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Written by Ron Polimeni
I no longer remember exactly how I first became aware of slot car racing. It may have been an add in a magazine or more
likely a set on display at Westchester Hobbies in White Plains NY where I was frequent visitor.
However I first became introduced, I have been fascinated with the hobby of racing miniature automobiles ever since.
I acquired my first Scalextric slot car set somewhere around 1960. With the addition of several accessory track pieces
I built several home tracks with full scenery, pits, etc. over the next few years and also enjoyed membership
in a local club for several years thru the mid sixties.
Unfortunately no photo's of those layouts were ever taken and they exist today only as fond memories.
A few years ago, while browsing in a local hobby shop, I came across a display of slot car racing sets. There was a familiar
name on a set featuring vintage ‘70’s era Trans Am racing cars. Scalextric was still in business.
Unable to resist, I purchased the set. A little online searching revealed that slot cars were back, better than ever.
Some further on-line poking around led into contact with one Alan Schwartz. Alan put me in touch with Jim Butt of the IHSR
(Interstate Home Slot Racing) club. Before long Alex and I were attending our first IHSR event at Jim’s on his beautiful
routed wood track. That was over three years ago and we’ve been with the club ever since. IHSR, as the name implies,
is an informal club meeting in members homes to race on their home tracks. It’s a fun group.
The racing, while often fierce, is always good natured in spirit.
Perhaps one day we’ll have a track of our own up and running and be able to host an event ourselves.
As I gradually work my way back into this wonderful hobby I will be resurrecting more of my old cars and adding some of
the great new models available today. At some point perhaps I'll be able to build another track which I will share on this site,
so please return from time to time to see what we're up to.
Feel free to e-mail any comments you may have as I would very much like to hear from others who have an appreciation for
vintage iron and scale model race cars.
At our club races we generally run different cars in the morning and afternoon. Recently the classes have been models of
modern Le Mans cars from 1980 on up and vintage cars pre 1970 or so. Some of the slot car models today are so finely
done that they can serve as collector/display models as well as model race cars. Thanx for stopping by and sharing my
enthusiasm for slot cars and motor racing history.
You can visit Page 2 by using the secondary navigational bar on the right.
Alternately, scroll down to view a gallery of our current slot cars.
Click on the pictures to view high-resolution versions of them!
I no longer remember exactly how I first became aware of slot car racing. It may have been an add in a magazine or more
likely a set on display at Westchester Hobbies in White Plains NY where I was frequent visitor.
However I first became introduced, I have been fascinated with the hobby of racing miniature automobiles ever since.
I acquired my first Scalextric slot car set somewhere around 1960. With the addition of several accessory track pieces
I built several home tracks with full scenery, pits, etc. over the next few years and also enjoyed membership
in a local club for several years thru the mid sixties.
Unfortunately no photo's of those layouts were ever taken and they exist today only as fond memories.
A few years ago, while browsing in a local hobby shop, I came across a display of slot car racing sets. There was a familiar
name on a set featuring vintage ‘70’s era Trans Am racing cars. Scalextric was still in business.
Unable to resist, I purchased the set. A little online searching revealed that slot cars were back, better than ever.
Some further on-line poking around led into contact with one Alan Schwartz. Alan put me in touch with Jim Butt of the IHSR
(Interstate Home Slot Racing) club. Before long Alex and I were attending our first IHSR event at Jim’s on his beautiful
routed wood track. That was over three years ago and we’ve been with the club ever since. IHSR, as the name implies,
is an informal club meeting in members homes to race on their home tracks. It’s a fun group.
The racing, while often fierce, is always good natured in spirit.
Perhaps one day we’ll have a track of our own up and running and be able to host an event ourselves.
As I gradually work my way back into this wonderful hobby I will be resurrecting more of my old cars and adding some of
the great new models available today. At some point perhaps I'll be able to build another track which I will share on this site,
so please return from time to time to see what we're up to.
