Tri-City Dragway Freeland MI - WaterWinterWonderland.com

Info Updates:

3/18/2020 - Dean Gaul

Carrie Hartley I was friends with your uncle Boyd and was actually thinking he may have had lots of photos and memorabilia from Tri City. I have thought about contacting your family to see if that were the case. It does not sound like that's the case? I have dragway pics but none of Boyd. One interesting fact, your uncle made arrangements for me to watch an entire sunday of racing from the tower for my 16th birthday. it was awesome!!!.

1/4/2018 - Sue Wallace

Please help me find any pictures of Richard G Place I need to know when he raced there and if he had any friends that accompanied him there Thank you means a lot.

8/8/2017 - Carrie S Hartley

Does anyone have any photo's or information on my uncle. Boyd Dick Hartley, he was the announcer at most of the races when I was growing up back in the 60's and 70's. It would be interesting to see photos. Thanks Carrie H.

7/27/2017 - Jack Hille

I am looking for photos of my 1969 SC/Rambler pulled from a barn. I have talked with original owner who raced it at Tri City extensively. He gave me all the trophies. I am told someone out there has micro fish from the Dragstrip. Sometimes the car ran under sponsorship Of Kryza AMC out of Fenton Mi. Any help would be great.

5/1/2017 - Blake Russell

Does anyone have any pictures or film of a 1934 ford roadster lettered Ed carpenter dodge? Please reach out to me if you do, this was my grandpas car and I would love to find pictures of it. Any 1934 ford roadster with a 426 wedge or 426 hemi I would want to see Thanks.

3/16/2017 - Carl Glazier

Does anyone know Carl Healy he raced a 1966 chevelle called Executor with a chevy logo in the background and the car was Aztec bronze if so email me at blurdvision161@gmail. com.

2/5/2017 - Frank Branstrom

Not sure if this car ran at tri city , 67 Fairlane R code called the Quarter master , this guy was FAST don't recall his name ? believe he raced at Motor City ?.

11/28/2016 - Howie

Googled this site after seeing pics of some other abandoned strips on Facebook's Blast from the Past Drag Racing page. I raced a stock '69 Coronet R/T in D/Pure Stock (4-speed) in '69 and '70. Does anyone remember, or have pictures of, Crankshaft, a guy in a gorilla suit and a mini-bike with a wheelie bar that used to clown around near the starting line between class runs and intermissions? GLAD I found this site. I always wondered about the circumstances of the track's closing. I have been told that the site is used occasionally now by local law-enforcement agencies to train canines.

3/2/2016 - marc

Ed Carpenter, please contact me , I have your dad's Biscayne.

3/2/2016 - marc

Can Ed Carpenter please contact me , I have your Dad' car.

2/2/2016 - Pat

Does anyone have any photos from the late 60s of either a '55 black Chevy or a black or yellow '57 Corvette B/Gasser? They used the name Prontito. They raced at Tri-City, Ubly, Milan, and Norwalk in Ohio plus other places.

1/3/2016 - Aidan glazier

Does anyone know Carl Healy from tri city dragway he raced a 66 chevelle it was kinda red if you know him e-mail me at glazieraidan@hotmail. com.

12/15/2015 - Jerry phillion

Years ago, while racing at tri- city drag way, I was running a blue 57 Chevy nomad, 283 , 4 speed, hilborn fuel injected wagon, with a front straight axle and fiberglass one piece Tilt front end. It was sponsored by bay farm market in Saginaw. i have a few pics of the car. It may have been sold to a Ed Carpenter years ago. Just curious to know where it is now. It ran in D Gas. Any info, call Jerry @ 989-980-4140. Thanks.

5/21/2015 - Aidan glazier

My grandpa Carl Healy raced out at tri city in a 1966 chevelle red.

4/14/2015 - Gary Sterling

Yes Iam the same Gary (thunderhead)sterling.

3/5/2015 - Buzz Sodeman

Have tried unsuccessfully to find anyone who has pictures of cars that ran at TriCity and are willing to sell, if you have some please contact me at zz47kats@live. com.

3/5/2015 - Buzz Sodeman

Hey Thunderhead, are you the same Gary Sterling that had the push button Dodge Dart that qualified for the Nationals in Indy and in a tune-up at Ubly had someone crash into it? You were also a friend of Art Warrington who was my neighbor on Emily Street.

9/18/2014 - Gary Sterling aka Thunderhead

I worked at tri city dragway when it first opened for at least one season had a lot of good times I also had a 33 ford coupe with a fuel injected 327 four speed and I'am still roding and building rods.

9/3/2014 - Carl

I sold a 67 Camaro, red to a guy from the Saginaw area and he painted some gray stripes down the side and raced the car there, back in 1985 or 86, does anybody remember the car or owner?.

8/8/2014 - Gary Jewell

I just found this great site I grew up at tri-city, those were great times. Back in 2009 Blain posted wanting to know if anyone remembered the 58 ply. Wagon (REJECT) It was driven by my dad Don Jewell, I don't have very many pic's dew to a house fire. If anyone has any pic's please let me know.

8/1/2014 - Tom999p

I'm looking for information on a dark green 1970 Chevrolet Nova Yenko Deuce that was cut/ tubbed/ tube framed to make a race car but was never completed or raced, sometime between 1970 and 1976. The owner of the car at the time was local and may have been in a local car club.

2/11/2014 - MIke Matune

I am trying to locate a Bob Jarvis who ran a Mustang at Detroit Dragway in 1964 to gather information for an article I am doing on early racing Mustangs.

12/19/2013 - Ed Carpenter

My dad raced for many years at tri city. He had a 69 Biscayne 427 4 speed. It was brown and had whirlwind on the doors. We still have old film of it at tri city. He has a black 69 Camaro that had Little Leery on the doors. He had a blue 57 Nomad 283 4 speed hilborn injection. Thanks Ed.

5/2/2013 - Bernie Perreault

Ben Wahl. I saw your post about Russ Eggers 34 3 window the last local person I know of that had it was Nelson Sharp, he had it for 20 plus years, and had the top chopped etc. he sold it within the last 10 to 15 years to ??? as for Gorilla I was talking with 1 of russ's son's and they often wonder where it went, Russ restored a 57 years ago and still has it plus other muscle cars.

3/17/2013 - Gary Hammond

As a kid I grew up 10 miles from the track in Freeland. My dad Bill Hammond had a 1963 Navy Pontiac Catalina. My sister Diane won many powder puffs and would many times run the car for my dad. He has passed away, however we still have the car in mint condition. Also, would ride in the tow truck for Larry Littleton, red injected corvette, always pulled wheel stands, NHRA record holder. My dad was a member of the Strokers car club, always had a tent at Saginaw Fair. So many good memories.

9/20/2012 - Browney L. Mascow

This is the contact address to send me information on the 1968 Formula S Barracuda that ran in the S/S class at Tri-City in the late '60' early 70's. It was sponsored by Coke-Cola, painted red with Coke-Cola along the side. Any information on this car will help with the as raced restoration. Please contact me at blmopar@msn. com Browney L. Mascow Muscle Car Restoration, LLC Boyne City, MI.

9/19/2012 - Browney L. Mascow

I have located a 1968 Formula S 383 Barracuda that was raced at Tri-City back in the late '60's early '70's. It was sponsored by Coke-Cola, painted red, and ran in the S/S class. I'm hoping someone out there will remember the car, hopefully have a photo of it, or can just give me some information on the car that will help in the restoration of the car. I want to return it to the way it was raced. Any help will be appreciated. B. L. Mascow Muscle Car Restoration, LLC.

7/19/2012 - David Schark

Hi Guys I have not been on this site for quite some time I have the original photos from back in the day. email if interested sledman101@aol. com.

7/10/2012 - Mike McKnight

In the early 70's I was support crew for the Back-Up Pickup(wheelie Truck)along with The Fugitive(wheelie Corvette). The Back-Up Pickup was an 62 Ford Econoline pickup reversed on the chassis, my uncle then, Dick Harding(owner). It was an experience that I'll never forget.

2/17/2012 - Scott Wenzel

Driver Ben Wenzel and his brother and crew chief Dave Wenzel used to dominate Tri-City Speedway back in the late 60s and 70s. Their tone-tone Camaro used to rachet through the gears to victory on several occasions.

1/17/2012 - waterwinterwonderland.com

Come and join us on facebook page for tri city daragstrip. We have around 60 members. We can always use more.

1/1/2012 - Dean Gaul

Dave, I sure would like copies of those photos. Or the originals. Can you contct me?.

