32 replies to this topic

[LindsayB]

Hornsby (near Sydney, Australia) - Slot cars opened up somewhere in the mid-'60s. The tracks were replaced in the early '90s but the location has remained the same.

[Mbloes]

That track in Australia is one sweet looking "pocket" track.

 

I know it. Do you punch it "down" the hill?

[Robbie Cordo]

The railroad store in Saint Paul, Scale Model Supplies has:

 

"Check out our original 1960s commercial tracks: one is a dragstrip; one is a 8-lane tri-oval; and one is an 8-lane Engleman."  (220' with S curve.

 

The Engleman is great for wing cars but the patrons pretty much only run hard bodies.  I am the standout with my wing cars and cucs and supercucs

 

But they shut it down for the summer (2019).  I do not know its current status but the owners are train and plastic model guys, not slot car guys.

[NSwanberg]

Interesting place. Stopped by Scale Model Supplies this summer. How long have they been there and how long have the tracks been there?

[stoo23]

With regard to the 'pocket track' in Sydney,..

 

I know it. Do you punch it "down" the hill?

Yep !! You Sure do !!,.. is basically Flat all the way Up around the Donut and down the straight into the bank !!

 

We used to race Grp20 Wing cars on it years ago but regularly race GT1's and Retro's on it now.

it is a Great track, with a really good rhythm to it.

 

Having raced in a number of 24 hour races on it as a young teenager,.. it is One of My Favourite tracks,.. reckon I could almost Drive it Blind-Folded,.. LOL

 

has been in it's current location for many years, but was initially near where i currently live, on the NSW Central Coast (North of Sydney) and is from the Early 60's,.. Slotbaker can fill in more details than I I'd venture

[stoo23]

Also, as Lindsay mentioned in an Earlier 'post', Hornsby Slot Cars, currently referred to as HSC by us regulars, was My 'Home' / Local track when I first started out as "Waitara Raceway" and whilst sadly (at least with regard to the beautiful super smooth 10 lane flat track) the original tracks are gone,.. it is still there after all these years, as are some of the other tenants of the building !!!

Talk about a 'Walk down memory Lane', Especially as it is IN James Lane !!,.. lol and strangely also Now owned and Run by a James !!

 

It initially opened around late 1963 I believe.

 

An Early Photo of the Original 'Counter', with the original Owner and 'builder' of it's 2 x tracks Kevin Thurston and his Wife Marge.

can be seen here; http://forum.ascra.c...t=1338&start=15

 

Sadly, I have Not been able to source Any photos of the 2 x Original tracks

[Michael Jr.]

The railroad store in Saint Paul, Scale Model Supplies has:

 

"Check out our original 1960s commercial tracks: one is a dragstrip; one is a 8-lane tri-oval; and one is an 8-lane Engleman."  (220' with S curve.

 

The Engleman is great for wing cars but the patrons pretty much only run hard bodies.  I am the standout with my wing cars and cucs and supercucs

 

But they shut it down for the summer (2019).  I do not know its current status but the owners are train and plastic model guys, not slot car guys.

 Went and watched a Hardbody race on the Engleman at the web page. Pretty track. It has that double wiggle coming out of the low turn, not sure how I feel about that. But hardbodies would love that track I believe. Good long straight runs and plenty of room not to crash into each other if you can drive at all.  I would love to see a break down of what classes favor what tracks. Probably so subjective it could never be done. But in principle I think wings like space for speed and hardbodies to keep from breaking their cars. Flexi cars and of both 1:24 and WOMP would be my choice on the tighter or smaller road course tracks and the King. Oval of any size could be Hardbody or Flexi but small ovals wouldn't be my favorite for Wing. WIng needs some long straight runs to really maximize the whole design of a wing car.  All my observations from watching and not first hand racing and I don't pretend to even be close to correct. Just thinking out loud on a blog after watching that video. Hard to imagine they put that track away. It should be out racing somewhere.  I love the Engleman. I don't understand why it doesn't get more press.

[Vay Jonynas]

So are there any that still remain post-COVID?