44 replies to this topic

[Rick Haynes]

In the late '60s I read a slot car race report in one of the monthly model car/slot car magazines about a race that was won by a local boy. It was a big upset because a lot of the big pro teams were there. I also remember he was asked right after the race to join the Champion team (I think0.

This is what I remember about it:

It was after the fall of 1967 because I think his car body was a yellow-orange 1967 Mclaren M6A.
It was an Arco 33 race. I somewhat remember it was in the east, maybe Atlanta.
He built his own motor using Champion off-the-shelf parts and balanced it on razor blades and made his own chassis, too.

I used to have the magazine but lost it a long time ago. I would like to know the magazine the race report was in. I was told there are people that read this site that have all the slot car magazines from that time and I am hoping this story might ring a bell with someone.

Who was this young person, what did he do in slot car racing after that race, and is he still around?

I would appreciate any information on this mystery.
 
Thanks,

Rick Haynes 
(614) 231-7194

[mickey thumbs]

Try the Slot Forum International (slotforum.com) section Vintage History in Magazines for most of the monthly mags. Maybe you can find the original article there.

[tonyp]

Charlie Nelson. It was the Western States race at Checkered Flag Raceway in Calif. He joined Team Checkpoint after the race.

[Tom Eatherly]

Tony, that would have been my answer also. But, OP mentions '67, back East. Charlie won the Western States race in '68 as you say in CA. Perhaps OP has some details a bit foggy. It has been a looong time. I was at the CA race. Charlie was impressive.

[S.O. Watt]

Charlie’s win was in Aug ‘68.

[Tom Eatherly]

Yep, typo. '68 for Charlie.

[Rick Haynes]

I think that is right. I sure had some of my memories wrong. Thanks for picking out the important parts and coming up with a name.

Any idea what magazine the race report is in or what kind of career Charlie had later on? Is he still alive?

Rick Haynes

[B.C.]

Look here on the blog in Retro Racing - SCRRA under Checkpoint Cup. He has raced there at least the last two or three years and maybe other times.
 
I believe he lives in southern Utah.

[Tim Neja]

Charlie is alive and well living in Utah I believe. He still comes to Buena Park to race the four major races held there each year!! Very nice quality guy, still having fun and going strong!

[elvis44102]

2016 SWC race report - Retro Coupe

[Rick Haynes]

Thanks to everybody that added information. I get out Utah way, maybe I will get to meet him some day.
 
rick haynes

[Half Fast]

Question asked and answered. Person lost and found, all in a few hours!

 

Heck of a job guys.

 

Cheers

[Tom Eatherly]

Rick,

If you ever meet Charlie, you'll be talking to one of the nicest people ever. Great guy. When he's at BPR, we always pit together and rarely talk slot cars. Always something else to BS about.

He's still fast, builds incredible cars and is a plain hoot.

[don.siegel]

The race report is in the November 1968 issue of Model Car Science, by Gene Hustings. 

 

Just happened to run into it while looking for something else a few days ago. If you can't find a copy, be glad to post it here. 

 

Don 

[Tom Eatherly]

Don, if you would please. That'll be a fun read.

[Cheater]

Question asked and answered. Person lost and found, all in a few hours!

This sort of thing is what makes Slotblog such a magical, wonderful place. Social media can't compare IMO.
 

The race report is in the November 1968 issue of Model Car Science, by Gene Hustings. If you can't find a copy, be glad to post it here.

Don, if you could post scan of that race report, I would appreciate it very much.

[don.siegel]

Coming up...

[S.O. Watt]

There was also coverage in Model Racing Journal, Vol 1, number 1. 
 
MRJ and Model Car Journal are available on DVD from The Independent Scratch Builder.

[Rick Haynes]

Don, 

 

I would like to see the race report, too.

 

I wonder what Charlie Nelson will think about all this new-found interest in a slot car race he won over 50 years ago? I hope he see this.

 

Rick Haynes

[don.siegel]

Ok, here are the articles, but there's a problem with file size from the scans - May need your help Greg. 

Don 

 

Model Car Science November 1968

 

 

[don.siegel]

Part 2 MCS

 

 

 

[don.siegel]

 

 

[Rick Haynes]

wonderful! I love the independent next to Charlies name

[don.siegel]

And now from Model Car Journal, Oct. 11, 1968, Vol 1, No. 1

 

 

 

 

 

[don.siegel]

PS: Rick if you'd like a higher quality scan, just PM me with your email. The files were too heavy to post here as scanned, so had to reduce the image quality a bit. 

 

Greg: what's with the 1.95 MB limit on posting at a time? seems kind of low, no? 

 

Don