Don Jones passed away on February 15th at the age of 85.

When Don closed the doors on East Windsor Speedway near the end of the 2002 season in August, no one knew what to think.  Initial reports were that a rainy forecast for September was the reason for the sudden closing.  Week's later, the speedway released information that a lawsuit was being put together against the builder of the housing development because new drainage issues were causing water to lay near the speedway office.

A small awards ceremony was held to recognize the 2002 Champions and we all keep watch to see if the speedway would open in 2003.  The racing community held their breath throughout the off season regarding the speedway's future plans.   

Spring came, and as first March, and then April came around, the season had yet to start, and stories were everywhere about the track having been sold, and/or that there were plans to pave the track in hopes of picking up the void left by Flemington's closing a few years earlier.

I think it was sometime in May of 2003, I stopped by Jones' Disposal Service on Rt. 535 near Jamesburg, NJ and went into the office and asked to speak to somebody about the speedway.  A fellow there told me that Butch wasn't there, but that he was down at the track doing some work and that if I left now, I could probably catch him there.  I headed back out onto 535, and optimistically drove the 15 minute ride to the track. 

As I pulled into the spectator side entrance, I could see somebody working a grader near the eastern border of the parking lot, near the rear of the property.  This was great news to me as for weeks there had been no activity, no sign of life - nothing... and here it was, something was finally happening!  I also could see a green pickup in the distance.  I decided to drive my old Bonneville across the Indian grass covered lot to see if maybe the activity meant opening day was not far away.  As I got closer, I grew concerned that the Bonne' was not a good mudder, so I parked on a high spot and decided to cover the rest of the distance on foot.

The grader kept right on grading as got closer and closer.  Right about then I saw somebody sitting in the pickup.  As I got closer to the truck, the window rolled down and there was Don sitting inside with the heater running.  My optimism was suddenly replaced with concern that maybe he wasn't in the mood for visitors.  Even as a fan I was aware of the "no nonsense" reputation that Don had... you know, "His way or the Highway", and I began to think that my little walk across the field may not have been such a great idea after all. 

Suspiciously he looked me over and wondered what I was doing.  Before his suspicions could  get too much of a head start, I explained that I was a long time fan, and also mentioned that I thought he had known my dad in year's past.  He asked me who my father was.  Further discussion proved both to be true.

I asked what was happening with the grader, and about all I learned was that Butch was on it..., but I don't really think he ever said what Butch was specifically doing.  I figured he was making improvements to the parking lot.  After driving by the place for many months and never seeing any activity, I assumed that Butch on the grader could mean only one thing... Opening day could not be far away!

Without hesitation, I told Don that I knew there were a lot of rumors flying around, but if they did open, and leave the dirt surface, I and many more, would be happy to help get the word out and to volunteer in any way to make the place successful. 

Not sure if it was because he was that interested in what I had to say, or just that he was getting cold sitting in there talking with me with his window down but at that point he invited me to have a seat, so I wandered around to the other side and hopped into the warm truck.

He spoke about recently having surgery and how they take veins out of your legs and use them to replace the ones to your heart.  He talked about how much things had changed...  "I used to have a lot of good people.... Nobody ever left me... they died.  So many of them...  Dead" 

He talked about the fans.  "People don't appreciate what you do....  They come to a "dirt" track and complain that they got dirty."  He mentioned that he had offers from a few people who wanted to lease the place and run races."  He didn't seem impressed.

He talked about the competitors.  When I asked if he thought he'd have enough cars to put on a show he quickly offered, "They'll be here, they'll be back."

Through the windshield of the truck we could see Butch continuing to push some dirt around with the big machine.  I asked Don when the season was going to start and I think I got an answer kind of like "We'll have things ready to go here pretty soon...."    

I gave Don my contact information.  I shook hands and again told him that there were a lot of people out there that would like to help the speedway, and that we're all looking forward to it.  I think he just nodded as I stepped out of the truck.  I thanked him for his time.  I shot Butch a quick wave as I made my way back across the parking lot to the old Bonneville. 

As I walked across the grass toward the car, I stopped thinking about what had just happened, and instead thought about the memories that the parking lot held. 

Just up a few yards and to the right was where my father would usually park his old Chevy truck when I was too young to drive.  The same lot where for years as soon as the checker flag waved, I'd get my dad's keys and run to the truck to unlock it, and to start it up to give the heater a head start..  I"What took you so long" I'd say to my dad as he made his way into the truck a few minutes later.  We'd talk about Pee Wee and Ploski, about Michalchuk and Hartman.  Eventually I'd fall asleep somewhere north on Rt. 130, not far past Pee Wee's Gulf Station on the ride home.

That same lot where just a few years later I'd search for a parking spot in my blue Camaro with my father in the passenger seat.   Hours later, we'd hurry back to the car talking about Janezski and Travalene, Cossabone and Dmuchowski.  "Fred ran good tonight" he'd say.

That same lot where just a year earlier, long after the checker flag had waved, my dad and I would make our way out of the stands, and we'd would walk side by side, no faster than his knees would allow.  Taking our time heading to the car, we'd recap the night's action with stories of Horton and Hoffman, of Pauch and of Brightbill.  

It was time to leave. I unlocked the Bonneville and headed across that same lot for the final time.  I made my way over to the gravel access road, and eventually back out to Airport Road as I had done so many times before and headed home.

Don opened the doors of East Windsor Speedway to all of us, and when it was time to go home, he closed them.


Rest in peace Don.  Our condolences go out to the Jones family

Comment:

Just like Brian had explained to me 30 minutes earlier, Butch proceeded to tell me about the damage that the vandals had done and that the extent of the damage indicated that it wasn't just been kids playing around.  I got the feeling that he was thinking that word had gotten out that they were going to open for a short season and that may have been the motivation for someone to cause the damage that they did.  Without accusing anyone specifically, I think they believe that the damage was done by someone whose interests (whether financial or otherwise) were best served by seeing to it that races would never be run at the speedway again.

Butch said that because of the damage, and how much it would cost to make the restrooms and the snackbar/kitchen functional, it just wasn't worth it, especially since it was not clear how far into the future they would be racing.   Spend $100k+ just to run a 10 race series without being certain about a 2004 season?  It just didn't make sense to keep it going...

So according to first Brian, and then Butch, that is why East Windsor never reopened.

Butch and Brian are a proud pair.  While I sensed disappointment from both of them over the way things ended at EWS, I also sensed pride in the program that they ran.   They reminded me that its not an easy sport to be involved in, and short track racing and NJ don't exactly go hand in hand anymore.  They reminded me that while many regimes come and go, it was the Jones Family who for the most part were the steady, driving force behind the almost 40 years of racing at the Airport Road facility. 

Both Butch and Brian seemed relieved to no longer be faced with the burden of preparing the surface each week, and with all those weeks of crossing their fingers hoping that the weather would cooperate so the show could go on.   Butch reminded me that it cost $1500 to turn the lights on whether they got the whole show in or not.   Yup... while somewhat subdued, I would say that both Butch and Brian were "unburdened."

After decades of working with the demands of the speedway, father and son now spend time going to tractor shows and other events throughout the northeast.  Butch mentioned that he did save a lot of the EWS signage and hopes to set it up in a building as a way for all to remember East Windsor as it should be.