One of these was located in Griffith Indiana @ G&G Hobbies in far southeast Chicago suburbs. Time frame was 1968-72 and it was bycycle distance from home. This track was origionally from a Raceway in a downstate city like Kokomo or Muncie, I forgot which.
I remember buying track time and taking my one good slot car, a 4.5 in WB Stock car with stock 26 D motor and on the second lap the motor threw a wire. It was geared for a Blue King. Lesson learned, kid.
About 1971 a large event was staged . I learned some about business this weekend. I volunteered to refill the "pop" machine and did so I don't know how many times. I established a friendship with the Gradec's that remains to this day. Owner Rocky told me he lost money on the race because he bought a wall full of stock and none of it moved. All the travelling circus racers came prepared and bought nothing.So he got stuck with a bunch of Thorpe/ Certus/ Mura 24 and 25 motors ,arms and setups. A big bunch. And we local racers at both G&G and A&E Raceway in Hammond {Blue King} raced Stock Cars with 26 D motors that cost $1 from REH. So Rocky was quite dismayed.
Soon Slot car stuff gave way to RC. The Purple Mile was put in storage. Unlike slot cars, Radio controlled cars and planes were very good to them and Rocky bought a slightly newer but smaller building right around the corner. So with no room to keep them both the Purple Mile and an American Orange meet a sad fate. Just storing such a track must take up a good deal of space. Rocky had to do what he had to do. He is a smart man. Because of this G&G is still in business to this day. Rocky is retired but my good buddy Larry, his son, carries on today.
Oh yes that race in 1971. It was won by Rick Davis. I got to meet Jan Limpach!
