Slot Shots Future HO Raceway

[Deleted]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to introduce myself and tell you all what a great site this is. My name is Rick Parker and I'm from Mt. Holly, NC.

I ran with all the folks at Pitstop Raceway a few years back until I took a traveling sales position with work........... anyway, the good news is, I'm back and ready to race.

The bad news is Pitstop is gone. So, here is my proposition. I'm going to buy all of their tracks and put them up in a storefront in Lincolnton, NC. I need everyone's input on wether this would be supported and please be honest! This is not a very cheap thing to do and I am not willing to take the risk unless you all stand behind me and we do this as a team!

I really have no contacts with the old racers from the past, but if you are from the area and in favor of this happening, please let me hear from you.

Thanks and I'm glad to be here!
Ricky Parker
Slot Shots "future raceway"

[allstarhr]

Glad to hear from you Ricky, welcome to the group. As someone who lost my a bundle owning and investing in 1:1 drag strips, I want to immediately tell you to ... RUN!!
But that's not totally true. My real suggestion? Do the math, then do it again with a sharper pencil no matter which plan you pick. Take all expenses and multiply them times 1.4 and that's closer to the real cost. I also wouldn't recommend trying to do this as a full time job personally. Too much to lose.

But if you can find a place where the rent is cheap enough to keep all costs very, very low you could probably make this work as a part time job. With slot car drag racing being somewhat compact compared to the oval and road course tracks, I've wondered if there wasn't some facility that could be had one or two days a week where you could mount the track down a wall and put locking lids over it when not in use and the hall was used for other things. Then your only renting a fraction of the monthly rent/electric/etc. Like a church hall, YMCA, City Park building, etc. Otherwise the cost of the building for this limited use with the full electric bill, insurance, liability insurance, advertising, supplies, etc. would eat up the money that "might" come in the door.

I personally think a "portable" HO drag strip would be a smarter thing. Especially if it could be mounted down the side of a small enclosed trailer with "saw horse" mounted extensions to the track to make it 15-25 feet overall. Take it to the 1:1 drag strip, car shows, fairs, art shows, etc. and charge to race, then sell cars and track to help support it. Limited liability insurance, insurance for the trailer and all that would be much cheaper. You would need a inexpensive Karaoke machine for a PA system. Then good promotion and good quick race action with simple prizes for the winners. Then also hold more serious races when you get the right group together on your night. That could be done at the local fast food restaurant's back lot for free if the group ate there. Just some ideas and...JMO. Best of luck!

[johnbalich]

I ahve thought abput that protable drag strip thing too, Phil and think it would a great idea, at fairs, school and church picnics, car shows etc. Set up a track with a couple of very sturdy middle of the road cars and let all comers try the tree, or even "beat the expert" so to speak. Nice promotion.