Cromarty Family Marks 30 years of Ownership Riverhead Raceway

[LongIsland63SS409]

http://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2012/01/31751/this-week-in-riverhead-history-cromarty-family-buys-riverhead-raceway/


Mike

[novadose454]

they didnt do much to it....just seems like they ran it to the ground from the picture i see when they first got it...
its a shame..they could have made something really nice there....for all

[Tmac]

If governments and people could only work together That place could be a gold mine and provide a safe haven for all.

[Art]

they didnt do much to it....just seems like they ran it to the ground from the picture i see when they first got it...
its a shame..they could have made something really nice there....for all

Actually, they have made improvements. The pits for the longest time, were , for the most part, not paved. The roadway from county 58 in, and all of the parking for the most part was awful. If you go to the very back of the property you can see what everything used to look like. (pretty awful) The bathrooms, on the other hand, are exactly the same. The backstretch grandstands are newer than what was there when I went the first time (1978 or so). And the outer barrier (the wall) has had multiple improvements over the years, just not sure when. I think as suburbia encroached, they weighed their options, saw the writing on the wall so to speak, and have done just enough to keep the status quo. FWIW, I understand that it is Mrs Cromarty who makes that place go. Mr. Cromarty wanted out sometime ago and got "out voted". Although I can verify none of that, it is just the scuttlebutt that I have picked up on over the years.

[novadose454]

to me.....its the same....before suburbia approached was the time to get things done.....but to me...its a shame its still a dump...and that they did nothing for the 100 foot drags...it was done by a few people here who gave up thier time and made it happen.....and tmac ..mike ...and the rest of you guys...i was impressed by your stick to it ness....

[Tmac]

A forward thinking government would have put zoning regulations in place to ensure a safe haven would always exist. One location for all types of motorsports would make the most sense economically and it could have been developed industrial so residential wouldn't be affected by it or wouldn't affect it. This is why I say an industrial park could be a remedy to the problem respcially one with several empty buildings. The problem is most people equate drag racing with problems, you have to make them see it as a solution. This summers FD fund raiser could help do that, to get the average Islander that normally doesn't care about drag racing see the benefits of having a legal alternative. Painting WE Need A Track on your window will unite racers but it doesn't do much to gain the support of the average Islander you need to go out into the communities and explain the benefits. Fund raisers are a great place to show your stuff and show you care to boot.

[Art]

Nova, the reason I suspect that the track did nothing for the 100' drags is because no one within "Riverhead Raceway" understood what was coming. The Cromarty's are promoters first and foremost with a heavy dose of business savvy. My guess is at the speedway office they looked at the 100' drags as another event like spectator drags or enduro racing or (cringing) a demo derby. Those events are cash money makers. Open the doors and the event takes care of itself. Drag racers of late, IMHO, have developed a slight case of needing to be catered to. Track prep, and detailed time slips etc. I am not disagreeing with wanting, and even expecting those things, since at Atco, Etown etc it is what we get for a $40.00 tech card. I remember drag racing in the seventies where Westhampton was not much more than a safe legal place to play with your car. No prep, a win /lose et/mph timeslip, no sweeper etc. If stuff happened and you broke bad, they were scrambling for guys and floor jacks to get you off of the track. I don't understand the logic behind not letting us spray some track bite. Whatever advantage it gives to the oval guys, it gives equally, just like the rubber we left behind. What ever, I'm looking forward to the June 23rd deal in Patchogue.

[novadose454]

i somewhat agree with you art..but since it was always an oval or figure 8 track...who the hell.... outside of what went on here ... did anyone know something differnt was taking place......if they had a half a brain they would have made a poster outside that said....comming soon ..100 foot drags and some dates....riverhead raceway once had a front gate ...indian etc......to greet you ....now ..you can drive by it if you didnt know where it is....shame...but then again....lidragracing was the spearhead of putting money in thier pockets....they never seemed to meet us even half way ...quarter of the way ?? anyway....hopefully patchogue will give us a better shake....wish we could get more than 100 feet.....220 or so would bring in a hell of a lot of people...

[my600ho]

In my opinion that place needs a real promoter much like a Larry Mendelson. It needs backing and with that improvements. If that track closed they would just tow all the trailers away and be done with it.

[novadose454]

definitely needs some new blood.......

[Tmac]

The place needs to stay alive whatever shape it's in because it's the last stand. I never did get the lack of promoting though. The Cromity's while a nice couple have no idea about the world of drag racing and I've been told they have no interest in doing any major improvements partly because of their age and partly because of the crap they have to go through with the town to make them.

[novadose454]

oops...damn keyboard...seems to type on its own....im outta here..

[TURBOPOWERED68]

i drove right passed it even with the GPS going LOL

[my600ho]

I could promote that place. It needs to be geared at a younger generation. I could do it but im shure it would be like a second full time job.