploading this! I'm 58 so this is my groove!

[@mccromags]

Thanks for posting, my fathers old car in this video. I cant wait to show him. Long Island needs a drag strip again!

[@joeorenzo8733]

The 65 GTO at 3:58 was my dad's. E2 class. Typically ran mid 13's. Just showed him - he was totally stoked.I always liked looking at old pictures of National while he told me all about it. To see the video was really cool. The GTO was given to me 20 years ago after he got married. It still has the NATIONAL SPEEDWAY WINNER stickers on it. He really liked the video - good memories.

[@bumdodge1]

Cool!

[@williecampbell8483]

Joe Orenzo this is camrod the jj hard Mustang ford

[@williecampbell8483]

Joe Orenzo we ran D stock your daddy try everything to beat that Mustang

[@williecampbell8483]

Joe Orenzo hey Joe was your dad name Tonie i am camrod with JJ Hart mustang we use to rase in D stock 910 729 9034 that my phone # give me a call

[@Mrtubbula]

Pretty fantastic - grew up on Long Island and have incredible memories of my Dad taking me to National Speedway - from late sixties to early seventies. Miss everything about those days - haunting video

[@extramile150]

thanks for your post...

[@73ss454]

What a great video! This was my home town track back in the day. I can remember racing my 1966 396 Chevelle there on many a day. Such great memories. Thanks

[@powell888]

Upon closer look, I can see myself walking behind the starting line poles in front of the grandstands from 4:26 to 4:28 holding up the programs I sold!! What a kick, I was 16.

[@maximuswedgie5149]

Very cool story! What a time to be alive and witness greatness like this.

[@powell888]

@@maximuswedgie5149 Thanks!

[@theotherfinnegan9955]

great times great shows. priceless video. I live 5 minutes from there

[@jamesdalpiaz5969]

At 657 that was my brothers Defiant Mustang Mach 1 taking care of business! I was the pit crew! Great memories!Thanks!

[@gailgregory95]

It's Manorville actually and I worked there in around 1975 1976. Good times. It would be great to see this happen again.

[@ginotassoni4597]

I grew up at this track. My cuz started taking me out to national speedway in the mid 60's. I've been a gearhead since. Met Big Daddy out there in 68. Still have that picture of him & me. L.I. was great back then with all the tracks. What a great head full of memories.😁. My cuz was the owner of Mustang Magic

[@yukon1000]

Very nice video! wish I could have seen it.. Long Island needs a drag strip! This place would be a gold mine..

[@christiantroll1358]

I used to race my '65 Mustang there stock optional. Never won but it cost us $10 to enter and for the money we got to hang out all day and watch the funny cars and dragsters. Great times; beats the hell out of playing video games all day.

[@sammansuroglu1902]

great footage I remember great days

[@mrbats38]

Boy do I remember those good old days at the track what fun we had not all that pro stuff gust good old racing

[@russellrblair]

Great job. I grew up at that track. I'm also a keyboardist so the synth stuff is a nice back round for a change.

[@MichaelsStereo]

I really liked this...Thanks

[@mrbats38]

Boy do I remember those days Sunday Sunday all you herd on the weekend and waited for Sunday to arrive BOY did they good egg rolls at the food stand will never forget them days it all went so fast

[@Joe-uo9wv]

My friend had a 69 Judge and had eliminator stickers that filled on his back windows. He was the best driver I knew. Those days were great growing up and I feel sorry for the young kids these days.

[@XLR82TheMAX]

I really liked your clip. Great post.

[@paulmokidespaul5347]

Originally from Nassau Co. Used to hitch to exit 70 on the LIE on Sundays and sneak under the fence away from the entrances. I woke up at 4:00am to get there by track open for time trials and qualifying. I think the Ramchargers funny car was the first to crack 200mph then. Was fifteen yo in that year and can think about it from your videos. Everything was connected back then. Thanks

[@Flussig1]

You're probably remembering the first funny car in the sixes, Ramchargers Challenger, driven by Leroy Goldstein. National Speedway, June 1970.

[@mannycastillo3087]

God where did 52 yrs went? miss the sound. was cool place

[@guypie3091]

we use to leave early on sunday mornings from the bronx tow our cars the good old fashion way with tow hitch and have a blast out at national they get rid of all the good things and bring in the crap maybe today if we brought back old ways people can be more social and have more fun.

[@powell888]

Nice, what great memories. I do the 100 Foot Drags in Connecticut with my 96 Impala after they stopped them at Riverhead Raceway. Short and sweet!

[@jakeorenzo1009]

At 3:57-4:01 was my Grandpa’s 65 GTO and we still have it

[@Senior-Busa-Rider]

I was the announcer at New York national. Yes the tower of power

[@tony32253]

My dad was a legend at that track. PATTY BOY SUNOCO. Miss you dad

[@Mr39036ce]

Big block Nova?

[@guypie3091]

seen him race all the time we had some fast cars out of the bronx

[@paulmokidespaul5347]

Perfect 🎵 music..

[@thesurveyor2235]

Hey thanks man, that was a great video!

[@charlougas]

Thanks for posting Tim, I think thats my rothers Gold GTO at 2:01

[@jamcousi9]

Back when America was America... Sad to see this generation as well as the Americana culture fade. Great vid

[@Mr39036ce]

When these tracks disappear the community is just setting the stage for some local kid to make a decision in the street that could have bad consequences.Rather than curse him,they need to look in the mirror for whom to blame. Only takes one homebody with a recently bought and built house nearby to start the death call for ANY track.

