159 replies to this topic

[RomanK]

P, the wisdom of the banking thing was maybe a little ahead of it's time, BUT...

In another thread I invoked the sacred name of Mr. 27, Randell Webb, and to show how far reaching that wisdom of banking being BAD.

One day we showed up at the track, and out front was Randell smoking a cigarette, and someone asked when he was racing 27, to wit he answers, "I'm racing right now". Meaning he had glued his lane in so well all he did was rubber-band his controller WIDE OPEN, and took a smoke break for 2-3 heats. In those heady days of unlimited gluing, it started becoming real clear that with punchbowl tracks and air control, it all comes down to who can spend the most buying direct from manufacturers and who's in the good old boy club, getting the pick of the PK arms!

There is even a track I know of that used turnbuckles tied to the floor to increase banking, to get faster lap times with less driving. At that point what's the point of racing, let's all just dump out all the cash in our pockets and light the piles on fire and the one that burns the longest wins!

I'm curious as to who moved his car and controller between heats while he was outside smoking.... I'll bet PA, Jim HT, Tony G or one of the Porfirio brothers can tell me, I'm sure that some or all of them were there, what year was this?

I wasn't aware that Dan Miller ever had a Group 27 arm.

As far as turn buckling a track. it is typically done to stabilize a track rather than to increase banking, think about it, with sidewalls installed, just how much banking do you think you could actually crank in without breaking something. They do move around quit a bit though, especially with high speed wing cars so stabilizing them by tying them down does in fact make them a better track to race on. Give it a try and see what you think.

[Phil Hackett]

We are in the South, and with Texas Motor Speedway in our Back Yard,and so much Sportsman Dirt Car Racing in the area, our little Quad Oval is quite popular, so much so I've banned Black cars and the #3 we had a race not to long ago where over 1/2 of the cars were Black #3 Dale Sr. cars and GOD HELP YOU if you have a gold and Black #13, and you're outside of me but no no road race track will generate as much revenue as a drag strip, EVER ! Find me a track that averages 140 cars / week on any road track, and I'll never mention the Revenue per sq foot GAP again

Not trying to highjack a thread... you should call P.A. Watson and ask him how he took care of the oceans of black #3 cars in a race and it had nothing to do with banning the #3 and black......

[Rick]

When I had a real popular 4 1/2" NASCAR class going, one had to register their car number/color. I too did not want 6 black #3's. But There were many colors under the #3. Black, Orange, Silver, gold . THis way every single car was different. I also think it was responsibile for the growth the class had......./

[Rickard Five]

I'll bet your customers that had that #3 car banned were real happy.

That was sarcasm just to point out how everyone want's to be Dale Sr. in a NASCAR race!

[Rick]

Uh, Rick... the Blue King as well as all the others with "color" were ALL American Racing tracks. The question was, who is the INDIVIDUAL who designed the things.
And no one knows.

Seriously, what's the difference who designed it? It is the best design and the most popular, then and now. Not everything must be have a tag on it..................

[Rickard Five]

..........Isn't a manager/owner of a raceway racing against his customers kind of a bad idea? and nerfing them? perhaps a new way to grow a customer base.

As an Employee of the raceway I ALWAYS observe the GOLDEN RULE, I NEVER EVER for any reason RACE in my Raceway. As a raceway employee I am a Semi-Pro, I accept Money to work with Slotcars, and I have unreasonable access to Parts, equipment, and track time. Other Racers see that and it would be wrong to compete with our customers!

Now at another Raceway, if you come to the dance wearing my dress then Game on Baby. I don't even Drag Race at my track!

[Greg Williams]

I raced at a Tom Thumb in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1967 that featured a Blue King along with all the other colored tracks. For a brief while some of the tracks had those steering wheels but it converted to controller hookup and plugs while I was there. I remember going up to the counter which was a couple of feet higher up (just the right height to stare at Cox Chaparral 2E, Russkit chassis kit with 2 bodies, Revell GT40, etc) and asking who designed the tracks. The guy didn't know but said it was all American Raceways.

I travelled around in 68 and 69 racing USRA Grp 20 and 7 and lot of races were on Blue Kings. The reason we raced on them was they flat out were a lot of fun! The other tracks were okay, hillclimbs had marshals blocking our view but were cool coming off the big banking into that hairpin. But as far as dificulty racing against Cukras, Von Ahrens, Stuebe, Rule and the factory guys on a Blue King and trying to get the most out of the hairpin on red after the banking or the left at the top of the hill on black was enough challenge for me.

