Old Bridge Township Raceway Park
Encyclopedia
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, originally known as Madison Township Raceway Park, is an American
auto racing
facility. It is located on 230 Pension Road in Old Bridge Township
, near Englishtown, New Jersey
, just off of County Route 527
(Englishtown Road). Raceway Park was opened in July 1965 and since its opening has become New Jersey's premier motorsports park featuring multiple racing events, top drivers from around the world, and racing enthusiasts from all over the world. It also has a seating capacity of 85,000 spectators.
. Raceway Park now offers 2 dragstrip
s, 3 motocross
tracks, a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) road course track, competition go kart racing track, autocross
track, ride & drive site and adjacent Old Bridge Airport
.
Raceway Park is sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association
and hosts many drag racing events during the months of February through December.
Drag Racing is available for a large variety of vehicles. Cars (both street legal and non street legal), Motorcycles, Alcohol "Funny" Drag cars, Full Race drag cars. The drag racing offered at Raceway Park are offered in two formats.
- 1/4 Mile Drag Racing
- 1/8 Mile Drag Racing
Motocross
The riding surfaces on the practice motocross tracks are mostly soft loam, which is known to be one of the best surface for a nice ride, and are slightly angled to allow for drainage. The tracks are also regularly maintained to keep the jump faces, bowls, and whoops from rutting and cupping out. The tracks provide both good length straight paths for speed as well as challenging obstacles like off cambers, banks, ledges, ditches, and more.
Autocross
Drifting
January - No Events Scheduled
February - Normally Raceway Park opens toward the end of February
March - Street Wars (Evo vs WRX-STI), Import Survival Series (Domestics vs Imports),
April - Swap Meet and Car Show; Volkswagen & Audi Show and Go
May - Sport Compact Spring Nationals, Mopar Nationals,
June - GTO Show & Go, American Muscle Madness, NHRA Super nationals, Import and Low rider Summer Sport Compact Slam,
July - Waterfest, Hot Import Nights, Corvette Show & Go
August - Ford Mustang Show & Go, Honda Day,
September - Hemmings Musclepalooza; Swap Meet and Car Show
October - Sport Compact Fall Nationals, Mitsubishi Evo vs Subaru STI Day, Fall Volkswagen & Audi Show and Go
November - Street Wars 2
December - Raceway Park closes for the season.
There are specific helmet specifications that are required when racing at Englishtown. Englishtown follows the NHRA's regulations.
The NHRA 2010 Rule Book Reads as follows for Helmets and Goggles:
As outlined under Class Requirements, drivers in all classes, including motorcycles, must wear a helmet meeting Snell or SFI Specifications.
SFI Spec 31.1A = Snell SA, open-face helmet
SFI Spec 31.2A = Snell SA, full-face helmet
SFI Spec 41.1A = Snell M, open-face helmet
SFI Spec 41.2A = Snell M , full-face helmet
Full face helmet are mandatory for all cars that have a 1/4 mile time of 9.99 or quicker. A helmet shield is mandatory for any car that is 7.49 & quicker.
Cars that run a time of 13.99 or quicker must use a helmet meeting Snell 2000, 2005, 2007 or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, 31.1/2005, 41.1A, 41.2A or 41.1/2005 Specs.
For Drivers in supercharged, front-engine, open-bodied cars and Funny Cars must wear a helmet meeting Snell SA2000, SA2005 or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, or 31.1/2005 Specs.
Dress Code When Drag Racing
According to Raceway Park, you must be wearing long pants (no shorts allowed). Sweat pants are allowed to be worn, however they can not be made of Nylon. Also all shirts worn must have sleeves. No tank tops are permitted to be worn while racing.
Cars Powered By Forced Induction
For all cars that are Turbo Charged, Supercharged, or using Nitrous Oxide require the driver to wear a fire jacket or they will be unable to race.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
facility. It is located on 230 Pension Road in Old Bridge Township
Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
Old Bridge Township is a Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township had a total population of 60,456...
, near Englishtown, New Jersey
Englishtown, New Jersey
Englishtown is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,847....
, just off of County Route 527
County Route 527 (New Jersey)
County Route 527 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Toms River Township to Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove. It is the second longest county highway in New Jersey after Route 519. It was first given the number 527 in 1954...
(Englishtown Road). Raceway Park was opened in July 1965 and since its opening has become New Jersey's premier motorsports park featuring multiple racing events, top drivers from around the world, and racing enthusiasts from all over the world. It also has a seating capacity of 85,000 spectators.
History
Raceway Park was founded by Vincent & Louis Napp. Raceway Park was originally 308 acres, and since then it has grown to 500+ acres with multiple motorsports activities. The track opened with a single 1/4 mile dragstripDragstrip
A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile and motorcycle acceleration events such as drag racing. Although a quarter mile is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile tracks...