12/29/2011 - David Schark

I have found a stack of about 200 8x10 professinal pictures of tri city dragway and all of the different drag cars that ran there.

12/4/2011 - Ron Starking

Thanks Mickey, Glad to hear people are still drag racing from our time. I do remember Dave Wensell. I believe he raced a beautifully painted Camaro. Kind of a blue or green with lots of sponsor stickers all over it. Isn't it unbelieveable how fast the Top Fuel cars are going now?? I remember thinking, wow, they just went into the 7s. They can't get any faster than that. I was a Chrysler fan. Ramchargers, Color Me Gone, Push Button Engineering, etc. The Hemi was the beast!!.

12/2/2011 - Mickey Hershey

Yes Ron, the car was owned by Paul McCure (sp?) He bought it off my dad and Gary Daniels, we built it in our garage in Southfield. It started out as a C-Mod. Not sure what Paul ran. Did see him at Milan for a IHRA event he won if I remember correctly, and he said he had just sold the original car the year before. Said it was still racing kinda like Ben Wensell, pretty cool.

9/14/2011 - Ron Starking

Does anybody remember a late 60s white Camaro with a black chess piece on the doors, called Checkmate? That was one of my favorite cars to watch. I think he ran B/Gas.

9/5/2011 - Ron Starking

I started working at the Lapeer dragway when it opened in the late 60s ,and Mr. Mc Kenna had us all come up and look around and taught us how to run a dragstrip. Then later on I raced a car at both called Bit and Pieces and another stock f/a called Rat Poison. Back then Chev motors were call rat motors and we raced a mopar with a punched out 383 that Dick Ross did the engine work on. What memories and what fun!!.

9/4/2011 - Ben Wahl

Does anyone know the where abouts of Russ Eggers orange '34 Ford Three Window? I would like to purchase it if available. Shoulda, coulda, woulda bought it back in 1970. Please let me know of any leads. How about Go-rilla? '57 Corvette.

8/15/2011 - Dean Gaul

Cool. Thanks Jim. That video I referred to on U-tube has him running his 1st car 60 chevy 2 are running side by side not sure which is Gary. but sure one is. He then went to a camaro and won many races around the country. Last time I saw him was in Joliet 6-7 years ago. We used to hang with him in the pits at tri-city.

8/13/2011 - jim

dean Yes Gary Tompa does still race SSGT/H with a pontaic firebrid and a 305. He was at the div 3 points meet.

7/14/2011 - dean

Jessie. I googled your dad. found this u-tube video. not sure your dad is in it but its the only one I hve seen from Tri City. search U-tube for the following, 1960s Tri city Motor Speedway Saginaw MI Drag Races.

6/16/2011 - Jessie

Hello everyone My Dad is Dave Shorkey. I am his oldest daughter, my stepsister is Christina, and my brother is Will. I'm sure you all know he passed away in 2007. If anyone has any memories, racing stories, I would love to hear them Thanks, Jessie.

5/28/2011 - Roy Nau

I started a group on Facebook about Tri-City it's under Tri-City Dragway. Everybody is welcome to join and post commits and pictures.

4/9/2011 - dean

Does anyone know if Gary Tompah from Freeland is still racing. I have not seen his name on NHRA entry lists lately. He drove a hot Camaro Super stocker I think.

1/21/2011 - Dean G

1/18/2011 5:32:25 PM - Brian Hello how are you?Live in Long Island NY and there is 61 falcon here called the tri city shacker that was supose to have raced ther from the 60s to the 80s and help would be great,That Brian. Brian, do you have any photos?.

1/18/2011 - Brian

Hello how are you?Live in Long Island NY and there is 61 falcon here called the tri city shacker that was supose to have raced ther from the 60s to the 80s and help would be great,That Brian.

9/27/2010 - Iceeyez789

Ok so, i wish i did have more info on this track. But i as hoping to get more! See, I'm a photographer in Saginaw, and lately all the photos that i need or want for clients are hard to get such as the skyline of Saginaw (att building and the famous beans sign etc. ). And also this drag way is one of them, I needed to get some pictures of it. But I have no idea if i'm even able to access the track, legally that is. If anyone has information that may be helpful please contact me. My e-mail is iceeeyz789@aim. com if you would rather contact me that way. From the Webmaster: The only way I know of would be to make contact with someone at the airport. I went there and got some shots from a distance but it is tough to get to by walking on. I probably got closer than I should have as security is tight. I sent them an official request before on my letterhead and they ignored it. I would just go there and ask the folks at the airport.

7/21/2010 - Curt Tucker

Thanks so much for all of the great posts and pictures of Tri-City Drag-strip. My Dad used to bring me to this drag-strip when I was about 8 years old, then the day I turned 16 (1974) my friends visited me at home telling me I should celebrate my birthday by racing my 1973 - 350 cc Yamaha motorcycle at Tri-City. I didn't have the money for gas or entry fee so they gave it to me. I didn't tell my mom because I didn't think she would have let me go. So I filled the tank full of premium gas and headed to the strip. They wouldn't let me race because I didn't have a leather jacket, well someone in the stands heard this conversation and loaned me his leather so I could race. Well I am busting at the seams with excitement because I am paired up with a car and I am pretty sure I can beat it. I weighted 105 lbs and had to sit on the handle bars to keep the front end down so it didn't flip over at the start because this bike was light and very fast of the line. I had steel plates on the bottom of the bike boots so I could make sparks at the end of the strip like the wheel standers did. I beat the car, then another Yamaha 650 4 stroker, I knew this would be a win in my favor but not by much...I won but didn't know how but this gave me a class trophy. Next, I am racing for the overall bikes so I am staging next to a Kawasaki 500 2 stroke, my worst night mare...I am given a handicap start not yet half way down the strip, I look back and the Kaw is just taking off and I think I might have this one will he beat me by a bike length just an incredible run for the Kawasaki. I arrived home with a driveway full of cars and kids to help me celebrate (unplanned) Mom at the door asking what all the excitement was, well I told her, she said she would have went to watch. So much to kids understanding parents. Great memories.

I remember the 300+ mph hydrogen peroxide powered rocket car called the "Pollution Packer" run there I had never seen such an amazing machine.

I ran into Don Garletts at the IHRA inauguration ball in Las Vegas when Billy Meyer bought it, Don was sitting with Gene Snow, Don Prudome, and a few other racers. Don told me he remembered Tri-City as one of the best tracks in America to race on because it was the longest and flattest piece of asphalt he had ever been on. He remembered that it closed in 1978.

6/11/2010 - dean

Rays auto parts........guy was from Bay City I think. I bought my first 750 cfm holley there for my mom's 283 malibu..she didn't know. :))

5/24/2010 - Al

Hey, Dave Hays!! I remember Eggers Auto sales. As I bought a vehicle from there. It was One Bad ass ride!!! A big block Dodge And yes I remember the performance shop in Freeland but I do not remember who ran in though. He had good prices on slick tire's though. I though the drag strip closed in 77 or 78?? It's been a long time now.

5/23/2010 - Chuck Kurzawa III

Please looking for any and all pictures of my Father at this track his name is Chuck Kurzawa drove for the Ramchargers in 67-68 Kurzawa Mcnew Olivio in 69 Logghe Stamping in late 69-70 and Bob's Drag Chutes in 70-74 please help me if you can Thanks!

5/21/2010 - Kevin Mikolaiczik

The Power Source was owned by Dick Short. He now works for Summit Racing .

5/7/2010 - Mickey Hershey

Loved the photos. Any one have more from the 60s ? Wasn't Bill GM of that track ? I thought that's what my dad said. He announced there in the 60s, I worked there also, still have my patches some were I think( on the mini bike patrol:) had a sweet candi apple purple bike with a foot brake. Any one have pics of Killita landing his plane there for a race and flying out after ? any- Rick Ellis Trick-T or say the Lee Bros crash.( I was at the finish line for that one(mini bike patrol :). So I guess this is really a plea to all for as many photos as possible before there all gone and lost. Growing up there was great.

3/19/2010 - jim

Julie, I have photos of Bill & I also have a few of his boy who had worked out there. Although I think all he ever did was ride around on his mini-bike! :-)

3/10/2010 - Kathy

Does any one have an old audio commercial for TriCity Dragway?

2/17/2010 - Dean Gaul

Yes Bill did work there..also a friend of mine, Boyd 'Dick' Hartley from freeland worked there. He also worked at Freeland state bank and has passed away recently. I am sure he had some pictures but do not know what happened to them. His brother Bill is still in Freeland I think, also Mark Trogan from Freeland was very good friends with the McKennas if memory serves me...

