Drag Racing Green Lighted For New Season In Riverhead

RIVERHEAD, NY — Rev your engines, it's a go: The Riverhead Town board voted Wednesday to approve dates for drag racing this season at Enterprise Park at Calverton.

Acccording to Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, two separate proposals were before the town board.

Peter Scalzo, who presented his "Race Track, Not Street," series last year, is back this year for a Spring Classic on April 2, 3,9, 10 and 16. If there is a rain-out during that series, guests can redeem their ticket for any event later in the series, Scalzo said.

The reason no rain date for the Spring Classic is proposed is due to the bird nesting season, which begins on April 15 in New York, Scalzo said.

Next, he said, is the Summer Classic, on August 20, 21, 27, and 28, and September 3, 4, 9 and 10. Rain dates will be held on September 17 and 18.

The Fall Classic will take place on September 24 and 25, October 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16, with rain dates of October 23 and 24, Scalzo said.

Also, Andre Baxter's proposal for the "Scrambul: Cold Fusion" event on March 5 and 6 was given a green light.

Aguiar said the events have been identified pending approval of conditions.

"This year we are requesting for all registrants to receive full refunds should the event not take off as planned, regardless of the reason," she said.

Aguiar applauded the comeback of the races: "The 2021 races were highly welcomed by the community. I welcome the racing community back to Riverhead in 2022," she said.

Scalzo also was thrilled with the news and spoke to Patch about why he believes his event is so widely embraced.

"I think it had to do with what I was able to prove last year about the merits of drag racing at EPCAL," Scalzo said. 'The property is just sitting there. I am not asking for a long-term lease. The board realizes the positive economic impact to the area, the wholesome family entertainment we provided, all of the positive media attention we were given — plus the fact that we provided a safe, controlled venue where people could race their vehicles. This led to safer streets."

And, Scalzo said, his 21 scheduled events will benefit the community, with $84,000 given to the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Manorville Fire Department, $42,000 each.

Also, Scalzo said, he believes the board unanimously for his events because they "recognize my willingness to compromise on various issues."

No public hearing was held before the vote because it's not needed for a special event application, Aguiar said; the public was given the chance to speak before and after the resolutions.

Scalzo is proposing that this year, his event be held at the 10,000 foot runway, not the 7,000 foot runway that he used last year, due to the fact that Insurance Auto Auctions has the right to use that runway to store storm-damaged cars.

However, Scalzo told Patch that he is not proposing any racing on the actual 10,000 foot runway, in case a plane needs to land in an emergency — instead, he will utilize the taxiway formerly used by Skydive Long Island. That site, Scalzo said, already has electric and water, something the 7,000 foot runway did not have.

For Scalzo, after years of advocating to bring motorsports to Riverhead, battling objections about noise but never able, he said, to do a sound test — last year's events were deeply rewarding.

He and representatives from the "L.I. Needs A Dragstrip" group never gave up.

Scalzo thanked Aguiar for her support; he also thanked the board members who voted to green light the events. "That took a lot of guts," he said.

But, once the cheering crowds turned out, Scalzo said the message was clear: The events were welcomed by scores across the board.

Scalzo said municipalities have long been adept at providing sports facilities for soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, and football. But, he added, "There are a lot of gear heads — folks love cars. And here I'm proposing to do something, at my expense, to show the merits. They had the guts to agree — and now we're looking to expand on that."

Scalzo said his events are sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association. "We must meet all of their very strict safety requirements. These regulations are in place to protect both the racers and spectators."

Aguiar spoke with Patch about the new season. "Based on the overwhelming community and board support, along with the with National Hot Rod security measures in place and economic boost to our community, at this time, I support drag racing returning to Riverhead."

"Let the races begin," Aguiar added.

The board voted unanimously for Scalzo's events; Aguiar and Councilman Tim Hubbard voted "no" for Baxter's. Aguiar said she voted no "simply due to safety concerns. I would have preferred to see the cars remain on the runway should and accident happen. Without barriers, the vehicle may hydroplane and enter environmentally sensitive areas. NHRA protocols designates the highest levels of safety," she said.

History was made in Riverhead in August as drag racing once again revved up on Long Island —and a crowd of motorsports enthusiasts turned out for an event they said has been years in the making.

Instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting, Aguiar, in a race car, roared through a crepe paper ribbon stretched across the track as the crowd cheered.

Remembering the sheer joy emanating from the many who attended Saturday night's inaugural event, Aguiar said she got chills. "I have never seen anything like this in my life," she said.

Aguiar kicked off the festivities with Lisa Pickersgill, "the face of downtown Riverhead," in the car beside her; Lisa's father Ray was a strong proponent of events to infuse downtown with new energy and vitality until he died from the coronavirus last year.

Johnny Consoli of L.I. Needs A Dragstrip lauded the supervisor for her efforts to bring a long-held dream to fruition.

"Thank you to Supervisor Yvette Aguiar for everything she has done for the motorsports community and for allowing the 'Race Track, Not Street' events to happen at EPCAL. . . For so many years, people have tried to bring motorsports to EPCAL, and previous administrations have never opened their eyes to the tremendous opportunity," he said.

Aguiar's voice filled with emotion as she described the event. "People cried," she said.

Donna Nicosia of the "Long Island Needs a Drag Strip" group was thrilled to see drag racing brought to Riverhead. "I'm ecstatic," she said. "My son is a race car driver, and so is my husband. To finally be able to race where we live is such a pleasure."

Up until now, Nicosia and her family were spending exorbitant sums on money, gas, tolls, and hotels to travel for hours to events in areas such as upstate New York, Virginia, and Maryland, she said. "To have it back on Long Island is a great thing," she said.

For years, drag racing advocates have rallied for a permanent 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.

This article originally appeared on the Riverhead Patch