299 replies to this topic

[Mopar Rob]

So you saying you don't need to road trip to MA now? And I was going to ask you to swing through Chicago and pick me up on your way there

Crab cakes and lobster rolls. I need to move to MA, but my wife wants to move down to your neck of the woods.

[Mike Patterson]

I think this thread needs to be moved to the "Slot Car History" forum. Great stuff!

[spudboy]

Richard Payne, the owner of Modelville Hobby, just sent the following update -

The wall to make MVH area is up. It needs finish and paint.
The floor is promised to be finished Friday, October 1.
The first-ever made Sovereign (Purple Mile) is at its new home in Ashland. I wish I looked that good after 45 years.

Gerding is coming to set up the King, the Figure 8, and the Sovereign starting Monday the 4th.

We are hoping to be open the last week of October and all should be good for the NECC race.

The hoped for re-opening is later than we racers wished for but, fingers crossed, we'll be running again at MVH in a month's time. I've got an itch to race Retro.

For those not aware, NECC is New England Championship Cup. They race Jr, Sr, and Outlaw Grp 10 as well as 4.5' Stockers and GTP. Their web page can be found HERE.

[Dominator]

Thanks for the update, Nate. Sounds like I'll have to start building some more Retro chassis and even a Jail Door to try out some true Retro on this nostalgic mile.

[redbackspyder]

Yes, Gus, they were Mura controllers.

[nicky 65]

All we need now is for Buzzy to take the AMR Emperor 220 out of storage and we'll have two old raceways back in operation.

Lets put the pressure on Buzzy...

[Lenjet]

Behold the famous Mura controller.

[MG Brown]

Lets put the pressure on Buzzy...

Good luck with that! Buzzy's his own man and wouldn't hesitate to share his thoughts with you on the subject (whatever they might be).

[John Stezelecki]

Can't wait to see the photos of the Sovereign as Gerding starts to assemble it in about two weeks.

[Jerry Ward]

All we need now is for Buzzy to take the AMR Emperor 220 out of storage and we'll have two old raceways back in operation.

Anyone have pictures of this track when they had it up and running?

Jerry

[Alchemist]

Hi Peter,

The Sovereign is the Sovereign from Playland-At-The-Beach. Now what makes this more special is not only Playland’s fame and but the history that the building that housed the track went through.

That is copacetic news! I lived 40 blocks north of Ocean Beach where the track was located and I ran my cars on that track as often as I could - saving all my lunch money. What an incredible story, which brings tears of joy for me!!! I just told my wife about it and she said "Road trip!!!" Too bad I no longer have my Modelcar Raceway Trophies!!! I was there for the grand opening and the sad closing of the place.

The Playland Raceway orange track was where they held most of races. I ran across the orange track in the early '80s. It was housed in the Mare Island Hobby Shop located in Vallejo, CA. It closed many years ago and I wonder what happened to that track!?!?! It makes me wonder what happened to all the other tracks that were there?

Ernie

[Gus Kelley]

Hey Ernie!

I'm with you, Bud!

Gus in Sacto

[John Stezelecki]

Alchemist,

Do you know when Mare Island Hobby Shop opened and when they got an orange?

Thanks,

Stez

[John Stezelecki]

It's my understanding that Gary Gerding arrived in Ashland today and Jim Silknitter is arriving Tuesday to start working on the Modelville tracks.

[ravajack]

The Sovereign track was first announced and revealed to the public in the September 1965 issue of Model Car Science.
The same ad appeared again in the October issue of MCS, and also in the Model Car & Track and Car Model magazines



An updated version of the Sovereign ad was issued in November, in all the major slot car racing publications back in the day,
Model Car Science, Model Car & Track and Car Model. A fourth magazine, Model Car & Racing, had yet to see the light of day...

[John Stezelecki]

ravajack2,

In many ways you're correct. The track was first advertised in September and became part of the American catalog of tracks in September 1965. Officially it was released to the public when it was assembled in June 1965 at Playland in SF. Many people in a very short period of time had a chance to play on it before American decided on making it part of their collection of tracks for sale.

[spudboy]

I was at MVH last night and again this evening.

Gary and Jim "mocked up" the Sovereign yesterday to establish where it will fit in the space. Apparently Gary had never seen one before and he seemed eager to have a look at it. It fits the space nicely and is in good shape, but still needs a moderate amount of work. There is a little damage due to moisture but not a lot.

It has two different surfaces since the oval was resurfaced to replace the donut on the black at the Texas raceway. The big bank registered 57 degrees on the inclinemeter and around 22 degrees in the fingers. Dimensions and such may change some as work is completed. All of us who had raced on the Sovereign at the original MVH think it looks a little different, but we were all 40 years younger and shorter of stature. The purple formica vs the wood paneling of the previous MVH track certainly makes a visual difference as do the 24(?) ft ceilings at the new raceway.

It is my understanding that Gary will not start work on the Sovereign until November, after he returns from a job overseas. He wants to be focused on it for as long as necesary so he will postpone the work until then. Peter took some photos and I expect he will post them soon.

Today Gary and Jim set up the King track. For someone who only raced an American blue King it is certainly different with a bit of a pinch and swoopy turns in the donut and lead-on. Unlike the American track the big banking is lower than the lead-on and the whole of the straightaway is banked. It think the plan is to refurbish it over the next week or so.

Tonight we moved the pieces of the Figure 8 out of storage and prepared them for Gary to assemble.

Stay tuned.

[Alchemist]

Hi John Setz!

Mare Island Hobby shop had been open for quite a few years. I had dropped in, perhaps late '70s or early 1980s. For some reason, I'm thinking more that it was the very early '80s. It was certainly a wonderful surprise for me since that was the track I raced on as often as I could afford to.

Wish I knew what happened to it?!

Ernie

[John Stezelecki]

Alchemist,

We know that Doc Gibbs received all five SF Playland tracks in or around 1980. So they went from Playland to Houston then into storage until Doc received them. He sold the yellow and orange. Kept the purple, black, and red. I'm guessing that is when the Island Hobby Shop got the Orange. Where those two tracks are today remains a mystery.

Last night Peter Lentros, Bill Silknitter, and Gary Gerding came to Nantasket Beach to play on the HO Nuvolari Engleman. We were shown some great photo shots that Peter took of the purple and King in mock-up form. Peter took a great sky shot from the bank side looking out. This is a reverse photo of the track which has always been shown from the donut looking out. Really cool!

Gary indicated that the King will be up and running by late today. Spudboy indicated that they started to roll out the figures 8. I'm hoping to see all them mocked up by the time I get there Friday.

I hope to get out to Modelville Friday and Monday. This will give me a chance to really see the set up first hand.

[Tex]

If your history is correct, I can't help but wonder if the red American I cut my racing teeth on in Houston is the one referred to above, and about to be sold (or already sold) by Buddy in Odessa(?).

Good times.

[Lenjet]

The Sovereign and the Gerding King. More later.

[John Stezelecki]

Peter,
Nice pictures of the Purple and Gerding King.

Tex,
If you cut your teeth on the American Red in Houston track owned by the Davidson's at the Bellaire Raceway, then yes, it's the same track owned by Odessa and originally came from Playland.

[Mopar Rob]

That's one big a$$ track!

[Mad Mexican]

Amigos,

This is a track you need to put on your bucket list!

Adios

[Victor Poulin]

All I can say is holy cow!!! That is one bad a## looking track.

I hope to team up with Bill from NH in up coming weeks, and take a run down for a day to check things out. I'm really impressed with not only the track, but the history behind it. I can't wait to see it live!!!

Vic