Somewhere among their Mickey Mantle cards, tin soldiers and erector sets, baby
boomers may find old slot cars and tracks -- you know, the mini autos that race
around grooved ("slotted") tracks. As they resurrect these artifacts -- perhaps
to sell, perhaps to bond with grandchildren -- they may wonder what happened
to slot-car racing, the innocent pastime of pre-Woodstock youth. But as Ken
Stevens and Russell Cox will tell you, unlike the '60s (or Mantle, for that
matter), slot cars live on.Stevens and Cox are co-founders of Scale Auto Racing
Inc., a venue promoting slot-car competition. "It's good for kids," says Stevens.
"And it's a good father-son, father-daughter, mother-daughter sport." The cars
and controllers start at less than $100, a reasonable price for revving up a
new hobby. But remember, racing isn't as easy as it seems. "You can't just show
up and expect to win," says Stevens. That's okay, though, because slot-car experts
Stevens and Cox will gladly share their secrets. Now
that's old-fashioned.
6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays; 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays; noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays. Race registration: 7:45 p.m. Fridays. 11612 Cypress-North Houston.
For information, call 281-807-4026 or visit
www.hsarc.net.
$2.50 per race.
-- Eric Norvell
Long Green
MON 11/3
The Professional Golf Association selects the players for its season-ending
event according to the amount of money they've won over the course of the year.
We suppose that's as good a way as any to narrow the field. The 30 players with
the fattest rolls are on their way to Houston for THE TOUR Championship. Masters
winner Mike Weir (who's taken in $4,719,279 as of this writing) won the event
in 2001, the last time it was played in town. Will the bling-bling blind his
eyes this year, or will he repeat? Practice round begins at 9 a.m. Monday, November
3. Tournament goes through Sunday, November 9. Champions Golf Club, 13722 Champions
Drive. For information and a complete schedule, call 877-773-9849 or visit www.tourchampionship.pgatour.com. $30
to $40. -- Lisa Simon
