79 replies to this topic

[Maximo]

Thanks to everyone for all of the history and data. I want to visit the Ashland location before my final breath!
 
-maXimo

[Cheater]

To answer your question, I believe only six or seven Sovereign tracks were built.

That number seems a bit small to me, but I dunno.

I raced on a Sovereign in the '60s at Harding Mall Grand Prix in Nashville. Closed '68 or so and supposedly the track went into storage where it got wet...

The GA Hobbby Center in the '88-91 timeframe. Track was in Douglasville, GA, before I believe. Sold to someone and it got wet also.

I visited Modelville after they got their Purple up again, although I don't think I took a lap on it. Research has shown, this was the Playland Purple Mile in CA, that ended up in Ft. Worth, which is where Peter Lentros acquired it.

So that's three I know of. I supposes it's possible the Nashville and GA Hobby tracks were the same, but I don't think so.

[John Streisguth]

There was an original Purple Mile set up in a raceway in Sarnia Ontario in the mid-'90s. It was a bit rough, a missing section of the the bank was crudely replaced and it did not work that well. I visited that store only once and do not know how long they stayed open or where the track went.

 

In the early '90s we built a Purple Mile style track for a store in New Jersey. It was bigger than 220, I think around 235. King-style donut and a footprint of 60' by 24'. It barely fit in our 64' X 40' shop.

 

I ran some laps on that one in NJ. IIRC correctly it was in a small industrial park at the Randolph/Roxbury border. I remember it was a nice track, but it was pretty boring to run on with my B/S 15s due to a combination of the banking in the turns, glued too much, and low power. I don't think the place it was located in was in operation very long

[Phil Hackett]

The original Sovereign 220 was over $10,000 for the deluxe version (Formica and thick siding) in 196X... that would be the same as $70,000 today. I don't believe there were that many 220s sold...

[Mike Patterson]

Too bad only one of these originals is left.

I try to keep track this stuff, and apparently this is true. I know of only five King tracks still in existence, and they had a smaller footprint than a Sovereign, and would fit into (relatively) smaller shops.
 
There's always the chance that someone stashed one away years ago, and It's just waiting to be discovered, but whether that happens in our lifetimes remains to be seen.

[macman]

To all of you who don't remember, or were not in the hobby at the time, Mike Swiss won the '90 Nats at Ga. Hobby on an original Purple Mile, so he knows what he is talking about. I was an eyewitness, along with a few others...

[Phil Hackett]

I was there. It was a great Nats all around. The hot wings cart across the highway was the place to eat!

[Bill from NH]

There's always the chance that someone stashed one away years ago, and It's just waiting to be discovered, but whether that happens in our lifetimes remains to be seen.

 

The Ashland Sovereign was stored away in Odessa, TX. I'd be very doubtful there's another one somewhere. Those things are kind of hard to hide.

[old & gray]

I try to keep track this stuff, and apparently this is true. I know of only 5 King tracks still in existence, and they had a smaller footprint than a Sovereign, and would fit into (relatively) smaller shops.

 

There's always the chance that someone stashed one away years ago, and It's just waiting to be discovered, but whether that happens in our lifetimes remains to be seen.

 

 

The Ashland Sovereign was stored away in Odessa, TX. I'd be very doubtful there's another one somewhere. Those things are kind of hard to hide.

 

If the rumor is correct there are tracks stored in a basement in Brooklyn.

[Bill from NH]

Does Buzzy have a Sovereign? I've never been there, but who has seen them other than Buzzy?

[MSwiss]

I seem to recall talk of some sort of large American Raceways track stored in his basement.

I'm not sure if it was a Purple Mile, or the Emperor.

If anyone might know, it would be Bill Bugenis.

[MSwiss]

Buzzy/220 ft. Emperor talk in the below link;

American Emperor track

[Cheater]

I was an eyewitness, along with a few others...

Ray Gardner and I occupied the purple race director's stand for this event, although I had to get some sleep on Friday so was not there that day. Ray did the same thing, but I don't recall which day he took off. Back then, the Nats tracks usually stayed open nearly 24 hours a day.

One very clear memory is running Open qualifying, having never race directed before in my life. I also remember the fierce and intense Mike Swiss growling "Nice job" to me after it was over. A highlight of my early days in slot racing... LOL!
 

I was there. It was a great Nats all around. The hot wings cart across the highway was the place to eat!

Phil, sadly I don't recall meeting you and I also don't recall the hot wings cart! Made twice-fried Korean wings last night and they were sooo good! Thankfully, I have leftovers, a benefit of living alone these days.

[macman]

Buzzy had an Emperor...

[Cheater]

Has, as far as I know. In the fabled basement....

[tonyp]

Buzzy put esses in his Emperor which were pretty much undrivable with the pro cars of the day. They ran a Car Model F1 race on it that almost no one showed up for and that was the last time any serious were run on it that I know of.

[Mike Patterson]

According to my sources, Buzzy also has a King in his basement/storage.

[John C Martin]

We had a Purple Mile on Dickerson Rd. In Nashville. Mr. Hill cut it down to resemble a king for more space and less turn marshals. I believe it came out of Huntsville, AL.

[Russell]

That number seems a bit small to me, but I dunno.I raced on a Sovereign in the '60s at Harding Mall Grand Prix in Nashville. Closed '68 or so and supposedly the track went into storage where it got wet...The GA Hobbby Center in the '88-91 timeframe. Track was in Douglasville, GA, before I believe. Sold to someone and it got wet also.I visited Modelville after they got their Purple up again, although I don't think I took a lap on it. Research has shown, this was the Playland Purple Mile in CA, that ended up in Ft. Worth, which is where Peter Lentros acquired it.So that's three I know of. I supposes it's possible the Nashville and GA Hobby tracks were the same, but I don't think so.

I want to say around the '85-'87? Not there long, It was in Douglasville, GA, on Hwy 5. I was just an early teen then and that's where I started racing. I tried to track it down and came to same research that it was destroyed by water under an open shed. I hate hearing about tracks being destroyed. I know my mom has old pics of me racing at that track, just have to find/get them.

[Eddie Fleming]

Yes Russell I ran on it some when Tim had it in Douglasville too. I sure was glad he moved it to Kinwood. after the move it was only abour 10 miles from my house.

[Half Fast]

In addition to every model of slot car track ever built, I am reliably informed that Buzzy's basement also contains the lost treasure of King Tut and Jimmy Hoffa's body

 

Cheers

[Justin A. Porter]

I have to wonder how many conversations Pete Lentros at Modelville and Buzzy have had regarding that Emperor. I mean, if ANY shop in the country were going to have it...

[MSwiss]

I have to wonder how many conversations Pete Lentros at Modelville and Buzzy have had regarding that Emperor. I mean, if ANY shop in the country were going to have it...

I almost posted the exact same thing, but I've never been out there, so I don't know how much more room he has.

 

One very clear memory is running Open qualifying, having never race directed before in my life. I also remember the fierce and intense Mike Swiss growling "Nice job" to me after it was over. A highlight of my early days in slot racing... LOL!

You see, I use to hang on your every word, even back then.

[bradblohm]

Buzz told me he has one, and some day he'll show me what's in that basement!  I'll kick Hoffa and Tut's treasure to the side because I'm only interested in the slot car stuff!

[Phil Hackett]

In addition to every model of slot car track ever built, I am reliably informed that Buzzy's basement also contains the lost treasure of King Tut and Jimmy Hoffa's body. 

 

You're leaving out Amelia Earhart, Glenn Miller, and D.B. Cooper...