33 replies to this topic

[MattD]

Here is a thread that everybody can add to and maybe we can get an idea of how big commercial racing is in America and some estimate of actual tracks open right now. In each thread just list tracks you know of and keep a running count by adding that to the previous thread count. Maybe this can be a good subject.

 

I know Bullitt Raceway in Louisville and the track in Indianapolis that are both open for business.

 

Current count is two.

[MSwiss]

Matt,
 
Are you not aware there is already an extensive list of commercial raceways?

[Phil Smith]

That list is not up to date. As far as I can tell, three of the Texas tracks are no longer in business.

 

  Capital City Slot Car - Pflugerville

 

  Coolman's Slot Car Raceway - South Houston

 

  Beverly Grand Prix - Wichita Falls

 

I can't find any evidence that's it's still open.

 

  Texahoma Slot Car Raceway - Wichita Falls

 

No post on it's Facebook page in almost 4 years.

 

  Grand Prix Raceway - Odessa

 

I can't find any evidence that's it's still open.

 

  Magnatech Raceway - San Antonio

 

  Slot Car Raceway LLC - Houston

 

  Dallas Slot Cars - Garland

 

Now located in Mesquite.

[MattD]

Mike, I continually hear Greg talk about tracks opening and closing and that he can't keep the list accurate. Probably the members here could put what they know together and we would have a list that is maybe 90% accurate. Of course, as all our threads explain, you can never get two slot racers to agree to do anything, so this is probably a waste of bandwidth!

[Cheater]

Then, damn it all to hell, why haven't you said anything until now, Phil? Have you not seen my posts for years begging to be informed when raceways open and closed and bitching because so few bother to do that? You have time to post here to complain Slotblog's Raceway List isn't up-to-date but can't find the time to send me any info to help keep it up-to-date?
 
The Raceway List returns - will it stay?
 
I'm froghair close to giving up on the raceway list for good. For more than a dozen years I've done everything I know how to do to put together an accurate raceway list and with the exception of a very few terrific Slotblog members (you know who you are!), few seem to give a single thought about helping to keep it accurate.

One more question for you, Phil. Where is there a raceway list more accurate than Slotblog's?

This is just another depressing example of what I posted in that "From Facebook..." thread:
 
"Manufacturers have virtually never cooperated to promote the hobby itself in any manner, nor have raceways, clubs, distributors, or the individual racers themselves."

[Cheater]

When I cool off, I'll either update the Raceway List with Phil's info or throw the whole thing in the trash... Right now, I'm leaning toward doing the latter.

[Bill Seitz]

Unfortunately, even posts to Slotblog are sometimes not accurate despite the best of our intentions. I posted some weeks ago that I believed Coolman's (noted above) was closed, then another poster informed us all that they had just hosted a Texas series race. I believe this disparity occurred because Coolman's does not appear to have regular hours but is open for racing events such as is the case with club operations. Magnetech Raceway is indicated above as not having any evidence of being open, yet in the past 7 to 10 days posted an announcement of an upcoming scale race. I expect Magnetech to be open unless Jim Honeycutt decides to retire or meets an unfortunate demise, which I hope does not occur anytime in foreseeable future.

 

As with any and all raceway listings, if you're not local to the track and are planning a visit, it's always best to contact the raceway in advance to confirm they will be open and the business hours on the day you are planning to visit. The fact someone was at a raceway last night does not guarantee the raceway will be open tomorrow or a week from tomorrow.

 

Bill

[PCH Parts Express]

Update for the raceway list... Tracktime Hobbies in Bakersville CA announced they have secured permission to hold monthly RC parking lot races. They posted that while mentioning their 10/16 enduro.  

[Matt Sheldon]

When I cool off, I'll either update the Raceway List with Phil's info or throw the whole thing in the trash... Right now, I'm leaning toward doing the latter.

 

FWIW I have always appreciated it and the efforts.

 

I know one of Phils submissions to be incorrect... Capitol City is still in business. Leslie was recently there and they just had a LMP race a week ago (results posted on their Facebook page).

[Bill Seitz]

Greg,

 

Please don't throw the raceway directory in the trash. It's almost impossible to keep something like this completely accurate as fast as raceways come and go and change their operations. As a slot car hobbyist that travels around the USA, I'm always looking for information about raceways that may be along my route that I can visit. The Slotblog directory is a valuable resource which I appreciate as well as appreciating the difficulty in keeping such information entirely accurate.

 

Best regards,

Bill

[Phil Smith]

I wasn't criticizing the list, Greg. You and everyone else knows it's hard to keep it up to date and consequently it's not and hasn't been for years. Everybody knows this.

