188 replies to this topic

[RobbyG]

Is the former Hagginwood (Sacto CA) Red American still around? It was the only "B" model I ever saw. All the standard models had the D donut. I can remember some remarkably fast racing on that old Red.

[stevphens]

Two years ago there was an original American Blue King set up near Nashville, Tennessee (Madison?). About 15 years ago, Les Wright had an original American Red (Imperial?) set up in London, Kentucky. Does anyone know their whereabouts now?

[John Streisguth]

There is a place in Quakertown PA that I think may have a Royal 95. I'll make a point of checking it out after I get back from the R4.

[Tex]

Click on the link below and scroll about halfway down. The post is dated March 6, 2009 and you can see pics of the Imperial; Dean says it was not setup at that time but that they still had it. I'll PM Dean and ask if they still have it.

http://excoboard.com...s/78017/1541937

Dean confirmed they still have the Red Imperial in storage.

[RobbyG]

There should be a Winsor Yellow and a Monarch Orange in the San Angelo Big Spring area of Texas. They were sold off by Doc when he got all 5 of the Americans given to him from an Odessa storage warehouse ~81

In the mid 1970s there was an American Orange set up in the lobby of the only movie theater in Colorado City Tx. It had copper tape, weak batteries, and only about half the lanes ever worked.

[S.O. Watt]

Yeah, the one time I ran on that track, I thought is was a very fine vintage old red.

We came down from Seattle and introduced steel cars with struts instead of wire rear ends about late (or mid?) 83. 1st ones seen on the west coast, Beuford and Donnelly were amazed very young adults

I had last run on a red out in West Covina at House of Hobbies, usually referred to as House of Hurt, in late '69

Morrisey had declared all stock reds as undriveable and not suited to "todays" cars

Is the former Hagginwood (Sacto CA) Red American still around? It was the only "B" model I ever saw. All the standard models had the D donut. I can remember some remarkably fast racing on that old Red.

[nicky 65]

Nicholas,
Are you sure about the second Buzz-A-Rama King? Do you know if it has been redecked?

John,
Thank you for confirming the Royal's move.

Richard,
Thanks for remembering another one. Let me know if it's still around.

I spoke to Buzzy this weekend and he indeed has a second blue king in his basement ..............It was purchased from a raceway owner on Long island who had it in storage, and did'nt want to pay to keep it anymore . So Buzzy took it of his hands so it wouldn't go to the trash. he also had the old steering wheels, but wouldn't part with those.

[nicky 65]

There is also a black regal in storage on staten island .............it is in poor shape. It was 4 sale on ebay about a year ago and it didnt sell. I dont know if it is still around .There also is a AMR aristocrat at the race Place in farmingdale Nj that is up and running.

[Mike Patterson]

Nicholas,
Thank you for confirming that Buzzy has another King.

I will be updating the list after the R4 this weekend.

Keep on the look out for those American tracks!

[John Stezelecki]

The infield on the American Sovereign wsa completed br Gerding and Silky this week. They found a real nice green carpet that will look perfect for the track. They will be resurfacing the American Black Royal. That may have already started the resusrfacing.

[Tex]

You'll have to get past my inability to get camera settings right; I neglected to change the light source setting, so everything looks blue!

Here's some pics of the American King set up at Lonny Getso's All Scale Raceway in Waxahachie. It still needs some finishing touches, but we raced it this past weekend and I WON THE VERY FIRST RACE HELD ON IT!!! I will say that the track was faster than what I thought it would be; the dead-man and finger were absolute blinders(fast!).

Lonny is putting up a barrier in the 90 to prevent cars from hitting the floor.




Some pre-race practice:




Donut and lead-on:




Now, THAT'S a flat lead-on!




Jerry Boswell practicing on purple:




David Neal practicing. You can see the launch ramps, though they've been tamed a bit when the track was resurfaced:

[Mr. Frank]

GREAT Pictures!!!! What color is the surface on that king tex???

Mr. Frank

[Rhett]

It is a very light grey, looks like he used a foam roller, but I forgot to ask. The track had very little spray glue and was very hooked up and easy on tires also.

[Tex]

I didn't think to take a picture of a unique feature of this track: there is an overhang(for lack of a better term) of about 6" hanging over the bank. If a car deslots on the straight and climbs the bank, there's only one way out... back DOWN the bank, probably in pieces. Does anyone know if this is an original feature on American Kings?

[Jacob Shiplet]

On the Tom Thumb blue king in columbus there is one.

[MSwiss]

Tom Thumb also has a "shelf".

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[Mike Patterson]

Tex,

That overhang is indeed a standard feature on Kings, and it works exactly as you describe. And yes, the errant car is usually in pieces, or at least, very bent .

Thanks for the photos. Tell Lonny that there is supposed to be an infield covering the open areas of the track, like there is in the finger and the donut. Check out some of the photos of Tom Thumb and you'll see what I mean.

And congratulations on the win!

[Tex]

The overhanging shelf on Lonny's track is thicker than the one Ron is leaning on. It could well be that Lonny fabricated as needed if the original was damaged. Or, I guess he could have acquired the track with the thicker piece already attached. Whatever; still a good track.

[Bill from NH]

Is this the same king track that Ken Stevens had stored in the Houston area & was willing to give it to anyone who would provide it a good home? I thought I had heard that one went to someone in OK, then came back to TX.

[Champion 507]

Yes, Bill, this is it. It went to Lyndle Smith here in OK, then Lonny got it from him.

[slotcarone]

The top shelf in the bank was on all original blue King tracks. Anyone who raced on an original red track will know the reason why it was put there. On the red track cars would launch on the bumpy straightaway then ride down towards the bottom lanes then shoot up and over the bank and fly on to the floor. At the raceway where I raced as a kid you knew you were really fast if you flew off the bank and you made it all the way on to the pool table!!!

[Ron Hershman]

I have seen a couple of American Blue King without the "Shelf" and didn't notice any screws where they would install. So not sure if those tracks originally had a shelf or they only came on "later" American Kings or they were removed over the years if they originally had them to being with.

I know the "econo" paneling sided Kings did not come with a shelf.

[Ron Hershman]

Oh and this American King is looking very nice....job well done and super job well done on the formica sides.... they look brand new.

[Rick Davis]

I didn't think to take a picture of a unique feature of this track: there is an overhang(for lack of a better term) of about 6" hanging over the bank. If a car deslots on the straight and climbs the bank, there's only one way out... back DOWN the bank, probably in pieces. Does anyone know if this is an original feature on American Kings?

During the late 60's we raced on two American Kings one at Shores Raceway (St. Clair Shores Mi. ) and Hobby Stop West in Toledo and it sure seems like my memory tells me one of them did not have the shelf.

[S.O. Watt]

Another nice touch on the originals that is still on this one- The holes in the guard rails.

I rermember them holes with a big smile....

....drum roll please.....

There was a 12 hour enduro at Speed & Sport in 1970 for opens, and I teamed up with Cukras and Schimdt. Pete was our motor guy and pit dude. Somewhere around the half way point I'm running in a middle lane and Lee Gilbert is on the inside through the bank, maybe orange and blue. I was having a problem getting by him with our slightly better car, and Lee was refusing to let me by. After a couple of times being held up for laps by Lee , I just let him have a nice nerf in the donut.............

That gentle nudge sent his car through one of the holes in the donut wall (the holes that are actually smaller than a car back then)........ he didn't return with it until the during next heat and was never in our way again.... or in the way of anybody!

btw, beautiful job on this one!