25 replies to this topic

[MG Brown]

Something I have wanted to do for some time is to revisit buildings that had slot car tracks in the period 1960-1980.

 

A "ghost track" that I raced on a few times was on Beloit Road near 69th street in West Allis.

 

I believe that the shop name in the day was "Hank's Hobby and Bike Shop". They had an original American Raceways T-slot King track and an American yellow (If I recall). They also had a pinball machine and at least one vending machine. They were next to a local tavern that served 50 cent ten-ounce beers. We would slip over to the tavern for a couple after qualifying and if we didn't make the move up, or after we were done racing for the day to have a few more before the long drive back to Michigan.

 

Here is what the storefront looks like today:

 

 

Note that the sign that says "A.S.C.Milwaukee" has exactly the number of blocks to spell out "155' Blue King" which is what I remember the sign saying.

 

Here is what the tavern next door looks like today:

 

 

I recently ran across these two gems that have ties to Hank's:

 

 

 

If you have any recollections of this "ghost track" or stories to share about your racing experiences at Hank's, please share them here.

[JohnnySlotcar]

Ask Paul! I went up there once as a hot shot JK racer and got my *** kicked.

[brnursebmt]

I raced at that track and drank at that tavern! I believe it was the '81 Nats. I was 17 years old and we would go over to the tavern and drink the 50 cent beers! 
 
I was with Wally Flemming and Jimmy Joye from Team Trinity. I remember a lady lifting up her shirt to show the crowd in that place!

[MSwiss]

Second to the last time there, was on a Sunday.

 

IIRC, it was quarter beers and free (breaded) chicken wings.

 

I threw a $5 on the bar, bought everyone a round, and drank and ate for free the rest of the afternoon.

 

Back to Hank's (Kleist)

 

Along with hosting the '81 Nat's, they were host to weekly hardbody racing on the orange track, with the stretched Womp chassis, supposedly the inspiration for the FCR chassis.

 

Lucky Bob was the mover and shaker in that group of racers.

 

Famous is the sign in Lucky Bob's Raceway "This isn't Hank's", an answer to the persistent declaration by the old timers,  "Well, Hank used to..."

[slotcarone]

There is a building in Hopewell Junction that I am told was put up in the '60s for a raceway. I will post a picture next time I drive by. Also in Spring Valley a building that is now a mower shop but a few people have told me it was a raceway. Will get a pic next week.

[SlotStox#53]

Wonderland Raceways along Southend seafront in Essex UK. A very popular raceway upstairs above an amusement arcade.

They had their own huge track and possibly a monarch reading somewhere, although can't remember where. Then they replaced them with the blue King from Tottenham Model Raceways.

Was huge in the '60s & '70s with slot shop for their own parts to just an arcade with a solitary slot track upstairs.

Have to get my dad to go have a look to see how it is now but here's a couple of modern shots at different times and how it was back then. 

[Bob Kolenda]

I allways liked to race at Hank's. We would pile into my friend's van and travel from Michigan to Beloit for the monthly races on the King. The annual Octoberfest was allways a big race and the tavern was a little too convenient.

I remember watching the pro qualifying after some of the  pro racers had been "waiting" at the tavern. A few open cars took hard shots to the wall bending the chassis. I guess the cars were about 3 or 4 feet faster than the drivers.

We tended to limit our celebrations until after we were done racing.

[tonyp]

I remember making the trip to Hank's for a race. There was a track call in the middle of the main because Hank had a customer who was buying a bicycle. I remember we found this little chili place in the area that made the best chilli ever.

[Gil Aubin]

I am five minutes away from the old C&C Raceway; somehow the building is still standing. I will try to get some photos this weekend.

[Dennis David]

Interesting thread. I sometimes look for old raceways but many have been completely replaced with other buildings out here on the West Coast.

[Gil Aubin]

Imagine my surprise when I stopped by C&C raceways and saw an historical plaque erected!  What was recognized - Joel's 501 laps? Tony P. ripping all the braid off in order to complete a motor change? A toilet too dirty for a truck stop? Nope.

 

[Gil Aubin]

Up that steep and very narrow stairway (apologies to A Chorus Line LOL) - I still remember Andy Crotty being carried up the stairs by his dad.

 

Think of the famous East Coast and even Mid West names that entered - Montague, Keil, Cotton, Limpach, Bogut, Laster, Boyington, Tony P. Provetti, Sohl, Kaaren, Boltizar. Greenaway, Hochdorf, DeShong, and of course Big Time Cannonball Langley Smith!

 

Noose, did you ever make it to C&C?

 

[Gil Aubin]

The parking lot may actually be a little cleaner than it was 40 years ago. 

 

Hey wait, is that Brucie Bus? Nah...

 

[old & gray]

I remember climbing those stairs many times. I wondered how there could be enough structure left to support a track.

[tonyp]

I remember going up there years after the track closed when Bob Emott bought the King track and carrying it down the stairs in the dark. Pretty spooky at night.

[Bill from NH]

I went up those stairs a few times. As for Brucie Bus, I once got to push that thing at Jewett's Raceway in Westbrook, ME, so Joel could start it and head back to VA or MD. That was about 1975, give or take a year or so.

[tonyp]

Loved that place!

[tonyp]

Mark's King had a standard surface but tons of power; it held the blue King 40 minute record first by me then Joel. It was probably the fastest non-epoxy surfaced King.

[Dennis David]

That parking lot looks like a Superfund site. ;-)

[Bill from NH]

You ought to see that parking lot in the spring. It had mud up to your axles. The business in the building down front only allowed their customers to park in their area, which was dryer. We first paid them a visit and spent a buck to become a customer, then parked there all day.

[tonyp]

I remember at one Octoberfest race, Gelman and Bob, don't remember his last name but he built controllers were drunk and wrestling in the mud in the parking lot.

There always was a keg of beer for the Octoberfest.

[Gil Aubin]

There is a permanent tag sale going on in the space off to the right.  A year or so ago I stopped in, they let me into the back where the track used to be.  I wasn't sure it was the right place until I saw a Calchera sticker on the wall  Obviously the place has not had a lot of tenants since then LOL.  I will see if I can get there when the tag sale is open, maybe try to get some pics inside.

[tonyp]

When I was there with Bob, it looked like they built some ways for storage areas and the raceway seemed to be partitioned off. But that was a long time ago and there were no lights, we were working with flashlights...

[tonyp]

Sebring Sport Center, home track of Mr. Noose and Mr. Evil 4 engleman tracks.

 

The original Nutley where all the history was made is now part of the shop rite parking lot.

[slotcarone]

I have been told this building was a raceway in the '60's. In Spring Valley NY.

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