Frank Koza Collection > SERIES I: Newsfilm > SUBSERIES VIII: Culture & Leisure

Table Top Racing New Sport

Transcript (Download)

A new craze sweeping the country.

In the early 1900s, it was miniature trains and what elaborate layouts were developed.

Now it's tabletop racing with tiny electrically operated racing cars built to scale, exact replicas of Ferraris, Jaguars, Maseratis and many others.

Here is a display of commercial models in a Chicago hotel.

There are three types and sizes of tracks available on the market.

Popular Mechanics Magazine carries a feature article on the little races in its December issue.

It's becoming a big indoor sport.

It doesn't look like racing weather with Bob Bowling his home in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb, but Bob, a former racing driver himself, doesn't mind a little snow as long as it stays outside.

Tabletop racing is quite a do -it -yourself hobby with a number of enthusiasts.

Bob assembles a Type 61 Maserati for a workout.

And he checks it out.

The cars do not run on tracks.

There are various types of roadbed.

Bowling uses a thin aluminum tape to conduct the current to his car.

Ah, things are picking up.

In comes a friend, another tabletop racing fan, and he's got his car with him, an Aston Martin.

Seems to be in good order too.

So when racing bugs get together, what else but a race? Just look at this layout.

It fills Bowling's basement room.

The layouts have unlimited variations with wide and tight curves, hills, straightaways, everything you'd find on the big circuit.

Nearly all of Bowling's group are former racing drivers.

But Indianapolis was never like this.

At high speeds, anything can happen.

And when it happens, you have to send for the tow truck.

That puts an end to this race, but it can be repaired for a few pennies ready to race some other day.

Identifier
F.2012-03-0349
Date Of Production
circa 1961
Abstract
A 1961 Telenews newsreel produced to describe the popular new sport of table top racing. The beginning of the film depicts a display of cars and tracks put together by Popular Mechanics in a Chicago hotel, part of a featured article in the magazine's December issue of that year. Then, the film moves to a private residence in Highland Park, IL, where a former racing driver has taken up the hobby in his basement. He assembles and shows the mechanics of a model 1961 Maserati, before a friend shows up with his own car, an Aston Martin. The two race, but before long the Maserati runs off the track, at which point a model tow truck comes to the rescue. 
Run Time
0:03:15
Format
16mm
Extent
75 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Journalism
Form
Newsreels
Subject
Automobiles
Sports
Toys
Related Collections
SUBSERIES VIII: Culture & Leisure

Related Places
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Highland Park

 
Do you know more about this item?
If you have more information about this item please contact us at info@chicagofilmarchives.com.