DOVER'S LAST DAY: May 23,1976....the story unfolds

[bossguy]

Dino and Charlie, just to set the record straight, the story I relayed to Charlie was about the post and cable guard rail that Dino is stating that Darwin didn't like. I moved to Dutchess in Sept 1975 and with new job, family, house etc I think I only got to Dover once in 76. I remember it was 76 because I had a black 76 Ranchero demo and I hung the pit pass on the radio knob. Monday morning a salesman was showing my demo to a potential buyer. The salesman came back and handed me the pit pass and said, "the next time you race your demo be sure to remove the evidence". I hadn't raced it but of course no one would believe me. I worked with Richie Schott at Heritage Ford in Beacon and he relayed the story of his encounter with the shut down area that wrecked his dragster. When Richie and I worked together again at Pleasant Valley Ford in 1980 he told me that Pleasant Valley Ford had sold a F700 dump truck to the peat moss facility that took over after the track closed.

[dinotheweirdo]

THAT REMINDS ME of all the Hertz Shelbys that showed up...Like what was Hertz thinking? nobody would DO THAT?

[dinotheweirdo]

Bossguy has relayed NEW "local" info and phone numbers to do a Dover CSI hit.

[SUPER SPORT PETE]

hi dino.ss pete here. maybe someone can do csi on this post. i don't think i missed one sunday in 76.opening day i think snow was still on the hills. i raced my 67 SS in bk 1. one week only 3 cars in my class (20-40) was avg. i was at sams before 3 , so this was unusual for dover.so here goes. i "MAY"have been the last car to make "an offical timed run " at dover. here's the deal. i won bk 1 then ran koh against a 65 chev wagon 18.0 vs 12.0. i got r/u according to my time slips.brackets were usually at the end unless hot car pits needed time etc.and when i got to the trophy booth i got my one and only dover check and 2 trophys in one day with the same car from joe and talked for a while about the closing and no one else came in.does anyone know the bank where the check came from? 33 yrs of files? it was a memorable day for me. can anyone shed some lite on this one?

[dinotheweirdo]

Checks Came out of " Dover Drag Strip of Ct. Inc."--Account.. Chet & Joe did "Banking " in home town- Brookfield or Danbury. ...see Carl Spiedels check sub, down in the "chronicals "I think.

WHAT DID JOE "TELL" YOU about the Closing ?

[SUPER SPORT PETE]

dino, ss pete again.joe told me for what i remember,car count,rich land was very profitable at the time, track wasn't.they were digging while we were racing.i don't remember when it started. he put up a big building to store the equipment.the rest is history. P S i watched you letter the ad man cars at towne body in strfd ct in 1974. i was on call with the wrecker,i think.you also did a sign for my streetrod for the armory car show.i think i still have it,can't find.keep up the good work.

[dinotheweirdo]

33 years Ago ON THIS DATE....."the Day the Music Died "...."Drove my Chevy to the leeve ,but the levee was dry"

[VBOB]

HEY

Everybody sing ------

a one and a 2----- BYE BYE MISS AMERICAN PIE DROVE MY CHEVY TO THE LEVY BUT THE LEVY WAS DRY ,,come on you know all the rest ,lets hear it !!

'V'

[dinotheweirdo]

Super Stock Pete !....last man Standing ? got a '76 win decal you can scan & post ? My latest Question is...If It closed May 23 -1976...how many weeks did they get in previous?....as we Usually opened in April, weather permitting . Why anything with '76 on it, would be a real collector item.

[SUPER SPORT PETE]

hi dino, yes i do.YES it is the genuine,orignal article!it is on my tool box.i also have 3 trophys from 1976.(no year on them).i brought them to marcus,to show brian but i don't know who he is.had to leave early to go to work.will try again.i can't send pics on my computer,it is a 1992 hand me down.however we will get them to the site soon.dover always opened after easter,so in 76 april 18-may 23 short season