Good job Karen and thanks for the shout out!
Steve "The Wrench" Ratchett
Slot cars were popular in the 1960s. It was something to do for restless youngsters when they couldn't play outside.
But a lot of those kids grew up and took their hobby with them.
Fast
forward past video games and other distractions to present day, and you
will find many slot car enthusiasts who are into the cars, down to the
minutia. The thrill of putting a car on the track provides a sense of
nostalgia, too.
For a group of men in Wauwatosa, it's not just about reliving the old days, but having fun today. The Wauwatosa Indy Slot Car League
is celebrating its 25th year. Member Jon Wyatt said the league consists
of huge fans of Indycar racing and slot car racing is a means to an
end.
"We obviously couldn't afford to do
full-scale racing, but it was something we could do in the offseason
from the fall until spring," Wyatt said.
The league meets every two weeks from September to early April.
"Racing is the main theme, not the slot cars. It gives us racing to do when it is too damn cold outdoors here," he said.
Many
of the members are in their 50's or older. They grew up in a time when
Indycar was the only real racing people in the Midwest paid attention
to.
There are 13 members in the league, all in Milwaukee County. Each season consists of 16 races; four are held in Wauwatosa. The league meets in a member's basement and race on the host's racing track.
There are 13 members in the league, all in Milwaukee County. Each season consists of 16 races; four are held in Wauwatosa. The league meets in a member's basement and race on the host's racing track.
Wyatt said each track is different, like a real racing season.
Members love to host a race since it is like a small party with food, racing and, of course, a beer or two.
"It
pegs the dork meter as it is. We make it like a bowling league — at
least it looks like grown men are doing it," Wyatt said.
The group enjoys the excitement and competitiveness of the race. Wyatt said anyone who gets really good at slot car racing is hated, in a competitive, but good-natured way..
"Everyone is excited for you on your first win, but the second or third is less popular," he joked.
Winner takes all the glory
Competitive
slot car racers use software to score cars and how long it takes to do a
lap. For Wyatt and his buddies, it never made sense for them.
"A slot car is slow enough to keep your eye on it, but fast enough to try to control," he said.
A
pin goes in a slot which keeps the car on the track. If the car flies
off the table, the racer is done for the evening. Wyatt said it is like a
major crash in real life racing, where the car is too damaged to
continue.
At the end of the season, there is a
championship complete with a crystal trophy. The trophy has championship
winner's names engraved on it, along with the series logo. The trophy
travels to each winner's home. Chick-fil-A is a sponsor for their league
and provides gift cards to race winners.
The fast track for fun
Wyatt is on his third home in Tosa and his racing track has changed each time he moved and wedged it in the basement.
Everyone
has an idea how they want to design their oval-shaped track, which
resembles Indycar races. A slot car racing track is similar to a model
railroad track complete with scenery. Each person develops a theme for
his track. One member lives in Quarry Heights neighborhood. His track is
modeled on the terrain complete with a hill and the old quarry.
Another member built a track after Road America, a road course located near Elkhart Lake on Highway 67.
"Many take inspiration from the real Indycar tracks and make it happen on a smaller scale," Wyatt said.
Wyatt's
track is called the Shrine Desert Road Course. It was inspired by
Albuquerque, New Mexico. He adapted it with photos of the mountains and a
desert layout of New Mexico.
Another member has a track with campgrounds and a nudist beach.
"We don't take this seriously," he said.
For more information on the league visit http://www.indyslotcar.com/.