. Raceway Park now offers 2 dragstrip
Dragstrip
A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile and motorcycle acceleration events such as drag racing. Although a quarter mile is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile tracks...
s, 3 motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
tracks, a 1.3 miles (2.1 km) road course track, competition go kart racing track, autocross
Autocross
Autocross is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition and active participation. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either sealed or unsealed surfaces...
track, ride & drive site and adjacent Old Bridge Airport
Old Bridge Airport
Old Bridge Airport is a public-use airport located five nautical miles south of the central business district of the township of Old Bridge in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The airport is privately owned. The airport is located next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. There is...
.
Raceway Park is sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
and hosts many drag racing events during the months of February through December.
Racing Events Available
Drag RacingDrag Racing is available for a large variety of vehicles. Cars (both street legal and non street legal), Motorcycles, Alcohol "Funny" Drag cars, Full Race drag cars. The drag racing offered at Raceway Park are offered in two formats.
- 1/4 Mile Drag Racing
- 1/8 Mile Drag Racing
Motocross
The riding surfaces on the practice motocross tracks are mostly soft loam, which is known to be one of the best surface for a nice ride, and are slightly angled to allow for drainage. The tracks are also regularly maintained to keep the jump faces, bowls, and whoops from rutting and cupping out. The tracks provide both good length straight paths for speed as well as challenging obstacles like off cambers, banks, ledges, ditches, and more.
Autocross
Drifting
Event Schedule
Raceway Park offers a series of car shows and racing events throughout their season. Also every Wednesday and Friday night they have Time Trials where the track is open for anyone who would like to race their cars, bike, etc. for practice. During these days the Motocross course is also open for practice.January - No Events Scheduled
February - Normally Raceway Park opens toward the end of February
March - Street Wars (Evo vs WRX-STI), Import Survival Series (Domestics vs Imports),
April - Swap Meet and Car Show; Volkswagen & Audi Show and Go
May - Sport Compact Spring Nationals, Mopar Nationals,
June - GTO Show & Go, American Muscle Madness, NHRA Super nationals, Import and Low rider Summer Sport Compact Slam,
July - Waterfest, Hot Import Nights, Corvette Show & Go
August - Ford Mustang Show & Go, Honda Day,
September - Hemmings Musclepalooza; Swap Meet and Car Show
October - Sport Compact Fall Nationals, Mitsubishi Evo vs Subaru STI Day, Fall Volkswagen & Audi Show and Go
November - Street Wars 2
December - Raceway Park closes for the season.
Rules and Regulations
Helmet RulesThere are specific helmet specifications that are required when racing at Englishtown. Englishtown follows the NHRA's regulations.
The NHRA 2010 Rule Book Reads as follows for Helmets and Goggles:
As outlined under Class Requirements, drivers in all classes, including motorcycles, must wear a helmet meeting Snell or SFI Specifications.
SFI Spec 31.1A = Snell SA, open-face helmet
SFI Spec 31.2A = Snell SA, full-face helmet
SFI Spec 41.1A = Snell M, open-face helmet
SFI Spec 41.2A = Snell M , full-face helmet
Full face helmet are mandatory for all cars that have a 1/4 mile time of 9.99 or quicker. A helmet shield is mandatory for any car that is 7.49 & quicker.
Cars that run a time of 13.99 or quicker must use a helmet meeting Snell 2000, 2005, 2007 or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, 31.1/2005, 41.1A, 41.2A or 41.1/2005 Specs.
For Drivers in supercharged, front-engine, open-bodied cars and Funny Cars must wear a helmet meeting Snell SA2000, SA2005 or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, or 31.1/2005 Specs.
Dress Code When Drag Racing
According to Raceway Park, you must be wearing long pants (no shorts allowed). Sweat pants are allowed to be worn, however they can not be made of Nylon. Also all shirts worn must have sleeves. No tank tops are permitted to be worn while racing.
Cars Powered By Forced Induction
For all cars that are Turbo Charged, Supercharged, or using Nitrous Oxide require the driver to wear a fire jacket or they will be unable to race.
Incidents and Accidents
- In June 2008, NitroNitromethaneNitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a slightly viscous, highly polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent...
Funny CarFunny CarFunny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
driver Scott KalittaScott KalittaScott Kalitta was an American drag racer who competed in the Funny Car and Top Fuel classes in the National Hot Rod Association Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. He was killed at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, after an accident during qualifying...
was killed during NHRANational Hot Rod AssociationThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
Supernationals qualifying at the dragstrip. - In June 2010, AlcoholMethanol fuelMethanol is an alternative fuel for internal combustion and other engines, either in combination with gasoline or directly . It is used in racing cars and in China...
Funny CarFunny CarFunny Car is a drag racing car class. In the United States, other "professional" classes are Top Fuel, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Funny cars have forward-mounted engines and carbon fiber automotive bodies over the chassis, giving them an appearance vaguely approximating manufacturers'...
driver Neal Parker was killed during NHRANational Hot Rod AssociationThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
Supernationals qualifying at the dragstrip.