2 replies to this topic

[MG Brown]

I feel that in many ways, Slot Car Racing and Pinball are related. If for no other reason than early Slot lap counters were repurposed Pinball scoring wheels.

Having said that, for those who may be interested, here is the reveal of Stern Pinball's latest game, recorded at the media open house held at headquarters in Elk Grove Village, IL:
 
Stern Pinball Pokémon Reveal headquarters in Elk Grove Village, IL:
 
Stern Pinball Pokémon Reveal Video
 
(This is also an example of what a Slot Car product introduction might have been like back in the days of model racing's peak popularity.)
 
For those unaware, Pokémon is the world's highest-grossing media franchise, surpassing $150 billion in total revenue as of 2024.

[John Luongo]

Interesting. Years ago, racer Ralph Griffin and I raced on an old American red track (with a D-shaped donut). we were in a 4hr enduro. qualifying and the race format were different and we ended up stuck in red lane for the entire race.

 

The large lap counter would click and clack as it counted laps. At some point during the race, the red lane counter stopped working, so they had one of the kids stand by the dead strip and count our laps by eye.

 

We passed everyone and finished second, even though the winning car never passed us.

 

Also after 4hrs of racing, i will never have to practice on red lane again.

[MG Brown]

Numbers as of December 2025