39 replies to this topic

[ThunderThumb]

I think it would be interesting to host a race on a Engleman or a Hill Climb like in the past , just a thought

[Rotorranch]

In 1990, the Nats was held on the Georgia Hobby Center Purple Mile. Mr Swiss won Open class.

 

So it can be done!

 

 

Rotor

[The Number of]

Err, the Purple Mile is just a giant King track.

[John Streisguth]

The Engleman at Speedzone in NJ would be the track to run it on. And they've held the Div 2 Nats, as well as many other major races, so they know how to get things done.

[ThunderThumb]

The Engleman is my favorite track so that would be great to have Speedzone host it.

[jimht]

Sounds implausible. Is there anyone anywhere having regular Open wing car races on anything but a King?

[JimF]

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?

[ThunderThumb]

Buena Park holds one every first Sunday of the month. It's 2MO.

[MSwiss]

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.

[Jason Holmes]

This is all well and good but the Worlds and USRA rules say must have a King track to bid for race.

 

jason

[ThunderThumb]

Well then get a King and race on a Engleman. There's always ways to get around the rules.

[MSwiss]

0.00% of that actually happening, with Jason in charge.

[Jason Holmes]

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

[John Streisguth]

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.

[slotcarone]

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!!

[old & gray]

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.

[Jason Holmes]

Bob

 

The 220' Engleman at SpeedZone in NJ might be this Track it's very fast 

 

Jason

[old & gray]

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.

Attached Images

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[Jason Holmes]

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

[JimF]

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.

[ThunderThumb]

I also ran on the Thunder Thumb track , the bank was the biggest I have ever seen , I am looking for a picture of the track but I have never found one , anybody have one , thanks

[old & gray]

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.

[MSwiss]

We ran a Midwest USRA race, in 1995, at Tracks, owned by top area racer, Scott Morgan's mother-in-law.

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?

[Jason Holmes]

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

[old & gray]

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.