Rifletom Race Car Driver

[BigAl52]

Rifletom has a race car and the racing bug. Here are some of his racing photos

IMG_5430.JPG (75.97 KiB) Viewed 1552 times

IMG_5435.JPG (119.09 KiB) Viewed 1552 times

IMG_5442.JPG (96.48 KiB) Viewed 1552 times

[Vaquero]

I haven't seen one of those tracks since I was a youngster.

RP

[BigAl52]

Been about 20 years for me but some of us kids dont ever grow up

[Vaquero]

Understand the not growing up.
When I was probably 1st grade there was a place in town that dad took me to a couple times.
Think there were two separate tracks.
We moved from there and I never saw another.

RP

[BigAl52]

Must be Senior Citizens day in that one pic. Theres alot old geezers in there

[Cofisher]

Wow! A lot of memories in that pic. Wish I could take grandkids to watch. I competed in an amateur status. Had amazing times. Raced against airmen that had military grade motors. We learned a lot about physics in an exciting realm.

I want to build a track. That would be awesome!

[Cofisher]

We raced in the day of the chaparrals and dan gurney

[RanchRoper]

Oh ya, I'm in. That's some good fun.

[markiver54]

Awesome Tom!, and thanks for your help Al. Yes, that brings back memories. Your lucky to still have those tracks and competition. It was one of my favorite hobbies, but then the tracks went away.
We have a dedicated hobby store right around the corner. I'm inspired to go in there and pick the owners brain about this old pass time, and see what he knows and where there might be some tracks that I'm unaware of.
Thanks for the post...Tom and Al both!!
BTW...very cool car Tom!

[Rifletom]

Well heck. I posted my take on this, and poof! It went away! Let me remember what I posted and I'll get back. I think you'll appreciate it.

[markiver54]

Well heck. I posted my take on this, and poof! It went away! Let me remember what I posted and I'll get back. I think you'll appreciate it.

That has happened to me before...very frustrating, however, sometimes if I just hit the back arrow on the puter I can re-submit.
Usually happens when someone else is posting at the same time.
Hope I'm not messing you up again.

[fortyshooter]

Slot car racing!! Wow I haven't done that since 1968. We had a couple tracks around town and we would build our own chassis out of brass tubing.
Had one with the drop away pickup with a 65 Corvette body and it would do wheelies! Anybody remember the "Tiger Milk" white stuff that you put on those sponge rubber tires to make them grip? Good times then!

[Rifletom]

The green and white is mine. Built it, set it up and painted it. The picture with all the cars lined up on the track is getting ready to qualify for the race on Sat. I didn't run Sat, as the car I had for that was not up to speed, so I helped a couple other guys get their cars ready. I raced Fri and got 5th place out of 27 racers. Yeah, a bunch geezers for sure. Some of those guys I raced against in the late 60's!! Now, 45+ years later, I picked up the hobby again once I found out they still race these gizmo's. I only race at that track[Buena Park, Ca.] twice a month. This past weekend was one of the biggest races in the country. We have it every year in Jan, three days, 5 different classes on two different tracks. Handshakes and bragging rights for the top guys. We have a blast doing this. Hope you enjoyed a small trip down memory lane. Thanks Al!

[markiver54]

Very worthy pass time Tom and a lot of fun. Went online to see if there were any tracks in my area.
There is one that is only a Drag Strip about 45 minutes away, and the closest track is around Concord NC, which is about 2+1/2 hours away. Wish it was the other way around. Not interested in the Drag Strip.
Full speed ahead Bud!

[fortyshooter]

My brother and I started out with the HO. slot cars and later we built up a scaled down 1/4 mile drag strip.
The trick was to use the double wide truck wheels with dual slicks if I remember and of course the "Speed Pac" which was the silver coated contacts and brushes for the armature. Then we got the idea to double up on the transformers from 12V to 24V.

[Hatchdog]

When I was a kid in the 60’s we had a shop called Columbia Cycle (Spokane, Wa) This was a Schwin bicycle shop that had three slot car tracks in the basement. The shop also had an extensive display of Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. Bikes, slot carts and toy cars, I was the proverbial kid in the candy store. My buddies and I had several slot cars but unfortunately this store was way across town and not in biking distance. So our trips were limited to when we could convince a parent to drop us off and come back later to pick us up. Great memories and great fun.

[markiver54]

Yea, when I was about 15, my best friend and I did set up an HO scale drag strip in his basement. They had a large ranch style home, so the basement was very long. We even had a BB/Pellet range down there.

[The Wiz]

I posted this once before and it went away, so I will try again. My son manages a track every weekend for a hobby shop in the Chicago area. As you can see track racing is a very big deal. In my sons race track they have different classes, season long points, and small trophies at the end. They also do inspections of all the winners and yes ,they have cheaters, just like in NASCAR. They are usually banned from racing for awhile. The hobby shop makes a ton of money through fees, parts, and kits. I believe they even sell hot dogs. I am really proud of my son as he took the track to new levels while working part time there.

[BigAl52]

No problem Tom glad I could help. Enjoy that racin looks like fun. Wish there was still one here in a way. Always had one of those set up yourself tracks when I was a kid. I think Eldon was big into it back then

[Rifletom]

No problem Tom glad I could help. Enjoy that racin looks like fun. Wish there was still one here in a way. Always had one of those set up yourself tracks when I was a kid. I think Eldon was big into it back then

There seems to be one in Wheat Ridge, N/W of Denver. "RJ's" Raceway and Hobbies. [303] 915-5447. I found it on our racing site, so guessing it's still there.