Mark was a well-known collector of all things slot car, owner of Cycle Smithy in Chicago and was a former raceway owner.
Godspeed, Mark!
Mark Mattei, 1952-2026
Started by
MG Brown
, Mar 19 2026 03:59 AM
10 replies to this topic
#1
MG Brown
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Posted 19 March 2026 - 03:59 AM
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That's thirty minutes away. I'll be there in ten.
#2
Cheater
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Posted 19 March 2026 - 07:06 AM
Hate to hear this. Mark's collection of slot cars and hobby paraphenalia is among the best in the world, and his full-size car and bike collections contained some really rare and valuable stuff.
And he was just a very nice and welcoming guy, at least when I visited him several years ago. He joined Slotblog in September 2007.
RIP, Mark.
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Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
#3
slotcarone
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Posted 19 March 2026 - 07:18 AM
RIP, Mark.
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Mike Katz
Scratchbuilts forever!!
#4
Martin
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Posted 19 March 2026 - 09:07 AM
Did not see this one coming, what a shame, too young. RIP, Mark.
Martin Windmill
#5
Cheater
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Posted 19 March 2026 - 11:10 AM
Looking back at the thread about my visit to Mark's collection, I was shocked to realize it was almost fifteen years ago and I thought that there might be a lot of members who had not seen the thread. The pictures should prove I was not exaggerating about his collection's importance in any way. Here's a link to the thread.
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Gregory Wells
Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap
#6
Martin
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Posted 19 March 2026 - 06:06 PM
Thanks, Greg, I wanted to post that.
What an amazing collection. I had seen a video too but could not find it.
Found it.
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Martin Windmill
#7
Ramcatlarry
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Posted 20 March 2026 - 11:36 PM
Chicago area will miss him. RIP, Mark.
He had two tables booked at last Sunday's Midwest Swap Meet and was absent...
Larry D. Kelley, MA
retired raceway owner... Raceworld/Ramcat Raceways
racing around Chicago-land
Diode/Omni repair specialist
USRA 2023 member # 2322
IRRA,/Sano/R4 veteran, Flat track racer/MFTS
Host 2006 Formula 2000 & ISRA/USA Nats
Great Lakes Slot Car Club (1/32) member
65+ year pin Racing rail/slot cars in America
#8
Dave Crevie
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Posted 24 March 2026 - 03:57 PM
Damn. Mark was one of my most treasured friends. Total gentleman, he was generous to a fault. Many of the cars from my youth were resurrected because he had parts I needed. An entertaining conversationist, he had a wide knowledge on such varied subjects
He is one we will never replace. God bless you, Mark.
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#9
Bugeye
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Posted 25 March 2026 - 07:40 AM
I never met him face to face. But we talked a few times, at length, about some vintage dragsters (magwinders he had).
We never made a deal, but he did hook me up with some vintage Russkit drag tires, etc.
So sorry I never got to meet him. Great guy for sure
Rob
Rob Giorgi
#10
Dave Crevie
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Posted 03 April 2026 - 02:47 PM
By the way, Mark's knowledge of bicycle history was extensive. So much so, that Mike Wolf from the TV show American Pickers, often relied on his knowledge before purchasing bikes. Mark appeared on several of the shows.
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#11
edscars
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Posted 05 June 2026 - 01:10 PM
I used to see Mark at all the Chicago area shows. Collector extraordinaire applied to him as much or more than anyone I ever met. After not seeing him at the Midwest Slot Car Show in March, I called his close local collector long time friend Ron and he called his home and relayed the sad news.
The end of that phone call was the only time I've ever heard Ron start to cry.
RIP, Mark.
Ed Kipen
