Those who’ve made it out to the Accord Speedway this season would have seen an SJ billboard over the track. On Friday, September 4, the Speedway celebrated Shawangunk Journal Night.

A small pack of SJ folk went over to check out our sign and enjoy the roar of engines, the smell of diesel, and the smorgasbord of French fries, hot dogs, and hamburgers.

This reporter regrets not bringing earplugs — with a dozen big engines pushing the limit at once the track is loud — as we watched a variety of races. Accord’s track is built for dirt racing. Some races featured old, battered Chevrolet bodies with improved V8 engines under the hoods. While the cars thundered, groups of kids were tossing footballs outside, others gathered in groups to flirt and gossip. Families went back and forth from the snack shack to the stands laden with hot dogs and the sense of this special community, devoted to speed and V8 engines comes alive.

If you decide to check it out, note that on a busy night the parking area can fill up and it may be worth parking close to the exit and accepting the walk over to the track. Also, this really is “dirt track” racing, and that is why people avoid the far-right end of the stands, because as the cars whip around that curve they occasionally send showers of gravel up into the air behind themselves. This was the last race of the season for the V8s, but September 18 and 19 and October 24 will see AMA motorcycle racing at the track.

Then, on November 28, the annual Gobbler race, sort of their grand finale for the season, will take place.

On Friday, September 11, the speedway will also be hosting a 25^th commemoration of the 9/11 attacks. This will be a free event, starting at 6 p.m. and will honor the memories of the fallen. Instead of racing, there will be fireworks at dusk, hayrides, a Jeep parade, free burgers and hot dogs with live music from My Cousin Vinny and Full Moon Burn.

And no matter what size or class of cars are involved, the noise is exciting but stupendous, reaching 130 dB when the cars accelerate down the straight in front of the stands.