Feel free to e-mail any comments you may have as I would very much like to hear from others who have an appreciation for
vintage iron and scale model race cars.
At our club races we generally run different cars in the morning and afternoon. Recently the classes have been models of
modern Le Mans cars from 1980 on up and vintage cars pre 1970 or so. Some of the slot car models today are so finely
done that they can serve as collector/display models as well as model race cars. Thanx for stopping by and sharing my
enthusiasm for slot cars and motor racing history.
You can visit Page 2 by using the secondary navigational bar on the right.
Alternately, scroll down to view a gallery of our current slot cars.
Click on the pictures to view high-resolution versions of them!
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From Left to Right:
Ferrari 250P. This is one of my cars from the ‘60’s. It is
powered by an ancient “can” motor and is all original except for
the Ortman Monogram replica tires. It even has the original
braid on the guide. It has been exceptionally successful on the
club track where the power supply was sufficient for old motor,
taking a several seconds with me driving and a first with one of
the club hotshots at the controller.
Corvette Sting Ray, by Revell. Another original ‘60’s slot car
powered by a Pittman RP77 in an aluminum Revell chassis.
The only concession to modernity is the BWA five spoke
American Mag inserts in the original Revell wheels and the
Scalextric side pipes from their Corvette ’69 Corvette model.
This car also does well where the track power was sufficient.
Cobra Daytona Coupe, built 40 years ago from a Auto Hobbies
kit. This was my most successful racing model at that time. This
car won 5 first’s and one second place out of six events all in
one evening. The only real modification to the stock kit was the
addition of a Monogram 4 ½ volt armature in the motor. Other
than that the car was stock with some very careful attention to
detail.
Ferrari 250P. This is one of my cars from the ‘60’s. It is
powered by an ancient “can” motor and is all original except for
the Ortman Monogram replica tires. It even has the original
braid on the guide. It has been exceptionally successful on the
club track where the power supply was sufficient for old motor,
taking a several seconds with me driving and a first with one of
the club hotshots at the controller.
Corvette Sting Ray, by Revell. Another original ‘60’s slot car
powered by a Pittman RP77 in an aluminum Revell chassis.
The only concession to modernity is the BWA five spoke
American Mag inserts in the original Revell wheels and the
Scalextric side pipes from their Corvette ’69 Corvette model.
This car also does well where the track power was sufficient.
Cobra Daytona Coupe, built 40 years ago from a Auto Hobbies
kit. This was my most successful racing model at that time. This
car won 5 first’s and one second place out of six events all in
one evening. The only real modification to the stock kit was the
addition of a Monogram 4 ½ volt armature in the motor. Other
than that the car was stock with some very careful attention to
detail.
The following 3 are 1/24th scale models from the early 1960’s.
This Scarab is a Monogram model that I raced extensively with
club I belonged to at the time. It was stock except for a “Louie
Marra” rewound motor. Loui was master motor rebuilder as well
as one very funny guy. A real asset to the club. Lou drove an
English Ford Anglia that he had painted in Ford Lotus Cortina
colors. With a perfectly straight face he kept referring to the
Anglia as a “work of art” while we taunted him about the Cortina
colors on a drab little Anglia during an evening of club racing.
“You clowns don’t believe me, that car’s a work of art I’m telling
you”, he kept saying over and over. When we were leaving that
evening we kept taunting. Louie simply opened his driver door
and pulled the hood release to reveal a “Dutch Masters” knock
off painted on the underside of the hood. After giving us ample
time to convulse in disbelieving laughter Louie, without a word or
cracking a smile, simply got in his little car and drove off.
This Scarab is a Monogram model that I raced extensively with
club I belonged to at the time. It was stock except for a “Louie
Marra” rewound motor. Loui was master motor rebuilder as well
as one very funny guy. A real asset to the club. Lou drove an
English Ford Anglia that he had painted in Ford Lotus Cortina
colors. With a perfectly straight face he kept referring to the
Anglia as a “work of art” while we taunted him about the Cortina
colors on a drab little Anglia during an evening of club racing.
