11 replies to this topic

[Cheater]

I'm guilty of rarely going over to Keith Tanaka's Phanfare picture site to look around and was chagrined when someone pointed me to the material linked below.
 
Keith Tanaka shouldn't need an intro to most here. He has the 'props' as one of the grand old slot racers from the '60s, but besides that he's a terrific photographer and can cover a slot racing event better than just about anyone. (Keith, you're not a tourist any more... it's OK to leave the camera home every once and awhile... LOL!)
 
While there is an enormous amount of photos and other material at his site (mostly covering racing and other activities at his home track, Buena Park Raceway), there some hidden gems and the link below homes in on one of them.
 
The event being covered is Steve Foster's Slotfest held in 2009 at Foster's Scale Raceway in Santa Maria, CA, but the real treasure is the few wonderful pictures of Steve's personal slot car museum included in the event coverage. Some of the stuff shown I've never seen before and other items I only recently saw in person in Mark Mattei's collection in Chicago. The presentation is certainly museum quality.
 

 
Wish someone could visit Foster's and document his museum thoroughly for a stand-alone post here at Slotblog...
 
If you have the time, it is well worth spending a couple of hours going through Keith's site. Be sure to read the capsule history of D3 Retro racing on the left side of the home page, i.e. click 'view full description.'
 
A good way to view this is to click 'start slideshow' at the upper right.
 
Foster's Slotfest 2009

[tonyp]

Nice raceway!

[MattD]

Thanks for this info, Greg.

[Tim Neja]

I had no idea Foster's was so nice!! I can't wait to get moved up there in a couple of years!!

[MattD]

What a great facility Steve Foster has. Too bad he only races two days a week. Such a nice place should have racing five-six days a week. I am envious of guys that have someplace that nice close by.

[PCH Parts Express]

The best time to go and race at Fosters is (most) Thursday nights. All racing is done on the Paperclip. They has SRT timing and scoring. Nice place and good times. They run the track counter clockwise.   

[Cheater]

What a great facility Steve Foster has. Too bad he only races two days a week. Such a nice place should have racing five-six days a week.

I believe Steve's place is an adjunct to his paint and body shop, thus is only used when the body shop is closed. (Someone please correct me if I am wrong on this.)

[PCH Parts Express]

Only open most Thursday nights to hold their regular races. 

[MattD]

Greg,

 

It is in/next or around his body shop, that is mentioned in some of the info online. They said interest had fallen off and that is why they have cut back their racing nights.  

 

Too bad, that is a nice set-up to set there deserted five nights a week.

[PCH Parts Express]

The locals seem to really look forward to Thursday nights.  

[Mbloes]

Scott is correct - I just called and they are literally only open on Thursday evenings.

 

I was thinking about making a road trip up there but so much for that. Too bad - looks like a nice place.

[Mark Wampler]

What a great facility Steve Foster has. Too bad he only races two days a week. Such a nice place should have racing five-six days a week. I am envious of guys that have someplace that nice close by.

 

Hey well, not quite. We race Thursday nights. Several years ago when Larry Shephard was racing, Mondays and Thursdays were race nights.

 

Steve has a tribute area dedicated to Larry's amazing work. Participation dropped off, so we race Thursdays.

 

Yes, Steve has lots of cool and original hardware from back in the day. I keep saying we need a museum race night. Get fresh rubber on those jalopies and lets race.