9 replies to this topic

[Steve Deiters]

Go to THIS Facebook page and a post by Eric Kalmus - "Good morning from the Long Beach Grand Prix." About a third of the way in you'll see a commercial size slot car track set up and running.
 
Any west coasters know the story?

[Craig]

It wasn't advertised in any way that this track is set up at the Grand Prix. It would be cool to hold a Retro race there each year. I live close enough to commit.

[Ramcatlarry]

When the Camel GT series came to Road America many years ago, a 1/32 track was set up in one of the vendor tents. Some exposure is better than no exposure.
 
JK Products also had a portable oval to several Indycar races in the 1990s.

[spudboy]

Pity, I don't do Facebook. Oh well.

[Cheater]

Steve pointed me to this earlier today via PM and I have been unable to find any info about it. There's no signage near the track, just a bg graphic. One downside was the mention that the track was just inside the entrance to the "kids" section...

Here's a screenshot of the track from the video. Anyone recognize it?



Having slot car tracks at races and other car events has a rather long history.

 

For just one example, ScaleAuto Racing's Alan Smith had a big 1/32 sectional track set-up for many years at the Amelia Island Concours, operated with an arcade format. It was set-up inside the Ritz and outside under a tent in different years. Alan told me that the cost for the space eventually stopped him from continuing it.

[Roy Lievanos]

Dang, I was there today. The convention center is split up in two sections. Of course I didn go into the 'Game' section. Would have been neat to see. In the past they usually have had a basic small oval.

[Cheater]

Here's another picture of the track set up at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. 

 

Odd that no one here seems to knows whose track it is or how it came to be set up at this event.

 

 

 

[Steve Deiters]

Fun-looking track. It would be nice to know more. 

 

PdL usually goes to this race. I think maybe he can shed some light...

[Steve Okeefe]

Can't say I "recognize" it or know who's it is or how it got there, but it does look something like an Ogilvie Grandstand II, except mirror image.

 

I wonder if it's just photographic distortion, or is the entrance to the donut (under the bridge) really reverse camber like that?

 

If a car should launch going into the bank and somehow make it over the wall, someone in the coffee bar is going to get a big surprise!

[Steve Deiters]

Anyone from the west coast hear anything on the commercial track that was set up in the convention center at the Long Beach Grand Prix?