2/12/2010 - julie

Does anyone have any pictures of people working at the track? Bill McKenna and his sons used to work there & I am trying to locate pictures.

12/19/2009 - JAK

Yeah, the person who said he worked at the airport in 81 and could hear the drag races must be off a couple years. Tri City Dragway closed in 78 or 79????

11/17/2009 - Dean Gaul

I have come across my collection of pictures..too many to mention..I will post asap...I was there every Sunday during 1967 thru 69 or 70

8/31/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

Dave, do you remember when Russ Eggers' lot was on E. Genessee on the corner where Helen's Fur Shop had sat previously? It was south of Hoyt Street across the street from Woody, the guy that would roam the neighborhoods looking for any branches, etc. anything wood.

8/20/2009 - Dave Hays

Correction, dragway didn't parallel runway 14/32. but if you continued the track it would not intersect or interfere with 14/32 because the approach end of 32 obviously ends before the track would ever become an issue. Still the airport at the time had their own ideas about how they wanted to use the land, although it never panned out. Thanks for sharing all the pictures and history!

8/19/2009 - Dave Hays

Hello, I began working at what was then Tri-City Airport in November 81. In the summer of 82 working afternoons we could hear drag racing on Friday nights. I owned a couple of Z/28 Camaros at the time, a 69 and a 74, and it just killed me to hear those cars and be stuck at work until 11 pm. Everyone seems pretty sure that the track closed in 78, but my colleagues at work and I remember hearing drag racing even in the summer of 82, but not after that. Did they re-open the track under different owners after 78? Every time I taxi an aircraft down to the approach end of runway 23 I can see the old tower at the dragway. It's sad what it's become today.

The rumor we always heard that is that the airport wouldn't allow for the dragstrip to re-open because it would require longer length lanes for decel that would require some of the airport property. That never made sense to me because they aren't racing towards runway 5/23, so it wouldn't have been a problem because the strip parallels 14/32. We also heard the airport wanted the property for a major airline to build a maintenance hub on. That rumor actually was reported by TV-12 on their news. This was a dream of the former airport management to draw a major airline to build a facility. But that idea never took off because the major airline routes flown don't make the airport a good strategic location for any of the airlines.

Does anyone remember Egger's Auto Sales on Bay Road in Saginaw? A lot of GREAT street cars used to come from that lot. One that sticks in my head is a 70s green Camaro with Godzilla painted on the doors. After Egger's sold it I used to see it at a residence about a mile from the airport in the 80s. How about the Power Source in Freeland? An old speed shop, I can't remember the owners name.

After the dragstrip closed lets just say Friday and Saturday night racing didn't. There was certainly a very strong need for a local dragstrip in those days. Unfortunately there were none.

7/27/2009 - Brian Eggers

Thanks Buzz, nice pictures!

7/19/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

I know that there a lot of you out there who are drag racing history buffs so I have a question that has stumped me and several other drag racing enthusiasts. Does anyone remember a rear-engined, fuel-injected BATHTUB wheelstander called "Shower Power"? I faintly recall it coming to Tri City but I do know that it ran at the Lancaster (NY) Dragway. It did have a shower that actually sprayed water on a driver who would pull up to the line in shorts and then change into his racing garb before the run. There is a management person (who happens to be a good friend of mine and who has written a book about racing at at the LVMS in Las Vegas who has a picture of this "creature" in his book. The name of the book is "Lancaster Heroes" and the friend and author is John Bisci.

7/18/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

Brian and others - the pictures have been posted.

7/14/2009 - Brian Eggers

Buzz,
Glad to read that you have a picture of the Bandito! I did not see one get posted but I would gladly buy what you have. I remember that you took pictures at the track for years, if you have any of the 57 orange vette "Gorilla" I would also be interested. I can be reached at eggersb@aktpeerless dot com or 9892395786. I look forward to hearing from you!

7/6/2009 - Chuck Kurzawa III

This is for anyone who is looking for the answer to who it was that died at Tri city and whos Father sued Logghe Chassis.His name was Richard Place he died in a Top Fuel car at Tri City.How I know this is because My father also built and drove top fuel cars and Richie was a very good friend of my Dads!My Dad was there that day and he retired that day from driving he drove the Bob's Drag Chutes Top Fueler.Now from what my Dad told me and I know this to be true it wasn't that Richie didn't know how to drive it was that the car he was driving was brand new and wasn't ready for the track now how I know this is because my Dad was the person who built the car for him at Logghe and was at a match race and told the people at Logghe not to let the car go until he finished it but they didn't listen!

6/30/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

Included in the pictures that were sent to the webmaster was a picture of the Neumann Brothers BB/A Opel, this was not their original race car. They had one of those bullet-nosed Studebachers that ran the same motor as the Opel. By any chance has anyone a picture of it? It also ran up at Ubly, it was unmistakeable because I can't recall any other Studebachers racing at that time.

6/28/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

I have emailed pictures that I have of Tri City participants to the webmaster. Hope that everyone who visits this site enjoys them. Tried to email them to Fred Militello but they were refused on his end so he'll need to contact me for an alternate email address. Hope Brian Eggers likes the picture of Russ' "Bandito."

6/27/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

I wish there was more info on that accident on the nitrogeezers site, like a name of the "boy" and the track but I would have to believe that it may be the final nail in the coffin for Tri City. The nitrogeezers site is quite good and true motorheads ought to bookmark it.

6/25/2009 - Big Daddy

wow.....i just found this site.......great memories.......in the early seventies i won a NHRA division super stock points meet....with a 68 SS/FA cobra jet.......barry poole..ron tignanelli and all the boys were there.........set a national et record at the event....was the pinnacle of my drag racing carreer....it was all down hill from there....but great memories......went on to saill boat racing........that was great fun....where else can you race all day and drink drink drink........i remember the division race fondly.....barry poole lent me some gas......it was him and me in the finals........he was the greatest.......my has time flown by..........sigh.....i remember racing 4 abreast at detroit dragway....i remember racing my 64 stang at IRP....which became Motor City dragway.............anybody have any pictures ill be happy to see them.........i remember the race at tri city in such detail.....it was like yesterday.........it was the only time i ever raced there.......

6/24/2009 - Buzz Sodeman

I've never heard any of those stories (the boycott) closing the track. I remember the boycott and having worked for Mr. McKenna, he wasn't about to cave into their demands but I don't really believe that that was the reason the track closed and I'm sure that those pictures of the racing surface would have shown the supposed holes in it. I was under the impression that a funny car driver from either the Detroit area or Ohio area had crashed and died. His family supposedly leveled a lawsuit on the facility (which would have been assumed by anyone purcahsing the track). For the longest time I thought it was Pat Dakin but I have since seen him running some NHRA events on television. Yo Brian Eggers, I have one photo of the Bandito altered, if you'd be willing to pay for me to reproduce it I could bring up to the Saginaw area as I have recently moved to the East Lansing area.

Mr. Ruppel, weren't you the "official" photographer at the track? These pictures that I have were probably taken by you and I'd be real interested to see what else you have if you'd be willing to have the pictures reproduced so I could put them in my collection.

I'm particularly interested in any altereds or gasser pictures that anyone might have. I remember that "Big John" mazmanian and Stone, Woods & Cook had at least one match race at Tri City before I started working there. Mr. McKenna was a nice guy, ran the track probably better than any race-related promoter that I've ever worked for. The only time he took a back seat was when NHRA would come in and do the points meet which garnered me lots of overtime.

The only announcer that I remember was Ron "J" Scott from one of the radio stations in Saginaw. I worked on the starting line with an individual that I knew as Stosh, whop I believe was from the Bay City area. Now that I've seen the picture of Chuck K. I remember him racing there.

My most vivid memory was the night that a T/F driver arrived with someone else's T/F license, somehow got through tech with it, then blew up just before the lights. If you remember the heighth of the 76 lights that's how far his dragster flew after it broke in half. I was the first on scene from the starting line and when I got there the cockpit was upside down and there was what at first looked like blood oozing from the helmet. With the help of the crash crew we righted the cockpit, fortunately the "blood" was hydraulic fluid but the "unlicensed" driver either lost one of his arms due to the injuries or at least the use of that arm. He tried suing the track, the announcer, several parts manufacturers and myself. According to the NHRA, he never even raced that day and he and his lawyer got zilch.

5/10/2009 - BLAINE

does anyone remember a 1958 plymouth 2 dr wagon called the reject it raced at tricity in the late 60s owned and driven by Don Jewel was low eliminater winner many times it raced ,raced there regularly any one have any photos of this car thanks..

3/14/2009 - GARY BOGUSZ

Chuck- What was the circumstances of lawsuit, race related?

