July 8, 2011

Do you remember Slot Cars! On July 16 & 17, slot cars will be coming to America On Wheels Museum. Visitors will enjoy viewing tracks running HO and 1/32 scale slot cars. The East Coast HO Racing group will be running a race in their series of competitions on one of their tracks using vintage Aurora cars modified to the ECHORR rules. The first Ford/Aurora Champion from 1962, Henry Harnish, will be among the more than one dozen racers competing in this event. A representative from Carrera USA will be bringing a Carrera 1/32 track and museum patrons will be able to try out these cars on Saturday in the Long Haul Room, located on the Museum’s 2nd floor. Vendors will be set up throughout the museum on both days. On Sunday, the ECHORR track will be available for running HO slot cars, too. Executive Director Linda Merkel says “We are excited to present this history of slot car racing to our visitors. We believe America On Wheels is the perfect venue to host this event because of our commitment to all things associated with transportation in all its many and varied forms.”

Dave Reese, Coordinator for this event says, "Like many in the hobby of slot cars, I played with them until High School, when girls and real cars became more interesting. I was surprised years later when I discovered on-line that the hobby was still alive, well, and thriving. I started to get back into the hobby of slot cars about 10 years ago, buying a few items on eBay. Finding my old toys the interest has continued to blossom with a larger collection and my own basement layout, as well as showing some of my slot car collection in the lobby display case at America On Wheels." For a sneak preview of a slot car display, a preview of the event can be seen on-line at http://www.tiny9.com/u/AOW_Slot_Car_Video. Also on display will be the cars of the 100 Years of Chevrolet, as well as the museum’s displays of classic and unique vehicles, and our own display of slot cars in the museum lobby.

History: In 1966 there were 3000 commercial tracks throughout the nation, as well as, many private and club basement layouts. The Lehigh Valley had several places that rented track time and sold the latest models of racers. Slot cars had their heyday in the 1960’s, but electric table-top car racing started much sooner, and is still active today. In 1912, the Lionel Manufacturing Company introduced their electric model racing car.

The first of the popular home slot car sets in America came from England starting in 1957. The early companies included Strombecker and Scalextric, who initially specialized in 1/32 scale, and Playcraft with their 1/76 scale sets. Aurora Plastics in West Hempstead, Long Island, New York saw the potential of the Playcraft Highways cars developed by Derek Brand, and bought the US marketing rights in 1959. In the1960’s, companies such as Aurora, Tyco, Atlas, Lionel, Cox, and Riggen jumped into the HO slot car market with constant updates of the now popular home slot car. Aurora updated their cars with the Thunderjet pancake motors in 1963, and this chassis is still the basis of much of today’s HO slot car racing. The speeds of the cars rose as manufacturers improved can motors, pickup systems, and added magnet attraction to the track. Aurora teamed with the Ford Motor Company to have races run at local hobby shops with the champions from the different shops competing regionally. The national finals were broadcast on national TV with celebrity racers such as Sterling Moss involved. The 1962 Ford/Aurora Grand Nationals were won by Henry Harnish (www.hendryharnish.com) of New Jersey live on the Today Show. At age 15, Henry won a 1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible.

AOW also offers a museum scavenger hunt opportunity for the children and a museum store for our visitors’ enjoyment.