“You clowns don’t believe me, that car’s a work of art I’m telling
you”, he kept saying over and over. When we were leaving that
evening we kept taunting. Louie simply opened his driver door
and pulled the hood release to reveal a “Dutch Masters” knock
off painted on the underside of the hood. After giving us ample
time to convulse in disbelieving laughter Louie, without a word or
cracking a smile, simply got in his little car and drove off.
This ’64 Mercury stock car is a model of the race car known as
“Big Red”. This car was built and raced by Bud Moore and
driven by Darrel Dieringer during the ’64 and ’65 NASCAR
seasons with considerable success. The body is from an AMT
display car kit and the motor (a Pittman DC 706) is hidden in the
trunk allowing for a full interior. The construction of this model
along with additional photographs is outlined on the second page.
“Big Red”. This car was built and raced by Bud Moore and
driven by Darrel Dieringer during the ’64 and ’65 NASCAR
seasons with considerable success. The body is from an AMT
display car kit and the motor (a Pittman DC 706) is hidden in the
trunk allowing for a full interior. The construction of this model
along with additional photographs is outlined on the second page.
This ’57 Corvette is a Dyna Charger model done to resemble
the ’57 Corvette as raced by Don Yenko in the mid
‘60’s. This car served me well too and saw many races at the
club track in the basement of the hobby shop in Eastchester N.Y.
the ’57 Corvette as raced by Don Yenko in the mid
‘60’s. This car served me well too and saw many races at the
club track in the basement of the hobby shop in Eastchester N.Y.
Slot-it Nissan R390. Alex’s usual entry for the club modern Le
Mans class races. The Slot-it cars are both fast and smooth right
out of the box. One of Alex’s other hobbies fantasy war gaming
and since Slot-it offered only two color schemes for this model,
Alex decided to decorate it in the red and blue of his “Sisters of
Battle” Warhammer army - complete with army-specific decals.
Mans class races. The Slot-it cars are both fast and smooth right
out of the box. One of Alex’s other hobbies fantasy war gaming
and since Slot-it offered only two color schemes for this model,
Alex decided to decorate it in the red and blue of his “Sisters of
Battle” Warhammer army - complete with army-specific decals.
Jaguar XJR 9 by Slot-it. This is one sweet running car and one
of my most successful models for IHSR club racing. Managed to
pull a second overall with it running in the non mag class
against the mag equipped cars.
of my most successful models for IHSR club racing. Managed to
pull a second overall with it running in the non mag class
against the mag equipped cars.
This is my current entry for the modern Le Mans class at the
club races. It is a Slot-it HRS chassis with an SCX Corvette
body shell. It runs fast and smooth and if I can learn to
concentrate properly I might be able
to do something with it.
club races. It is a Slot-it HRS chassis with an SCX Corvette
body shell. It runs fast and smooth and if I can learn to
concentrate properly I might be able
to do something with it.
A Ferrari F-40 by Slot-it. The model was a gift for Nick and it
was badly damaged on it’s first outing when a competitor left
another model blocking the lane Nick was using. Nick rebuilt
the shell with reinforcements should it ever be involved in a
collision such at that again. The custom paint job is Nick’s to
make his F-40 distinctive from others that may show up a club
events.
was badly damaged on it’s first outing when a competitor left
another model blocking the lane Nick was using. Nick rebuilt
the shell with reinforcements should it ever be involved in a
collision such at that again. The custom paint job is Nick’s to
make his F-40 distinctive from others that may show up a club
events.
