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Post by Keith Tanaka on Apr 10, 2014 19:41:43 GMT -8
For our members of this board, we invite you to post your slot car experience/background so the rest of us can become better acquainted with those who like to build/race hardbody slot cars.
I'll go first by summarizing my slot car background.
My name is Keith Tanaka. I started racing slot cars back in 1966. Back then I bought a scratchbuilt slot car from a fellow McDonald's employee in 1965. I didn't even know at the time what slot car racing was. Since I bought the neat looking slot car, I decided to visit a local slot car raceway to learn about slot car racing. That raceway happened to be Checkered Flag Raceway in Torrance, Calif. This raceway just happened to be the host of the 4th Rod and Custom Magazine race in 1966. In late 1965 I saw Team Russkit in person at our local raceway and was so impressed with how fast their cars were going that I then decided I wanted to learn how to go as fast. I spent the next 3 years chasing but never catching the fast racers of the day. To make a long story short, I became very involved with slot car racing in those days and learned how to scratchbuild cars and never owned a RTR car ever. Scratchbuilding was so exciting in those days and very challenging as the hobby improved dramatically practically every month. I raced scratchbuilt cars until early 1969 and quit as I had to spend full time going to college. 36 years went by and I didn't even know that slot car racing still existed. One day while on the internet, I rediscovered slot car racing. There happened to be one raceway in SoCal which had regular races. By chance I found some race reports online and discovered that an old slot car racing friend of mine (Roger Uusitalo, '66-'68 Team Rolling Hills team mate) was racing at this raceway. I also found out that some very famous racers from the 60's were also racing. This got me interested enough to visit this raceway (Buena Park Raceway) and immediately become very involved with this great hobby again after all those years. In 2006, I was involved with a new form of slot car racing, D3 retro racing. This was the beginning of retro racing as we know it today. About five years ago, I became very involved with hardbody racing as our D3 organization started a hardbody racing program at BPR. Here we are a few years later and I spend all of my free time building/racing hardbody slot cars at BPR. Scratchbuilding and hardbodies are a good match, good looking cars which drive very similar to real ones.
I encourage our members to post their slot car background so others can learn about our fellow members. If you don't mind, tell us your name and where you currently race slot cars.
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Post by darkron9 on Apr 10, 2014 20:18:50 GMT -8
My name is Ron Kiyomura. I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Inglewood, California. I started playing with a Strombecker homeset in 1964. I eventually learned about slotcars from others at Inglewood High and started visiting tracks in the Inglewood area. My parents were very strict about school so I rarely got to go to racing events, but I was allowed to join the Highwinders slot car club at Checkered Flag raceways on Arbor Vitae in Inglewood. I met John Skeels in that club. I made my first main event using a Vendetta RTR chassis but using a Lancer Ferrari body.
I later play raced at Revell Raceways as it was closer to home and I could ride my bicycle to the track. I met Chris Chan there and through a quirk of fate, I watched Keith win a race using a chassis made of wide sheet brass at a track in Rolling Hills.
I also visited Jem Raceways on Manchester Blvd as it was only a couple of blocks from Inglewood High. I entered races at Jem, but I did win an Indy 500 race at the later relocated Jem Raceways before it closed for good.
I got more interested in full sized cars and dropped out of slotcars until the mid 70's. I visited the track at Hobby City in Anaheim and learned about Monaco Minis Raceways. There I met Chris Birlew and Dennis "Foamy" Hill. I became what later was called a wing car racer and had most of my success at Pop's Rosecrans Raceway in Compton, CA racing group 20s. We just called them slotcars back then and did not differentiate them with the term "wing cars". I had to quit again do to job and career change.
In early 1984 I walked into Westminister Raceway and learned about Int 15 wing car racing on the Hasse King. There I met Gil Gundersen and Johnny Johnson. I developed an Int 15 car that relied more on aero than batpans for handling. Johnny saw something in me and so with his help, I was able to win the SoCal Amature Championship for Int 15 in 1985. I also earned fourth place at the Slot Car Nats in Pasadena, Texas main event in the Amature divison for Int 15 cars. Later that year and in early 1986, I was racing Semi-Pro and with Gil Gundersen's and Johnny Johnson's help as well as many others on Team Boola I earned 3rd place in the SoCal USRA Semi-Pro championship where we raced both Group 27 and Open motors.
My last win came at the Slugfest in Washington state in 1986. I raced Semi-Pro using open motors and fought my way up from the D consi to the main event. I had to concentrate on my career in IT support and so from 1987 until 2004 I stopped racing.
I admit that I have had a hard time learning how to race these wingless cars. My whole thing in the 80's was aero and light flexible chassis using limited glue zones. Father time and old age has caught up with me so my heart problems prevent me from racing as hard as I did back in the 80's.
One thing that was always a challenge for me all the way back to my Highwinder days was to build a NASCAR stocker that I actually have run running around the track. I got most of my pet ideas to work with my Olds bodied stock car, but today I am using a modified Tanaka/Warmack NASCAR design chassis. It is more forgiving and less sensitive to temperature and glue and so I will continue from there.