 

As far as me never going over the Texas tracks, I haven't raced in years. And I never traveled to race. I'm too lazy for that. The only track I've been to on that list is Dallas Slot Cars. So I'm the last person that should be trying to determine who is and isn't still in business. But I thought I'd give it a shot anyway.

 

My suggestion, for what it's worth, would be make one long text list for all tracks. Name address and phone number only. No pics, links, etc. Easy(er) to create and maintain. And easier to find tracks as well. You can scan through all of them at once. Not as eloquent as what you did, but a lot less work required.

 

 

[Phil Smith]

FWIW I have always appreciated it and the efforts.

 

I know one of Phils submissions to be incorrect..... Capitol City is still in business. Leslie was recently there and they just had a LMP race a week ago (results posted on their FB).

 

See, there's what I was saying. I was not the right person to do it. So someone like Matt should do it.

[Phil Smith]

Actually I didn't list Capital City as closed.

[MattD]

Kind of sorry I started this! Running any kind of internet site is hard when you have many diverse members and everybody has their own ideas. Don't give up the ship, Greg. Maybe a few more guys will add some track info now and help to get the list more current. 

 

Geez, this all goes back to what started it all. Many commercial racers just don't have much interest in any kind of group effort to make things different or to get outside their personal interest.

[Phil Smith]

I wish you wouldn't have started it either. I kinda thought I was helping, but, yet again, I end up the bad guy.

[gotboostedvr6]

Greg,

I agree that you should keep on keeping on. There is no official slot racing organization in the USA. Without this site there will also be no official slot car racing forum as well. Here on lotblog we know our information is kept safe vs Facebook where there are halfwit moderators deleting and banning at will.

Dave

[Dominator]

I would assume most raceway owners visit slotblog a couple times a week. Why not offer a listing fee ($5 maybe?) for their raceway to be part of the raceway list.

It would certainly help with reducing some of the Raceways on the list that are no longer in business.

[MG Brown]

It's unfortunate that when tracks close they seem to just slip away in the night with little fanfare.

 

Greg and other volunteers put in a lot of work to have a listing of raceways on Slotblog. The only way to assure a fully accurate list would be to have a person employed full time to call all of the raceways and do a "health check" on each.

 

Now that I think about it, that wouldn't even work because some raceways have limited hours of operation and may not always answer the phone.

 

The only answer I can think of is when racers know of a change (opening, closing, new tracks, tracks removed, etc.) that they notify SOMEONE about the change. A comment in the Slotblog track directory entry takes only moments and helps Greg and the volunteers to keep things updated as best as they can.

[Cheater]

Now that I think about it, that wouldn't even work because some raceways have limited hours of operation and may not always answer the phone.

It's worse than that, M.G.

I do make a lot of calls checking on raceways and if there's an answering machine/voice mail, I leave messages. I might get a return call only 50-60% of the time...

[Bill from NH]

Too many independent "independent businessmen" at all levels.

[Pablo]

Could we maybe change the thread title to give at least some credit to Greg Wells who (along with others like MG) has been banging his head against the wall for many years trying to keep the list updated?

 

Instead of making it sound like "Hey let's update the list", how about "Let's help Slotblog keep the commercial raceway list updated"?

[Sloter]

Do not give up the list, it is very helpful for racers looking for tracks in other states or their own state. With todays state of economy and business, it is impossible to keep it accurate. But a message to Greg when you know a new track is opening or a track is closing will help. We all need to do our share to keep the list accurate.

 

Bob

[Dave Crevie]

Maybe one of the many moderators could take over that task.

[jimht]

Raceway listings on Slotblog mostly have phone numbers, I believe.

 

Facebook usually has current activity information and gets customer comments and race postings more often than Slotblog.

 

My weekly racing program has been essentially dead since the start of covid but there are still postings on social media about rent car and party fun from customers and info about regional race programs between me, Pflugerville and the 2 shops in Houston.

 

Besides that, Texas has their own Boards that are active...I don't know about elsewhere but I would suspect we're not the only ones. 

http://slotcars.net/...e41a9c054b3c54a

https://slotcarracingconnection.com/

 

For those of you looking to stop by any Raceway in your travels...contact just one in the state and I'm sure they will be able to tell you what others are active.

We're not all splashed across the front pages like Piranha Raceway. LOL

[aquavelvis]

Yes, as noted by some, Capital City Raceway in Pflugerville TX is going as well as might be expected in COVID-time. We raced there just a few weeks ago (South Texas Scale Race 5 results - 9/18, Pflugerville, TX - Race Announcements - Slotblog). 

 

Also, Coolman's Raceway in South Houston is still open, and Earl has had some one-off races there in the last few months. The 2021 South TX Scale Series finale will be there on November 6.

 

All that said, Greg, I appreciate your work on the list over the years that I've been paying attention!