3/11/2009 - Chuck Kurzawa

Logghe stopped building cars because of a lawsuit my Dad was their chassis builder and told me the circumstances of what went on

2/26/2009 - GARY BOGUSZ

does anyone know why Loggie chassis works stop building chassis. I always heard that it was do to a lawsuit.

1/23/2009 - Bill Ross

This is for Terri. I know Dick Ross.In 1994 my wife and I moved to N.C.,I grew up in Flint,Mich. I was very good friends with Dick and his wife Shirley. We shared the same last name but was not related! LOL. I graduated in 1971 from Kearsley and went to work full time at Automotive Parts and Machine Shop on Davison Rd. Dick lived on Risedorph Rd. off Covert Rd. Automotive use to drag race a yellow 53 Studeabaker in C/Gas called "Jungle Crusier".The entire front of their shop had trophies,at least 150 of them.They did a lot of Dicks machine work.I remember buying parts for my Camaro from Dick. At the time Dick had a Nova,either a 68 or 69 named "Protest Too" that ran in NHRA Div.3 Pro Stock.The body was multi-colored,black vinyl top with a big black hood scoop.It was a big block chevy,tunnel ram with 2 holley carbs and 4 speed. I have a photo taken in April 1970 at Lapeer Dragway when Dick came off the line in a rear bumper scrapeing wheelstand and came crashing down hard enough to bend the front suspension outward.Needless to say that ended his day. I also remember a purple 68 or 69 nova Dick had that ran B/Stock. Open chambered alum.head 427 chev,4 speed.He sold it to a guy who tried to drive it on the street. Automotive had photos of local drag racers on a cork board and another car Dick had was a 66 or 67 Nova,multi colored called "Deuces Wild". Dick had a lot of drag cars.We kinda lost touch and i've often wondered what ever happened to Dick Ross.

1/17/2009 - Tony Angelucci

This is for Chuck kurzawa, All the cars that your dad built at loggie, did you know that when they stoped building cars. my dad went over their and bought the gig table that the cars where built on. and the arber. along with other stuff. and we still have it and use it today. My dads dragster which we still have and race was the last loggie car built in 1978. He has the last bill of sale and cost.
Your dad came to work for my dad in 1980 to 1984 at Angelucci Performance Products, that is where they built the new gig tables for Olstrander car Connie and Scott Kalitta, Stan Rosen, along with many other Altered funny cars , Fiat body cars can't remember all the names. We have the short and wide gig table that they were buit on also, because the old loggie table was to short. Plus the cars were now 250/ 280 inch & the old table would only fit cars 180inch and shorter. My dad also bought ramchargers old fueler heads the round port westlake hemi heads that they ran. When they retired from racing. Along with many other items. The car probe from Gratiot Auto we have the front wheels from it the Aluminum bell housing and clutch. heads and valve covers. and I think the helmet that was used by Gratiot auto in the 60s When ever a local racer stoped racing my dad always bought their used stuff because we were running gas and we didn't make the power they did on nitro along with many old speed shops. We bought out. Bobs drag chutes I think he bought alot of his old stuff to that he still has youll have to ask him (My dad ).If it was rare we bought it back then. now the stuff is really rare. Chuck your more that welcome or anybody to stop by and see the old loggie table and the last loggie car (dragster) built. its a beautiful car just 30 years old.

12/13/2008 - Bob Leets

Hi,
Tri-City Dragway brings back some great memories for me, since I was an account executive (advertising salesman) at WTAC Radio in 1968 and '69.
"The Big 6" was used heavily to advertise the attractions at Tri-City, as the listenership of the station was the Top 40 crowd of young drag racing fans.
I had the pleasure of being assigned to handle their advertising and, as part of the deal, got FREE passes to the entire facility each season. This included pit passes, as well as unlimited time on top of the scoring tower.
In addition, I had the pleasure of "voicing" the majority of the Tri-City Dragstrip radio commercials that aired on WTAC. My partner in that caper was on-air personality Gary Raymond who, tragically, died in a home fire several years ago when his Christmas tree ignited.
The list of fabulous cars that I saw run at Tri-City is virtually a "who's who" of drag racing. Kalita was a regular and, of course, started the career of Shirley "ChaCha" Muldowney. Dick LaHae, from Lansing, was also there most every weekend. Previously mentioned Dick Ross also was a consistant winner.
Some of the "big" names included The ChiTown Hustler, The Bounty Hunter,
The Hawaiian, Sox & Martin, and many others too numerous to mention.
Watching the flames coming out of the headers during burn-outs from on top the scoring tower was unbelievable! The noise, to say the least, was incredible. Ear splitting!!
I came close to tears when that place closed down.
Later, while working at WTRX Radio in Flint, I was the local advertising account manager for Michigan International Speedway. The station carried all the races live and, as part of the package, the station got some FREE deluxe grandstand seats. I remember to first race I attended at MIS very well 'cause I had to be talked into going. After all, I was a Tri-City Drag fan, and couldn't quite understand what could be exciting about watching cars go 'round and 'round in a circle for 400 miles. Needless to say, that changed in a hurry!
Just a few great memories from the past.
May Tri-City always have a soft spot in our racing hearts!!
Best wishes to all.

12/12/2008 - Terri

As I was doing some research on a car I have I ran across this discussion. It gave me a bit of an insight into the history of this car which is just what I was looking for. I have a 1969 Nova SS - the one Dick Ross broke some records with back in the good ole days. I read that some of you have actually seen the races and was wondering if anyone had any photos of this car or any information regarding it. Any help would be appreciated.

11/21/2008 - Tobinns

The Tri-City dragway was located in Saginaw MI. It was built in 1965, (as a 1/4 mile dragstrip) NOT a converted air strip. It Opened in 1966 and closed in 1978. Tri-City closed down due to terrible management. The manager(name respectfully withheld since he has passed) was also a corporate pilot.

The hands off owner of the track also owned a very large successful Saginaw GM dealership (son still runs it). The manager had little or no customer(racer) relations skills and cared little for any racer input or comments on how to improve the sportsman (or any) program.What brought it to a head in the spring of 1978 was several consecutive weekend rain outs and no compensation for the entries fees that had been paid. Any efforts by the racers committee to either up the pay out or get a free pass fell on deaf ears. A boycott was planned by a large group of racers.

On that fatefull weekend, all the racers were instructed to pull into the spectators parking lot until the manager came out and talked to the group about some remedy. After several hours of silence from the still locked track, the manager came out and said if we didnt pay the entry and race he would close the track for good. At this point the majority of us (Im guilty)thought he was bluffing and pulled out of the facility thinking the next weekend he would be begging for us to return. Guess what, he wasnt bluffing...and the rest is history.The track remained in semi-race ready condition for years and was used by GM for testing purposes.In the 90s a local drag racing family (with significant financial resources) tried unsuccessfully to submit a plan to the Tri-City Airport board to reopen the dragstrip. Their permission was needed because the majority of the pit area of the track was leased from the airport(bet you didnt know that), only the track and parking area were part of the privately owned facility. Without their permission, the reopening was dead in the water.

After several professional presentations demonstrating total financial backing to rebuild the track, economic impact projections on the local economy from large (points or national) events and NHRA involvement, the airport commission voted NOT to lease the property needed for the reopening. The project was DOA.Sometime in the late 90s, the airport bought the property from the owner. The 'offical' end of an era.

11/20/2008 - Wayne Kingham

***Remembering Tri-City Dragway***
Back in 1965, I went to the Seventh Day Adventest school on Sarle Rd., and I remember seeing the track being built. I was about 11 at the time. After it was built, the school recieved a free open pass to the track, and one time the principal took us there. Of course the principal thought it was too worldly, and never took us again. But it was too late. I was hooked!!! I lived 10 miles east of the track, and I could hear the top-fuelers when they made their run. When I was 14, I picked potatoes, strawberries, and any other way I could earn money to buy a car. I found this 1958 Ford 2-Door at the Ford Dealer in Bay City With a rodnock (Death Rattle). My friends, and I worked on it for a year, and then when I was 15, I was to young to race it, so we talked Marv Baken into driving for us. We took it out to Tri-City on a chain, I remember seeing the car coming out of the staging lanes, and making it's one, and only run. It blew the motor at the other end of the quarter mile. "We didn't care, It went 15's". I went to the Marine Corps when I was 17, and I could'nt wait to get back to the track, after I got out, I raced a 1963 Dodge Dart, then a 1970 Z-28. In 1979, I bought the Original Nasty Nash from George LaVictor, and I still have it today. My son Ryan, 16, races the cloned version of the Nasty Nash at Ubly Dragway. I only wish he could have experienced TRI-CITY DRAGWAY, "SATURDAY NIGHTS, UNDER THE LIGHTS".

