Riverhead drag race kickoff postponed to April 9
The start line at a drag race at Calverton Executive Airpark on Aug. 28, 2021. Credit: Morgan Campbell
The first series of the planned Saturday kickoff of Riverhead’s drag racing events at the Calverton Executive Airpark has been postponed to April 9 due to concerns over the planned use of a runway at the site, according to race organizers.
The race had been scheduled to proceed on the 10,000-foot runway of the property. However, Pete Scalzo, who operates the racing series, told the Riverhead Town Board on Wednesday there was some confusion over the use and access of that runway.
Since there was insufficient time between Wednesday and Saturday to resolve those concerns, Scalzo said he would instead use a 7,000-foot runway on the property where the races were held last year, according to Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguiar.
The series will now kick off April 9 at 11 a.m. at the airpark on Grumman Boulevard. All tickets purchased for the canceled Saturday event will be honored for future drag racing events, Scalzo said.
At a January Town board meeting, Riverhead gave the go-ahead to four drag-racing events. Some residents then aired concerns about noise affecting neighboring homes, environmental impacts of having the races on the EPCAL property and that the board had not held formal public hearings on the races.
The first series is on April 9, 10 and 16. The second will take place Aug. 20, 21, 27 and 28, and Sept. 3, 4, 9 and 10. The third series is scheduled for Sept. 24-25, Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16. The fourth event is set for March 5-6.
