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  *Comments on Islip Speedway:*
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  1.   Cooper posted:
  03.22.2010 - 4:27 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

Islip Speedway was a .2-mile (320-meter) oval race track in Islip, New
York that opened in 1947 and closed in 1984. It is the smallest track
ever to host NASCAR's Grand National Series (now the Sprint Cup Series).
Islip Speedway hosted these races from 1964 to 1971.The first demolition
derby took place at Islip Speedway in 1958; the idea came from Larry
Mendelson, who worked at Islip. Islip was one of three auto race tracks
on Long Island, along with Riverhead Raceway and Freeport Stadium (and a
drag strip). The only auto racing track that remains on Long Island is
Riverhead Raceway, after Islip closed down.

Islip is well known for being the first track to host a demolition
derby. NASCAR stopped coming to Islip Speedway when the organization
axed all races shorter than 250 miles from its schedule.


  2.   RaceFanX posted:
  09.14.2012 - 4:16 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

Following its closure the iconic speedway was demolished and the land
repurposed. Today the site of the track is home to the Silver Lake
Cookie Company's factory built around 1986. Silver Lake, who does
mention the old speedway on their website, makes all types of cookies at
its 140,000-foot facility including European, Sugar Free and Holiday
themed plus their signature Petits Fours.

Before the track was built the land was previously home to an airport.

Track was well known for televised carnage. In addition to inventing the
demo derby and helping to popularize the figure 8 the track held 'World
Championships' for both that were featured on ABC's famed 'Wide World of
Sports' program.


  3.   Aldo posted:
  02.27.2016 - 6:18 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Looking at historicaerias.com, the larger part of the speedway occupied
what now is the American Signcrafters company. Only the south turn was
on the cookie company.


  4.   Andy U posted:
  12.14.2018 - 12:43 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (2)

you guys give directions like my wife.


  5.   Andy U posted:
  12.14.2018 - 12:43 am
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just a reminder, businesses change names and move, streets do not.


  6.   A posted:
  09.18.2019 - 1:37 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

If you really want to know where the speedway was, Freeman Avenue was
right along the western grandstands, and the point where Freeman bends
to the NW was just about the northern edge of the track and grandstands.

There appears to have been one gate at what is now the corner of Beech
Street and Winganhauppauge Road (yes, the real name)

A few businesses and structures in this area were around during the time
the track existed. But man, looking at Google Street View, you'd be
shocked that there was once a racetrack there.


  7.   RaceFanX posted:
  09.19.2019 - 2:35 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

For a comparison to show just how small this track really was, most high
school running tracks in the USA are longer (.250) than this little
fifth-mile bull ring.


  8.   ScottB posted:
  09.19.2019 - 5:03 pm
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I have fond memories of watching those races on ABC's "Wide World" as a
kid.


  9.   LS318 posted:
  05.25.2020 - 3:37 pm
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Smaller than even Dodge Raceway in the old NASCAR games.


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