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Post by mkalelaw on Apr 11, 2014 7:59:37 GMT -8
Great stories. Keep them coming. I started in the 60s, but by the end of the 60s got into real cars. Fast forward and a few years ago discovered slot cars again on the internet. Now I find myself chasing all you great racers. While I need more time to catch up it is, and has been, great fun.
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Post by craigg on Apr 11, 2014 10:29:09 GMT -8
I got interested in slot cars around 1962 and built a track on my patio from particle board and used aluminum tape for contact. A year or so later I learned of a track being built at Crenshaw and Lomita Blvd., about a half mile from my home. This was G&F Raceway, run by Gene and Francis, the first commercial track in the South Bay. I think this is where I met Roger Uusitalo, and started really getting into slot cars. In the next few years tracks were opening everywhere and we traveled all over So Cal to race. I don't remember where my first real race was, but it was probably at American Raceway in Hawthorne. I raced there, and at Revell, and at a little track a block from my house, Lomita Raceway. When Rolling Hills Raceway opened I raced there almost every week and Keith, Roger, Gary Gilmore and myself formed Team Rolling Hills, with ugly green bowling shirts supplied by the track owner. One of my favorite tracks to race at was J&J in Long Beach, I even managed to qualify for a Car Model Magazine race there. Then came the "Greetings" letter from the draft board and my slot car career was ended in 1967. In 2006 I was visiting Roger and he showed me a TRSF car he raced a BPR, so I bought a car and controller and stuck my foot back into slot cars. At the time I was suffering from acute congestive heart failure and that, combined with my dislike of the race format, made me forego more racing. In 2007 I underwent a heart transplant and my life changed drastically for the better. Around 2010 while, once again, visiting Roger he showed me his Hardbody cars and I was really hooked. I was going to build "just one car" and race. That first car was a disaster, and my driving sucked but here I am today having more fun than should be allowed.
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rogeru
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by rogeru on Apr 11, 2014 14:09:14 GMT -8
In 1963 or early 64 I first saw a slot car track at a small hobby shop in Torrance,CA. I bought some parts and built a car that I ran at a couple of local tracks. They were very small tracks and didn't last very long. Then I started going to G&F Raceway quite often. This is where I met Craig and Gary and got more involved with slot cars. My first real race was at Lomita Raceway near Craigs house and as he says tracks started opening all around us. When Rolling Hills Raceway opened we went there a lot, I believe that's where we met Keith. For several years our group travelled around to many different tracks to race. Around 1969 many people were leaving slot cars and the cars were changing so I quit going to commercial tracks. I raced in a slot car club (MESAC) for maybe two years then quit slot cars in the early 70s. Around 2005 (I think) I was driving past Buena Park Raceway and stopped to see what was going on. They were starting races for TSRF cars which looked pretty nice so I bought a car and started racing again. I raced the retro cars, Can-Am and F-1, for a few years then decided to switch to the Hardbody classes. I enjoy racing with the the Hardbody group and the cars are very nice looking (except for mine). It's a lot of fun.
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Post by hotrodbob on May 19, 2014 15:00:54 GMT -8
Hi all, Thanks for the great racing last weekend.. It was great fun and I'll be back to race some more.. Thanks to the hospitality and competition...I will try not to finish last everytime, but you guys are tuff racers...
Anyway, my background in slot cars started with an Eldon set when I was 11. By 13 I was at the commercial tracks in Toledo, Ohio. I still have some of my cars from then. Moved back to SoCal in 1966 and Revell Raceway in North Hollywood was where I spent my allowance and free time. When it closed in the late 60's I didn't pick up a controller again until about 10 years ago. I joined a club in Glendale that races plastic cars (Ninco, Fly, Scalectrix, etc). Eddie Shorer, who I race with there asked me to join in at BP and I did.. I should have done this sooner.
Well, now I'll have to build a car and get a real controller, but I'm hooked all over again...Thanks guys for a great day of racing.
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Post by Keith Tanaka on May 19, 2014 15:58:13 GMT -8
Bob, it was great having some of the Farrout Club racers (you, Eddie Shorer and Tim Herrera) join in the fun we're having racing hardbodies at Buena Park Raceway. Looks like your slot car background is similar to many others who are enjoying this great hobby again after all these years. I didn't race at Revell in North Hollywood in the 60's but I do remember racing against someone who worked at the North Hollywood location (Jerry Cowan). I did race at Revell's La Tijera location in the 60's and won my very first race there and also met Lee Hines there (a famous slot racing and National Champion hand launch glider competitor in the 60's/70's). Glad to hear we've help rekindle your interest in building/racing 1/24 scale hardbodies.
Keith
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timneja
Full Member
Love racing these hard body cars!! The new knee is working better--so I'll be back soon!!