10/7/2008 - Mike Pingel

Wow, Looking at all those pictures and reading everyone's memories brought back some thoughts of younger days and great times. I worked at Tri-City the summers of 74-75-76 and 77 along with Don Morse and Jim Hargreaves who were classmates of mine at Freeland High. Don's mom got us in and we did anything that needed to be done. Some nights it was the tech shack with the white shoe polish bracketing the race cars. One night I was in the staging lanes. Don got to help crew for Shirley Muldowney when they were short a person. We were all afraid of Connie Kalitta..!!!! He was a pretty firey guy in those days.......I will never forget his burnout at a match race where he turned on the Union 76 light at the end of the quarter mile....awesome. Or Poncho Rendon making 2 runs in his brand new AA/FA..****without a license ***. Track Manager Bill McKenna got up in Poncho's face and basically told him to "Get the H-// out of here and dont come back. His 2 runs were more on the grass than on the paved surface. Saw a rocket dragster go 338 mph and never would have believed to see piston driven dragsters going nearly that fast today. I got to see Tom Hoover,Dick LaHaie, Pat Dakin,Shirley Muldowney,Jeb Allen,and living legend Conrad Kalitta all back in the day. Don and I still attend a few events in Phoenix and rt 66 in Joliet and the Finals in Pomona. Still lots of fun but not like the Tri- City days. MP

10/3/2008 - rara4k

looking for any pics of a 68 NOVA car named PROTEST TOO owned by DICK ROSS I own the car and trying to put it back in early stage thanks phil 410-320-7018

9/16/2008 - tim brill

I believe Don did own half of Brainerd but sold it a couple of years ago. One thing I wish he would do is make it a NHRA track and get a stop on tour here. The only thing is it would have to be built out in the sticks somewhere because of the noise. Where he is talking about putting the track is really only good enough for a eighth mile track because of the size and it is in the city. I dont know about anyone else but eighth mile racing sucks and will never work. There are alot of fast cars in and around the flint area so if he is going to do it do it right. Any way if it does happen its been along time comming for sure.

9/10/2008 - Joel Bramblett

I am thrilled that they are building a new drag strip in flint .. Don Williamson owns Maple Grove in Minnsesota I believe and is a huge drag racing fan . I can`t wait to see where this goes.

9/7/2008 - yooperboyka

Anyone have an opinion about the proposed drag strip in the center of Flint?

7/19/2008 - Doug Sedlow

I ran a "70 Chevy Nova at Tri City in the early 70's. My Nova ran O/FX, and I still have the trophys I won. It was devaststing when they closed Tri City down, I will never forget the Saturday njghts and many weekends I, and my family, spent there!!

7/12/2008 - Brian Eggers

I was about 10 years old when my uncle Russ Eggers first invited me to Tri City with him. At that time he was racing a Charlie Altered 58 orange Corvette named the "Gorilla", I quickly became a hooked drag racing fan and he became my hero. I think I was 12 when he sold the car and I thought it was the end of the world.
That winter he bought a wild A Altered Fiat which was named the "Bandito". He went on to campaign the car at most NHRA division 3 national events and we went to Tri City every Saturday night for years. I was lucky enough to travel with him and earned the right to help out in the pits. I started keeping the tools clean and organized then worked up to putting the shoe polish on the wheelie bar wheels. By the time I was 13 I was on the line squirting the raw fuel into the Hilborn Injectors, helping get the car started and pouring down the sticky VHT for the burnouts. In those days there was no hose in the beach box, everybody broght thier own bottle of traction compound. More than once I remember slipping and falling on the line behind the car and getting covered with the sticky black goop. Russ exceled at many national events but Tri City was our backyard and he always did well there. I remember camping overnight at the track during points meets and sleeping in the truck waking up to the sweet smell of nitro and pungent smell of gear lube, I loved it! McKenna's ran a great track, they always had top name national racers.
By the time I turned 16 Russ had sold the Bandito and I started to race there in my 63 Corvette with a group of buddies including Brian Moss in his Z28, and Dave VonBerg in his 69 Judge. We would drive to the track every Sayurday and unhook our headers, let some air out of our rear tires and have a blast bracket racing. When we were done for the night we would leave our headers open and cruise Bay road, one of us always ended up with a ticket for excessive noise. We were there the night the track closed, I remember sitting in my car waiting for the gate to open and talking to Mr. McKenna, he was dispondent as many of the racers wanted to get in free because the prior weekend was a rainout after we paid. I would have gladly paid to get in that night but many protested and that was the end of racing at Tri City Dragway. It was a matter of economics, it was a business after all and he needed revenus to pay his bills.
I would love to see any pictures of the Gorilla or Bandito if any one has any. Feel free to contact me. Brian

7/10/2008 - tim brill

I remember going to tri city when I was around 4 or 5 years old. My dad would take me to watch my uncles race a 66 straight axle chevelle called IRON MAN and they had a funny car called BAGATOR any one stumble across a picture of one of these cars please let me know I would be very interested. Thats the reason I have the hot rod itch and been racing and toying with cars since I was 14 or 15 . I was very young but I remember the atmoshpere well and till this day wish they never closed. I dont know what it was the hot summer nights and tri city was just so cool you cant describe it but had to be there. Any one with pictures or anything with tri city to sell please let me know. TIm Brill 810 342 9552

7/7/2008 - Dave Katt

I started going to Tri-City in the late 60's. After I graduated high school in 1970 I began racing my 67 Chevelle in Stock class, then in 1973 I hooked up with Greg Luneack of Tri-City Competion Service in Breckenridge. He helped several of us build cars for legal "stock eleminator" racing. I raced a 69 Camaro Convertible in J/S and sent a national record there at a NHRA points meet. We would race there on Saturday nights and after class and eliminator we would head to Milan for Sunday racing. Tons of fun, but a lot of work. I recall that if I got beat early in the evening, I could make it home in time too watch that new TV Show, Saturday Night Live. I usually did pretty good though and did'nt get home untill 1 or 2 in the morning. We always hoped to get "in the money", in elimations.
Tri City had big names just about every weekend, they put on a great show. I also saw a lot of local boys (and girls) that had great cars. The "preporatin H" modified production Maverick, the "sugar Rat" 57 chevy, and so on. I will have to dig out my old pictures. Does anyone know what happened to that 57 Chevy Sugar Rat car? I still think about the tine that race driver was killed there. I was in the staging lanes in my car and watched it happen. After that happed there was a long delay to take care of everything. I was the next car down the track after that accident. There were still parts in the grass. Bad deal.....

7/3/2008 - Greg Kidd

My Dad used to run 0s/a i believe it was a 1957 chevy sedan delivery, His name was Ken Kidd from Otisville The car was named instant replay, if i remember correctly. At the time he ran around with Al provost, And Vic sunquist from the best of my memory. I would love to hear anything about it wether it be pictures or memories....

He raced Lapeer, tri-city and detriot dragway

Greg

6/17/2008 - Paul

I knew Chuck Kurzawa, and Richard Place also, was there the night Richard was killed. It was the last time I saw either of them. My brothers and I ran a front engine car and we raced Chuck and Richard both at different times and places. I always had a lot of respect for Chuck, he was quiet, clean and very professional at work and at the race tracks. We only raced a couple seasons, mostly at the local midwest tracks. I have some old photos somewhere from 40 years back of a lot of those guys. I remember meeting Richard's Dad a few times, one car they had was a front engine car with a Keith Black engine, and it ran very well. I think Dad was footing the bill for Richard at that time. Paul Childers, of Childers Brothers Top Fuel Car, now residing in Wickenburg, Az. jan1paul2c@cox.net

4/10/2008 - Chuck Kurzawa

this is to Anders Hamilton I am the son of Chuck Kurzawa and Richie was my Dad's best friend my Dad was there the day he died.My Dad drove the Bob's Drag Chutes top fueler and was at Tri city when it happened.My Dad retired from driving that day and came back in 79 and drove a car called Ego Trip until 83.My Dad built chassis at Logghe during that time and told me the situation of why the car crashed.My Dad died a couple of years ago but I have a couple of pics. of Richie from the late 60's early 70's if you want you can give me a call at 586 871 3266 and I'll tell you what my Dad told me about that day and that car Rich was driving

4/8/2008 - Anders Hamilton

I am related to Rich Place. I was only a child when he died. I would appreciate contact with anyone that knew him. Thank you!

