# LUCKY BOB’S RACEWAY **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2017-10-30 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2017/10/30/lucky-bobs-raceway --- ## Analysis Pinball News article profiles Lucky Bob's Raceway in Milwaukee, a slot car racing facility that also operates two pinball machines (Road Kings and South Park). The article draws historical parallels between slot car racing and pinball industries, both experiencing boom-and-bust cycles since the 1950s-60s, with Lucky Bob's representing a rare venue where both hobbies coexist. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Slot car racing and pinball industries had parallel boom cycles in late-1950s to 1960s, near-extinction in 1970s-1980s, and subsequent peaks and valleys — _Historical comparison drawn by article author based on industry trajectories_ - [MEDIUM] During peak model car racing interest, major US cities had 15-20 commercial racing centers with open practice times, leagues, and tournaments — _General historical statement in article, not citing specific sources for all cities_ - [HIGH] American Model Car Raceways Inc. of Burbank, CA was the largest major commercial slot car track manufacturer and was purchased by AMF — _Specific historical fact with manufacturer and company names_ - [HIGH] The slot car racing world championship was held in Sulmona, Italy on October 6-14, 2017 with 150+ drivers from 17 countries — _Dated event with specific location and attendance figures_ - [HIGH] Lucky Bob's Raceway operates slot car racing events and open track time for both 1/24th and 1/64th scale racing cars — _Direct observation and facility description in article_ ### Notable Quotes > "The histories of the model car racing and pinball industries have had many parallels; both were wildly popular in the USA in the late-1950s to 1960s, were all but extinct in the 1970s-1980s and have had peaks and valleys in consumer interest since then." > — **Article author**, Opening section > _Core thesis establishing parallel industry trajectories as framework for the venue profile_ > "Where pinball games supply the player with all that they need to enjoy the game, generally slot car racing is a hobby/sport where you buy or build your own equipment to race." > — **Article author**, Mid-article > _Key distinction explaining different business models and participation models between the two hobbies_ > "Many people consider both slot car racing and pinball to be 'throwbacks' to another era; at Lucky Bob's Raceway you can experience both." > — **Article author**, Closing section > _Concluding observation about the venue's unique dual appeal and nostalgic positioning_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Lucky Bob's Raceway | organization | Slot car racing facility in Milwaukee, WI that also operates pinball machines (Road Kings, South Park); hosts regional and national racing events and open track time | | Road Kings | game | Williams pinball machine from 1986 at Lucky Bob's Raceway; pricing 50 cents/credit or $2/5 credits; condition noted as fair-to-average | | South Park | game | Stern pinball machine from 1999 at Lucky Bob's Raceway; pricing 50 cents/credit or $2/5 credits; condition noted as fair-to-average | | Williams | company | Historical pinball manufacturer; produced Road Kings (1986) | | Stern | company | Pinball manufacturer; produced South Park (1999) | | American Model Car Raceways Inc. | company | Largest major commercial slot car track manufacturer, based in Burbank, CA; later purchased by AMF | | AMF | company | Recreational equipment manufacturer that purchased American Model Car Raceways Inc.; also owned Harley-Davidson motorcycle company | | Ed Sullivan Show | event | Broadcast on November 15, 1970 featuring slot car racing championship with drivers Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, and Sterling Moss; sponsored by Aurora Plastics with $50,000 purse | | Milwaukee, WI | location | Home city of Lucky Bob's Raceway; has two commercial slot car racing facilities | | Chicago | location | Host city of 2016 Slot Car World Championship; has two commercial raceways | | Sulmona, Italy | location | Location of 2017 slot car racing world championship (October 6-14, 2017) | ### Topics - **Primary:** Slot car racing history and industry parallels to pinball, Lucky Bob's Raceway as hybrid venue combining slot car racing and pinball - **Secondary:** Pinball machine condition and maintenance at non-arcade venues, Historical decline of both slot car racing and pinball in 1970s-1980s, Commercial slot car racing facilities in US (Milwaukee and Chicago) ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Article is factual and descriptive venue profile without strong editorial tone; describes machines as