We’ve been on the bleeding edge of the Dragway 42 story since it broke that Ohio businessman Ron Matcham bought the track and planned to spruce it up. We naturally assumed that the improvements would be a “three p” program meaning “pavement, paint, and people” but as it turns out, Matcham’s vision is far more wide reaching than that and the entire facility is being transformed from its very core right to the top. Every building on the property has been razed, the physical location of the track is going to change, the elevation of the track is going to change, and they are hoping to throw the doors open by the end of summer.
If the track is able to do all that they want to do with this facility, there is no doubt in my mind that it will bring the sanctioning bodies knocking for big events. From the seating to the new tower, to the fact that the starting line will be temperature controlled like it is in Bandimere an othr major tracks, this is less a renovation and more the construction of a brand new facility on the property that the old on was sitting on.
Here’s the official statement from the track –
Well here’s what you’ve all been asking for and ending all the speculation and rumors you have heard. The track will be 4000 foot long from start to finish, ALL concrete with a 200 foot sand trap at the end. In order to make the track longer, we have acquired additional property behind the starting line and to the west of the track to do so. The track has been angled 10 degrees from the finish line and the new track will basically run through where the old pits were at which you can better see by taking a look at the engineers drawing.
The track will be water cooled from the starting line, all the way to the 330 foot mark just like at other state of the art tracks throughout the country. The track will be going 16 feet down into the ground which will create amphitheater style seating on both sides of the track. The legendary “crossover” will be recreated and a three story tower that will include both a media center with suites and the timing system facilities will sit atop the crossover which will be located right behind and above the starting line. Hope this and the pictures answer some of the questions that you have had or have heard. Be sure to check out all of the pictures to get a better idea of what the new track will look like. Our “soft launch” target date for the grand opening is the weekend of July 12th 2014 but that all depends on the weather (as you all know, mother nature hasn’t been very nice to those of us in Northeast Ohio lately) and construction time-frames. Be sure to keep watching the website and Facebook for updates.
This is absolutely freaking awesome and we cannot wait to see the in-progress construction photos!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE NEWLT REBORN DRAGWAY42 – BEYOND AWESOME!
Ambitious! Hope they can pull it off before they run out of money . . .
Very much understand the sentiment but I can tell you that the folks behind the track and this project do have the funding to see it through.
Thanks Brian and Dawn, we REALLY appreciate your excellent coverage of our adventure and you are spot on with everything you have written.
Joe and Ron
38P……We would never had started this adventure without the proper funding and I assure you we are for real and have the resources to back it up.
Are you taking bids on the concrete scope of work? If so I can be reached at 419-571-9519 or email [email protected]
Craig Eshelman
C.Eshelman Concrete
Awesome. I am sure they will pull it off.
For those of you that don’t live in this area, I’m sorry
Very Nice!
Way beyond “turd” polishing. Won’t recognize the old girl from the late 60’s. Too bad they couldn’t do four lanes like I remember.
Their (4) lanes were good because they were run like (2) drag strips. What they do in Charlotte is a joke – drag racing involves (2) racers – not 3 or 4. Even racers refer to runs or passes as laps – what’s next, turning around and racing back to the starting line?
WOW!
Is route 60 being moved? It looks like the starting line is right on 60. That might make things interesting! Looks like a fantastic plan, I can’t wait to see it complete.
Mike, that looks to be the old right of way for a portion of W. West Salem Rd. that is no longer there. Looks like they bought that wavy piece of land on their side of the creek. This should be an impressive facility when it’s done! Good luck guys, I’ll have to come out and see it as construction progresses!
For you nostalgia racers, and hot rodders, we will be having a big nostalgia event at the New Dragway 42 called the Rock’N’Race Reunion on Labor Day weekend! Check out all the information at http://moyergraffiti.wix.com/rocknrace-reunion
What and Exciting Time for 42, Can’t wait to see it !!
Scott
How can the 4000′ cross a road in the plan? Is the road abandoned?
If you get a mapquest view of the site it all makes more sense. The drawing picture is 90 degrees off from North which messed me up at first.
Way to go Mr Gambino! You’ll see dividends with all the scorned bracket guys from Norwalk.
The guy that owns it now has 5 cobra jets I think he can afford it!
About time we get a state of the art facility in this area ..DRAGWAY 42 IS PERFECT……GOOD LUCK
Finally someone is actually sinking money and time into this place! If these plans are sought through it will be a very busy place
Raced there for years, started out with the Shadow box lights, 4 lanes! will be great asset to area! good luck and thank you.!
