75 replies to this topic

[RodneyZ]

How many lint rollers left, Mike?

[Chris Dadds]

I am glad to hear that something came of this; after not hearing anything more from Robby about the project, I feared that interest had been lost.
 
I'll repeat what I said when I met with the two of you last fall - if you need something, I'm just a phone call away.

 
Thanks, Mick. When I hear of something specific coming up I'll see if I can get you involved in the solution, too. Robby, Mike, and their crew pulled together a really tremendous project with this. I'm not surprised if they may have sometimes seemed slow to respond or whatever.
 

Nice set-up, but still has a bit of finish to detail for operation. Did not have the tracks ready to turn on and let me test my cars, but I will get another chance later. A race director kiosk still needs to be installed to 'run the show'... suggested a lockable drawer in it for quick repair tools and spares with a task light. Hope the adequate room lighting is adjustable – it was evenly lit but a bit moody to race with.
 
(......) The tracks are larger than I expected they would be, larger than most club tracks could hope for.
 
(.......)

 
I'm glad you got over there to check it out, Larry. Sorry you didn't get a chance to run on them.

That version of the Corner Climb is 103 feet. The eight-lane version that was in your area was 160 feet.  The Little UK Black is 67 feet of corners that makes me thankful for the range of control the transistor controllers give us.
 
Where did you suggest the directors stand be, Larry? I'd suggested against the back wall between the two tracks. I'd also suggested a sales kiosk set up just on the tracks side of that glass wall between the dining room and race room. I thought that handling time and parts sales from there could allow a single staffer to keep an eye on almost everything going on in the basement common areas. I envisioned a laptop for each track that could be moved from the front counter to the directors stand when a race was to be run on one of the tracks, and then plug the track control USB lead back into an extension when it was time to move the laptop back to the sales counter. But even though I build the tracks, I'm still just another slot racer telling the raceway owner what he needs to do. (Seems to be a commonly annoying observation from all the raceway owners I know. :-))

[Ramcatlarry]

I did not get 'the full tour' - but getting the race director spot set-up will get the parties started. I suggested that they have some sort of 'sales point' in order to sell parts as a store front. This function can also be part of Chicago gift shop for various items... including drop-ship slot cars.
 
Need to check on car rental places like Enterprise or similar for transportation to the Sano.

[Dave Crevie]

Nice thing about Mike's is it doesn't cost $25 to park. The bad thing is that when I came by on Saturday

 during last years Sano there was no place to park close enough for me to walk.

[MG Brown]

 
Thanks, Mick. When I hear of something specific coming up I'll see if I can get you involved in the solution, too. Robby, Mike, and their crew pulled together a really tremendous project with this. I'm not surprised if they may have sometimes seemed slow to respond or whatever.

 

It would be fun to just chat with Robby in general terms and perhaps take a few laps with something like the Scalextric 997 which might be just the ticket for their rental cars or a one-make racing series.

[MG Brown]

Here is some additional information and photos for Fieldhouse Jones Chicago located in the River North neighborhood.

 

You must be a guest of the hotel or a patron of the Hotel's Bar and Grill to use the track. Show your bar receipt or room key. They also have a game room with air hockey, table soccer and ping-pong. Fieldhouse Jones is just steps from the CTA Pink Line.

 

Hours of operation: Thursday & Friday 5-9 PM, Saturday 10-1 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ramcatlarry]

It is also one block West of Moody Bible Institute and two blocks West of the Newberry Library.   

 

Since I was there last, they are using JK 1/32 direct drive slotcars on low voltage.

 

In the photos above, you can see the laptop monitors for the race director set up on a removable table, not the secure desk that I suggested to stay set-up.

[Jim Difalco]

2 1/2 years between posts is a big gap. Never saw the first thread.

 

A busy restaurant in the Fort Lauderdale area had a two lane 1/24 round track, suspended 10' in the air,  above the bar area with a small counter to buy a Parma car or controller. Weird.

[MG Brown]

2 1/2 years between posts is a big gap. Never saw the first thread.

 

I feel encouraged that they are still using the tracks for guest entertainment rather than it being a passing "thing".

[MG Brown]

Inside FieldHouse Jones Chicago is the "Dropshot" Coffee bar, Restaurant and "Janitor's Closet" Speakeasy and Bar.

 

 

 

 

Breakfast is served all day - Ginger Pancakes anyone?

 

 

FieldHouse Jones has just opened a new location in East Nashville, TN. When we are in Nashville for the "Grand Ole Gameroom Expo" mid-November we will visit and file a report here.

 

[Dave Crevie]

So how is this track useful to us racers if you have to be registered at the hotel or buying drinks at the bar? 