Posts: 191
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Post by timneja on Jun 30, 2014 19:20:20 GMT -8
Hi guys---I actually started slot racing in 1961 with my older brother!! BEFORE slot cars were raced!! The Hobby Shop in Costa Mesa Calif built a "scenic hillclimg" type of trackwith mountains and buildings to run around behind their hobby shop--and you could come down there an RUN your car. There was NO organized racing of any kind--you scratch built a car with an old Kemtron style motor--a "Hard Body" kit like we're racing today made up the body--I had a 40 Ford!! And then you could plunk a dime for 10 minutes or a quarter for 30 minutes into a laundry style "coin op" machine and you got to run your car for that long. There would be another kid waiting right behind you for the lane and you'd have to get back in line to run again!! The first organized races we went to were in Santa Ana at a hobby shop on Main St--1962 and Drag Racing!! We did that for about a year--then my older brother got more serious with school and that was it for him. In1963 I found Ted Schultz--who built "Miniature Freeways" slot track on Newport Blvd in Costa Mesa--close enough to my house that I could ride my bike down there! HE built a true "race track"!! Still before the Kings and American raceways tracks!! It had 8 lanes and a "swoopy" crossover in the middle of the track--took some time to learn to drive it!! But this was my first "racing" for slot cars besides drags! Built inline cars with mabuchi motors--and raced there until 1966 when I went to High School and sports and girls took all my spare time!! Re-found slot racing at BPR in 1996--and raced Nascar's and trucks with Keith and Lenore for a few years. Dropped that to raise my children and re-started again around 2007 and have been racing a bit of everything ever since!! Lot's of fun--and Hard Bodies are a real big part of that!!
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Aug 2, 2014 14:11:34 GMT -8
We just had our 50th member sign up today. For those of you who would like to share your slotcar background, post your slot car history here. It's nice to learn about our fellow slot car racers and when, where, they started in this hobby. Keith
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Post by gonegonzo on Dec 13, 2014 5:57:20 GMT -8
Hello members ,
thank you for accepting me as a member of "hardbodyracing'. I'm a long distant member (Ohio) but joined to follow your concepts and the information on this web site is superb .
I've been racing slot cars since 1962 when introduced to them by my Uncle Fred . I'm from the Youngstown , Ohio area which has always been a hotspot for slot cars and 1=1 car culture's . I raced 1/24th scale until tracks started closing in the 70's . Then I went HO racing until a new 124th scale track opened . This went on until the mid 80's when a track opened and now there are numerous tracks in my area .
I have ventured out with other scales since retirement , I race T-Jets and 1/32nd cars in garage/basement circuits and the 1/24th on commercial tracks .
I plan on following some of your concepts in my scratch building . I think you've NAILED IT (scratch building) with your web site .
Thank You Tom DeLauder aka/ Gonzo
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Dec 13, 2014 20:07:43 GMT -8
Tom, welcome to our hardbody racing forum.
Keith
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2014 17:23:10 GMT -8
Hello, My name is Dennis David and I live in the SF Bay Area. I've been a fan of motorsport since I was a small boy and started following F1 in 1963. I went slot car racing in the early 60's with my uncle and brother and still enjoy all forms of slot cars. Recently I've concentrated in 1/32 Plastic cars but have taken them out to the commercial raceway in Rohnert Park where we run on the flat track. The racing has been a blast and we are adding 1/24 Scaleauto and BRMs to our racing. I've always been interested in hardbody racing and I like how your combined this with retro frames. I look forward to seeing how your Group C class does. If I'm correct you'll also be including GT1 and LMP? I suggest you take a look at the Tamiya GT1 though it may be too wide. www.tamiyausa.com/images/product/210/24222/header_24222.jpg
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Dec 29, 2014 19:02:42 GMT -8
Dennis, welcome to our hardbody blog. Our new racing class is Group C/IMSA GTP. This blog has a listing of the eligible cars that raced in these two 1/1 racing classes. No LMP or GT1 at this time, but certainly they could be added in the future if enough racers build these cars. For those of you who are not familiar with Dennis' website, here's the link, check it out: ddavid.comKeith UPDATE: - a "Mid-Engine" class was added in 2016. This new class includes LMP, GT1, Can Am and many exotics which are mid-engine cars.
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Post by Keith Tanaka on Oct 8, 2015 11:05:17 GMT -8
For those Members who have not posted their slot car backgrounds yet, I encourage you to do so. It's nice to share our common interest in this great hobby. For many of us (baby boomers), the hobby of our youth has returned and we definitely are fortunate to relive this wonderful hobby. Keith
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Post by Chuck Angus on Feb 22, 2016 18:22:08 GMT -8
I frequented the Revell Raceway on La Tiera in '65 (8th grade)--I went there enough the manager offered me a job coaching "week end dads" and their kids--We would dewind our armatures and make the motor in the 4 to 5 volt range--Not a long life, but they would scream--We also built all our own chassis with brass tubing--On short wheelbase cars I used a biz card for height of chassis--During the same time I went to a drag only slot race track/shop on Santa Fe in Long Beach, close to the used to be Lions Dragstrip--Real 1/4 mi scale track with cars that exceeded the real cars--And of course there was the Cox raceway in Westchester across the street from Randy's Doughnuts
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