If anyone knows anything about Mansfield and what goes on at park ave every Friday and Saturday night, how about the new owner open the track for us Friday and Saturday till around 3am? In sure all of us would gladly pay yhe track instead of losing lisences and tickets and raising our insurance. And also to get all the racing off the road.. you don’t need full track prep either just somewhere for us to hangout and have some fun on the strip. Just an idea.. I don’t know how far it will get though
Going to be nice having 2 nhra tracks 11/2 hrs away and 2 ihra tracks 2+ hrs away lots of choices of racing and big thing maybe be able to avoid mother nature and still race with out threat of wash out. Last couple yrs been a nightmare with weather trying to plan anything.In this day and time to build this kind of a racing facility is dedicated to the love of racing is something to be admired,this is a result of this being instilled in them in there life and doing the right thing to keep this sport alive and growing. My hat is off to whomever is envolved in this endeavor God Bless You and Good luck
When you open, if you are looking for a track photographer, I would love to have that spot. I have been to Norwalk many times shooting photos only as a spectator since they had their track photographer. I have many photos on my business Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/photosunlimited1.
Looks great, glad I started building the new car. It will be nice to have a good quality track so near again.
I am glad to see the work going on with the track .maybe I will have a close track to go to
Look forward to this.
Everyone appreciates or is going to appreciate this new track. It’s going to send a breath of fresh air into the community and local business. Pat yourselves on the back.
It’s going to be nice to see 42 open for business again. In 1967 I raced there on the weekends with my GTO named “GARGANTUA” ! I live in Caldwell, Idaho now and race at Firebird Raceway near Emmett, Idaho. It’s a lot like 42 and has been voted the best track in the Northwest 3 years in a row! I hope 42 gets the same rating for OHIO.
WELL HEY THERE ! MY NAME IS JEFF COOK I HAVE LIVED AND RACED IN NORTHEST OHIO FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE . IN JAN. OF 1999 I MOVED MY FAMILY TO THE SMALL TOWN OF KOOSKIA ,IDAHO. WHILE LIVING THERE I ATTENDED THE 2000 HALLOWEEN CLASSIC RACE AT FIREBIRD.WE MOVED TO OHIO AGAIN IN 2001. I’M B UILDING A BIG BLOCK STICK SHIFT 1968 CAMARO FOR UNITED MANUAL TRANSMISSION RACING. D-42 HAS TWO UMTR EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR 2014 SEASON.ALL THE BEST TO THE GREAT PEOPLE OF MY “SECOND HOME ” STATE, IDAHO ! BEST WISHES ,JEFF ” JEFFCO” COOK
What about pricing though? This was always our cheap get out and watch some racing track. I hope we’re not talking summit Raceway expensive now?
I live behind the racetrack and have for over 40 years. I grew up listening to the sounds of the races on the weekends. Looking forward to once again being able to hear those engines reving!!
yeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaawww!! CAN’T WAIT!!
Wonderful, but go big , because this place will be at capacity as soon as the gates are open. Off the record, I never have worked for Esehelman (don’t even know them), but I have been in construction for 30+yrs. and they do the best concrete work I’ve ever seen.
Was just by there the other day and the buildings are still there I believe
Even though I’ve lived in southern ohio for many years now I still remember hearing the sound of the cars on Friday and Saturday nights and watching dad run his dragster down the track in the late 80s early 90s. I hope that this new state of the art track brings life back to the sleepy little town of west Salem. And hopefully uncle mike and my cousins will still be there to rescue those that don’t make it to the end of the track
We have raced there for years and are really excited about the new plans. The Matcham family is a top notch class act and we are confident their new track will be as well. Northeast Ohio is extremely lucky to have entrepreneurs such as the Matcham’s in this region as they are constantly improving the community and business districts. We are spreading the word and can’t wait for opening day!!!!
Love the new layout and ideas being put into place!!! I can’t wait!! Just hope there is still a possibility of a cheap test and tune night. I can’t wait for this and know the guys in my car club will be just as excited as I am, great work!!
I raced there in the good old days of 4 lanes and good competition. have race both bikes and cars there but only bikes now. would hope they will have bike class without idiot boxes and get back to making people ride their bikes instead idiot proofing them by having a box do every thing for them. good luck and hope every thing works out for them. build it and they will come.