Drag Racing Events Revved Up To Go In Riverhead

RIVERHEAD, NY — Motorsports enthusiasts can rev up their engines: Two drag racing events planned for Enterprise Park at Calverton have now been given a green light by the Riverhead town board.

On Tuesday, the board voted 4 to 0 to approve the "Race Track, Not Street" series, presented by Peter Scalzo, which takes place on four weekends in August, with both daytime and nighttime races planned.

Those "Hot Track" dates are Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 28 from 4 p.m. to 10:45 p.m., Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 4 from 4 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.; Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 11 from 4 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. and Sept. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Next, the Scrambul Runway Challenge Drag Racing Event, presented by Scrambul Inc., takes place on Sept. 25 and Sept. from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; the dates were changed from the initially pitched June 19 and June 20 due to concerns over nesting birds at EPCAL. Rain dates for the event are Oct. 2 and 3.

"Drag racing is a fun and exhilarating, family-friendly spectator sport with a huge following by all age groups," said Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar. "The events planned by Race Track, Not Street and the drag racing series by Scrambul will offer members of our community a safe and legal opportunity to race their vehicles, or spend an exciting day viewing the races from the sidelines with friends and family. Often, these types of events have the potential to generate income for Riverhead, and provide employment opportunities for our residents and businesses."

Aguiar has said she might even participate in one of the races.

She added: "I am confident the racing competitions planned for this summer will be safe and enjoyable. There has been considerable support from the community to hold these events, and I have been assured, Riverhead residents will have registration priority."

Riverhead Town Councilwoman Catherine Kent abstained from the votes "because the board never received all pertinent information," she said. "I am not against having some racing events but I wanted to know that the events were carefully planned out with all safeguards in place.

For years, drag racing advocates have rallied for a facility EPCAL; many say until such a destination is built on the East End, scores of motorsport enthusiasts are forced to leave the area and travel long distances to participate.

Consequently, some say, communities with motorsports facilities receive a much-welcomed economic infusion from those who travel to the area to attend events.

Marty Johnson III, founder and CEO of the Long Island Motorsports Association, who has long lobbied for a drag racing strip at EPCAL, has said for years that he would like to see a drag strip and a road course at EPCAL similar to what once existed in Bridgehampton and Westhampton.

On the flip side, some detractors have said over the years that they worry about noise, crowds, and environmental impacts of drag racing in the community.