7 replies to this topic

[muskie^man19]

With the 50^th HOPRA “Golden Anniversary” National Championship event in June, I am trying to find many old racers from across the span of the past decades.  `As I focus on the legendary Michigan HOPRA series, I need some help. Many old racing friends I have never lost contact with, many others I have found, but there are some I continue to search for. I know there are many old HOPRA racers from the Michigan heyday of the 1970s here on SlotBlog and I thought I’d make this post to make sure I reach as many HO slot car racers as possible with several goals in mind.

 

While my primary focus is on those that raced in the first Nats in 1975 in Independence, MO, and also those that were champions in any year, in any class – I want to make sure that all the old racers and friends know that they are not only welcome to attend the 50^th Nats in Auroa (great city name, right?!), Ohio, but offer any help that I am able to provide regarding logistics or the racing schedule.

 

This week-long race will be one for the ages to remember.  In addition to a full racing calendar every day, there are special events in place, and it should be noted that there are two races that feature hand-out cars, so simply show up, pay the entry fee and get out on the track!

 

https://www.hopra.net/2025

 

Michigan HOPRA was one of the key foundational states.  I am seeking contact information for some old pros and iconic racers and would appreciate contacting me if you have any leads for: Merrill Rowe, Dave Pratt, Bill Thayer, Keith Van Atta, Mike Garrett, Dave Livesay, Tom Sherry, and many others.

 

Spread the word, let me know, and most of all – come to the Nats!

[muskie^man19]

[muskie^man19]

[muskie^man19]

[muskie^man19]

[muskie^man19]

If anyone has any Michigan HOPRA schedules from 1970-73 I would appreciate hearing from you. ````I have dates and location for much of those early years, but I am looking for printed material from back when...

 

[MG Brown]

I only remember one Michigan HOPRA race run in Battle Creek MI, but that was a LONG time ago, and I could be mistaken.

IIRC the HOPRA event was run at Cereal City Raceway, my A/FX track was used which was a 4-lane A/FX "Clubman" without the banked turn, bus battery power and TCP lap counters (before computer race directors). Thank you to all of the HOPRA racers who showed up Friday night to work the kinks out of the track.

I think that was the only A/FX track used for a HOPRA event that season.

Quite a few racers from the Chicago and Detroit areas were in attendance. I had quite a few photos from the 1970's- both HO and commercial 1/24, but they were destroyed in the flooding that followed the 1980 F3 tornadoes which struck Kalamazoo MI. Of course in those days, digital photography was uncommon, so when the prints and negatives were lost, so were the images. Of course, any newsletters, posters, tech sheets and the like were lost also.

[muskie^man19]

MG - There were two Michigan HOPRA races as shown in the schedules above, one each in the spring of 1975 and 1976.  I was part of the Chicago invasions.  The 1975 race saw huge attendance as excitement was building leading up to the first ever Nats.  I finished second that day to Kim Bartholomew.  That 1975 race ran VERY late into the night.  In 1976 it also was before the Nats.  I won the overall Pro Michigan championship that year, winning races in Ionia at Marty Thalison's Bronze Man Raceway and in Muskegon on Gary Rider's home track, (which I later purchased) running Joel Pennington builds.  Joel won the 1976 Nats and I placed third.  Sure wish you had helpful history documentation!  Especially those old photos...  Let me know if anything ever turns up anywhere or if you might help with the names I posted above.  Appreciated.