User:Mitchazenia/Dover Speedway (New Jersey)
| Location | Dover, Morris County, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT-5 |
| Opened | 1865[1] |
| Closed | September 9, 1954[1] |
| Former names | Dover Driving Park (1867–1903)[1] Dover Race Track (1903–1914)[1] |
| Surface | Dirt Asphalt (1933–1954)[2] |
| Length | 0.500[2] miles |
| Turns | 4 |
Dover Speedway was an auto racing track located in Dover, Morris County, New Jersey. The speedway hosted motorcycle, midget cars and stock car racing races until its closure on September 9, 1954. The track was located on the side of the Morris Canal and along U.S. Route 46 and State Route 6. The track opened in 1865 as a horse racing track, named Dover Driving Park in 1867. In 1882, the track opened to those racing their horse and buggies.[3] In 1894, it was rebuilt to become a professional horse track. The track hosted horse races until 1932, when it was converted for automobile racing. The new owner, Dominic Esposito, had the track hosting AAA midget car races and open-wheel races.
In 1947, the track resumed operations after World War II, but closed again for the Korean War, ending again in 1952. The track reopened after the war and was in use until September 1954. However, the 1954 season was marred by a tragedy when a 16-tier grandstand collapsed on June 12. No one was killed, but 87 people were injured in the collapse.[4] An attempt to re-open Dover Speedway occurred in 1963, but the town put the kibosh on such an idea, citing the area had outgrown the racetrack. The track was demolished and replaced by a department store in 1966.
History
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Baker Theatre Brings Dover History to Life". The Daily Record. Morristown, New Jersey. September 15, 2004. pp. 5, 6. Retrieved March 15, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Dover Speedway to Open on May 30th". The Chatham Press. April 22, 1933. p. 5. Retrieved March 15, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Remembering Dover's Speedway". The Daily Record. Morristown, New Jersey. January 26, 2001. p. 20. Retrieved March 15, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sift Collapse of Bleachers Injuring 87". The New York Post. June 14, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
