Nobody has done more to preserve the artifacts and memories of Long Island's rich racing history than my friend Marty Himes. Without Marty's vision and love for the sport, all of this memorabilia would have been lost forever. He's one-of-a-kind and his tireless work will be enjoyed by countless people for generations to come.
For years, the World Demolition Derby Championship at Islip was an annual staple of ABC's "Wide World Of Sports". BTW, most of the time, the event was shown on tape weeks later, but I thought that once in the 1970's, they did the feature race of the championships live and on a couple of other occasions, broadcast it on a same-day basis, a few hours after it took place.
Islip Speedway: where it's believed to have started. But my grandfather told me about seeing a Model T demo derby at the Nebraska State Fair in the 1930s, though he may have been remembering a game of Model T 'polo,' which usually included collisions. I'd like to know if anybody else has any information on these early proto-derbies.
Of course when the good ol' sturdy strong "clunkers" got used up, the newer cars weren't built so tough and the demolitions took place wa-a-a-a-ay too quickly! It was a lot more interesting when the older cars held up so well after such a hammering. They'd be driving around with both the hood and trunk lids sticking straight up in the air, but undaunted!!
I think the reason people got such a kick out of these, is because they could relate to it. I know that's what I felt - sometimes one would like to ram into dub-a** drivers, but of course you couldn't, so this was a way to vent.
Nobody has done more to preserve the artifacts and memories of Long Island's rich racing history than my friend Marty Himes. Without Marty's vision and love for the sport, all of this memorabilia would have been lost forever. He's one-of-a-kind and his tireless work will be enjoyed by countless people for generations to come.
The World Demolition Derby Championship was usually held in Islip, and was a three-decade-plus annual staple on "ABC's Wide World Of Sports".
For years, the World Demolition Derby Championship at Islip was an annual staple of ABC's "Wide World Of Sports".
BTW, most of the time, the event was shown on tape weeks later, but I thought that once in the 1970's, they did the feature race of the championships live and on a couple of other occasions, broadcast it on a same-day basis, a few hours after it took place.
My first time driving a demolition derby Nov 1973 to 1998 I was hooked at 16 yrs old
Islip Speedway: where it's believed to have started. But my grandfather told me about seeing a Model T demo derby at the Nebraska State Fair in the 1930s, though he may have been remembering a game of Model T 'polo,' which usually included collisions. I'd like to know if anybody else has any information on these early proto-derbies.
Yes Marty, you did the right thing!!
Of course when the good ol' sturdy strong "clunkers" got used up, the newer cars weren't built so tough and the demolitions took place wa-a-a-a-ay too quickly! It was a lot more interesting when the older cars held up so well after such a hammering. They'd be driving around with both the hood and trunk lids sticking straight up in the air, but undaunted!!
wow! i miss this track. Larry was great
You know what sucks is when anyone can say I miss that track
awesome!
What type of jerk buys a house near a track and then complains about the noise?
The track didn’t close because of the noise, although that didn’t help. It closed because the owner sold the land to developers.
what ever happen to Dutch Miller?
Without a doubt!
Track didnt close because of noise
Who?
I think the reason people got such a kick out of these, is because they could relate to it. I know that's what I felt - sometimes one would like to ram into dub-a** drivers, but of course you couldn't, so this was a way to vent.