Porsche RSK (718). This is an old Strombecker shell that I
purchased along with another in very sorry shape. With a fair
measure of putty and styrene and much elbow grease it is now a
reasonable representation of lare ‘50’s Porsche RSK. The
second shell will benefit from what I learned resurrecting this one
and will be used as a master to make a mold for reproducing
these models in resin. The running gear is from EJ’s in their
very nice Monogram brass replica chassis shod with Ortmann
Monogram replica front tires. The little car does indeed run very
well even with it’s exceptionally narrow tires.
purchased along with another in very sorry shape. With a fair
measure of putty and styrene and much elbow grease it is now a
reasonable representation of lare ‘50’s Porsche RSK. The
second shell will benefit from what I learned resurrecting this one
and will be used as a master to make a mold for reproducing
these models in resin. The running gear is from EJ’s in their
very nice Monogram brass replica chassis shod with Ortmann
Monogram replica front tires. The little car does indeed run very
well even with it’s exceptionally narrow tires.
An original Monogram Lola GT shell mounted on an EJ’s brass
Monogram replica chassis with BWA and inserts and Ortmann
Ninco replacement tires.
Monogram replica chassis with BWA and inserts and Ortmann
Ninco replacement tires.
Scalextric Aston Martin DBR-1’s. Nick and Alex both like the
Aston. As Scalex only made the yellow trimmed #57 car, Alex
hand painted the red trimmed #29 car. Nick’s car (#57) sports
NSR rear wheels & axle with Slot-it gears while Alex’s car (#29) is
stock except for the motor.
Aston. As Scalex only made the yellow trimmed #57 car, Alex
hand painted the red trimmed #29 car. Nick’s car (#57) sports
NSR rear wheels & axle with Slot-it gears while Alex’s car (#29) is
stock except for the motor.
The Corvette SR-2 is made from a Ninco model. Much
research, putty and plastic work was done to reshape the stock ’
56 Corvette shell into the distinctive shape of the experimental
SR-2 version of the Corvette. This one represents the original
“Purple People Eater” Corvette sponsored by Nickey Chevrolet
at Sebring in ’57.
The B/P Corvette is a model of the car driven by Don Yenko to
win the 1965 National race at Marlboro Speedway. The real car
was 8 years old at that time. Original model from Ninco. The air
horns on the hood were made from model railroad parts.
The Corvette coupe is a model of the type of Corvette used by
the factory at Sebring in ‘56/’57 as driven by John Fitch. This
too is a Ninco model.
research, putty and plastic work was done to reshape the stock ’
56 Corvette shell into the distinctive shape of the experimental
SR-2 version of the Corvette. This one represents the original
“Purple People Eater” Corvette sponsored by Nickey Chevrolet
at Sebring in ’57.
The B/P Corvette is a model of the car driven by Don Yenko to
win the 1965 National race at Marlboro Speedway. The real car
was 8 years old at that time. Original model from Ninco. The air
horns on the hood were made from model railroad parts.
The Corvette coupe is a model of the type of Corvette used by
the factory at Sebring in ‘56/’57 as driven by John Fitch. This
too is a Ninco model.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa
Rossa. The model offered by Ninco, while not very good,
seemed to have possibilities. By sectioning the body, separating
the chassis and performing other modifications a fair
representation of a Testa Rossa was achieved. Alex did the
detail paint work and Nick applied the smooth coat of red as well
as a clear coat after the application of the decals. The #14 car
was also converted to right hand drive to replicate the winning
car of Hill/Collins at Sebring in ’58 (Hill up). The #16 car of
Musso/Gendebien was the second place finisher (Musso up on
the model). The Barchetta is a generic car from the ‘50’s and
not a model of any particular Ferrari. Like the Testa Rossa’s it
is equipped with BWA wheels and inserts and Slot-it gears,
axles and motor.
