GM Execs were slot car builders. And a Larry Shinoda re-union

[williamg]

Full story here https://www.yahoo.com/news/legendary...171200878.html

[olskoolslotz]

Maybe 10 years ago I sold my entire Detroit Thingie collection to the LASCM, a Hoffman box containing about one dozen original Shinoda and Pontiac Model Raceways bodied cars. There were nearly 20 Dyna-Rewind motors, extra White Circle tires, a few loose additional Shinoda bodies and Detroit Slider chassis', two The Groove Raceway tech blocks and a The Groove Raceway business card.

[dw5555]

Man I forgot all about the Groove Raceway which was closer to my house and I went there too but I spent most of my time at Tiny Tim's because it was so much more upscale. (Read not a dump)
Dave

[mattb]

I do take exception with the author saying the Shinodas started the "thingie" revolution. If you were around in 65, you saw Classic Manta Rays all over. That was the most produced slot car of them all. I wouldn't doubt their production was twice of any other single slot car. Shortly after the Manta came the Banshee. I really think those cars got the "thingie" movement going. Classic followed up with 5-6 more off the wall designs. As neat as the Shinodas are, their relatively low production and regional distribution kept them somewhat limited to the whole slot car world. They are neat cars and Larry Shinoda should get credit for his great designs. Thankfully Gene Adams is keeping them alive.

[chappyman66]

I dunno....Cox had the Cucaracha too.....

[mattb]

The Cuc really stirred things up, but I think that was probably around 66, by then we had thingies from Classic , Testors , Pactra and Garvic, so the shelves were really filled with Thingies. I think the Cuc kind of revolutionized the rtr market with 16D motors and extreme light weight. Most of the other cars used big 36D motors and were heavy in comparison to the Cuc. The Cuc put those cars on the trailer!

[dw5555]

So is mine called just an AMT Thingie?
Dave

[mattb]

That's an AMT Fantum, available in green, blue or gold. AMT also did an open wheeled thingie called the Bandito.

[Dave Kennedy]

The guys at GM that do the licensing approvals are slot guys currently I've talked with them and they race slots with their buddies now.