4/1/2008 - T.R.Marr

My dad's best friend Jim ( Sonny) Fritz used to race his black 57 Chevy at Tri City in the sixtys. He drove it back and forth to Malleable Iron the rest of the week. My dad & I used to watch him from the stands. They're both gone now ( Sonny was killed in an automobile crash in 1988 at age 47) but I hope I'll always remember the "Saturday, Saturday, Saturday Night (s) AT TRI CITY DRAGWAY"!

3/2/2008 - Buzz Sodeman

The black & white photos taken at Tri-City that I have are Neumann's BB/A Opel, "Wild Willie" Borsch's AA/FA, several shots of Saginaw pawn shop owner Ron Ellis' A/FC "Trick AMX", Saginaw car dealer Russ Egger's A/A "Bandito", a shot of two match race wheelstanders, the "Little Red Wagon" and a rear-engined "Fugitive" Corvette, Connie Kalitta's "Bounty Hunter" on the starting line as McKenna stages him, and another shot of Connie doing a burnout, and a shot of me and a guy named "Stosh" on the starting line. At least one of the photos was taken by Wuepper Sports Photography.

Also have newspaper accounts of Tri-City's "first serious mishap." A C/A driven by Phillip Friedman of Flushing left the racing surface about 3/4 of the way down the strip before flipping several times. Another newspaper account talks about "a busy 1970 season" and mentions Ron Ellis, Karen & Vic Sonnquist, Vic Weiner, Ben & Dave Wenzel, Al Provost, Chuck Krueger, Russ Eggers and Gary Tompa. At that time most of the racing coverage was done by Dennis Casteele.

In another article, probably taken from National Dragster, they highlight a Funny car show that included Ron Potter's "Golden Nugget," Frank Huff's "King Cobra," Bud Richter's "Golddigger," Ken Safford in "Mr. Norm's" Charger, Gary Bolger, Connie Kalitta, Larry Arnold, and Al Marshall. It also mentions James Dreyer (C/Dragster), Larry Littleton (B/Gas 'Vette), Dan Parker's B/A, Mauri Rose, Jr's D/Gas 'Vette, Rich Rosebush's "Shaker Automotive" Chevy II, Al Seeger, Dee Griffin and Dave Bennett.

I have an article about Ron Ellis' "Trick TX" 1923 "T" and a race with "Ohio George" Montgomery. Montgomery would set a National record in the last race of the event, narrowly beating Ellis. Ellis would also debut a "Trick Truck" Vega panel truck which set a "Top Speed of the Meet" of 177.51 mph at Bison Dragway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2/28/2008 - jason dreyer

My cousin had permission to hunt on dragstrip property when Draper's still owned it in the early '90s. The tower had a bunch of old time slips in it and the track was being used by police for training purposes. My father used to race at the track and my mom has a bunch of good quality, large photos; he was a car fanatic. I will go through the pics and list what is there.

2/13/2008 - Bob Jarvis

Lee, i hope Lapeer is open this year i have been racing there for 41 years. I would be lost if they closed

1/28/2008 - Randy

The track WAS indeed open last year and as far as I know, it will be again this year. Running weekends

1/27/2008 - LEE ALMON

I ran at tri city and lapeer all the time in the 70's been out of it for 25 years.I heard Lapeer dragway is still open every weekend.if this is true i would like to get back racing.If anyone knows please let me know.thanks Lee

12/11/2007 - John McLellan

Looking for info and/or photos of '62 Dodge originally lettered as "62 And Even" and later as "Universal Machine" and raced at various drag strips by Lortz and Frazier from, I believe, the Flint area.

11/10/2007 - John Ramey

Nice web site. Used to race at Tri-City in the 70s. Had a 70 Ford Torino 429 CJ. We pack the kids up every weekend and head to Tri-City to race. Lots of fun and memorys.

10/25/2007 - Bill Layton

Help!!!! I am looking for the Mystery Mover, Yellow Corvair Van wheel stander from the mid to late 60's. It was built by my Father Jack Layton and driven by Bob Ries also from Howell. We ran against Bill Maverick Golden with the Little Red Wagon and beat him side by side all the way down the track. Any pictures or leads to the whereabouts appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill Layton 517-861-7308

10/18/2007 - Dean Gaul

Don, When do you think you may get the photos uploaded? I am very interested.

Dean

5/18/2007 - Brent

All of the pit passes i had advertised are gone. Thanks to everybody that asked about them.

4/13/2007 - Bobby Hill

WOW!! I am so glad I stumbled on this page. My dad ran at Tri-City, Lapeer, Milan, and Detroit Dragway. He was good friends with a lot of the guys who ran at those strips. Dick Ross, mentioned in both this and Lapeer's page, is still building race and street engines. He built a 327 for me back in 1989. I grew up calling him Uncle Dick. He still owns those Novas that he ran back in the 60s and 70s. I have a lot of pictures from Lapeer, Milan, and Tri-City. I even have the jacket my dad won at Tri-City. He still has hundreds of trophies that he won at those old strips. So many memories...

4/10/2007 - Fred Dempsey

Thanks Bob - I hope you find some as I have very few pics of my cars from that era. I was too busy racing to take pics, and I am sorry for that now. I had so much fun back then. While I am still active in racing, its just not the same, of course nothing is!

3/11/2007 - Brent

I was at Tri City Dragway many Saturday nights in the 1970's with my Dad and 'm looking for any videos, photos or anything else about Tri City Dragway. I have many Pit Passes from there for $10.00 each including shipping if anybody is looking for them that didn't save them when they were there. Email xlcrmoemoney4@charter.net

3/8/2007 - BOB JARVIS

Fred, we raced at Lapeer Dragway every sun in thoes days and i remember your Victor George olds. running at Lapeer Dragway a lot. I will look through my old pictures and let you know if I have any. Bob

3/4/2007 - Fred Dempsey

I think about my fun times at Tri City dragway often, and wished I would have taken more photos back then. I used to drive for Victor George Oldsmobile during the late 60"s , early 70"s, and also drove the Dempsey/Taylor chevelle. up till track closing. If anyone has any photos of any of my cars from that era, please contact me. Bill Ross - You mentioned you had a photo of one of the olds from the Carl Casper car show at the IMA? If so, I would gladly pay for a copy of it or any others you might. Please contact me!

1/3/2007 - BILL MURAWSKI JR

MBS airport , is this the land where they are putting the new airport?? I wish the guys with the millions could have got this strip. man what history that can never be reopened.

12/18/2006 - Lou

Merry Christmas Tri-City Dragway fans...Boy I love saying that. How'bout at the very least us fans of Tri-City Dragway holding some sort of Memory Reunion sometime in the Saginaw area? I bet we could get a nice place to hold it, and I'm sure enough of us have contacts that we could get some of the old stars to come and share some of their memories. We could set up some displays to show off all of our old photos', slides, you name it.. If we can't reopen the track, we could at least for one night, open our hearts, minds and memories...Think about it, what a way to spend a cold Saturday night in the Tri Cities.... Happy Holidays Lou

12/15/2006 - Dave Gray

Bruce and Ron, you wold be wasting your time and money to even try, I was with some people that had millions of $ and tried for years to open a strip in Michigan and could never get any place with the townships,no one wants to let a strip in their area.The last strip to open that i know of was Lapeer Dragway back in 1968.and i doubt if you will ever see another one open (sad ).Dave

12/12/2006 - Don Campbell

found this site just thinking back, merry christmas! my dad used to take my mom ,sister, and I every weekend. I still love that sound. dads gone now just like the strip, give anything to go back just once. really enjoyed the pics ,I cant thank whoever is responsible enough. way cool. by the way just turned 44 this year, and still never been to a greater show.

12/3/2006 - Bruce

I only went to Tri-City Dragway once when i was 13 still remember vividly. Shirley was there.Still smell the Nitro. and rememder the junebugs !!!even though i was only there once i feel i was part of history. what a shame there isn't something like that in the Tri-City area today.i think it would take somebody with the land already & the ability to get it passed the city fathers of whatever township it would be located in. how about an informal poll. how many of you would support a track in the Tri-City area. what if it was 1/8 mile(its a start) rather than quarter. where would you like to see it.

