295 replies to this topic

[Rick]

I do not know this first hand. Was before my time with slots. But in the South Hills in PGH, in the 60's, they had a 330' track.......It was also an Engleman/Altec style shape....

[Bill from NH]

When I started commercial racing in 1967, there were several Mr. Raceways tracks in Maine. I think the raceway at Woodfords Corner, Portland had an Indy 300. I was only there a couple times. My home raceway in Brunswick hada Mr. Raceways LeMans, about 135'. We ran that track backwards, going out of the bank, so any launched cars didn't hit the store's plate glass windows.

[TG Racing]

Does any one know how many of the Indy 300 tracks were made, or survived?

[Jeff Bechtel]

The standard flat 90' track with humps and "D" doughnut was the Regal.  The banked 95' track without humps and round doughnut is the Royale. 

[Joe Mig]

Hey Sam take a look see at the first page.

[Bob Appelle]

When did they reverse they lane colors on the drivers panel. Black is on the left of the drivers panel when facing the track in the photo from Phillippe . Bob

[PCH Parts Express]

Good question, Bob. When we ordered our 1995 blue King we had the factory (in Canada) put black on the left side. 

[MrWeiler]

Thanks, Ron, for posting those pictures! At Bellflower Raceway in CA they had an Aristocrat Track. I really enjoyed that until 1994.

Would you let us know what was the first track at Tom Thumb? (I remember it as being orange?)

Capt Zombie - out

Jeff,

I think that picture was taken at the Tom Thumb Panorama City (factory demo store) in the San Fernando valley. There was one of each of the tracks excpt the 220 ft layouts. The first time I went I was in Jr High and there were still steering wheels on the Blue King (gone by my next visit).

My first visit was in 65ish when I was still in jr high and there was a two-hour wait to get on any lane on any track. You got no choice, you took what ever lane opened next. If you didn't want that lane, you went to the end of the waiting list. Sellers market... the good old days...

[Cheater]

Pretty interesting item popped up on eBay today. See this LINK.

 

 

Never even knew these existed. Did anyone?

 

(edit - 10/9/18....adding a pic with more track designs)

 

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

Yup. I have a couple sets of them. They came with graph appear to help design your new raceway.

[slotcarone]

When did they reverse they lane colors on the drivers panel. Black is on the left of the drivers panel when facing the track in the photo from Phillippe.

 

Bob,

 

We had the flat black track at the first raceway I called my home track. Must have been 1964 or '65. We ran that track clockwise going down the donut. Maybe that is why the drivers panel is reversed. Also there really was no "standard" at that time yet for lane colors.

 

By the way we raced Monogram midgets on that track!!

[TSR]

Never even knew these existed. Did anyone?

 

Greg,

 

They were part of the 1966 promo kit. They are around.

[Cheater]

Learn something new every day... if I'm lucky!

[Rick]

When did they reverse they lane colors on the drivers panel. Black is on the left of the drivers panel when facing the track in the photo from Phillippe . Bob

 

Bob, 

 

IMO that is the correct way to do it. You can see your car the whole way around black.

 

The King is the one that is backwards. KIngs are so much better with the reversed drivers panel...

[Paul Drewry]

I also remember racing at a track in Ithaca, partly owned by a Cornell professor (I think), that was located on the second or third floor in an old brick sail manufacturing building that's still there as you drive into the city from the north.

 

Being a Ithaca resident, I'm curious about this. I know it's a long shot, but what road were you driving in on? I'm trying to picture what building that could be.

[MSwiss]

Pretty interesting item popped up on eBay today. See this LINK.
 
models.jpg
 
Never even knew these existed. Did anyone?

Is the green one in scale with the rest?

[917-30]

The track in Ithaca, NY that I mentioned way back was in the large three-story brick building located on State and Seneca Streets, where Rt. 79 comes in from the north. There is a large faded painted sign near the top of the building that says "Ithaca Sign Works". They apparently made all sorts of signs and other unique items early in the century that are still collected today. My son goes to Ithaca College, so every few weeks I see the building and wonder whatever happened to The Pit Stop raceway. Someday maybe I'll stop in (there are active businesses in the building) and see if anyone remembers anything about it (though I'm sure I'll be met with blank stares when I describe my search, after 40 years). I would really like to know what happened to the tracks, which were an American Aristocrat (wood paneling on the sides) and (I think) a Royal/Black. There was not much more room left, with the counter/display/track control area centralized between the tracks, where the entrance was. On my 2nd visit, I brought money and bought a Phaze III anglewinder chassis (thank you Keith Tanaka), a Champion Orange Picker (26 wire?), and accessories, and put it together at the track - with the predictable dismal results for a novice 1/24 racer (I was experienced at HO, though). My dad brought us a few more times (I was probably 13), but the place didn't keep regular hours, and it was a one hour drive, so I think we started going to Rochester and Syracuse, which were the same distance from home. According to the 1967 Car Model "Vacation Race Place" track list, there was another track in Ithaca called Ithaca Model Raceways, but no other information.

 

When I drive by that old building, I do find myself imagining that the American Aristocrat is still up there on the 2nd floor, waiting for someone to reopen the track.

[Paul Drewry]

The building you have mentioned was the one I was thinking of. I'm making it a point of driving past it tomorrow.  If I see anything looking like a track, I may have to pull over, least I cause an accident from the excitment. I'll also find out who owns it and what it's being used for. Who know it might be sitting in someone's barn.

[917-30]

Paul, I'll be interested to see what you're able to find out about the old building in Ithaca. I can't remember what side of the building that the track was located in - facing the main road or toward the back of the place. Whichever side it was, there were a number of good sized windows along the length of the room, facing out. So, the back of the Aristocrat may have been visible from outside. Good luck!

[Paul Drewry]

The building now houses offices for the Racker Center a "special needs" school.  I might check with city hall on past ownership. Ithaca is huge on salvaging so who knows? Also sent an email to Racker Center. well see if they respond.

[Paul Drewry]

The track in Ithaca was called "Pat's Amusement's". From what I've been able to find in the directories, it lists Pat's as having two locations over the years. Maybe they moved at some point.

[Steve Ogilvie]

Were Elmsford tracks by Al-Tech? Didn't think they where Englemans.

 

Sorry if I jumped the gun on this but but I did a bit of work for Lou and he told me his tracks were custom made Englemans.

 

Altech was the company Stan started after he sold his first track company. He avoided his non-compete agreement by building mirror images of the same designs.

[Steve Ogilvie]

Good question, Bob. When we ordered our 1995 blue King we had the factory (in Canada) put black on the left side. 

 

I think you remember the factory was me. It was to get better visisibility on high banked Kings, and the other builders did it, too.

[Steve Ogilvie]

I am kind of wondering how to shuffle off in to that great good night. Should I go out screaming at the inequities sent my way or just reveal it at all and give you all my secrets?

 

I am not going to live forever and I am willing to answer all your track building questions. My company built over 500 tracks; there is nothing you can surprise us with. So ask away...

 

Steve Ogilvie, the world's largest manufacturer of eight-lane commercial slot car racing tracks.

[mjsh]

Hi Steve!

 

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your work and innovation. I some how ended up with in my opinion two of your best tracks. The orange and the Incredi-King you built for Larry Tucker in Warner Robbins, GA.

 

All of the modern hi-speed Kings owe a debt to that design. What was the inspiration? To fit in a particular area?

 

I do remember another similar King and a black went to the Nashville area; the black was very well-executed also.

 

Thanks!