When most people think about dirt track racing, they often think of West Virginia and maybe even Wisconsin. However, on the East Coast, dirt track racing has been around for more than 100 years and it still continues to this day. In fact, there are still many dirt tracks in existence even though some may have changed venues or closed down due to lack of interest or funding issues. In this article, we will discuss the history of East Coast dirt tracks as well as those in existence today.
Early Dirt Tracks
The first permanent dirt track was built in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York and it was named after the Utica, New York racetrack. For those unfamiliar, the New York State Racetracks were built in the late 1800s and designed for horse racing. However, for 100 years, the tracks weren’t used for horse racing due to the presence of auto racing associations in New York City (which would later become the NASCAR Grand National Series). Despite this, the Utica racetrack still hosts occasional auto races today. In fact, there is even an annual vintage car rally that takes place there as well as a weekly vintage car show that features many one-of-a-kind vehicles that have been gathering dust in people’s garages for years. It is quite the scene when the cars are out on display, painted in gorgeous vintage colors that you simply cannot find anywhere else these days.
Downtown Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge Park
In order to continue with the theme of the first dirt track, let’s take a trip back in time to Downtown Brooklyn, specifically to Bay Ridge Park. This particular park was first constructed in 1901 and was meant to serve as a place for the working class and immigrants from around the world to enjoy. Its design was based on the concept of an urban prairie with a picturesque view of the Statue of Liberty and other boroughs such as Manhattan. However, despite its name, this 1.85-acre park is actually located in the borough of Queens. Nevertheless, it is still one of the earliest and most historic parks in Brooklyn, if not all of New York.
The Point On Rayleigh
Moving on to our next stop, let’s visit the Rayleigh Point Marina which is located in Nassau County, New York on the far eastern end of the state. This particular spot was first developed in 1925 and is home to the International Speedway Museum. However, what makes this museum so special is that it houses the largest collection of racing artifacts and documents in existence. The items that can be found here range from race cars and jocks’ uniforms to drivers’ licenses, newspaper clippings, and even tickets that were issued during that time period. This is one place that any racing fan should have been at least once in their lifetime.
Losing Ground In Time
It’s been a while since we left Brooklyn, and although we made a brief pit stop in Rayleigh, New York, we have now returned to the birthplace of our great sport. Let’s take a trip back in time, all the way to 1922 and the very first ever heat race that took place at the old Syracuse Speedway. This was the place that Bernie McNamee first raced, and to this day, it remains one of the greatest speedways of all time. Unfortunately, the track is no longer there due to the expansion of the airport and the eventual growth of the city. However, this does not mean that it is not worth seeing. A great portion of the original track still exists, buried under runways and tarmacs, right in the center of the airport. The surface tracks have all been removed, but the concrete channels and straightaways still remain and you can get a feeling for what the track once looked like. Despite this, the Syracuse Speedway never really recovered from the loss of Bernie McNamee and it has since closed its doors for the final time in 1947.
The New York Arena Football League
Nowadays, it seems like the New York Arena Football League (NYAFL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the city. This is mainly because of the fact that it is one of the few sports leagues that are open to the public. There are no membership requirements, as everything is done on a pay-per-view basis. This means that anyone can go to a game and watch the action unfold before their very eyes. This is also one of the few sports leagues that have been around for a while and was indeed established in the city in 1991. However, it is still considered to be one of the minor leagues. It is mostly viewed as a feeder league for the established National Football League (NFL). Nevertheless, the fact that it is open to the general public and is a great way to continue one’s education while also being able to relive some of sports’ greatest moments makes it worth checking out.
The Baltimore Ravens And The Washington Redskins
In 1914, a professional football league was established in the U.S., and it was initially named the National Football League (NFL). The founding members were the American Football Association (AFA), the National Football Conference (NFC), and the Inter-City Football League (ICFL). The AFA was officially established in 1882 and it is considered to be the predecessor to the NFL. The NFC was founded in 1896 and it is the other major league that has been around for almost a century. The ICFL was initially formed in 1913 and it was the forerunner of the modern-day Arena Football League (AFL). The four NFL founding members were the Decatur St. Kalamazoo Gazette, the Detroit Tigers, the New York Football Giants, and the Rochester, and the Buffalo Billions. The first game of the established league was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and it was a 17-0 victory on October 3, 1914 for the Frankford Yellow Jackets (NFC) over the Hillsdale Yankees (AFC). It was also the first time that professional football had been played in Los Angeles and it had a significant impact on the city’s history. The Yellow Jackets were indeed fans of the University of California, and many of their players went on to become famous Hollywood personalities. Some of them even got to star in their own films. Today, the Yellow Jackets are a proud member of the AFA and they continue to this day to hold reunions at which point members get to relive those glorious NFL days of yore.
Through The Years
Even though we have discussed several times now the existence of dirt track racing on the East Coast, let us not forget about the fact that it is not all sunshine and rainbows. There have been more than a few speedways that met an untimely end, mostly due to the sport’s inability to continue past the 1970s or 1980s. In many ways, dirt track racing is a victim of its own success, and that is a great shame. However, that does not mean that it does not hold special places in the hearts of those who participated in it or those who knew about it and watched it on TV. Many tracks that were established in the early 1900s have since closed down, but those that remain are cherished and a great reminder of a wonderful past.
As you can see, dirt track racing has been around for a long time and it continues to this day. In fact, there are still many venues, mostly in New York and New Jersey that hold special places in the hearts of those who participate in or witness the fast cars and vibrant atmosphere that comes with dirt track racing. As for the question at hand, is Utica-rome Speedway a dirt track? Well, that depends on who you ask. Some people may still fondly remember the old place and its fond memories, while others may consider it to be a asphalt track. However, dirt track is always considered to be the purer form of the sport and for those who know and love it, Utica-rome Speedway is and will always be a dirt track.