81 replies to this topic

[ingram]

Hope everyone is having a good start to the year.
 
Things have been extremely slow in getting this thing up and running. I have been so overworked that I simply could not give it the time and energy needed.
 
Unfortunately the extra time of not being open and having some type of income to offset the extra cost has now caught up with us. It is time to bring in additional cash flow which will take time away from working on the track/shop. We are not changing our long term plans, simply being realistic about what we need to do to survive.
 
The sad part is I am confident that if I opened tomorrow there would be more than enough money to take care of everything. We are continually getting calls and visitors patiently waiting for us to open.
 
So... I will continue to update as we go. It would be nice to open by early spring but we will have to see how things progress. Currently the lower level is together and almost level, a few more tweaks and I should be happy.

[Samiam]

Alan,

 

Good luck in opening your Raceway. I wish I lived close by. As a slot car enthusiast and racer, I as well as other like minded slotters would be glad to volunteer our time and resources to help you get up and running. We know what goes into keeping the raceway running. And if not for people like you, where would we race?

 

Support your local raceway. Or you won't have one. 

[ingram]

Thanks, Sam.

BTW donations are always excepted and appreciated. We even have a "thank you" program in place.

[ingram]

We made some changes to our floor plan and put the tables up. Comfortable room for 22 pit spaces out front with overflow in the back room. The drag strip has been reduced to 1/8 mile and will fit nicely along the left wall. Picked up a very nice tall display case for a little bit of nothing. We also finished refurbishing the original display case that we had purchased. The large back counter/cabinet will get a facelift. The top will get covered in a orange and white checkered laminate and roll-out drawers will be added. The cabinet closest to the door will get a glass top while the other grey cab will simply get cleaned up a bit and top painted.

 

I look back over this thread it is amazing how much things have changed. This whole project started as a club and quickly changed and morphed. We were going to set up in a garage space that was pretty cheap. Now here we are a year later, I still have the garage but we have moved and have an 1,800 sq ft retail space. Our overhead has more than doubled and we still haven't been able to open. The positive is that we are starting to see it come together. We sat and had our dinner at the pit tables last night going over our plans and soaking in the store. It's pretty amazing!

The downside of all this is I haven't hardly touched a car for most of the year. I really miss the racing. Starting to consider trying to make the D2 Nats this year. It's a long shot, but we will see.

 

 

 

[Cheater]

Thanks for showing us the progress you've been making, Alan.

[ingram]

I forgot to mention we will be here Saturday and welcome any visitors/helpers that want to come by... there might even be pizza involved.

 

I'll be downstairs by 9 but have to leave for about an hour around 9:30. Should be back by 10:30-11.

[Pappy]

Alan,
 
I had dinner last week with the friend of mine who lives in Cleveland and we talked about your raceway. He said he drives by occasionally to see if you are open yet, so you have at least one customer. LOL.
 
I'll pass the word on about Saturday
 
Butch

[ingram]

So....
We are here but due to the road conditions it's unlikely we will see anyone else. Pure ice out there.

If the roads/weather get better come by or if your just that brave/crazy....we are here.

[Pappy]

My friend was going to stop over but if the roads are that bad I doubt he will. Lest he forgot. 

[ingram]

The weather really messed up the day..My 10:00 got moved to 1:00 and I have to leave again at 4:00.....

Have him give me a call anytime
423-308-9924

[Pappy]

Thanks, Alan.

 

I sent your phone number to him.

 

Butch

[ingram]

Looking back over this thread I see that we are coming up on a year!

 

Way too long, but unavoidable. Things are still moving slow but they are moving.

 

With the snow we had, no one showed up for our "work" day sooo... we are going to have another. Next Saturday, March 14, we will have an open work day. Any and all who would like to help are welcome to come by, or just stop in to check out how things are going. I will be downstairs from 8-4 and we will order the appropriate number of pizzas to make sure all are fed.

 

Let me hear from you if you're planning on coming.

 

Alan Ingram

(423) 308-9924 

[ingram]

Schedule change... instead of this weekend, 3-14, we will have an open work party next Saturday 3-21.

All are welcome to come help or just visit.

Thanks,

Alan

[Pappy]

Hi Alan,

 

Haven't heard anything lately about your raceway. Are you open yet?

 

Butch

[ingram]

Trying to get drag strip open by next month.

 

Follow us on Facebook, Cleveland Hot Slots.

[Pappy]

Thanks, Alan.

[ingram]

Took a week off and spent the whole time working on the store. Realized last night I hadn't put 20 miles on the odometer! The good news is great progress, we could have the dragstrip open in October

Switched to an 1/8th mile drag strip(44' overall) and have the bulk of it built. Check our facebook page for pics and more details.

[Michael Jr.]

Keep at it! Lots of TN, NC, SC and GA cross traffic.

[ingram]

Well its been 2-1/2 years since my last post...
 
A job change last July has made this thing possible again.
 
Here is where I'm at:
 
The Hillclimb is just in too rough of shape. The upper layer will take too much work to make right. So for the short term I am going to make a single level layout. The far large banked turn will come back and jog over to the small flat turn towards the front of the store. Should be fun as it will require a little bit of driving.
 
No idea of time frame butthe work has started again. The store is a mess but that will change soon.
 
At some point a custom Hillclimb is in the plans...

Stay tuned.

[Courtney S]

We can't wait. If you need anything, just ask.

[Bernie]

PA Watson in Houston, TX, has a Hillclimb for sale...

[ingram]

Thanks, Bernie.

I've actually talked to him. Its size is a concern, I have limited space.

A custom track may be the answer, but until then we will get this one going, hopefully soon

[ingram]

Well, we have made progress!
 
The shop has been cleaned up and the new configuration has been laid out. I'm raising the whole track up a few inches and still need to build the controller stations. The three new joints will require some work for a smooth transition and the whole track will get sanded, new paint, and the braid fixed.
 
I'll post pictures as soon as I get it leveled out

[Cheater]

It's not a raceway, it's a career! LOL...

[SlowBeas]

I'm excited about your shop, Alan. As a former Chattanoogan, I occasionally visit friends in that area. I'd love to have a slot track to visit with them, so that they can learn a little about this addictive hobby!
 
Best of luck.

jb