I was born and raised in Houston. I was probably 12 or 13 years old when I got a Cox Chaparral and went to my first commercial slot track on Bissonet(old Richmond Road), relatively near Holy Ghost Elementary School and the intersection of Bellaire Blvd. Before long, I discovered the slot racing establishment just about a half mile away, in Bellaire proper; it had something like 5 American Raceway tracks, including the Sovereign("Purple Mile"). That place was run by "The Davidsons". I was still just "playing" with slot cars then, not yet "racing". The Davidsons lost their lease or whatever and had to move from there. They moved over into Windsor Plaza, next to the "Pieces of Eight" pool hall. Now, THAT was good times. Summer of '68, just before I started high school. I was finally racing locally at that track. I was all of 15-years old, turned 16 in the Fall. I've recounted this story before, how it was a different time/era back then, not so politically correct. Even though I was only 15/16, when they closed up at night(during the summer), we'd go sit in the back of the place, away from the big plate glass window in the front, and the Davidson's would allow me to partake of a couple bourbon and cokes with them. There was a jukebox in the place and I kept Spirit's "Mechanical World" going as well as "Sunshine of Your Love"(Cream), "The Wind Cries Mary"(Hendrix) and "Crystal Ship"(Doors). Sweet memories. Anyway, I digress. The Davidsons attended the '68 Hemisfair race in San Antonio that summer, attended by most of the big pros. This was the first I'd heard of such racing! Locally, there were two "older" guys(probably only mid-40's) who built cars but didn't race themselves.... Homer and... and?... I don't remember. Their drivers were Joe and Ed; both were VERY good and the cars were FAST. There was also big Jim Brown, probably weighed 300 pounds and reputedly had 200 parking tickets in his white '62 Chevy. His racing buddy was "Fast Eddie". Then there was Larry Wilman. I can't say anything about Larry or else he'd have to kill me! Before long, I discovered Broadway Hobbies over on Broadway(opposite end of town), run by Lloyd Drewes. I met a whole 'nuther crowd of racers there. Ken Evans. Tippy cherico. Lloyd's son Carey Drewes. Bobby... Bobby?... can't remember his last name. Joe Calabretta. I drove for Joe once upon a time. Until after my debacle at Galveston. Sammy Shields. Sammy and I and our wives hung out together quite a bit. I also raced at the track on Buffalo Speedway(near Kirby Dr.) around this same time. That was a weird place. There were two slot tracks in the place(Engleman's, I think) but the place also sold all kinds of household knicknacks!? There were lamps hanging down, for sale, all arounf the tracks, with shelves of other junk like ashtrays and stuff all around the tracks. We'd be racing while little old ladies were walking around and shopping among us. Weird scene, dood. A guy named Tom Ugron opened up a track in Pasadena; had an American orange track. Bobby Taylor! THAT was Bobby's last name! Oops, got sidetracked with that random memory. Anyway, it was at the Pasadena track that I first met Richard "Iron Man" Gibson, "Coolman" Earl Quillen and..... (drumroll, please).... and? dang, I forgot his name... died relatively young recently... oh yeah!... Craig Landry! In the Houston racing heirarchy, I was not among the top racers(I hadn't yet learned to keep the car in the slot!). I was an "also ran", but I'd been around a while so I was "accepted". Earl, Richard and Craig were rank beginners at the time, so I was above them in the local racing food chain at the time. And I think the guy you mentioned was actually "Joe Sullivan". He had a track in Dallas and created "Dart" a thin, red track glue back in the day. Then I got married at 19, in 1972. February '73 was my last race, in Killeen. I ran a Group 20 arm and did pretty well. I learned to keep it in the slot a little too late it seems, and "that was that". Until April 2006.
EDIT: Clay, I just read your name at the bottom of your post. We've had this discussion before, right? Was that on the current Texas slot racing website? You said your dad was the original owner of Broadway Hobbies, right? I bet some of the current locals here in the DFW area like Tony Griffin will remember some of what you mention. Here's a link to the Texas website:
http://excoboard.com...9abb15a8c8fcd05 Scroll down and you'll see a forum for "Dallas Slot Cars"; Tony posts in there a bit(look for "tnt2").
