My FIRST IMPRESSION OF Dover

Coming from “Jersey’ at the time,it was a nice ride up Rte 9W,across the Poughkeepsie Bridge,ect. It was in ’61’ we usually ran Island,and Atco at the time.Anyway,I was impressed with the way you looked down on the strip (either pit or spectator side),with a clear view,all the way! Good competition in just about every class,with ‘head to head’ racing alot of the times.The onlt thing a ‘bit’ scarey,was the ‘shut-down’ area,which as you know,sloped ‘down’.Having ‘drum’ brakes all around,I learned running there,to back off the ‘go’ pedal,right after the finish line,and start pumping on the ‘stop’ pedal! I often wondered alot,how those real low e.t.and high m.p.h. drag cars,thought about it,the !st. time they went through the lights,and at the end with that slope ‘down’,and no sand trap at the end to help slow you! Had to be an ‘eye’opener I’m sure(thank goodness for ‘chutes’ on most).Overall,I personally think ‘Dover’ was GREAT,and I’m glad it still lives on!!!!

went for the first time with my cousin in 1962,thought I died and was in heven. Got my license in 63 and started racing at dover and ran until the last day. Lee

IN 1960 MY BROTHER AND HIS FRIEND WOULD PUT THERE DRAG SLICKS IN THE TRUNK ( IF THATS WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT ) OF HIS 1960 CORVETTE AND OFF TO MONTGOMERY THEY WOULD GO, I WOULD WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK JUST TO HEAR THE STORIES. THEN IN THE WINTER OF 1961 WE HEARD THAT THEY WERE BUILDING A DRAG STRIP IN WINGDALE AND I SAID I DON’T CARE IF I HAVE TO WALK TO DOVER I AM GOING. AT 13 YEARS OLD THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LONG WALK FROM WHITE PLAINS. BROTHER TRADED HIS CORVETTE FOR A 1961 IMPALA SUPER SPORT SO THERE WAS ROOM FOR ME AND AFTER OPENING DAY SUNDAY AND DOVER WAS THE PLACE TO BE!!!!!!. I REMEMBER OPENING DAY HAD A LOT OF TIMMING LIGHT PROBLEMS, BUT THE CARS, PEOPLE AND DUST WERE PART OF MY LIFE FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

It was 1968, I was 13, my sister who was 16 and, had just gotten her license, drove my mothers 64 Dart 225 slant six ( my father always got the BIG six! ) We were coming from Thornwood and had stopped off in Hawthorne to pick up Lee Valentine’s girlfriend, a redheaded girl named Rita. What a ride that was, almost died at the Hawthorne Circle that day. We had packed a lunch ( tuna fish I think ) and were heading to Dover to meet up with my sisters boyfriend Bobby J. who had a 68 Roadrunner 383 4 speed and had left much earlier that day with the Valentines to race. We met up with everyone in the pits, I think Lee’s Nova was still gold at the time and I think he broke that day , Mr. Valentine seemed a little annoyed. Rita asked him if he was going to give Lee another engine and he replied ” if he’s good “. I have never forgotten that day , it infected me. I returned many times and eventually raced my MG midget, no license just a learners permit , still have my two trophys. Finally got my Mopar in 74, a 70 340 Dart Swinger 4 speed ( no big six for me ) still have the car! Moved to Southern California in the late 70’s built a 70 440 challenger bracket car ( says Vanishing Point on the doors ) and still race at Bakersfield, the only 1/4 mile track left out here !Dover definitely ” altered ” my life. thanks for all the memories.

Bakersfield, 2012.

Thanks Video Bob for the kind comments, here’s some of the cars from my story , will post more soon !

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