While the 90 second commute has been nice, my current location will never be longer than 64 ft., which prevented me from building a full-length drag track.
I've been lucky enough to get the opportunity to move to a larger, deeper location on super-high traffic Ogden Ave.
Yesterday afternoon I signed a three-year lease for a 4,800 sq. unit at:
17B West Ogden Ave.
Westmont, Il. 60559
The new location has two long spans which should allow me to build a 1/4 mile drag strip with plenty of shutdown along with, hopefully, a permanent gravity track for Pinewood Derby/Hot Wheels.
There might also be enough room for a small oval/rental track.
For local area racers, I'll be located north and east from my current location (approx. ten minutes) just west of Cass Ave., on the south side of Ogden, between Pizza Hut and Classic Kitchen & Bath.
I'm almost halfway between the Ogden exits at both I-294 and I-355, being a tiny bit closer to the 294 exit.
I'll be moving in mid-April.
Some series races will have to be moved back or cancelled.
Sorry for any inconveniences.
My new landlord and I reached an agreement, in principal, a few months back, but both of us have been real busy (she's an accountant), so the lease wasn't finalized and signed until yesterday.
Chicagoland Raceway now in Westmont
Started by
MSwiss
, Apr 03 2014 07:42 AM
245 replies to this topic
#1
MSwiss
-
- IRRA National Director
-
- 25,916 posts Joined: 16-April 06
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Male
Posted 03 April 2014 - 07:42 AM
- n.elmholt, Peter Horvath, Jocke P and 1 other like this
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 692 Citadel Drive, Westmont, Illinois 60559
#2
Noose
-
- IRRA National Director
-
- 23,311 posts Joined: 08-November 06
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Male
- Location:Denville, NJ
Posted 03 April 2014 - 07:45 AM
Wow. Good luck!
Joe "Noose" Neumeister
Sometimes known as a serial despoiler of the clear purity of virgin Lexan bodies. Lexan is my canvas!
Noose Custom Painting - Since 1967
Chairman - IRRA® Body Committee - Roving IRRA® Tech Dude - "EVIL BUCKS Painter"
"Team Evil Bucks" Racer - 2016 Caribbean Retro Overall Champion
The only thing bad about Retro is admitting that you remember doing it originally.
#3
The Groove
-
- Full Member
-
- 328 posts Joined: 14-December 08
On The Lead Lap
- Gender:Male
- Location:MI
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:06 AM
Congrats.
Rich Attee, THE GROOVE-PSC race team
PRECISION SLOT CARS - BUILT TO WIN
Check out my track at Precision Slot Cars
PRECISION SLOT CARS - BUILT TO WIN
Check out my track at Precision Slot Cars
#4
Pappy
-
- Full Member
-
- 14,119 posts Joined: 16-February 06
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Male
- Location:Oxford, OH
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:12 AM
I love good news. A 1/4 mile drag strip will sure help business.
Jim "Butch" Dunaway
I don't always go the extra mile, but when I do it's because I missed my exit.
All my life I've strived to keep from becoming a millionaire, so far I've succeeded.
There are three kinds of people in the world, those that are good at math and those that aren't.
No matter how big of a hammer you use, you can't pound common sense into stupid people, believe me, I've tried.
#5
Steve Deiters
-
- Full Member
-
- 2,311 posts Joined: 28-May 07
Posting Leader
- Gender:Male
- Location:Cincinnati, OH
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:15 AM
Mike,
Congrats on the new location. I like the overview with the expanded business model including a drag strip and the permanent Pinewood Derby track. The more diverse the business model blend the more everything supports each other. Good move/smart thinking and a more solid future for a commercial raceway in the Chicago area.
I guess I really have to put a Sano on my bucket list now!
#6
Cheater
-
- Root Admin
-
- 25,700 posts Joined: 14-February 06
Headmaster of the asylum
- Gender:Male
- Location:Norcross, GA
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:22 AM
Tickles me to death to hear of a raceway expanding, rather than closing!
