44 replies to this topic

[mjsh]

John,

         As you can see by the Revell layouts above your track is  NOT a Revell track. The red color was added when the track was in Manchester,GA. When I first saw this track in Jonesboro in the late 80's I'm

sure the track was blue.

[Daytonaman]

Thanks for the input Michael.  I must disagree with your assessment on the origins of this track.  The research I have done goes way beyond the color of the track, which has changed many times.  The west coast racers who are familiar with the track, such as Tom Hansen are of the opinion this is probably a Revell design.  Although not in the catalog dated Jan 1966, this track could have been built as a custom at the end of Revell's production run.  According to Gus Kelly who raced regularly at C&M in Sacramento, the track was set up in 1967.  On another interest, when I purchased this track in the early 90's, there was another track in the barn in Manchester that was very badly water  damaged that I did not get.  Do you know anything about this track? 

[mjsh]

John,

 

You are the one basing the possible origins on the color of the track, not me. Get in touch with the person who had it originally in Jonesboro ,GA, and get an accurate history, not opinions on a blog.

 

The second track was added from a trip to Florida by the co-owner who showed poor judgment.

[S.O. Watt]

Per my post in the "Where did you race as a kid?" thread, Revell bought International Raceways in Orange, California apparently to get the expertise of the young man who built a fabulous custom commercial track for his Tustin Avenue hobby shop, which he sold with track to the better-remembered Mr. Knapper.  Plus International already had a production shop up and running.

 

 

But note that the F.O.B. point is Orange, California, where production Revell track modules apparently were routed, painted, braided, wired and assembled IMO.

I used to ride my bike (A purple Stingray) past that site in Orange a lot. I always thought it was where AMRCs were built but I can't say who's tracks were built there, just that tracks were built there. Miniature Gran Prix tracks may also have been built there.......?

 

 Revell had one design feature that stood out in my mind- Vertical turns. This feature was probably the worst thing they did. The track at "Gun's Fun For Everyone" in Phoenix had "the sewer", a big dip going under the bridge, that track was similar to a Blue King. It was like a larger version of the "Sebring", it even had 8 foot straight aways in the donut making it like a "Purple Mile" donut.That feature you can see was used on most all their designs.

 

I do believe that there were many tracks built by the majors back then that were never in a catalog.

[tonyp]

One of the three raceways in Jersey City had Revell tracks. The small one king shaped had that dip under the bridge and the bridge had a hump. Basically un-runable back in 1966. I guess thats why everyone rather race on the oval even though at that time you had to run the whole race on one lane.

[Daytonaman]

Sorry to have offended you Mike, I am not questioning your knowledge of the track while it was in your area.  The track did not originate in Jonesboro.  It came from North Augusta, SC before going to Jonesboro, Ga.  around 1987.  It's last known location before that was in Sacramento, Ca. in 1972.  As for opinions on a blog, I don' t  think I would dismiss the memory of major west coast racers as just an opinion.  When I set out to find the origins of this track, I tried to keep an open mind but really thought it was an Engleman.  After looking at all the evidence of track design, comparison to Revell pictures of construction, location of origin and testimony of racers familiar with Revell tracks, I can come to no other conclusion than  this is a Revell track.  If you can prove otherwise, I would like to see the proof.  If it quacks like a duck, waddles like a duck and looks like a duck you don't need a DNA test to prove its a duck! 

 

John

[team burrito]

"If it quacks like a duck, waddles like a duck and looks like a duck you don't need a DNA test to prove its a duck! "

 

 

aflac!!!

[rewinder]

over the years the rumors existed that one of the yellow tracks still survives hidden away, not free from termites. someplace in Denver Colorado. it was rumored to be the only surviving of the 3 tracks in the hey day of  the big  sports complex of af Denver sporting arena of Denver Blvd long since redeveloped  they say that was the yellow Revel  anyone know????????????

 say is hoist down canadian olgavby 130 fter still at Excalibur????

[drrufo]

 Ron, where was Pop"s in Compton? I raced at a track that was on the corner of Alondra and Long Beach Blvd.  I woud walk to there fro my aunts motel near GreenLeaf. It wasn't much of a walk and I remember a pace next to the track that was like Pic N Save. They had a stack of Jaguar D type models in 1/24 scale that were priced really cheap..

 

 

John Andersen

[Phil Hackett]

John,

 

I didn't get to Rosecrans Raceway's (Pop's) original location but the relocated track was on Tamarind Avenue, one block north of Compton Blvd. The buildings are all gone. The track, today, would be in the middle of a parking lot of a major retail center.

[Brian Frobisher]

This is very interesting, I never knew that Revell actually sold these tracks commercially.

 

The photo of the power supplies brings back memories as does the one of the control panel where you connected your controller.

 

I remember walking past what used to be a "Thriftimart" with my brother and him noticing them building the huge tracks at what would become Revell on La Tijera, I was less than 10 but spent many an hour in there racing and watching races.

 

I remember a track called the "Regal" it was the smallest of the tracks at Revell if I remember well.

 

I also remember they had a "Lap Counter" on wheels that they would use for tournaments to keep track of laps, (Not sure how that actually worked)

 

Thanks for posting.

[Daytonaman]

Does anyone know how many Revell tracks were made?

[tonyp]

They were made with no thought for how cars would run on them or marshalling them under the bridges..

[Ramcatlarry]

They were made with no thought for how cars would run on them or marshalling them under the bridges..

Very expensive learning curve makes for good firewood

[Daytonaman]

According to the catalog, the Monaco was the only one that had the infamous gutter bridge that was difficult to marshal.  The other bridges do not appear to be any worse than the modern low clearance bridges now in use.  Still would like to know how many Revell tracks were made.

[Jesse Gonzales]

Roger U. the track in Tucson was a Revell Monaco and at the time it was known as "GunnSlot" the owner was Gunnar Steele. In later years he moved it to Campbell Plaza and renamed it "Guns Fun for Everyone". A carload of guys from Phoenix went down to race with the returning CA racers, we were all short and flat track racers so that didn't work out well.

[Phil Hackett]

According to the catalog, the Monaco was the only one that had the infamous gutter bridge that was difficult to marshal.  The other bridges do not appear to be any worse than the modern low clearance bridges now in use.  Still would like to know how many Revell tracks were made.

 

The Laguna Seca also had a "sewer". It was located about 2/3s down the back straight. Many marks on the side of the track where cars committed suicide....

[Jesse Gonzales]

One of the CA guys (Larry?) that was a buddy of Lee Gilberts and was a health enthusiast hit the sewer so hard everyone heard it and winced. almost as much as when I launched and left an impression of my car on the back wall. had a great time racing with some of the SoCal guys. Mike Steube had a Porsche that he and his wife drove over in, nice car. The Agurrire's developed a fondness for the Fanta Root Beer at Gun's, great guys to race with.

 

Suicide was the best description you could give for those tracks, very fast and quirky.

[Dale Littlejohn]

ok new member here was reminded of the revell racetrack in inglewood.

i am the owner builder and 1/2 of the driving team that won the last two races held at that racetrack.

kinda neat to see that some people still remember that place.

[Isaac S.]

Found this pic in a magazine-1966