I spent a lot of great times there in the 70s. I went to New Haven High School with Scott Kalitta (RIP), Connie's son, when Connie was wrenching for Shirley Muldowney. Two of her rails sat in Connie's garage at his house on 23 Mile just east of North Ave.. When Connie wanted to check out his latest tune, the rail got loaded up and out to Motor City we went. Connie knew the owner well, and we could get in there morning noon or night. My best buddy in New Haven High built a 73 Challenger with one of the earliest nitrous kits, and we ran it out there almost every weekend from 76-78. And usually every Monday we were replacing the pistons we burned holes though. LOL My dad bought a convenience store in Anchorville, and later I lived in Fair Haven for many years. It was a sad day when the track was shut down in the 80s. I was down Meldrum Rd all the time, and it was so sad to watch the property go to seed. It took about 20 years, but eventually the old light towers fell, and you'd never know it from any of the other overgrown farmland in the vicinity, if you didn't know where exactly it had been. I think it was roughly 2005 I read in the local paper Ira Township had taken the property over for non-payment of taxes. I doubt they still own it though.
I lived about 1/2 mile south, down Meldrum from the track, from about 1971 to 1976. Saw and heard a lot of passes being made; from bone stock up to top fuelers. Knew the Cummins family who lived in the farmhouse directly across from the main entrance too. Always snuck in; never once paid. Great memories. Saw a lot of great drivers run. All the “legends” of the sport
I used to spend a week or two with my cousins in fairhaven during the summer. They lived right on the lake next to Ray's bait and tackle. We were at every race....
It's painful to see the the place of so much excitement and energy having all the activity gone and a peaceful sleep having come over everything. It's like the Mayan Temples having the jungle reclaim the once vibrant city where so many lived. Now their is only the obvious memory of screaming engines and cheering crowds leaping from your memory. I still have the trophies I won in class "E-stock automatic" with my 67 Camaro, SS-350. I ran with my friend, Joe and his car, "OVER ANXIOUS", so named because he was always red lighting. Joe was my work team mate at Shalla Chevrolet and Don, the service manager and promoter of the company car, a red 67 Camaro 427 4 speed built by Yenko. It was a real screaming monster. Don liked to pull hole shots through the center of the service department to warm up the car before leaving on race day. Larry Shea
Yes, Motor City Dragway is located on the west side of Meldrum Road about one quarter mile south of 26 Mile road, (now called "Marine City Highway") in St Clair County, Michigan. In 67 & 68, I and my friends raced there many weekends. I raced my new 67 Camaro SS-350 and I still have the trophy's I won there, although the Camaro has been sold.
I was thinking the same thing. We need to get a group and being this place back to life. Keep the original poles with the lights and some fencing and all to show the history.
That's a wonderful nostalgic idea however I think the economics of the plan would be prohibitive. Their also might be a lack of public enthusiasm especially since it has been 2 generations since the place was a hot spot and then, only to the locals. I can hear my kids now, " Their was a drag strip there? When? Are you sure, I never heard of it. Was that the place where Mario brothers ran their cars?"
@@larryshea8595 One of the big reasons it shut down was that the locals had had enough of the noise on the weekends. You could hear it all the way to Fair Haven on a quiet night.
A Capital Improvement Plan (Program), or CIP, is a short-range plan, usually four to ten years, which identifies capital projects and equipment purchases, provides a planning schedule and identifies options for financing the plan. Essentially, the plan provides a link between a municipality, school district, parks and recreation department and/or other local government entity and a comprehensive and strategic plan and the entity's annual budget.
Brings up a point that would be hard to get by in a restoration. Ira Township now has a park and their public offices just down Meldrum Road. I sincerely doubt you'd get the zoning variances today needed to bring back the strip.
Yeah, that's Tom. He and I go back a long way. I think it was 63 or 64 me and my some of my buds used to hang out at toms place on Maple street off 12 mile in St Clair Shores. Tom was building the Ultimus and he would show me how to use lead as body filler and how he built the big fin extensions on ultimus. He welded in pieces to create the strong metal surface. He did all that work and magic out of his one car garage. That pic was taken at his shop on Gratiot north of Mt Clemens.
That’s in fair haven right? Just off of meldrum? I want to go there and check it out. Uncle used to race there before it closed in late 80’s-96 when it closed.
I'm with you. We need to revive this strip and get a lot of these street racers on the track and off the street.
I spent a lot of great times there in the 70s. I went to New Haven High School with Scott Kalitta (RIP), Connie's son, when Connie was wrenching for Shirley Muldowney. Two of her rails sat in Connie's garage at his house on 23 Mile just east of North Ave.. When Connie wanted to check out his latest tune, the rail got loaded up and out to Motor City we went. Connie knew the owner well, and we could get in there morning noon or night.