[@suptclark1]

Thrilled with the Green Hornet run. The first I've seen.

[@BaldGod]

I remember watching BoBo race back in the day. He was a legend.

[@daveyboy6832]

I have some similar footage made by my father and his friends from about 67. I remember showing it to one of my friend's dad's in 1992 [when I was in HS], and he commented something to the effect that these were new cars that these guys were racing ie beating on. That has always stuck with me for some reason, I suppose since Ive always been an afficionado, it never dawned on me that these were once new cars with warrantees and such.

[@guyradcliffe]

@3:20 the original 4 wide nationals!

[@1761Charlie]

Even though it was only a drag strip, the official name was "New York National Speedway" (8:17 on this video) and they used to have Howard Cosell do their radio ads.

[@528hemi100]

Made my first pass down that track.....shame it's no longer there........

[@sbc388550]

? ... What's there now?

[@georgeblackwell4415]

I remember west hampton drag strip from 1958to 1961when zraybop owned the speed shop in New Hyde Park pn jericho tpk amd the only place you could have a great meal was at the triangle restaurant after leaving the drag strip on svunday

[@brainfreeze9653]

The Triangle is still there.

[@georgeschuchman3095]

I remember seeing Don Garlits.and Sox& Martin

[@dirtyroofer3678]

My brother ran at national late 60 early seventy a red road runner and a funky green color one , after the track closed he ran roundly rounds at Freeport ,white lake . Good times I never saw national I was 4 or 5 .

[@deniselanzisera4475]

Nice film my dad mike Lanzisera raced late 60’s to 73 and did well I remember all the trophies I don’t know his class but the car wasn’t street legal it was a 1967 corvette 327 ( mouse motor) named miss Denise I’m searching all the old films to see if he’s in any of them

[@cigdamagelungs]

Always got a pit pass,when dr was great,before dsr,and corp.they had the coolest names to

[@chrisg9602]

My cousin and brother raced there

[@machstang70]

Great memories of racing and spectating there!! Is that Joe Gentile's Nova at11:41? Thanks for postng. Mike

[@annmariegentile-fileccia7]

machstang70 yesss. That’s him. My dad. ❤️

[@528hemi100]

First pass down it was in my first "real" hot rod....a '55 Chevy. I think there's a nursing home there now & part of the track is still there....

[@georgeblackwell4415]

We us to take ourclub car out there Nomads fromNew Hyde Park from 1957 to 1961 west hampton drag strip and Waren Webster was the starter with the flag. I have slient movies 8mil of thoes great times.And stopping at the triangel restaurant on sundays on the way home.

[@JHV166]

Love the video and love the music.. Where did you find those tracks!

[@Ryan-sj6jm]

bring back long island national speed way

[@winstonsuny]

Ahhh...New York National Speedway, Exit 70 off the L.I.E.!

[@thecameramantraveler4830]

if i may curiosuly ask, why did the track close?

[@madmikeastoria]

four cars at once. Where else but in NY. Fukin politicians. give us our track back!

[@MOAONAABE]

anybody remember the white 55 chevy called casper?

[@bobbleja2244]

Yes I do my dad had a 67 red dodge rt he raced in heavy elm and I think it was d stock before the bracket raceing

[@georgeblackwell4415]

Anybody remember being out there from 1956 to 1961 Tv tommy ivho was there also Ray Bop who owned the speed shop on jericho tpk? Warren webster was the starter with theflag.And tbe Nomads from New Hyde Park brought there club car driven by Jack Bebe, garaged in Nickey Zinovichs and the piston pushers from east meadow were there and of course fuarewees we there from Brooklyn,and Coney Island Ralph. I have. Slient Movies from thoes years. Anybody remember when?????

[@Vispoltv]

NIce

[@svo65]

great video, thanks for sharing, sure wish we had a time machine..........i put one on here from atlanta in 76, check it out.

[@thatbasementband8122]

possible 1968 hemi gtx at 3:13.

[@chriscerf4914]

+Austin Hurley That was A 440 Magnum car belonged to my brother in-law

[@KipBurbank1]

Burned up the quarter mile the in my 1965 Ford Falcon Oh ad n Lots of tires.

[@skip9homer]

what year did this track close

[@ThomasDeLello]

Is this the track at Westhampton...?

[@dellawoodsracing7015]

della amd bernie woods in the bernella brother sister team

[@MrMike-fm8bp]

Thought drag way 42 was first 4 lane dragstrip....?

[@mrbats38]

Those were the days no high payed cars guys bringing your funny car do three runs get your thousand dollars and go on to the next track and hope you did not blow a engine because you did not have a extra one change oil and plugs that's the way it was

[@dellawoodsracing7015]

The Bernella brother and sister car. Della woods Charger

[@jaysjaysgarden398]

WTF This music is gonna make me go away.This isn't drag music.

[@williampscott3539]

Center Moriches Long Island.NY

[@kwhite145]

Manorville

[@Steve340]

Blows without the cars sounds

[@FORGEMUSCLECARSHOW]

no idea?

[@frankieford7668]

Great Videos...poor choice of music....😫

[@FORGEMUSCLECARSHOW]

Ramchargers Seatons Shaker Jungle Jim Dick Harrell Brutus MIKE Neff

[@cartoonfelix]

bon vidéo,mais musique ennuyante...ROCK BABY C'EST DU DRAG!!!