79 replies to this topic

[Mike Patterson]

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!

 

Brad, which track are you referring to, King, Emperor, or Sovereign? Or all three?

[bradblohm]

Purple, brand new never assembled blue King, and something else I don't remember.  His store is a double, so that basement can hold a lot!

 

Going to start a new thread shortly, but I will be travelling over to Baltimore the weekend of Oct 22 for the slot car swap meet in White Marsh.  A friend from England who also always goes to the vintage race in Bordeaux is coming to visit his daughter.  I asked if he wanted to make a pilgrimage to Buzz-a-Rama in NYC and run some cars, and of course he does.  So, will start a thread about running vintage cars there on that Saturday.  I mention it here because I'll be working hard on Buzz to let me peek in that basement!  I'll bring all the pictures I have of him (when he had dark hair) and Bud Stordahl (of Detroit's Dyna-Rewind) and have some laughs!

[Lenjet]

Hey everybody,

 

There were nine built and delivered. I know what happened to all of them, including the two I have owned.

 

The one we bought at Modelville in 1965 with the paneled sides is long gone from water damage, it was number 3.

 

The miracle that the original survived from Playland is still an amazing story. The bank actually measures 63 degrees.

 

The one in Milan (Italy) is still not located nor its final resting spot determined. There are no more in existence. As far as the Emperor, I would feel compelled to save it and preserve the history.

 

As you may know we have totally rebuilt the Aristocrat back to original and in fact Ray Lee will be running wings on it in October. I welcome you all to come and visit.

 

 

 

 

 

[Lenjet]

Just to clarify, Buzzy does not have a Sovereign. By the way I reproduced the Purple Mile in HO.

 

We have a very active HO racing series here.

 

[Mike Patterson]

 OK. Brad says Buzzy has a Sovereign, Peter says he doesn't. Who's right? Brad, you need to get down there and take some photos. And I noticed you didn't mention the Emperor. I thought it was down there, too.

 

Peter, you say you know what happened to all the Sovereigns. What can you tell me about the one that was located at Tom Thumb East in Columbus, Ohio?

[Lenjet]

To see how big this track is take a look at the shot we took setting it up. The Columbus Sovereign, the site of the Arco race. met its demise in Georgia.

 

 

 

[Lenjet]

Buzzy has a King and the Emperor in the cellar. He took the Emperor down from his party room and put it the cellar.

 

He initially wanted a Sovereign but it would not fit. His AMRAC rep talked him into the Emperor and they had to send extra people to install it.

 

This picture shows his "Bunny" races.

 

 

 

 

[bradblohm]

Peter would know more than I, so I don't doubt him. My conversations with Buzz were 5 and 10 years ago, a couple times in Chicago, and a couple times in his shop. Good Lord does time fly!

 

I've been talking about a pilgrimage to Ashland, MA, in the near future. Got to make that happen!!!

[Mike Patterson]

Peter, thank you for the info and photos! That might be the only known picture of the (only known) Emperor. IIRC, the catalog used an illustration of the track insted of a photograph.

[old & gray]

Yes, thank you Peter. It's interesting to remember that the bank in the picture is the small bank.

 

The track track I raced on was in Connecticut.

[MSwiss]

Peter, thank you for the info and photos! That might be the only known picture of the (only known) Emperor. IIRC, the catalog used an illustration of the track insted of a photograph.

 

 

Here it is.

 

And It's not even accurate.

 

The cross-over, in the illustration, is "opposite" of the cross-over on the real track.

[Jaz]

The ad says, "See reverse side for information". So turn it around and you'll see the crossovers the right way!

 

The pic Peter put up is exactly how I remember Buzzy's. The counter near the window, and the power supplies to the left. "1/16" clearance required!!!" as Buzzy would check your car before you rented time!

[Mike Patterson]

One of the things I noticed in that photo of the Emperor, is how much that bank looks like an Engleman, especially the way the sidewall curves down to the straight. Other American tracks are much straighter, like the Sovereign that started this thread.