My best buddy in New Haven High built a 73 Challenger with one of the earliest nitrous kits, and we ran it out there almost every weekend from 76-78. And usually every Monday we were replacing the pistons we burned holes though. LOL
My dad bought a convenience store in Anchorville, and later I lived in Fair Haven for many years. It was a sad day when the track was shut down in the 80s. I was down Meldrum Rd all the time, and it was so sad to watch the property go to seed. It took about 20 years, but eventually the old light towers fell, and you'd never know it from any of the other overgrown farmland in the vicinity, if you didn't know where exactly it had been.
I think it was roughly 2005 I read in the local paper Ira Township had taken the property over for non-payment of taxes. I doubt they still own it though.
I lived about 1/2 mile south, down Meldrum from the track, from about 1971 to 1976. Saw and heard a lot of passes being made; from bone stock up to top fuelers. Knew the Cummins family who lived in the farmhouse directly across from the main entrance too. Always snuck in; never once paid. Great memories. Saw a lot of great drivers run. All the “legends” of the sport
we use to sneek in too ! lol ,, was about 10 y.o. lol 1967-68 come up thru field at end of track.
I live right by it and would love to bring it back to life if people wanted to. I'd love to be a part of bringing it back.
I used to spend a week or two with my cousins in fairhaven during the summer. They lived right on the lake next to Ray's bait and tackle. We were at every race....
It's painful to see the the place of so much excitement and energy having all the activity gone and a peaceful sleep having come over everything. It's like the Mayan Temples having the jungle reclaim the once vibrant city where so many lived. Now their is only the obvious memory of screaming engines and cheering crowds leaping from your memory.
I still have the trophies I won in class "E-stock automatic" with my 67 Camaro, SS-350. I ran with my friend, Joe and his car, "OVER ANXIOUS", so named because he was always red lighting. Joe was my work team mate at Shalla Chevrolet and Don, the service manager and promoter of the company car, a red 67 Camaro 427 4 speed built by Yenko. It was a real screaming monster. Don liked to pull hole shots through the center of the service department to warm up the car before leaving on race day.
Larry Shea
Yes, Motor City Dragway is located on the west side of Meldrum Road about one quarter mile south of 26 Mile road, (now called "Marine City Highway") in St Clair County, Michigan. In 67 & 68, I and my friends raced there many weekends. I raced my new 67 Camaro SS-350 and I still have the trophy's I won there, although the Camaro has been sold.
@@larryshea8595 Bet you wish you'd have kept it now. ;^)
can we bring it back to life please?
I was thinking the same thing. We need to get a group and being this place back to life. Keep the original poles with the lights and some fencing and all to show the history.
That's a wonderful nostalgic idea however I think the economics of the plan would be prohibitive. Their also might be a lack of public enthusiasm especially since it has been 2 generations since the place was a hot spot and then, only to the locals. I can hear my kids now, " Their was a drag strip there? When? Are you sure, I never heard of it. Was that the place where Mario brothers ran their cars?"
@@larryshea8595 One of the big reasons it shut down was that the locals had had enough of the noise on the weekends. You could hear it all the way to Fair Haven on a quiet night.
It sucks but getting the neighborhood to go for it would be impossible. People just dont want the noise.
This is very sad. Who owns the property? Lets bring it back!!! Thankyou for sharing.😢
A Capital Improvement Plan (Program), or CIP, is a short-range plan, usually four to ten years, which identifies capital projects and equipment purchases, provides a planning schedule and identifies options for financing the plan. Essentially, the plan provides a link between a municipality, school district, parks and recreation department and/or other local government entity and a comprehensive and strategic plan and the entity's annual budget.
Brings up a point that would be hard to get by in a restoration. Ira Township now has a park and their public offices just down Meldrum Road. I sincerely doubt you'd get the zoning variances today needed to bring back the strip.
Yeah can it be brought back ?
If someone watching this falls into a lot of cash, invest in this great historical site. Please.
we could do it
Is that Tom Holden ? at the end of the tape.
Yeah, that's Tom. He and I go back a long way. I think it was 63 or 64 me and my some of my buds used to hang out at toms place on Maple street off 12 mile in St Clair Shores. Tom was building the Ultimus and he would show me how to use lead as body filler and how he built the big fin extensions on ultimus. He welded in pieces to create the strong metal surface. He did all that work and magic out of his one car garage.
That pic was taken at his shop on Gratiot north of Mt Clemens.
yes that's the late Tom Holden
That’s in fair haven right? Just off of meldrum? I want to go there and check it out. Uncle used to race there before it closed in late 80’s-96 when it closed.