269 replies to this topic

[Uncle Fred]

Being a New Yawker I didn't get to race at a lot of NJ raceways. I remember running NAMRA races at Upper Saddle River and at a track in Cloister. I once accompanied Howie Ursaner to a mid week race at some little track in maybe Bergenfield? Howie called me saying he was in a bind.......he was racing for Cobra at the time and was supposed to make an appearance at this track in Jersey and needed to borrow my car since he didn't have one together. He picked me up in his Corvette and off we headed to NJ, unfortunately we headed SOUTH on the Garden State Parkway and didn't realize it until exit 109! We turned around and went north at a high rate speed arriving at a very small in town raceway that was upstairs and had a homebuilt road course that could not be more than 80 feet. Everybody wanted to see "Howie's car" but when I told them I had built it Howie called me aside and told not to tell anyone that . He finished second in that race to some local who knew the track.....it was all pretty crazy.

[tonyp]

We ran a pro race at Closter. Horrible King track, no bite, slippery and hot power. The ultimate combination. They had a really nice building and a big hobby shop upstairs.

I remember blowing up early and going upstairs to buy the new sensation, the Rubik's Cube.

[slotcarone]

We ran a pro race at Closter. Horrible King track, no bite, slippery and hot power. The ultimate combination. They had a really nice building and a big hobby shop upstairs.

I remember blowing up early and going upstairs to buy the new sensation, the Rubik's Cube.

Tony---isn't it crazy how we can remember this stuff that happened almost 40 years ago?!!!

[tonyp]

Sure is, Do I know you?

[loudspeaker]

Ray, yes I was there but do not remember much about it. Was that the place with the fiberglass tracks? Also a guy named Nick Carpuck? Used to race there and also at Nutley.

The weirdest track I ever ran a car on was at Cranford Raceway. They had a two-story track that ran from the first floor to the second. You actually stood on the second floor in the infield to drive the cars. As you came up the hill to the second floor the cars actually went behind you. It did have a cool Laguna corkscrew style downhill though.

It was not a raceable track. All the tracks they had (three) were weird. I believe the owners were carpenters and built the tracks themselves. On Friday nights we would always pick a track we never went to before and go to run there. I do not think they made it to the pro era.

When I saw the topic of "New Jersey Raceways" I immediately started visualising a most unusual track that Howie and I raced at once. I was trying to remember the name when... here was Tony's post! Yes, Cranford was an amazing track. It makes one remember that at one point there were many unusual custom-built tracks which were unique and different (I guess EMMRA was the extreme example). Many required a long regimen of weeks if not months of practice to learn. Very different from a blue King. The Cranford track was pretty unusual in its own right. I'm trying to remember if we went to this track for an exhibition or a race. I'm thinking we went as Team Russkit for a race. In any event it was during the "Pro Era".

Sandy

[TSR]

Indeed, Howie also told me that they ran a few pro races at Cranford.

[tonyp]

It was a crazy track. I never realized they actually ever ran any races on it. I ran on it in 1966.

[Noose]

May have been the only 2 story slot track.

[tonyp]

And one you drove from the infield.

[loudspeaker]

And one you drove from the infield.

Round and round you they went. And at today's speeds, following the cars would have made you dizzy. Sandy

[sportblazer350]

Vintage Hobbies. I know he sells old stuff and lots of HO I think. Not sure if there is a track as the store front looks pretty small.

Tyrell Road. a couple of blocks down from the connection to 78.

are you thinking of NJ Nostalgia Hobby? If so, owner is joe Corea, ho track is an original h.o. Aurora "tub track", fiberglass shell but uses newer track nowadays. he runs h.o. races and 1/32 scale races, each with a 6 month season. The h.o. season is mostly vintage Aurora, 1/32 scale races are mostly current rtr plasticars. On park Avenue just about 3 blocks off Rt22.

[sportblazer350]

I too remember going to tiny tots on Rt22, but i don't remember a slot car track when i went there, in the early 1970s. i remember the original The Race Place at Collingswood flea market, and Mini Wheels in Highland Park. I think there was a raceway/hobby shop in Metuchen and one in Edison on Plainfield Avenue, but i dont' remember the shop names anymore.....

[tonyp]

Glenn, Yes Nostalgia....

[mrtc4w]

I have never been to NJ, but I have a K&B slot car case with a NJ slot shop sticker on it!



It also had this sticker:



There were also the usual stickers, STP, etc...

I tried to remove the stickers but I couldn't do it w/o destroying it, so I scanned them to preserve
them.

I believe there was a name on the case. If I can find it again I will post it.

Marty

[Marty Stanley]

I too remember going to tiny tots on Rt22, but i don't remember a slot car track when i went there, in the early 1970s. i remember the original The Race Place at Collingswood flea market, and Mini Wheels in Highland Park. I think there was a raceway/hobby shop in Metuchen and one in Edison on Plainfield Avenue, but i dont' remember the shop names anymore.....

sportblazer350,

Well the shop on Plainfield Avenue - located right next to the Burger King - was Edison Raceways #1.

The owner / operator decided to move it over to a different location on Amboy Avenue, basically in Fords, NJ.