But that was before excessive glue, huge sidedams and spoilers and you could SLIDE BABY!

Besides the Blue King at Vandalia, Ohio was right next to a resturant that served up the most primo hamburgers!

[TSR]

Seriously, what's the difference who designed it?

Seriously Rick, that's your answer to Bertil Bergreen who asked a simple question?

[willy wonka]

Does any one have a idea as to how many original kings are around? I knows theres ours at rt93 and at TT In columbus.

[Ron Hershman]

Does any one have a idea as to how many original kings are around? I knows theres ours at rt93 and at TT In columbus.

There is also one in Texas in operation.

There is a "King" track at Trains and Lanes in Easton, Pa.... but not 100% sure it's an American King

I can't think of any other ones in operation at the current moment

[willy wonka]

Thanx ron thats pretty low would you know how many were made and how long? Would like to find out info about our track.

[TSR]

There is the one at Buzzy's, possibly the most original remaining... still with its original bridges and Formica!

[Mad Mexican]

Amigo Willy,

When you had the track apart was there any markings or ID's that was found on the track.
Just was wondering if that had any catalog ID or serial number on the track

Thanks

Adios Amigo

[Ron Hershman]

There is the one at Buzzy's, possibly the most original remaining... still with its original bridges and Formica!

Is it up and running?

[Ron Hershman]

Thanx ron thats pretty low would you know how many were made and how long? Would like to find out info about our track.

No idea how many American ever made and pretty sure no one has the production "records" telling how many were ever made.

They started making them late 1965 and American was done sometime in 67.... so maybe a year to a year and half along with all the other different layouts they made.

[Champion 507]

Ron said:
"There is also one in Texas in operation."

Waxahatchie, TX to be exact, about an hour south of Dallas. SUPERB restoration by it's owner Lonny. It is a private, non-commercial track but Lonny is a super guy. My son and I ran on it last June. Had a ton of fun.

Check this out:

http://excoboard.com.../148496/1851850

[willy wonka]

That king is in great shape!! Thanx ron and doug for sharing the pics.

[Champion 507]

Lonny says the track has it's original formica sides. They couldn't find any formica made nowadays to match it. Lonny owns and runs a body shop. As a matter of fact, this used to be one of his body shop buildings. They spent hours, days and weeks sanding and filling all the battle scars the track had acquired over the years. Then Lonny had his painter come in and match the paint and try to replicate the formica finish as close as they could. After seeing it in person, I think they were extremely successful.

[Rickard Five]

There is also one in Texas in operation.

Yea Lonnie's raced at our tack a few times, I'm hoping for an invitation, some time before I have to give RL (TEX) his Retro F1s back I also know of BRAND NEW untouched Cox Lotus Kit, I'm going to acquire and Build to run on that track if I ever get an invite maybe in April when the scale series comes to Wylie

[Larry Mattingly]

Only three American Blue King tracks are in operation, and two of them are in the state of Ohio... only two hours apart.

One more reason that Ohio is the slot racing capital of America...

Yesterday driving back from visiting antique shops in the Buckeye state my wife asked me: 'Why does Ohio have so many tracks, and why is slot racing so popular there compared to Pennsylvania'?

Good question... I had no answer.

LM

[MG Brown]

Having lived in Ohio- one could argue that there is nothing else to do with one's spare time.

[Ron Hershman]

Having lived in Ohio- one could argue that there is nothing else to do with one's spare time.

Then there should be 20 alone in Indyanna.....

[Ron Hershman]

Uh, Rick... the Blue King as well as all the others with "color" were ALL American Racing tracks. The question was, who is the INDIVIDUAL who designed the things.
And no one knows.

Pappy called..... said it was Herman P. Finklemeyer

[Ron Hershman]

There is the one at Buzzy's, possibly the most original remaining... still with its original bridges and Formica!

Yep the American King at Tom Thumb Hobbies also has it's original bridge "fences" and Formica too!!!!

[Larry Mattingly]

Having lived in Ohio- one could argue that there is nothing else to do with one's spare time.

So, what is your excuse for hanging out in slot car tracks in Chicago?

LM