fair-to-average condition without criticism; overall tone is observational and informative --- ## Transcript Date: October 2017 Location: 5822 W Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53220, USA Games: Road Kings (Williams) 1986, 50 cents/credit or $2/5 credits South Park (Stern) 1999, 50 cents/credit or $2/5 credits The histories of the model car racing and pinball industries have had many parallels; both were wildly popular in the USA in the late-1950s to 1960s, were all but extinct in the 1970s-1980s and have had peaks and valleys in consumer interest since then. Up until the recent resurgence, both model car racing (also known as slot car racing in the USA and often as playing Scalextric in the UK) have had largely an underground and cult following, and had their share of highlights and lowlights. ![Dadd's Track at Lucky Bob's Raceway in Milwaukee](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/lucky-bobs/01-lucky-bobs.jpg) Dadd’s Track at Lucky Bob’s Raceway in Milwaukee Slot car racing’s zenith was probably the model car race broadcast 15th November, 1970 on the Ed Sullivan Show involving Dan Gurney, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Sterling Moss. The event was sponsored by the Aurora Plastics company and the purse was (US$) 50,000. Where pinball games supply the player with all that they need to enjoy the game, generally slot car racing is a hobby/sport where you buy or build your own equipment to race. Some commercial raceways have racing equipment to borrow or rent and almost all commercial raceways sell ‘track time’ to any and all of those want-to-be Roger Penske or Colin Chapman. The slot car racing world championship was recently contested in Sulmona, Italy. It was held 6th-14th October, 2017 and one of the highlights was the 2-driver team race that attracted in excess of 150 drivers from 17 countries (ref: hisra2017.com/entrants/). There is a lively debate if racing at the international level is more a hobby or a sport. During the peak of interest in the model car racing hobby, major cities in the USA generally had 15-20 commercial racing centers that were operated with open practice times as well as leagues and tournaments. Slot car racing was so popular in the USA that the largest of the major commercial slot car track manufacturers (American Model Car Raceways Inc., Burbank, CA) was purchased by AMF, who also manufactured many other types of recreational equipment used in bowling, archery, bicycling, skiing, volleyball, golf, tennis, fishing, and for a while AMF owned the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company. In the present day there are two commercial raceways in Chicago (host city of the 2016 Slot Car World Championship) and two raceways in Milwaukee. Recently I visited one of the remaining commercial slot car racing centers in the Milwaukee area and was surprised to find that they also have pinball games. ![Lucky Bob's Raceway in Milwaukee](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/lucky-bobs/03-lucky-bobs.jpg) Lucky Bob’s Raceway in Milwaukee Lucky Bob’s Raceway hosts regular regional and national slot car racing events as well as offering open track time and parts sales. They have tracks built for both 1/24th and 1/64th scale racing cars. The raceway is located in a residential area and any dining and refreshment establishments are a few blocks away. ![Lucky Bob's Scorpion track](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/lucky-bobs/02-lucky-bobs.jpg) Lucky Bob’s Scorpion track The pinball games are located in a small ante-room next to the wash rooms. I am told that you generally need to ask an attendant to have them turned on. ![The two pinballs at Lucky Bob's](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/lucky-bobs/05-lucky-bobs.jpg) The two pinballs at Lucky Bob’s Both machines are in fair-to-average-appearing condition. Due to time constraints I wasn’t able to play either of them to determine if there are any malfunctions. ![Road Kings](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/lucky-bobs/04-lucky-bobs.jpg) Road Kings ![South Park](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/lucky-bobs/06-lucky-bobs.jpg) South Park Lucky Bob’s Raceway does not have a private parking lot, but there is plenty of parking on West Forest Home Avenue and nearby South 60th Street. Many people consider both slot car racing and pinball to be ‘throwbacks’ to another era; at Lucky Bob’s Raceway you can experience both. If you are in Milwaukee I hope that you will give Lucky Bob’s Raceway a visit. Additional resources: Slot Car History by Dennis David Slotblog is the Slot Car equivalent of Pinball News for the USA _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 68eea747-30b9-4498-81e8-37cc13283cb6*