[Justin A. Porter]

So how is this track useful to us racers if you have to be registered at the hotel or buying drinks at the bar? 

 

Not meant to be. It's undoubtedly meant to be a kitschy retro amusement for the guests who want the sort of "grown up fun getaway" that this establishment is trying to offer. 

[Ramcatlarry]

I have to agree with Justin.

 

The tracks are both commercial grade racetracks with full power wiring and Lapmaster timing - so race worthy.   As I understand, the Corner Climber gets the most use and the smaller 'Euro-8' rarely gets used.

 

The room lighting is 'vintage designer dim'....Ok if we raced with headlights.  Digital images make it look brighter than it is.  The adjacent kitchen area is the option for 'pit space' as we know it.

 

If they ever want to sell the smaller track, any 1/32 Club racer would be grateful to get it.  If not already done, it might get moved to the Nashville hotel.

[Dave Crevie]

Well, I don't agree. They have an investment in those tracks. Maybe they can write the costs off, but return business is

what supports a track. Otherwise, there is no use having one. A store can sell slot cars, but if there is no place to run

them they are useless. There is a plethora of bars and hotels in Chicago, and having a slot track might be a minor draw. 

But having a racing program will bring in out-of-state boarders for the hotel, and after hours business for the tavern. I

can't support a business platform that uses a drawing card of minimal interest to the general public. 

[Justin A. Porter]

But why is the slot car track a draw any more than an air hockey table or a pinball machine? It's an amenity. 

Again, I put it to you, the tracks exist as a tangential amusement for guests who are there for the ambiance, food, and "scene" of the place, who will rent a car and pick up a controller because "Oh my god, slot cars? How totally retro and cool! This place totally has that 60's Americana vibe." and then never even entertain the idea in their life of soldering on pinions or changing lane stickers or spilling lighter fluid on their favorite jeans. 

Bless 'em for it, too. Racers aren't the end all, be all, of slot cars as a hobby. 

[MG Brown]

Why is this good for the slot car "racer"?
 
At the very least:

• Chris Dadds sold two custom designed and built slot car tracks
• Andy Smith sold 14 or so controllers.
• Tim Homola sold 14 or so 1/32 rental cars (and probably some spare parts).
• Carsten Grønnemann sold two Lap Master systems.
• Larry has been making some money (I assume) working the parties.

Etc.
 
Pinball and other coin-op games that are in bars/arcades/laundromats aren't there necessarily to generate repeat business- they are there for people who have time on their hands to enjoy "in the moment". Perhaps those people will never be in that bar/arcade/laundromat ever again, but having the game there for them to use generated income.
 
FieldHouse Jones has been providing this amenity for their guests since March of 2017. IMO, that's a "success" story if for no other reason than guests are exposed to the fact that slot car racing "lives" (in some form).
 
Will any of the guests be curious and take the next step to visit a commercial raceway? Perhaps and perhaps not. At least they have been exposed, as they say in the advertising game, exposure such as this is priceless.

[Ramcatlarry]

Dave - IF we held a race there - say a 1/32 Eurosport (F-1 and sports car)  What ($) and who would be willing to pay the party room rental for a days racing?   The track would need to be cleaned and prepped, voltage reset to full (plug and play) and the area reserved for prep, race, and cleanup..  A group discount for rooms might not be needed since they are very low already.  Some rooms have 4 bunk beds.

 

The game room is elevator/handicap accessible as is the whole building.  They do not sell cars or parts like I advised them to set up.

[MSwiss]

Larry, I think you guys can forget about having a real race there.

Do you know if they ever started doing birthday parties? They sent a guy over to me, to help me out, and watch me run a couple, on one Sunday, a couple of years ago.

[Richard G With]

Bunk beds would have been a welcome amenity at the Sano this weekend!

[Ramcatlarry]

One of the investors had a Bar Misva(sp) after-party that I ran.  Open track time for a few hours 8 pm - 10 pm and ran later..  Dim lighting and hard cement ceiling made a lot of noise.  Wish I had used earplugs.....

[John Streisguth]

Rooms are low priced?  What nights did you check?  I got $350/night for the bunk room, nearly that much for a king bed room, in mid-October

[MG Brown]

Rooms are low priced?  What nights did you check?  I got $350/night for the bunk room, nearly that much for a king bed room, in mid-October

 

I think Greg left out a zero.

[John Streisguth]

That's in response to Larry's comment about the rooms already being low priced.  Even NY hotel prices for Retropalooza are much cheaper than that!  LOL
 

[Rotorranch]

The room I checked out was $50.00 a night. 1 room, 1 night, 1 person.

 

Seems reasnable enough to me.

 

Rotor

[Ramcatlarry]

The 'business model' was to be four bunks for $100/night....maybe plus Chicago motel taxes.