That doesn't happen very often...
Great news, Mike!
That doesn't happen very often...
Great news, Mike!
- team burrito, Mark Mattei, Steve McCready and 1 other like this
Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
#7
Pappy
-
- Full Member
-
- 14,119 posts Joined: 16-February 06
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Male
- Location:Oxford, OH
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:39 AM
I like the overview with the expanded business model including a drag ship and the permanent Pinewood Derby track.
I've never seen a drag ship. Is that one of those gay Carnival Cruises?
- Steve McCready likes this
Jim "Butch" Dunaway
I don't always go the extra mile, but when I do it's because I missed my exit.
All my life I've strived to keep from becoming a millionaire, so far I've succeeded.
There are three kinds of people in the world, those that are good at math and those that aren't.
No matter how big of a hammer you use, you can't pound common sense into stupid people, believe me, I've tried.
#8
George Blaha
-
- Full Member
-
- 1,155 posts Joined: 07-May 12
Checkered Flag in Hand
- Gender:Male
- Location:Flushing, NY 11358
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:41 AM
Hey Mike,
Great news for a terrific slot car raceway! Ovals and dragstrips seem to be the mecca of the snowboarding generation and it will help get in more clients that will appreciate the talents of hardcore racers and innovators like you and your staff.
Shakey George
#9
kvanpelt
-
- Member at Peace
-
- 1,282 posts Joined: 29-January 08
Checkered Flag in Hand
- Gender:Male
- Location:IL
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:51 AM
April Fools was two days ago.
Kevin VanPelt
?/?/56-6/12/23
Requiescat in Pace
?/?/56-6/12/23
Requiescat in Pace
#10
John Streisguth
-
- Full Member
-
- 5,638 posts Joined: 20-November 08
Johnny VW
- Gender:Male
- Location:Bangor, PA
Posted 03 April 2014 - 08:57 AM
Ow, ow, ow...
Congratulations and good luck with the new facility!
Congratulations and good luck with the new facility!
"Whatever..."
#11
Gator Bob
-
- Banned
-
- 13,391 posts Joined: 12-April 11
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Not Telling
- Location:.
Posted 03 April 2014 - 09:12 AM
Go, Mike!
Sounds like a great plan and I wish you all the best of success with the move.
If you need any Cat5e CMP network cable, patch panels, or jacks I'll provide top name components from stock to you at no charge.
Sounds like a great plan and I wish you all the best of success with the move.
If you need any Cat5e CMP network cable, patch panels, or jacks I'll provide top name components from stock to you at no charge.
Bob Israelite
#12
SlotStox#53
-
- Full Member
-
- 4,084 posts Joined: 13-March 13
Posting Leader
- Gender:Male
- Location:TX
Posted 03 April 2014 - 09:22 AM
Great news, Mike. 
Good luck with the move and the larger location.
Now all we have to wait for is the range of Chicagoland drag chassis components.
Good luck with the move and the larger location.Now all we have to wait for is the range of Chicagoland drag chassis components.
#13
MantaRay
-
- Member at Peace
-
- 2,859 posts Joined: 05-March 06
a dearly-missed departed member
- Gender:Male
- Location:Chicagoland
Posted 03 April 2014 - 09:45 AM
Great news... congratulations!
Ray Price
11/4/49-1/23/15
Requiescat in Pace
11/4/49-1/23/15
Requiescat in Pace
#14
John Streisguth
-
- Full Member
-
- 5,638 posts Joined: 20-November 08
Johnny VW
- Gender:Male
- Location:Bangor, PA
Posted 03 April 2014 - 09:57 AM
Hey Ray,
How do you say that in banana language?
How do you say that in banana language?
"Whatever..."
#15
mazur50
-
- Full Member
-
- 106 posts Joined: 11-December 06
Mr. X
- Gender:Male
- Location:Bensenville, IL
Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:06 AM
Mike is this the new location?
