46 replies to this topic

[eshorer]

I had two former members of MESAC over today to talk about the club and look at some of Roger Moon's cars from that era. Roger Moon is on the left. I currently race with him in the Farrout club. Roger Uusitalo is on the right. I currently race with him at Buena Park Raceway with the Hardbody Racing group.

 

Eddie

[Dennis David]

Look forward to reading all about it Eddie, but was that all you treated them to was a couple of soft drinks?

[eshorer]

Actually, some homemade soba in a miso broth with ginger and lemongrass. But that aside, check this out!

 

 

Eddie

[Dennis David]

Cool

[Ecurie Martini]

I was thinking that for many of us the MESAC track is smilier to John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid is for the train guys, an icon in our history.

I remember the Gorre & Daphetid.  Additionally, I was astounded the learn, on moving to Baltimore, that the B&O Railway museum houses many of the Mel Thornburg scratch-built locos chronicled in Model Railroader of the same era.

[MattD]

The real disaster is the G&D got destroyed by fire shortly after John died.    There s a great book of photos that was done and it is the main link to his great RR.   Several years ago I read the book was going to be printed again, but I don't know if that ever happened.  I found a copy years ago but it wasn't cheap.  

 

mb

[Dennis David]

And so the legend of Allen's model railroad is similar to MESAC, the unobtainable ideal, an icon for our hobby. I know both Philippe and Ed will do the track justice.

[don.siegel]

I'm putting up a couple pictures of MESAC that I had in my photo library... (sorry if any are duplicates)

 

 

 

Hmm, thought I had the article in MC&T too, but will have to scan... 

 

Don 

[Dave Crevie]

It is generally rumored that the Gorre and Dephetid was torched to avoid any infighting among the guys that

helped Allen build the railroad. John Allen professionally built miniature railroad sets for the film industry, and

his use of diminishing perspective and mirrors on his layout really could only be appreciated when viewing

the layout in person. Back in the '60s I belonged to the Northern Illinois Society of Model Engineers, and we

participated in a "private road" boxcar exchange with other modellers who had freelance railroads. We sent

one Canyon Central ( John Kissinger's railroad ) and one Intermountain Railroad (John Guest's railroad ), 

and Allen sent two different G&D cars to us, one of which I have. Very many of John's methods for weathering,

ground clutter, and backround modelling stuck with me, and which I used in building my layout. It is cool to

see those methods used on club slot tracks.

[MattD]

I don't believe that rumor.   I think the facts point to a space heater or something of that sort.

[Lisa Moon]

Anyone know how Roger Moon is doing, or how to get in touch with Chuck Hooton or John Luthi? I haven't seen Chuck or John in 20+ years, and the last time I saw Roger was at least five years ago, shortly after his wife passed away, at Autobooks in Burbank, CA...

Hi Stuart, 

 

My dad, Roger Moon, sadly passed away earlier this year in January.  

 

Lisa Moon

[don.siegel]

Hi Lisa, 

 

Very sorry to hear that, please accept my condolences. 

 

Don 

[Rob King]

Sorry about the old thread, but I saw this on face book... 

Attached Images

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[M. Skelley]

Cleaning up the basement and have been coming across some of my dad's stuff (Leo). Here is a race schedule that shows all the configurations of the track. I will post up more stuff if I think it would be of interest to the group.

 

Thanks. 

 

[M. Skelley]

I found a blank  "MESAC Concourse / Tech Inspection" form and some that had been filled out. My Dad ran the #21 in yellow and black and his buddy Bob was #12 from what I can remember.

 

https://photos.app.g...3wSk6zZpo75e9T6

https://photos.app.g...1v4bkNLiGqWMjS9

https://photos.app.g...YurMRNYiYy6KnA9

https://photos.app.g...NsptzV6KK6sFTp7

https://photos.app.g...Y15FvrcHfAVm6L6

[M. Skelley]

I also have the rules and regulations from 1969 but I need to find a way to upload them. (12,570 KB PDF)

[M. Skelley]

Here is a scan of a 1 1/2" x 2" club decal.

 

https://photos.app.g...VkKtoAh1xiGmXU8

[don.siegel]

Great graphics - any reason for the Dragon theme? 

 

Don 

[Bill from NH]

Was the track with its various layouts designed & built by club members? At least one former club member use to post on here while he was still alive.

[M. Skelley]

Sorry, I wish I knew more but my dad has passed and I was probably between 5 and 7 when I went there. I remember what a big deal it was to be able to climb into the tower and watch the race with all the lights going off and the pit lanes opening and closing. My mom has a bunch of slides from that time that I have not been able to find yet but once I do I will check to see if there are any of the track and digitize them.

[don.siegel]

Thanks, that would be great. 

 

Don 

[Martin]

Great stuff Mike, I wish more racing gave points for good looking cars. Hope you find more pics of your Dads (Len) slot racing stuff.