Raceway and hobby shop in Vero Beach grows regulars who like speed

Eric Hasert, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·3 min read

Slot car racing has arrived on the Treasure Coast.

The Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop opened in the Vero Beach Outlets, 1824 94th Drive. As the name suggests, it’s mostly about slot car racing.

Sherry Striffler (left), of Fort Pierce, races alongside her husband, Terry at the Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop on Sunday, June 11, 2023, in Vero Beach. The couple are among regulars at the raceway. "I like fast cars," she said.
Sherry Striffler (left), of Fort Pierce, races alongside her husband, Terry at the Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop on Sunday, June 11, 2023, in Vero Beach. The couple are among regulars at the raceway. "I like fast cars," she said.

There are multiple race tracks, including a tri-oval. That's like a mini Daytona International Speedway for a 1/24 scale diecast car, generally about 6½ to 8 inches long.

“Since I was a kid I’ve raced remote control boats, cars, on road, off road,”  said owner Joe Milstead. “I always wanted to have a hobby shop, but I’ve always been scared to take the leap. Then this business opportunity got offered to us."

He said his wife, Brittni "pushed me over the ledge.”

"It’s a lot of fun" co-owner Brittni Milstead said.

Julian Conde (left), of Winter Park, talks about racing while looking at car bodies with Joe Milstead, owner of Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop on Sunday, June 11, 2023, in Vero Beach. "I race pretty much everything, RC (radio controlled) boats, cars, slot cars and planes and turbine jets, and rockets. I do rockets as well," Conde, said. "I normally bring my little one here every other weekend so when I have my little one I always come here. We're here the minute it opens to right around closing time. Family fun, something I can do with my son."

There's an eight-lane hill climb with lots of corners. There's Big Blue King Track, with eight lanes, that's popular with wing car enthusiasts. There's a full-scale quarter-mile drag strip and two 1/32 scale tracks, and an HO 1/64 scale course. An HO drag strip is being worked. A float track for radio controlled racing is nearing completion.

“What makes racing so fun, it’s the adrenalin that gets everybody into racing, no matter what type it is,” Milstead said.

Driving on the tracks is a large part of the business. It’s based on time. You can rent cars and controllers, or bring your own. You can rent by the hour, or for the day, and an unlimited time for a month is also available. Tables are available as “pit stalls” for working on your cars.

Brittni Milstead (right) co-owner with her husband Joe, works on electrical components of the Mini Daytona Tri-oval for 1/24 scale cars along with volunteer Stephen Bowman (top) on Jan. 31, 2023, during the constructing of the Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop in the Outlet Mall in Vero Beach.
Brittni Milstead (right) co-owner with her husband Joe, works on electrical components of the Mini Daytona Tri-oval for 1/24 scale cars along with volunteer Stephen Bowman (top) on Jan. 31, 2023, during the constructing of the Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop in the Outlet Mall in Vero Beach.

There are cars for sale, including the brands Carrera, Policar, ScaleXtric, Slot-It, and NSR, along with parts and accessories. The store stocks supplies for three scales, and drag racing. It also sells plastic modeling kits of cars, airplanes, ships, and modeling supplies, paints and glues, as well as rocketry supplies and other items.

You can run cars throughout the day or take part in organized racing events on select days.

Drag and wing car racing brings the most racers to compete, but many just practice and enjoy driving on their own time.

"We did an internet search and it popped up and we came by and checked it out, and it was a lot of fun," said Sherry Striffler, of Fort Pierce, who was racing cars with her husband, Terry. "It's something we can do as a couple, and it gets speeding out (of our system) without getting a speeding ticket."

Milstead said the first Saturday of every month there's a wing car race, and weekly racing as well, with all the scales.

"Different classes, different styles, and I’m willing to accommodate everybody as long as we have enough to hold a race, and have turn marshals. I’m happy to do it,” he said.

Volunteers help finish assembly of the Big Blue King Track, the largest track at the Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop on Feb. 4, 2023, in the Outlets Mall in Vero Beach. the track still needs to be braided, adding the metal braid that distributes the electric current to the cars. The track has 155 feet of racing fun for the 1/24 scale cars.
Volunteers help finish assembly of the Big Blue King Track, the largest track at the Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop on Feb. 4, 2023, in the Outlets Mall in Vero Beach. the track still needs to be braided, adding the metal braid that distributes the electric current to the cars. The track has 155 feet of racing fun for the 1/24 scale cars.

Slot Car Raceway and Hobby Shop

∎ The store is in the Vero Beach Outlets, just west of Interstate 95 off State Road 60 at 1732 94th Drive Suite G-160. It is open 11a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. On some occasions, racing can go as late as 10 p.m.

∎ The grand opening is Saturday, Aug. 12, with a car show, raffle prizes, disc jockey. For more information, call (772) 777 1200. The Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/792909391751690/

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Slot car racing sets up shop on Treasure Coast in Vero Beach