12/1/2006 - Ron Wascher

Hey every one some of you might know me as the kid with the yellow and orange el camino. me and a bud went to the drag strip the other night just to see it and i think we should get together all us gear heads and try to reopen the track i will help any one who has the same idea as me. also if any one has pictures or any info please e-mail me thank you all for the help

11/12/2006 - Billy Thomas

I started going to tri-city dragway in 1966 with my dad (Mr.Gus). I was 14 years old, I had been racing go karts up until that time, where I began at the age of 8. My dad would have me at the race track every weekend, from the day it open to the day it closed. I met alot of people, I saw a lot of things, but one thing I will always remember, being african american at that time. Seem like black or white all racers were really good hearted people! I tried to get a high school race program started, with all the high schools in the Saginaw area. Those were times when a late nite in the garage was more fun than you could imagine. Times were simpler, and if somebody didn't tell you, you wouldn't know you were poor. I could go on and on, but I sure hate that something that was so great for this community and the youth. Was let go because of the politics..I'm 53 years old now I still have an IHRA topdragster.

9/30/2006 - Terry B

I remember going there as a kid watching the dragsters get push started. I wish we had a local track aroung here

9/23/2006 - Jeff Baird

awesome pics of the track and the cars! i have a friend that used to go out to the track all the time, and was wondering if anyone had pics of his old car. His name is Dave Shorkey, and the car was the Fang Tang, a 69 Shelby Mustang. does anyone have any pics of his car? id like to do something nice for him. thanks! p.s. has anyone ever thought of reopening the Tri-City Dragway? heck, id work there day and night to get that place back up and running. id even work the track during race days, as long as i wasnt in my own car! :)

8/6/2006 - BOB JARVIS

GOSH I REMEMBER BACK IN THE 70S WE WOULD HIT TRICITY DRAGWAY EVERY SAT NIGHT AND HEAD TO LAPEER DRAGWAY EVERY SUNDAY. WE SURE GOT IN A LOT OF RACING IN THOES DAYS,I STILL GO TO LAPEER DRAGWAY. BUT I DONT DO AS MUCH RACING NOW AS I DID IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.GETTING TO OLD, BOB

6/25/2006 - Jon Mason

Great web site ... Just looking through some of the pics at the bottom of the forum and notice that my dad built headers on most of those cars including Garlits gas car and cha-chas car. The corvette with open pipes out the back, Seems kind of weird seeing those pics of the cars in action and having the same pics with my dad under the hood.... Great site guys keep up the good work.

6/7/2006 - Lou

Wow, a friend I work with just showed me this site and Ive been reading everones comments. My best memories are of those beautiful Saturday nights with the big names, smelling that nitro and coming home with black specs of rubber all over my white t-shirt. What a thrill to see those trucks pushing those "rails" along the pit lane and then to hearem fire up and start bouncing to the starting line. And when those lights went out it was a totally different show. Only us who were there can truly appreciate it. Keep writing people its these memories that get us through those tough times.

5/2/2006 - Bill Ross

Im from Flint Mich.,now living in N.C. I use to race at Tri City in a 70 1/2 camaro.I ran in FX,mainly N/FX. I won and still have 2 trophies. In the late 60s in high school i went there everytime i could.I graduated in 71,worked at Automotive Parts and Machine Shop in Flint.They raced a C/G studabaker called Jungle Cruiser,painted yellow.I went there every weekend,weather i raced or watched.I have lots of photos from Tri City,the time the Little Red Wagon vs.the Fugitive,funny cars,local cars,Checkmate camaro,Pre-Staged Performance E/MP camaro,a friend of mine,Ron Michalik had a VW with a sb chev called The Flyin Beetle raced there,he also had a 64 dodge,bright red called Suspect 426 ,a factory SS car that a guy named Doug Kennish bought new in 64.Another friend of mine,Dick Ross(no relation) ran a string of novas there.I also have a photo of Victor George Olds stocker.taken at the Carl Casper car show at the IMA audotoriam in downtown Flint.I have photos from Lapeer Dragway of E.J Potters Widow Maker,I have photos from Milan Dragway of Bill Jenkins and Billy the Kid Steps Pro Stock Mopar.I grew up A mile from Kustom Equipment at the corner of Richfield and Belsay Rds.,have photos of Don Garlets fuel dragster that was there on display using Kustom headers,a front motored rail.I miss Tri City a lot.I have a photo of Dave and Ben Wenzels stock camaro taken at Tri city in 72.In the background is a female with long hair,brown leather jacket and bellbottoms.Low and behold thats my wife Vicki that i met in 1982!!Her and her boyfriend also went to Tri City to watch.The photos bring back lots of memorys for both of us.The photos of Tri City now with trees and weeds are sad.My wife said we should go back and get the sign off the timing tower! I also have a can/bottle opener that sayes Tri City Dragway on it.We moved to NC because I got a job in NASCAR,first with the #77 Jasper Engines car in the engine shop,now i work for Carl Wegner,Wegner motorsports building and leasing NASCAR and ARCA engines.

4/28/2006 - AK

Hello there. Glad I found this site. Ive got quite a few photos from 1974-76 from Tri-City;raced and attended races there from 72-76. If they scan well,Ill get them posted. Keep up the great work,WWL!

4/17/2006 - BUCK WOODS

HEY BOBK49 IS THE OLD TRACK MANAGER BILL MCKINA STILL ALIVE? I HEARD HE DIED A LONG TIME AGO.I HOPE HE IS STILL ALIVE.I THINK HE WAS A GOOD MANAGER.HE JUST DIDNT TAKE ANY CRAP FROM THE RACERS THAT THOUGHT THEY WAS SOME HOT SHOTS,WHICH ARE A LOT OF THEM .BUT IF YOU WAS GOOD TO HIM BILL WAS ALWAYS MORE THAN FAIR.

4/4/2006 - Fred Dempsey

Great site, the picturres brought back many good memories. I raced there from the late 60s through its closing. I drove the "Victor George Oldsmobile" entries for most of those years, and also drove a chevelle and camaro (Dempsey&Taylor) for the last couple of years. I am hoping that someone has some pictures of our cars from that era? Most of my pictures got destroyed, and I am trying to locate any that may still be around. If you can help me, please contact me. P.S. I would also like to locate any other pictures of tri cite racers from that era. There used to be many local "stockers" and "superstockers" that competed there each week, and it was so much fun.

2/5/2006 - Chuck Kurzawa III

I just wanted to let people know that my father passed away on 1-29-06 and that I am trying to get some pics. or any other memorabilia that anyone might have out there it would be greatly appreciated. I also just want to say how much my Dad appreciated this site it helped him to keep the memories alive and put him in touch with old friends on his behalf I thank you. If anyone needs to contact me they can at 248-808-9249 or email me at lkurzawa248@comcast.net

2/4/2006 - Richard Robinson

I raced my hot Honda 50 step through frame in 1966. I won "D" Bike and the next week I took off my fenders and won "D" Bike Modified. The starter told me that if I took longer than 29 seconds again, he was bringing his lawn mower to go against me. That was definetly a fun time. That dragstrip in its day was one of the finest ever built. Thanks for the memories!

1/2/2006 - Randal Cronk

How sad to see the current state of the strip. My wife I used to go on dates there before it closed. The old days of booked in shows with big name drivers. Garlits, Muldowney, Beebe Bros, Blue Max, Pizza Haven F/C, Al Bergler, etc. I was there the night the Blue Max let go in the lights WOW what an explosion. I have memories that will last forever. Tri City was the first strip I went to. Since Sept of 1987 Ive taught high school students about the sport of drag racing. Southern Lakes is the former ITC. Its a sport I enjoy and I encourage others to get involved in a simular adventure. You wont regret it.

12/6/2005 - Allen Orban

Finding this site was amazing, my father Vern Orban who drag raced at Tri City Dragway, Michigan from 1970-1974 with his 1970 lime-green plymonth GTX 440 six-pack. On the side of my fathers car it had "Swift Shifters" and "Lime-Time". He was in a club called the "Swift Shifters" members that I am aware of were Alan Labeau, Dale Labeau, Clyde Hartshorn, Vern Orban and Chuck Walker. If anyone as anymore information regarding this club I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I currently have some pictures and a video that was taken with an 8mm back in the 70s and then of the race track after it closed down and its current condition. If anyone has any other pictures or video I would like to hear from you. My father "Vern Orban" passed away in October of 2004 and I have little knowledge or have very few photos of when my dad raced. If anyone can remember this club or my father or have photos of his car, I would love to hear from you. I know that Chuck Walker drove a 1970 plum color Plymouth Duster and Alan Labeau drove a yellow Mustang and his wife drove a Mustang as well but not sure what year or color. I am also sorry to inform you that Clyde Hartshorn also died years ago. You may contact me at flyboy63@charter.net or you may call me at (989) 855-9366. I continued the tradition of drag racing as my father did and I currently drag race at the Mid Michigan MotorPlex. Thank You. Allen Orban

12/4/2005 - Dean Gaul

I would love to support the effort to re-open the strip. I belive it would have to be a different location though. Even if able to secure the property from the airport commission thre are many avation rules and regulations in place now that were not then. The FAA has strict regulations regarding runway thresholds, approch patterns, security envelopes and the like. When the strip was in operation, MBS main runway..E-W was much shorter. when the airport expanded the runway they were actually required to buy the property in order to conform to FAA standards. On another note, does anyone else remember a fellow that worked the tower by the name of Dick (Boyd) Hartley? he was from Freeland and worked at Freeland State Bank. Dick was a good friend of mine and passed away recently. I am trying to contact relitives, I am sure he had lots of pictures and other items of interest.

