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Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 06 June 2024 - 08:39 AM
Here's proof that slot car racing was the pet rock or beanie baby of its day. Although we'll never know, it would be very interesting to learn how many tracks each of these companies actually produced and sold. Most of these ads appeared in 1966.
Several of these companies were unknown to me.
Images grabbed (with permission) from a Facebook post by Philippe Point.
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 06 June 2024 - 08:41 AM
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 06 June 2024 - 08:44 AM
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 06 June 2024 - 08:45 AM
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
On The Lead Lap
Posted 06 June 2024 - 09:39 AM
There seems to be two Custom Model Raceways. The one I remember was the one in Lebanon, OH. Twelve-year Paul wanted one but no joy. They must have built some and not sold well cause they started out at $299 then went down to $199, a bargain in 1966 dollars.
It seems to me that there would be a market for a similar product today, although it would cost a lot more.
Village Luddite
Posted 06 June 2024 - 10:20 AM
Thanks for posting these, Greg.
I believe you've answered a question I have had for several years concerning a "fingerless" King track that was in Newark, OH, back in the early 1970s. This sure looks like it to me:
I always thought it was a modified AMCR track, but now I think it was one of these.
I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
On The Lead Lap
Posted 06 June 2024 - 11:26 AM
Don't see Altech listed. We still race on our 60-year-old 220' Altech Titan at Trains and Lanes.
Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 06 June 2024 - 11:29 AM
Chris, I could only grab the ads Philippe had posted.
Maybe Don Siegel can locate an Altech ad in his magazine collection to post here.
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Headmaster of the asylum
Posted 06 June 2024 - 11:34 AM
Here's a pic from a 12-year old thread here at Slotblog. Note the company name is spelled 'All-Tech' on this promo photo.
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
Posting Leader
Posted 06 June 2024 - 11:52 AM
Were Altech or All-Tech and Engleman connected or one and the same? Or am I confusing companies and names?
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 06 June 2024 - 12:52 PM
As I suspected, Jim Honeycutt looks to be the guy to answer your question.
It also appears he alternativly calls it All-Tech and Altech.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559
Posting Leader
Posted 06 June 2024 - 12:59 PM
Not only a lot of builders, but several different construction materials. Didn't know that there were so many in Illinois. I now have a lead on who built the track in my town.
Also, proving just how popular commercial tracks had become, many of the builders offered complete packages to set up a raceway. Sales counters, showcases, cash registers, tables and chairs were often included so that you could have a complete business ready to open.
This is the Elmhurst track the best that I can remember. The building size was scaled off Google Earth. It hasn't changed over the years.
Posting Leader
Posted 06 June 2024 - 04:12 PM
From the ads, I can see a change of names in a few companies.
I raced on a Miniature Grand Prix (the long one with the esses on one side) in Wheaton, IL, in the early 1960s. JK (Jerry Kulich) helped me salvage the same track from storage in 1991. The previous owner said it operated from 1960 to 1967, when it went into storage. It was an open bottom, all-wood (particle board deck) construction. One of the ads said 'all new fiberglass' construction in 1966. The ad for H&H shows the MGP designs in their ad without any dating. I had an ad for Miniature Grand National in 1960 being made on the East Coast.
That pre-fabbed plastic slot idea always intrigued me, but never have seen one in person. The particle board of 1960 would be considered waferboard today.
Larry D. Kelley, MA
retired raceway owner... Raceworld/Ramcat Raceways
racing around Chicago-land
Diode/Omni repair specialist
USRA 2023 member # 2322
IRRA,/Sano/R4 veteran, Flat track racer/MFTS
Host 2006 Formula 2000 & ISRA/USA Nats
Great Lakes Slot Car Club (1/32) member
65+ year pin Racing rail/slot cars in America
Race Leader
Posted 06 June 2024 - 04:47 PM
Why do you have an ad from New American slot car tracks? That was way into the late '80s-early '90s and was just John Ford trying to make people think he was a continuation of American Model Car Raceways when in fact there was no connection at all.
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 06 June 2024 - 05:05 PM
Philippe Point had it in his original Facebook post.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559
On The Lead Lap
Posted 06 June 2024 - 05:30 PM
Why do you have an ad from New American slot car tracks? That was way into the late '80s-early '90s and was just John Ford trying to make people think he was a continuation of American Model Car Raceways when in fact there was no connection at all.
I wa wondering the same. I only raced on one New American track (King Cobra located in southern New Hampshire) and although it looked great, it had the worse transition out of the donut into the straight I've ever seen. The owner wazs trying to fix it (shouldn't have had to, it was a brand-new track) but I don't know if he was able to. I only raced there twice before I found a much closer track in Claremont, NH. I couldn't see driving 3+ hours and getting there on time to wait till 11:00 to start because the local racers (some of them, not all) couldn't get there until 11:00.
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 06 June 2024 - 06:01 PM
Personally, I always gave John Ford a lot of latitude because I really felt he was very, very instrumental in keeping slot car racing alive in the early '80s, until it caught it's stride again.
I'm hoping this thread doesn't turn into an expose on his track business promotion and building expertise.
I'd like Cheater to chime in on what he thinks.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559
On The Lead Lap
Posted 06 June 2024 - 06:42 PM
Grand Champion Poster
Posted 06 June 2024 - 07:13 PM
To be clear, I 'm not saying publishing a magazine is a license to sell tracks people are unhappy with.
I'm just saying I bit my tongue and think this thread should be more about all the cool tracks that were marketed in the '60s.
PS: I was the one who spotted this thread on Facebook and suggested it should preserved on Slotblog, where someone will easily be able to find it three or more months from now.
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559
Checkered Flag in Hand
Posted 07 June 2024 - 03:47 AM
That pre-fabbed plastic slot idea always intrigued me, but never have seen one in person. The particle board of 1960 would be considered waferboard today.
We had one track with a plastic slot 1972 - late 1980. It was nice but gluing didn't work. The plastic tended to pop up, especially in the banking.
Village Luddite
Posted 07 June 2024 - 09:49 AM
My friend's dad made a two-lane oval out of the Sara track advertised above. I'd guess it had a lap length of around 25 feet. It also had banked turns on each end, and was easily the first 'punch-bowl' I ever ran on.
I am not a doctor, but I played one as a child with the girl next door.
Posting Leader
Posted 08 June 2024 - 02:28 PM
Hi Greg,
It's interesting about the flexible materials used back then.
Thanks for sharing all that info, Greg. It sure is appreciated!
Ernie
Race Leader
Posted 05 August 2024 - 02:44 PM
Here's proof that slot car racing was the pet rock or beanie baby of its day. Although we'll never know, it would be very interesting to learn how many tracks each of these companies actually produced and sold. Most of these ads appeared in 1966.
Several of these companies were unknown to me.
Images grabbed (with permission) from a Facebook post by Philippe Point.
Wow! That's some track. Does anybody remember racing on one like this?
