
Hosting the Nats/Worlds on an Engleman or Hillclimb?
#1
Posted 16 August 2019 - 01:00 PM
- Rotorranch likes this
#2
Posted 16 August 2019 - 01:08 PM
In 1990, the Nats was held on the Georgia Hobby Center Purple Mile. Mr Swiss won Open class.
So it can be done!
Rotor
- Jesse Gonzales likes this


"Kinky Kar"
#3
Posted 16 August 2019 - 01:42 PM
Err, the Purple Mile is just a giant King track.
- MSwiss and Jason Holmes like this
The lack of any credible evidence is proof the conspiracy is working!
#5
Posted 16 August 2019 - 03:14 PM
The Engleman is my favorite track so that would be great to have Speedzone host it.
#6
Posted 16 August 2019 - 03:16 PM
Sounds implausible. Is there anyone anywhere having regular Open wing car races on anything but a King?
Jim Honeycutt
"I don't think I'm ever more 'aware' than I am right after I hit my thumb with a hammer." - Jack Handey [Deep Thoughts]
#7
Posted 16 August 2019 - 03:57 PM
I agree... implausible.
I wonder if anyone anywhere is holding regular open races anyway? For sure there was initial grumbling when the Nats were held on a pretty flat King at Slot Car Raceway in CA a few years back. I think they eventually got over it and the event went off just fine but imagine the uproar if a big wing race like the Nats were scheduled on a Hillclimb. Engleman would probably be a different story but I wonder how many Englemans are even around anymore?
- Tim Neja likes this
#8
Posted 16 August 2019 - 08:40 PM
Buena Park holds one every first Sunday of the month. It's 2MO.
#9
Posted 16 August 2019 - 09:41 PM
Err, the Purple Mile is just a giant King track.
I agree.
While it would be cool to say I won the last Nats on a non-King, I consider that honor really goes to another Chicago area racer, the late Csaba "Chubba" Szekelyhidi, who won the '84 Nats on the Engleman at Clovis.
That said, I missed that Nats, but was told it was a very, very easy track.
P.A. said he, and others, were scrambling right before the race to lighten their cars, to try to keep up with Csaba and Jon Laster.
That race spawned the lightweight wing car.
- Phil Donaldson and boxerdog like this
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
#10
Posted 16 August 2019 - 10:06 PM
This is all well and good but the Worlds and USRA rules say must have a King track to bid for race.
jason
#11
Posted 16 August 2019 - 11:15 PM
Well then get a King and race on a Engleman. There's always ways to get around the rules.
- Jesse Gonzales likes this
#12
Posted 17 August 2019 - 12:23 AM
0.00% of that actually happening, with Jason in charge.
- smokie likes this
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
#13
Posted 17 August 2019 - 01:25 AM
Earl,
You want a change?
Propose a rule change, submit it to me, and make sure you are at the Nats to explain why it should get a Yes vote by the racers.
Simple.
Hope to see you at PA's in Houston.
Jason
- Jesse Gonzales likes this
#14
Posted 17 August 2019 - 04:57 AM
This is all well and good but the Worlds and USRA rules say must have a King track to bid for race .
I wasn't aware of that... kinda makes the discussion moot.
Wouldn't stop someone from putting on a big event that's not a Nat or World's... if you could get enough participation.
#15
Posted 17 August 2019 - 06:09 AM
Err, the Purple Mile is just a giant King track.
Sorry, Bill, I have to disagree with you on this one!
At a glance sure it looks like a King with another finger added but there are many differences that make it very hard to drive and set up your car for. Of course,the length of the staightaway is longer and the bank a different shape. The track has all banked turns until you get to the ninety and then it becomes a flat track and even has a hump in it.
The hardest part is the nonexistent Donut which is squared off on this track. I consider myself a pretty good driver and can do well on any type of King or other popular track but when I recently tried out the Purple Mile at Modelville Hobbies I realized just how difficult it is to drive!
That being said, of course I am old and that must play a part in that difficulty because when I was a kid I managed to win the Car Model race at the original Modelville on their Purple Mile track. That was in the year of what we are celebrating today: the original Woodstock in 1969!
Race on, my brothers!!
- boxerdog and Samiam like this
Mike Katz
Scratchbuilts forever!!
#16
Posted 17 August 2019 - 03:11 PM
In the mid 1990’s there was an attempt to build a 220’ Engleman to race Group 7 cars and possibly host the NATs. Unlike the tracks of the 1960s it was had variable radius turns and several of the corners were banked rather than flat. One of the thoughts was the increased length would provide more separation between cars during the race.
#17
Posted 17 August 2019 - 10:11 PM
Bob
The 220' Engleman at SpeedZone in NJ might be this Track it's very fast
Jason
#18
Posted 17 August 2019 - 10:28 PM
Bob
The 220' Engleman at SpeedZone in NJ might be this Track it's very fast
Jason
No it isn't. This is a picture.
The straight under the bridge had an uphill and the turn was banked. With a deep breath you could go flat out from under the bank to the end of the driver's straight.
#19
Posted 17 August 2019 - 10:43 PM
Bob
This looks so Much Like the 290' Engleman I first raced on in Redondo Beach at the Pier it was Called Thunder Thumb Gil Gundersen took the Track and Cut 70' out to make it 220' in 71-72 moved it to Ontario,CA
Loved that Track Jason
#20
Posted 17 August 2019 - 11:41 PM
Also looks like the track(s) from Republic Raceway in Hermosa where I first ran on a commercial track. They had two of these back to back. This woulda been middleish-late sixties like 66 ish. For a minute or two, they'd get an occasional draw of some semi-pro racers like Gage Enoch and John Skeels for weeknight races. Even in that heyday period, the place didn't last too long.
#21
Posted 18 August 2019 - 09:05 AM
#22
Posted 18 August 2019 - 09:35 AM
Trackwas buit new in the mid 1990's in Danbury, CT. Owner was moving to a new location and replaced the king track he had.
#23
Posted 18 August 2019 - 10:17 AM
It was on a 195 ft. Dadd's built Engleman.
Like Csaba's 1984 Nat's win spearheading the move to much lighter cars, this race was the first race where an aluminum chassis was used for a class faster than I15, with myself taking the upset win in G27, over Boyt Johnson.
I was full punched on Black-Orange, and one-blipping Green-Red.
Does anyone know if there has been a semi-serious wing race on the Speedzone Engleman?
Mike Swiss
Inventor of the Low CG guide flag 4/20/18
IRRA® Components Committee Chairman
Five-time USRA National Champion (two G7, one G27, two G7 Senior)
Two-time G7 World Champion (1988, 1990), eight G7 main appearances
Eight-time G7 King track single lap world record holder
17B West Ogden Ave., Westmont, IL 60559, (708) 203-8003, mikeswiss86@hotmail.com (also my PayPal address)
Note: Send all USPS packages and mail to: 5858 Chase Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60516
#24
Posted 18 August 2019 - 12:03 PM
Jim
John Skeels was a Regular also Stork (Bob Crane) raced and worked there along with Jeff Fairburn Bruce D. ,John Davull we were all Kids Back then 14-19
Great Times jason
#25
Posted 18 August 2019 - 12:06 PM
Does anyone know if there has been a semi-serious wing race on the Speedzone Engleman?
NY Usra and New England Usra may have held races there but they may have used the King track.