Nutley Celebrates 80th Anniversary of Velodrome

On Tuesday, June 4, the Nutley Historical Society will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Nutley Velodrome, the legendary cycling track that was part of the “golden age” of bicycle racing in the United States.

Two free events will commemorate the velodrome’s anniversary. At 4 p.m. a ceremony will take place at the Nutley Parks Department building, 44 Park Ave., near where the velodrome once stood. Township commissioners and members of the Nutley Historical Society’s executive board will dedicate a monument to the velodrome. Commissioner Tucci also will read a resolution. 

At 7 p.m. the historical society will host a program at the Nutley Museum, 65 Church St., featuring author and historian Michael Gabriele. Gabriele's “The Golden Age of Bicycle Racing in New Jersey,” chronicles the 130-year history of cycling in the Garden State. Gabriele's presentation will be accompanied by a display of photos, programs and cycling memorabilia. A limited number of Gabriele’s books will be available for sale.

In addition to the two events on June 4, the Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, beginning June 1, will feature a month-long display of photos, velodrome programs and cycling memorabilia in its main lobby. “We are honored to be a part of this significant piece of Nutley’s history” stated Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci.

The Nutley Velodrome opened on Sunday, June 4, 1933, to a capacity crowd of 12,000 fans. Joseph Miele, an entrepreneur and sportsman from East Orange, led the effort to build the track. A field of top international cycling stars were featured in opening-day racing event

Organizers of the event noted that from the 1890s to 1940, New Jersey was the epicenter for the international professional cycling circuit. The Nutley track—a one-seventh of a mile wooden saucer—was built three years after the Newark Velodrome closed. In addition to cycling events, the Nutley Velodrome also hosted several boxing matches and midget-car races.

The velodrome was on the north side of Park Avenue near River Road, the current site of the Nutley Parks and Recreation Building and Father Glotzbach Memorial Park.

Though initially successful, the Nutley Velodrome attendance droppd dramatically when professional cycling's popularity declined in the late 1920s. Organizers said that when the track closed its gates for the last time on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1940, it marked the end of the golden age of professional bicycle racing in the United States. 

For more information on the June 4 anniversary events, visit the Nutley Historical Society’s Web site.