Episode #256
Classic Auto Mall - #256 Stewart Howden welcomes David Beattie, Founder and President of Slot Mods plus Keith Martin of Sports Car Market Magazine
Show #256 airdate: August 12, 2026 Stewart welcomes David Beattie, Founder and President of Slot Mods, creator of high-end, custom-designed and built slot car tracks. David discusses his early interest in slot car racing, his experiences with racing and race venues, and how his brother became involved with the Gordon Johncock racing team. He also shares stories of encounters and custom builds for Formula 1 team principal Zak Brown, Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, and others. David recalls his early fascination with model makers in the Detroit area. He explains the differences between creating model train displays and elaborate slot car environments, along with other Slot Mods projects including "rod" hockey tables, laminated ping-pong tables, and large-scale dioramas. The conversation takes Stewart and David from Autohaus in Chicago to Formula 1 and McLaren as well as Detroit, Los Angeles, and the Indianapolis 500, with references to IndyCar, Autoweek, Automobile magazine, Jerry Forsythe, Tony George, Rob Ida, Al Unser, Jr. and the 1939 GM Futurliner. Also discussed is the LA Slot Car Museum and the growing world of custom slot car displays. Later in the program, Keith Martin joins Stewart with his latest "best" Monterey guide and the eternal collector-car question: sleek or ornate? Featured Topics David Beattie's early passion for slot car racing and the creation of Slot Mods Racing connections including the Gordon Johncock team, Zak Brown, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr. and others M odel makers and the history of AMC, Car Show #256 airdate: August 12, 2026 Stewart welcomes David Beattie, Founder and President of Slot Mods, creator of high-end, custom-designed and built slot car tracks. David discusses his early interest in slot car racing, his experiences with racing and race venues, and how his brother became involved with the Gordon Johncock racing team. He also shares stories of encounters and custom builds for Formula 1 team principal Zak Brown, Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, and others. David recalls his early fascination with model makers in the Detroit area. He explains the differences between creating model train displays and elaborate slot car environments, along with other Slot Mods projects including "rod" hockey tables, laminated ping-pong tables, and large-scale dioramas. The conversation takes Stewart and David from Autohaus in Chicago to Formula 1 and McLaren as well as Detroit, Los Angeles, and the Indianapolis 500, with references to IndyCar, Autoweek, Automobile magazine, Jerry Forsythe, Tony George, Rob Ida, Al Unser, Jr. and the 1939 GM Futurliner. Also discussed is the LA Slot Car Museum and the growing world of custom slot car displays. Later in the program, Keith Martin joins Stewart with his latest "best" Monterey guide and the eternal collector-car question: sleek or ornate? Featured Topics David Beattie's early passion for slot car racing and the creation of Slot Mods Racing connections including the Gordon Johncock team, Zak Brown, Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Jr. and others M odel makers and the history of AMC, Carrera, MPC, Revell, and Lionel Slot Mods' custom "rod" hockey tables, laminated ping-pong tables, and large-scale dioramas IndyCar, the Indianapolis 500, McLaren, Autohaus, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles Autoweek, Automobile magazine, Jerry Forsythe, Tony George, Rob Ida, and the 1939 GM Futureliner The LA Slot Car Museum and the world of custom slot car displays Keith Martin's "best" Monterey guide, Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and sleek versus ornate collector cars Featured Websites Slot Mods: slotmods.com LA Slot Car Museum: lascm.com Autoweek: autoweek.com Automobile: automobilemag.com IndyCar: indycar.com Indianapolis Motor Speedway: indianapolismotorspeedway.com M1 Concourse event center: https://m1concourse.com/ & Keith Martin rera, MPC, Revell, and Lionel Slot Mods' custom "rod" hockey tables, laminated ping-pong tables, and large-scale dioramas IndyCar, the Indianapolis 500, McLaren, Autohaus, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles Autoweek, Automobile magazine, Jerry Forsythe, Tony George, Rob Ida, and the 1939 GM Futureliner The LA Slot Car Museum and the world of custom slot car displays Keith Martin's "best" Monterey guide, Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and sleek versus ornate collector cars Featured Websites Slot Mods: slotmods.com LA Slot Car Museum: lascm.com Autoweek: autoweek.com Automobile: automobilemag.com IndyCar: indycar.com Indianapolis Motor Speedway: indianapolismotorspeedway.com M1 Concourse event center: https://m1concourse.com/ & Keith Martin Send us Fan Mail CONTENT NOTE: Contests, Prizes, Offers, Vehicles & other items may no longer be available or offered after each show's original broadcast or posting date. Recorded in our Showcase Studio just inside the entrance of the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA, Host Stewart Howden, Classic Auto Mall President and Classic Car Specialist Steve Saffier talk about this unique and amazing place often with amazing guests. YES...Classic Auto Mall is a REAL former shopping mall that covers almost EIGHT football fields with an average of nearly ONE THOUSAND classic vehicles under one, climate controlled roof and they're all FOR SALE! Be sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to be informed of new episodes and SEE them on the Classic Auto Mall YouTube Channel. We also invite you to VISIT US IN PERSON at Classic Auto Mall, one hour west of Philadelphia at PA Turnpike Exit #298, VISIT us online at ClassicAutoMall.com or talk to real, live people about visiting, buying or selling your classic on consignment at 610-901-3804. 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