Michael Mazur
"Mr. Excitement"
"Mr. Excitement"
#16
Steve McCready
-
- Full Member
-
- 113 posts Joined: 04-May 10
Mid-Pack Racer
- Gender:Male
- Location:Downers Grove, IL - slot car capitol of the world
Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:21 AM
Great news! Still close enough for me and the gang! And I do have some drag cars!
Hope you wont be closed too long, withdrawls will be painful.
See you Saturday!
Hope you wont be closed too long, withdrawls will be painful.
See you Saturday!
#17
spudboy
-
- Full Member
-
- 895 posts Joined: 14-January 09
Race Leader
- Gender:Male
- Location:Amesbury, MA
Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:38 AM
Tickles me to death to hear of a raceway expanding, rather than closing!
That doesn't happen very often...
Great news, Mike!
Mike, what Cheater said.
Nate "spudboy" Bemis
#18
John Miller
-
- Full Member
-
- 1,150 posts Joined: 12-November 07
This space for rent
- Gender:Male
- Location:Hartford, MI
Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:39 AM
Looking forward to seeing the new place. Congrats!
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan
#19
Tex
-
- Full Member
-
- 9,245 posts Joined: 07-July 06
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Male
- Location:Denton, TX
Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:46 AM
Congratulations, Mike!
Ray, you gettin' a promotion to Vice-President of Chicagoland Raceway?
Richard L. Hofer
Remember, two wrongs don't make a right... but three lefts do! Only you're a block over and a block behind.
Remember, two wrongs don't make a right... but three lefts do! Only you're a block over and a block behind.
#20
Gary Adams
-
- Member at Peace
-
- 416 posts Joined: 20-September 08
Old 'N Slow
- Gender:Male
- Location:The Twilight Zone
Posted 03 April 2014 - 10:47 AM
Fantastic news, Mike, many congratulations! All of that hard work does pay off, doesn't it? Just awesome!
Gary Adams
11/17/49-1/30/24
Requiescat in Pace
11/17/49-1/30/24
Requiescat in Pace
#21
Tim Neja
-
- Subscriber
-
- 6,846 posts Joined: 11-June 07
Grand Champion Poster
- Gender:Male
- Location:Paso Robles
Posted 03 April 2014 - 11:29 AM
Congratulations and good luck on the new location!! Awsome!!
She's real fine, my 409!!!
#22
alainprost22
-
- Subscriber
-
- 117 posts Joined: 06-February 07
Mid-Pack Racer
- Gender:Male
- Location:Pearl River, NY
Posted 03 April 2014 - 11:36 AM
Wishing you the best of luck, Mike ...
Al Pollack
#23
Mark Mattei
-
- Full Member
-
- 198 posts Joined: 21-September 07
Mid-Pack Racer
- Gender:Male
Posted 03 April 2014 - 12:07 PM
Mike is this the new location?
#24
slotcarone
-
- Full Member
-
- 3,993 posts Joined: 23-January 07
Posting Leader
- Gender:Male
- Location:Dutchess County, NY
Posted 03 April 2014 - 12:23 PM
Great news Mike!! Good Luck there!!
Mike Katz
Scratchbuilts forever!!
#25
Lumpy
-
- Full Member
-
- 48 posts Joined: 07-September 11
Rookie Keyboard Racer
- Gender:Male
- Location:Minooka, IL
Posted 03 April 2014 - 01:17 PM
While the 90 second commute has been nice, my current location will never be longer than 64 ft., which prevented me from building a full-length drag track.
17B West Ogden Ave.
Westmont, Il. 60559
The new location has two long spans which should allow me to build a 1/4 mile drag strip with plenty of shutdown along with, hopefully, a permanent gravity track for Pinewood Derby/Hot Wheels.
I just peed a little...
- Steve McCready likes this
Michael "Lumpy" Palonis
2013 Thee "last" Spec 12 National Champion
2013 USRA Division 1 Am Box TQ
International Brotherhood of Turn Marshals, Local 0
Race Director of Champions