[MSwiss]

The illustration of the Emperor makes it look way more massive/impressive.

IMO, it's either an exaggeration, or Buzzy's track isn't 220 ft.

[old & gray]

The illustration of the Emperor makes it look way more massive/impressive.

IMO, it's either an exaggeration, or Buzzy's track isn't 220 ft.

 

IMO the illustration is an exaggeration. The illustration looks to be extended from the driver’s station to the bank and between the banks. The bank also looks to be narrow in the artist’s sketch.

 

The scale is difficult to gauge but the bank was wider than the bank on the blue king. The bank on the other end was over 180 degrees and very close to ninety degrees vertical. The track was a misshapen oval rather than a figure eight so I’m not sure where the 220 feet was measured.

[Half Fast]

Who is the lady in the Emperor photo, Miss Buzz-A-Rama?

 

Cheers

 

I have just been informed by a good friend (who is on temporary hiatus) that this lady is one of "Buzzy's Bunnies" who he hired to marshal the cars.

 

Looks like Buzz was a wild and crazy guy is his early years.

 

More Cheers,

[Lenjet]

Yes, indeed she was one of the "Playboy Bunnies" lots of offs and bending going on.

 

Tony is correct that Buzzy took out the crossovers and it was almost un-drivable.

 

Here is a photo with the crossovers removed and squiggles in their place.

 

Also this gives a better perspective on size. It was a big track.

 

[Lenjet]

Everybody, another shot with more of the track and the bending I mentioned.

 

[Mike Patterson]

Peter, keep those pictures coming! Great stuff!

 

I hope you don't mind me asking, but where did you get those photos, from Buzzy? Or someone else?

 

And a question about the Sovereign: are the finger banked turns one piece, or two? Have you ever measured the banking on them?

[MattD]

Amazing, there is only one guy looking at the bunny bending over!

[Mike Patterson]

That picture in post #68 REALLY looks like an Engleman.

 

I'm going to speculate that AMCR had two track designers. Number One did all the iconic designs, from the Windsor to the Sovereign. Number Two did the Emperor and Aristocrat, which, AFAIK, were the last tracks produced by the company.

 

To me, the Emperor looks like AMCR's take on an Engleman, in a design that didn't infringe on any patents, if there were any.

 

I would love to see a shot of the Emperor taken from the other end of the track. And if it has some bending-over Bunnies in it, all the more better! 

[Champion 507]

John C. Martin wrote in post #43

 

"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."

 

I raced in Huntsville, AL, from late 1964 till May 1968. There were no Purple Miles in that town. A place by the name of 3H, later renamed to 3J, had a red, yellow, and orange, but no purple.

 

What Huntsville did have was a Stan Engleman 220' and a Stan Engleman 130' (220's little brother)

 

Unless I missed it, I have never read a word about a Purple Mile in Tuscaloosa, AL. I saw it once in 1966 but it was closed when I was there. Probably left drool on the window as I looked in through the glass. It was the only one I have ever seen. I have never run on one or even touched one.

 

So add that one to the count.

[bronxcomet]

Suprised you guys in the Westchester area forgot about the purple monster in Scarsdale. Bill Harliss and his group ran these 36D sidewinder GT40s with big-*** Weldun gears that really honked around that track. I think my early 26Ds wound out halfway down the chute; not much brakes either. I think it was the sister store to the track in Yonkers where we first met Lou del Rosario...

 

Surfs up!

 

marty p

[nicky 65]

Just to put all this talk about Buzzy's tracks to an end...

 

Buzzy has one blue King set up, one blue King apart and in the basement, and one Emperor apart and in the basement.

 

And if anyone thinks they are getting in the basement... Ha, ha, ha. No way, Jose. I've tried talking him into setting up the Emperor again... to no avail.

 

Anyone looking to visit Buzzy's... it's a must... great place... four old American tracks in good shape.

[bradblohm]

I am patient, and I am persistent...