I do not remember the owner's name, but one of the coolest guys and racers around was John that drove the Austin Healy. John worked at the location on Amboy Avenue and used to tease me about having a car that "ran 1/16 of an inch UNDER the track surface.

The Edison Raceways on Amboy Avenue had a American Model Car Raceways "Monarch" or "Black" track. I loved that track and raced many a race on that track. Back in 1966 or 1967 we started running with a lot of other raceways in what was then called "The Garden State Cup." All the raceways put a 4 man team together and we traveled to all the raceways that participated and raced on one of their tracks. It was a fun time.

Mini Wheels of Highland Park - Tag Powell owner / operator. I raced for Tag in the Nationals in 1967 down in Atlanta.

Now, we're talking about history there sir.

If y'all want to get "Noose" excited, let's start talking about the 300 foot monster in Linden! That was the only track where you could take a nap each lap. When the car came out of the last turn before the bank, just close your eyes and take a nap as it was going to be a bit of time before it got the the first turn coming out of the next banked turn. Lots of motor was needed on that track to go fast!

[tonyp]

I believe Noose and I ran for Sebring Sports center in the Garden State cup series.

[Noose]

Yup..we did. And I pass that building where the Linden track was everyday.

[tonyp]

It was a long walk to the other side to get your car when you fell off. I always wondered why they put the drivers panel on the long straight between the 2 banks...

Edison was the track where they refused to finish running the series race because PVA built a super heavy car, glued the crap out of the track and their light weights would not go through it. It was revenge for the year before as that is what they used to do to the visiting teams. We argued to like 1:00 in the morning. Bob Kean raced for their team.

[Matt Bruce]

I know alot of you guys must remember Checkered Flag Raceway in Woodbury, NJ. I was to young to ever have run there but it was very close to where I grew up. My uncle took my brother and I to the track after it had moved to Clementon, NJ not that far away. Carl Ford, Rob Renninger, Ed Gaskill, Dave Wikstrom,Larry Hermann, are just a few of the regulars who raced there. I got to race with these guys as a teen at another track in Canton, NJ called Frog Ocean Speedway which is still running since 1976. That track is in the basement of Bruce Mitchell who made the track himself. Six lanes with wide spacing, 100 ft. long and very fast. We ran scratchbuilt grp 27 dirt modifieds from Jan to April with a 12 week point series and a 500 lapper as our superbowl race back then. Today they run a turboflex Champion chassis with a proslot 12 for power and Champion Nascar bodies. Web site is www.frogocean.com. Rob Renninger who was R&S Bodies back in the day still runs there. That track should be put into the slotblog raceway directory. Bruce has all the races documented from 1976 to today. They only race in the winter but have been doin it a long time. I think with a little persuading we could get some of these guys retro racing with us. That track back in the day was what scatchbuilt cars, overpowered with no downforce was all about. Check it out.

[tonyp]

Clementon. Ernie and I were just about unbeatable there for around 2 years. My stuff just really worked on that track... Great place, Jack and his wife were great. That track was in WV I believe than Plainfield about 10 miles from my house for awhile. No idea where it is now. Joel and I had a great race the ARCO I believe. He will kill me down the straights with his Pooch power and I would be ahead as we turned on the straights. Handling won out that day. It was one of the races i was proudest of winning..

[Matt Bruce]

Does anyone remember the track in Vineland, NJ? I heard it was an Engleman which later was split into two raceways. 110 ft went to Millville, NJ as a figure 8, and the other 110 went to Chicks Hobby Center in Paulsboro, NJ. Both tracks are gone now, Chick got rid of his around 86` or 87`and Bill in Millville sold his building just a few years ago.I raced on both those tracks, but not Vineland, that was before my time.

[Flash24]

A little known fact is PvA actually owned a raceway for a short time. Maybe in Scotch Plains? I am sure he catered to the geek racer. LOL... Never had a chance to go there.

PVA and Tony

oh yeah, and Edsel

Attached Images

• 

[Flash24]

Clementon. Ernie and I were just about unbeatable there for around 2 years. My stuff just really worked on that track... Great place, Jack and his wife were great. That track was in WV I believe than Plainfield about 10 miles from my house for awhile. No idea where it is now. Joel and I had a great race the ARCO I believe. He will kill me down the straights with his Pooch power and I would be ahead as we turned on the straights. Handling won out that day. It was one of the races i was proudest of winning..

Since you were so proud and you should be, maybe you would want this back old friend

Attached Images

• 

[tonyp]

Matt,

We used to race GP 27's in Vineland. He had this big track with 2 banks 2 banked 180's and a zig-zag in front of the drivers panel. I started the light car deal with the front wheels inside the pans on that track. I had some super light cars which was heard of at the time. Some with fiberglass batpans and homemade fronts made from flat plastic sheet.

I figured there was only one hard turn and if I crawled through it, I could make it up the rest of the way around the track. Worked really good. Won a few of the pro-races there.

I think the second track was a figure 8. The owners name was Bill Langley. Ron Boorman was one of the local hot shots.

[tonyp]

Flash, Thanks... Anytime you can beat the Camen guys back then it was an accomplishment...

I'd still like to know how you wound up with it.