51 replies to this topic

[Steve Deiters]

I read on a slot collector Facebook page that the track is closed permanently and the collection of stuff is appearing on eBay, but no link provided.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

When I google for the track it comes up in a sidebar the the track is “permantly closed.”

 

The HO collector Facebook said that Buzzi'’s son is the one with the sell off.

[Pablo]

I'd sure like to see that auction, Steve. 

[Isaac S.]

I hope that's not true. 

[Pablo]

You hope what is not true?

[Isaac S.]

That the track and store will be permanently closed. I don't doubt that it is true but it is quite sad. 

[mreibman]

Google recently listed another raceway as "permanently closed" which wasn't, so take that part with a grain of salt.

As for Buzz-A-Rama, you should ask Nick Traina, as he should have the most accurate info outside of Buzzy's family.

[tonyp]

Buzzy's I am sure will never reopen. It is a shame.

[Paul Menkens]

I hope the tracks don't get cut up, that would be a shame.

[MattD]

There may be kind of a fire sale for some old tracks. The guys that want to buy old tracks may find a gold mine.

 

Possibly the  family doesn't care to continue. Since Buzz owned the real estate, it was about the only way to keep a business like that open.  No doubt it would be a money-losing business if it tried to be self-supporting.   The family may not want the bother of owning the property Buzz owned and may sell the real estate he owned. Generational change is a fact of life in many family owned business. Buzz's kids are not spring chickens.

 

If NY'ers are lucky, somebody may buy one track and move it to an affordable building and keep racing alive in the area. Not sure you can find afordable property in NY for a business model like a slot track.

 

We may finally find out just what is in the basement and what other tracks Buzz had. I think it's been said that he has a Sovereign in storage.

[Michael Jr.]

A Sovereign? No way! How could somebody acquire and then keep that in secret? I thought everyone knew where the remaining ones are.

[Cheater]

The rumor I have heard is that Buzz had the only American Emperor track ever made in that famous basement. I'm also quite interested to see what else he had stashed in that secret basement.

[Cheater]

How could somebody acquire and then keep that in secret?

Buzzi stashed stuff in that basement decades ago and hasn't let anyone go into it for almost as long.

[Phil Hackett]

The rumor I have heard is that Buzz had the only American Emperor track ever made in that famous basement. I'm also quite interested to see what else he had stashed in that secret basement.

 

I  have pictures of it set up from the Nats in.... 1979? 

[old & gray]

The rumor I have heard is that Buzz had the only American Emperor track ever made in that famous basement. I'm also quite interested to see what else he had stashed in that secret basement.

 

There are a number of pictures from Buzz-A-Rama showing the Emperor track. I would think it is possible that Buzz stored it in the basement when it was taken down. There was at least one other Emperor track as I ran on it many times (Bloomfield, CT). There were rumors the Bloomfield track was stored in the back room of C&C Raceway (Coventry, CT); this would make sense if C&C acquired their King track from Bloomfield.

 

There was a comment that Buzz had other tracks stored. The story was he had plans at one time to open other stores and had tracks in storage when he found locations.

[Bill from NH]

Bob, was this the yellow-walled track one walked by going to and from the bathroom in the mill's opposite leg of the "L" from the King? I saw it many times, but never heard what it was.

 

I would think Gil Aubin might know what it was. Gil told me a few years ago the old mill was leaning more, but still standing.

[old & gray]

Yes, that is what I am referring to.

[slotcarone]

No one knows what is in the basement. Nick has been down there. My son and I actually got to go behind the counter to take a picture when we were there this past January.

 

[Gil Aubin]

Bob, was this the yellow-walled track one walked by going to and from the bathroom in the mill's opposite leg of the "L" from the King? I saw it many times, but never heard what it was.

 

I would think Gil Aubin might know what it was. Gil told me a few years ago the old mill was leaning more, but still standing.

 

Bill, your memory is better than mine.

 

I remember very little about the physical layout. I stopped by a few years back (I am only 10 minutes away); there was a permanent tag sale going on. I talked about my history with the place and they allowed me to go into the back where the track used to be. It is a totally empty room but there is a "Calchera for Selectman" sticker still on the wall.   

 

The bathroom, ironically, is still there. LOL.

[Michael Jr.]

As much as I love speculation and reflections... I think that we have talked a lot about the heartbreaking tragedy of hearing that a track has been buried alive at a landfill. I don't know what commitment the family of Buzz might have to the track, his legacy or anything. They might be focused like a laser on taking care of the things that were important to Buzz. And then again, owning a piece of commercial property anywhere in NY that you don't intend to use is lost money every day that passes.

 

If anyone knows a family member or anyone responsible for the property, can we invite them on Slotblog to give the community a chance to rescue or even enrich their pocket books a little before quick decisions are made over a weekend? I really really don't want to hear about a cleaning crew disposing of old wood tracks found in the basement. There has to be somebody that knows someone in the family that can get them to come give us a quick view on where it all might be going.

[Pablo]

Just a suggestion, read post 6.

[bradblohm]

I will only say that years ago during one of Buzz's trips to the Chicago swap meet, we were laughing and telling stories in Buzz's room and Frank (Buzz's son) joked that when they died he was going to sell it all! We all laughed then, but such sad circumstances now. Just know that Frank knows what stuff is worth, and knows who to contact, and knows what Buzz had turned down for the building over the years (if Buzz would tell me, he told Frankie!).

 

Please give the family time to grieve!  We're talking about toys, but they lost family!

[Pablo]

I totally agree, Brad. But I have to add, the Slotblog community probably has the best interests and desires of the family at heart more than anybody.

[Michael Jr.]

I don't believe anyone is wanting to interrupt a family's grieving. This is just blog talk. 

[MattD]

Can't say I knew Buzz, my only contacts with him were years ago at the Chicago/Dolton swap meets. He and Frank were a fixture there back in the '90s. One thing that is most important is we remember how Buzz enjoyed the slot car hobby all these years. He never had a picture taken that he didn't appear really happy. 

 

No doubt the raceway will be gone. Nothing will be put in a landfill without having an opportunity to be bought by someone. Frank knows what he has. Maybe having a physical piece of the raceway means something to some people, but remembering Buzz' attitude and enthusiasm seems more important to me.   

[Sloter]

Hopefully they contact a great auction company to do a live auction or online auction. eBay would not be the way to do it. I had my own auction company and sold everything from household, antiques, coins, real estate, guns, vintage toys, etc. When it came to quality vintage toys, we always got a higher dollar for them than eBay! We had bidders from all over the world bidding.

 

I am retired now. If I could be of help, I know a very good auction company that would do right by the family.

 

Bob