Westhampton Question

[art11758]

Does anyone remember or know who the owners and or promoters were at Westhampton? The question came up on another board and I cannot recall. IIRC the last time it was run as a oval for stock cars was in the seventies. I wasn't old enough to get there so I never saw it, just read about it in Gator and Scene.

[Teds Race Tours]

Art.
I was about 9 the only time I went there, so I don't know who the owners/promoters were. 1/2 mile high banked oval with a flat 1/4 using the same straights. I guess the mods really ripped up the pavement in the turns, as the used 1 and 2 of the flat track, and 3 and 4 of the banked track. Probably about 4/10's of a mile. Jarzombek won and Cook was 2nd. Robin Vollmoeller won 2 Bomber Races on the 1/4 mile that day.It was an afternoon race.

[Jaws]

I have the promotors name somewhere in some old Gater clippings, I will see if I can dig them up.

Charlie won almost every race they held in 75(?)

They ran on Sunday afternoons because they had no lights and they had a few races canceled that year due to a heat wave.

They also had a track that was like a double figure 8 track, forget what they called the division, but it was the figure 8 cars from Islip and Riverhead..

Here is a picture of the track.

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.asp...Lat=40.8231903

[310fig8]

That was 1975. The races were called Double Ovals. The cars ran on 2 tracks. Track 1 went from the start finish line to turns 1 and 2. Then you went down the back stretch. For that track turn 3 and 4 were paved thru the infield short of the main track turn 3 and 4. You then reentered the main track on the home stretch. The second track, you start at the start finish line and turned short of the main tracks turn 1 and 2. there was a paved short cut there. You reentered the main track on the back stretch. You went down to the main tracks turn 3 and 4 and back to the start finish line which was common to both tracks. 2 sets of cars raced. There were flags attached to the roof of the cars to derermine which track the cars were running. The cars were lined up side by side for the green flag. The cars on the inside line, we will call them the red flag cars, diverted thru the first shortcut onto the back stretch. The cars on the outside line, we will call them the Blue Flag cars, continued down to the main 1st and 2nd turn. They would blend in down the back stretch. Now the cars would criss cross with the Red Flag cars continuing all the way down to the main 3rd and 4th turn while the Blue Flag cars took their shortcut to the main stretch. So it was blend in, criss cross, blend out for 20 laps. It was fun while it lasted. I ran all the races there finishing 3rd in the final one. I know the explination may sound a little confusing but it's the best I can do LOL.

[randomrodder]

I recall going to one race there and if memory serves me correctly, most of the modified drivers didn't care for the track much. Turn two was like making a complete left turn, way too sharp with no real transition. Then there was the gear change to run a longer track weekly.

As a fan I always wanted to see West Hampton make it.

In the photo to the lower right are a bunch of buildings lined up. They used to contain ICB Missiles. We filled the flat laying missile silos with sand then covered them with concrete. This was around 1978 or so. Bet most of you who went to WH didn't know ICBMs where just behind the back stretch.

Much thanks for the foto.

[J.D.]

I went there a couple of times as a kid, I think I was 13 0r 14 years old. They used to race on Friday nights. I watched Eddie Flemky Sr. pass the whole field on the backstrech , in the dirt. Also Ronnie Hera drove the black 10 cents coupe, right under the gaurd rail, because he had a flat on the left front tire, but would not stop, even after being black flaged numerous times.Anybody have any photos, share them with us.
Also was Westhampton a Nascar track or outlaw ?, I remember the Eastern Bandits used to Come there.

[rydogg97]

ive heard alot about westhampton.never was there but wouldlike to know more about it.a family friend used to run there and then islip and riverhead.his name was dave ryan[wilcox].he was to young to drive so he changed his last name.does anyone have any more info on westhampton or a place to look?looked up westhampton speedway not much.thanks

[The Bullfather]

Doesn't help that much but try this link to see two photos
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/D...stockmenu.html

[randomrodder]

Great site Pete.

[rydogg97]

thanks pete!!

[art11758]

The owner from the mid fifties to 1991 was the Caricola Family. Still waiting to see if Fat Albert, old racer, or someone else remembers who promoted there though.....

[rydogg97]

this maybe a stretch but has anyone here ever race there that can compare this track to he tracks of today.seems to be a tough place to find out history of.

[woot lawrence]

I think I remember reading Bob Finans "eye on riverhead" something about Bob Hagers dad promoted westhampton at some point.

[capitalcity300]

http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks...gIslandMP.html

http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks...sthampton.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...4955&viewitem=

http://cgi.ebay.com/SUFFOLK-COUNTY-R...3286.m20.l1116

http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTHAMPTON-DRAG...1%7C240%3A1318

[capitalcity300]

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.asp...Lat=40.8231903