Toyandgadgetguy

For as long as I can remember, auto racing has been a part of my family's life. My parents both worked at a speed shop in Baldwin, called Motion Performance ( http://www.officialbaldwinmotion.com/history.htm ). Uncle Tony used to race at Freeport ( http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/NY/Freeport.html ), where my mother often helped out as a pit crew. Friends of the family raced at the Manorville dragstrip, and I spent few nights with dad at Islip Speedway ( http://www.melaniff.com/speedway/ ). My grandparents lived just down the road from the track in Central Islip. We would often watch the fourth of July fireworks from the big race while sitting in their back yard. As I got a bit older, and the neighbors closed down the track, we migrated our way out to the races at Riverhead Raceway ( http://www.riverheadraceway.com/ ). In my teens, I spent my time working at a slot car track in Bay Shore, where a bunch of the drivers from Riverhead would also race their toy cars in the off season. My father would often take the family on drives down Motor Parkway and regale us with tales of the Willie K. Vanderbilt and his races. ( http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com ) It was a great time to be a middle class working stiff...

Today, everything mentioned above is gone, with the exception of Riverhead Raceway. It's a bit of a sad affair, but it's always the case... time marches on. Motion Performance is a car stereo shop. Freeport is now a BJ's shopping club. I'm not certain what's become of the strip out in Manorville, and Islip Speedway is a factory. Thankfully, Riverhead is still alive and well, and I'll be there again this year for the fourth of July show. The demolition derby is an amazing event before the fireworks commence.

Now, there are quite a few people who haven't forgotten the days of yesterday, and if you're interested in checking out some of OUR local past, please give a visit to the following sites.

http://www.thehimesmuseum.com/ Check out the Marty Himes Racing Museum. If ever there was a man who had racing in his blood... Marty is that man.

http://www.holiar.org/HOLIAR/Welcome.html From July 24th until August 21st, 2010 HOLIAR will be having an exhibit at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, pertaining to the History of Long Island Auto Racing.