Rossa. The model offered by Ninco, while not very good,
seemed to have possibilities. By sectioning the body, separating
the chassis and performing other modifications a fair
representation of a Testa Rossa was achieved. Alex did the
detail paint work and Nick applied the smooth coat of red as well
as a clear coat after the application of the decals. The #14 car
was also converted to right hand drive to replicate the winning
car of Hill/Collins at Sebring in ’58 (Hill up). The #16 car of
Musso/Gendebien was the second place finisher (Musso up on
the model). The Barchetta is a generic car from the ‘50’s and
not a model of any particular Ferrari. Like the Testa Rossa’s it
is equipped with BWA wheels and inserts and Slot-it gears,
axles and motor.
The 1968 Javelin resin shell by Noisy Muse. I painted this car
to represent one that I might have raced back in ’68 had I had
the resources to race in the big bore class. Racing and under
dog make such as the Javelin was at that time would have
appealed to me.
The Pontiac Trans Am shell was purchased along with
Barracuda shell at a flea market sale. Both were in very poor
condition. In hindsight I would have been much better off
purchasing the resin shells that are available for both of these
cars from Reineke Resins. After much work (too much) I do
have two very nice models to show for my efforts. The Pontiac is
a replica of the car Jerry Titus drove in 1970 at the Trans Am
race at Leguna Seca.
The Barracuda is modeled on the car Swede Savage drove at
Watkins Glen in 1970. I nearly rear ended this car during a
warmup session on race day with my Volvo 122S when Savage
blew a rear tire.
to represent one that I might have raced back in ’68 had I had
the resources to race in the big bore class. Racing and under
dog make such as the Javelin was at that time would have
appealed to me.
The Pontiac Trans Am shell was purchased along with
Barracuda shell at a flea market sale. Both were in very poor
condition. In hindsight I would have been much better off
purchasing the resin shells that are available for both of these
cars from Reineke Resins. After much work (too much) I do
have two very nice models to show for my efforts. The Pontiac is
a replica of the car Jerry Titus drove in 1970 at the Trans Am
race at Leguna Seca.
The Barracuda is modeled on the car Swede Savage drove at
Watkins Glen in 1970. I nearly rear ended this car during a
warmup session on race day with my Volvo 122S when Savage
blew a rear tire.
These are a pair of vintage stock cars by Monogram. With a
change of wheels, axles, gears and motor (BWA and Slot-it
respectively) they have become respectable performers at the
club races. Alex prefers the unusual and these cars fill the bill.
Previously he would often run a Mini or a Trabi.
Anything but the ordinary.
change of wheels, axles, gears and motor (BWA and Slot-it
respectively) they have become respectable performers at the
club races. Alex prefers the unusual and these cars fill the bill.
Previously he would often run a Mini or a Trabi.
Anything but the ordinary.
From Left to Right
A Fiat Abarth 850 by SCX.
A rally Mini Cooper with classic roof spot by Scalextric.
Our race prepped vintage Mini Cooper with custom painted
Union Jack on the roof (by Scalextric).
A Trabant by Revell/Monogram
A Fiat Abarth 850 by SCX.
A rally Mini Cooper with classic roof spot by Scalextric.
Our race prepped vintage Mini Cooper with custom painted
Union Jack on the roof (by Scalextric).
A Trabant by Revell/Monogram
Last but not least, some of the wonderful models of the great
cars of the past available today. These are vintage racers that I
remember from a time when they were current race cars. The
Mecom team cars, Grand Sport Corvette’s, the light weight
Jaguars, the Shelby Daytona Cobra’s, GT-350’s, Lola T-70,
Lotus Cortina, Alfa GTA & Alfa 33/3, Vintage stock cars from
back when NASCAR was worth watching.
Great era, great automobiles.
cars of the past available today. These are vintage racers that I
remember from a time when they were current race cars. The
Mecom team cars, Grand Sport Corvette’s, the light weight
Jaguars, the Shelby Daytona Cobra’s, GT-350’s, Lola T-70,
Lotus Cortina, Alfa GTA & Alfa 33/3, Vintage stock cars from
back when NASCAR was worth watching.
Great era, great automobiles.
| Some views of our collection as displayed at various points around the house. |