11/13/2005 - Paul Wright

Well lets just say that it is not impossible. If they can put up a Wal-Mart in town that no one wants why cant they build a track? If the reopening of the old place is out of the question then how about another location in Bay County?

11/9/2005 - Jason Greif

I recently talked to Rob Draper and yes its true the airport has total ownership of the dragway. Mr. Drapers dad uses to own part of it. Anyway Im interested in opening up the dragway so anybody else intrested let me inform you of my problem; MONEY. I have none but I make up for that in shear determination and some awesome ideas to make it go from memory to reality. A mere dream is what Ive started with. I know people who dont think Im capable of pulling this off but IF I can get volunteers of time to assist me and any person willing to donate time or even information please let me know about it. Im going to be clean and honest with everyone reading this. Im only 21 years old Ive never set foot on the dragway my whole life but I want to change that. I want to experience what my parents and their friends experienced THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

11/7/2005 - Chuck Kurzawa

The airport owns the property, that cant be changed. There is no way this track can reopen. You cant even get on the property too browse, I have tried. And by the way Bill is still with us.

10/25/2005 - Paul Wright

It is possible to bring this place back. Just got to have the right people in the right places to do the asking. Man, wouldnt it be great.

9/25/2005 - Holly Orlik

My husband Rick used to race at Tri City, & when I found this web site & we looked at the pictures it brought back a lot of good memories. After 27 years of not racing Rick is getting back into it by doing demolition derbys & scrambles & he is going to get me a strip car to race at Kaleva. Thanks for the pics & the memories!

8/7/2005 - Ron Gross/Michigandriveins.com

One of the nations newest and finest drag strips is now in full operation in Michigan. Called Tri-City Dragway, its located next to Michigans Tri-City Airport, serving Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City. Paved with the newest super traction mix, the strip is 4500 feet long, and 60 feet wide all the way down. Operated by Bill McKenna, the facility was designed with the aid of NHRAs Bob Daniels, and has a lot of "boss" features. The staging area is six lanes wide, and paved for 600 feet back. The competition cars pit area is 50,000 square feet, all paved and fenced in. From here, there is a 1,000 foot fire up road (34 feet wide and paved) leading to the staging area. Timing equipment is the latest Chrondek system, with the delayed foul-light setup, and all wires are underground. (Car Craft Magazine July 1967)

8/5/2005 - BobK49

Web, you are right about all but one point, the strip manager is still with us, hes a very old man, but I see him often, working in his yard at home. I worked at the track for one summer (1972) and could tell some stories best left untold. One I can tell was on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I arrived at the track before the rest of the guys, grabbed the timing lights and put them in my pickup and drove to the 1/4 mile to start setting up. As I was down on my knees sighting the alignment for the lights some jets flew over, very close to the ground. It was the USAF Thunderbirds, arriving at the airport for the Sunday air show. They then preceded to do a warmup show. It was awesome. I jumped back in the truck and went up on top the tower, with several of the other guys whod shown up for work. Later that night, about the time racing was done for the night, the manager came around and invited all us employees to bring our families back on Sunday for the airshow. He was a good man to work for, but I do understand why the racers had no use for him. Anyway, thats my 2 cents. Bob

11/21/2004 - Chuck Kurzawa

Wow, its nice to see those (now) pics. The track looks like its ready to run tomorrow, (what a shame). I drove cars there from 67-74,in 67 driving the Ramchargers digger on some show runs, I ran 224 mph, the chute failed, somebody forgot to bleed the brakes, and I still managed to stop the car. That track is 4500ft. +long. I made a lot of runs down that track. Cars I drove there were The Ramchargers-Kurzawa Mcknew Olivio and Bobs Drag Chutes. I was there the night a good friend of mine (Rich Place) was killed in a re-digger. That was the last time I was at the track. The track was the best in Mich.

3/29/2004 - TK

I remember being at the dragstrip in the 60s. Our family was neighbors of the Ray Martin family that owned the "Twister" it was a red Austin Healey with fuel injected BBC. If I remember correctly it ran B or C altered class. I know we went to Edmore more than Tri City, but I spent many a fine nights at Tri City.

2/19/2004 - Mickey Hershey

All I can say is I grew up in that tower born 4/1/62 at the track4/20/62 my dad was the anouncer for Tri-city. I was at the end off the track by the fence the day the Lee bros Angela blew up had the front windshield till 80. Remember a story of Connie Kallitta landing his plane on the track,car waiting at the line, runs,wins,flys away. I still have a picture of myself in the Little Red Wagon running down the track. What a Great Place to grow up never forget it saw sooo many firsts in racing at that track.

4/14/2003 - WaterWinterWonderland

Recent site inspection reveals that some structures of the old strip remain. Close inspection was not possible due to the site now residing on MBS Airport property and access is strictly forbidden. If anyone out there has a connection at the airport, contact us!

1/16/2003 - Web

The Tri-City dragway was located in Saginaw MI. It was built in 1965, (as a 1/4 mile dragstrip) NOT a converted air strip. It Opened in 1966 and closed in 1978. Along with my brother, I worked as the starter, in the tech barn, in the wire wheel pits, and the crash truck in the shut down at the far end of the strip. Many of the heavies in the Detroit, Flint, Lansing and tri-city areas of the big three manufactures ran many super stockers, gassers and modified production cars there. Also top fuel, funny cars, and wheel standers were the hi-lights every weekend. There was also a Division 3 N.H.R.A. points meet every year. Fred Militello

1/7/2003 - Web

As Jon Lunburg mentioned in another post, Tri-City closed down due to terrible management. The manager(name respectfully withheld since he has passed) was also a corporate pilot. The hands off owner of the track also owned a very large successful Saginaw GM dealership (son still runs it). The manager had little or no customer(racer) relations skills and cared little for any racer input or comments on how to improve the sportsman (or any) program. What brought it to a head in the spring of 1978 was several consecutive weekend rain outs and no compensation for the entries fees that had been paid. Any efforts by the racers committee to either up the pay out or get a free pass fell on deaf ears. A boycott was planned by a large group of racers. On that fatefull weekend, all the racers were instructed to pull into the spectators parking lot until the manager came out and talked to the group about some remedy. After several hours of silence from the still locked track, the manager came out and said if we didnt pay the entry and race he would close the track for good. At this point the majority of us (Im guilty)thought he was bluffing and pulled out of the facility thinking the next weekend he would be begging for us to return. Guess what, he wasnt bluffing...and the rest is history. The track remained in semi-race ready condition for years and was used by GM for testing purposes. In the 90s a local drag racing family (with significant financial resources) tried unsuccessfully to submit a plan to the Tri-City Airport board to reopen the dragstrip. Their permission was needed because the majority of the pit area of the track was leased from the airport(bet you didnt know that), only the track and parking area were part of the privately owned facility. Without their permission, the reopening was dead in the water. After several professional presentations demonstrating total financial backing to rebuild the track, economic impact projections on the local economy from large (points or national) events and NHRA involvement, the airport commission voted NOT to lease the property needed for the reopening. The project was DOA. Sometime in the late 90s, the airport bought the property from the owner. The "offical" end of an era.

1/7/2003 - Web

Dont remember exact operating date spread, but the track DID NOT close due to airport expansion. Track operator so angered local sportman racers they boycotted track. Place was owned by millionaire car dealer. As a "get even" track manager wandered the track with a post-hole digger forever destroying the surface when place closed. One of the countrys most beautiful tracks, strange management. Unfortunate end.

1/7/2003 - RG

Tri-City Dragway in Saginaw was open from 1966 to 1978, closed same year as Onondaga! Im working on the location. An excerpt borrowed from the message board about Tri-City: "Dont remember exact operating date spread, but the track DID NOT close due to airport expansion. Track operator so angered local sportman racers they boycotted track. Place was owned by millionaire car dealer. As a "get even" track manager wandered the track with a post-hole digger forever destroying the surface when place closed. One of the countrys most beautiful tracks, strange management. Unfortunate end....John Lundberg"

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Tri-City Dragway - Freeland MI