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Slot Car Racing
Date: 10-18-2010
By: TestPattern
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Recently, an old Hessville neighborhood friend visited. One evening we drove through the downtown area where I now live, and I pointed out a slot car track that opened just a few years ago. The owner of the track opened his business, knowing that it would not make money, but still wanted to do so just for the nostalgia, and in hopes to create some great memories for the current generation of kids whose parents might bring them in.
This prompted a discussion, with my friend, about slot car racing during our youth in Hessville. I had not seen any topics open on this subject, or even a mention of slot car racing, so I'm launching one, and keeping it generic so others can contribute their recollections.
During the 60s, many a boy received a slot car racing set as their "dream" Christmas gift, as did I. What great fun, watching our cars zoom around the whole twelve foot of two lane oval track set up in the living room, then later banished from under foot to the basement. The first tracks were flat ovals, and later models were figure eight tracks, some with an intersection, or some with an overpass.
My brother had received a train set at an earlier Christmas, but I had the racing set. There was no comparison. The train set was basically a one kid toy. The second kid just sat and watched, until it was his turn, or would merely be in charge of placing the train cars on the track if they took a curve too fast - for many the entire purpose of running the train.
With the slot car set, I could play by myself - excuse me, practice racing, or my brother or a friend and I could compete. Often, neighborhood kids would collaborate, and combine track pieces, if compatible, in order to build a longer track layout.
Then some enterprising business people started opening slot car tracks. And, Hessville had one. The slot car center had two track layouts, built up on legs to about waist high. I think, the largest track along the north wall, was 6 or 8 cars wide, and had a total length of about 80 feet. A smaller track was along the south wall that seldom was played. Near the back of the store was a counter where one could purchase cars, parts or accessories. I believe it occupied the spot where the Readmore Gift Shop was earlier, (east side of 6800 block of Kennedy,) as I remember being able to look into the large storefront windows to see who was there racing.
If I recall correctly, the rate was about $0.50 per half hour on the big track. You usually brought a friend with you. If you were racing, your friend watched from the west side of the shop, near the door and the far curve, so in case you flipped at the curve, he could reset your car on the track quickly to keep you in the race. If you didn't have the money to race, you could always watch others who raced, then run home and watch your own slot car zip around your twelve foot track, trying to relive the action. Sigh - just not the same!
I believe that there was another slot car track on Hohman Avenue in Hammond, but I only visited there a few times, since our local track was so close. What a memory.
Does anyone recall the name of the Hessville slot car track?
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