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Scott Johnson	Mile-high HO Slot-car Association *A Linear Heritage, Part I* by , Co-founder of MHOSA
*Editor's note* by Most recent updates	Scott Johnson is the nucleus of what MHOSA is today. The existence of MHOSA is largely due to Scott's perseverance and enthusiasm for racing HO cars. Scott has truly been the catalyst and an enabler for the group by providing the raceway, track, equipment, know how, and most importantly, countless phone calls to make it all happen. It was Scott who introduced me to the "next level" of HO scale hobbying.
*Forward*	I will briefly share, from my perspective, personal and to the best of my recollection HO Racing in Denver since 1987. I apologize in advance to those who I left out or forgot about.
*Early Start*	I believe I was eight or nine years old when I got an HO Slot car set for Christmas -- the San Francisco Bay Bridge set if their was such a set. We would race four hours, so many hours the push button controllers would get so hot they stopped working. It was frustrating at times messing with the track that moved on the carpet and inadvertently stopped working on the back straight away. For the most part, it was good times for me and my fellow racers.
*1987* *Rebirth*	When my son, Dan, was seven years old I was looking for a present for Christmas. I saw slot car sets by Tyco in a catalog. Being a little on the frugal side, I called my mother to see if see still had my old set -- luckily she didI bought a couple of new cars to go with the old track. Christmas morning we set up a large layout in the basement on the carpet, just like old times. Its always lots of fun when your kids reach an age when you can play with their toys.
*Graduation*	It wasn't long before we graduated from the floor to a few card tables and boards. The new cars were great but I wanted the old cars to run as well. I went searching for parts in hopes of reconditioning the old cars. My only previous knowledge of HO merchandise was a toy section in a old Ben Franklin store. I was disappointed to discover that no one seemed to have parts for the old cars.
*Judson's*	Someone suggested that I go to a hobby store to find parts for my old cars. Finally, I was directed to a place called Judson’s on South Federal in Denver. Wow! Judson's had all kinds of parts, they even had parts for the old T-Jet style cars I had. I hadn't realized that my old cars were valuable as collectibles. I would have gladly sold the lot to Jud Judson for less than $5.00. Thank God for Jud's honesty. He told me they were valuable as collectors and suggested that I hang on to them. I ended buying about $12.00 worth of parts to fix up two of the old T-Jet cars. Money was very tight and I was resigned to preserving the old cars and not racing them.
*1987* *Introduction to Racing*	In Judson’s hobby store was a little yellow curled up 3x5 card that said, "HO Racing, Call Mike ------." I took the number and gave Mike a call. He invited me to Dan Briewick's apartment for Monday night racing. Mike told me of a car that would clock a two and a half second laps on a seventy foot track -- this I had to see. I sold six T-Jet cars on consignment at Judson's to fund my venture into HO racing.
*Monday Night Racing*	We raced every Monday night at Dan Brewick's apartment. This informal group of racers was headed up by Briewick, Mike Stewart and Cal Jaros with assistance from Tim Essman. We raced HOPRA Super Stock and Modified classes with minor modifications. See Micrometer Story
*1988*	Several events transpired early in the year... Briewick moved to Minnesota, and took his track with him! Dennis Schoenberg and Tim Essman constructed a 4 x 23 foot Tyco speedway and set it up for racing in Dennis' garage. There wasn't a lot of extra space but it didn't seem to limit the amount of fun we had that summer. Tim Warner constructed a 4 x 16 foot Tyco track with a layout similar to that of the current Buck Track.
*Warner Raceway* Tim Warner's Garage... Tim Warner at far right. click to enlarge	Warner's track, set up for racing in his garage, became a steady venue for racing over the next two years. I suppose most of the HO racing enthusiasts in the Denver area raced in Warner's garage at one time or another during that two years. We raced Box Stock, Super Stock and Modified.
*1989* *Foreign Invasion*	A group of racers from Colorado Springs, Colorado joined us in racing. We set up a series of races and alternated between Colorado Springs and Denver.
Tim Warners garage right to left: Mike Reasons, Tim Warner, David Thoutt, Brian, and Steve Deanda. click for enlargement	By mid year, the heart of the group was held together by Tim Warner, Scott Johnson, Mike Stewart and Tim Essman.
*World of Wheels* Racers at World of Wheels. Tim Essman second from right -- click to enlarge	We organized a large HO scale racing event at Denver's World of Wheels annual car show in late 1989. Despite the hard work it took to organize, support and run this event, it would become an function for the next three years.
*Late 1989* *A New Era*	Doug Jordan gets involved, to be continued…

	MHOSA *A Linear Heritage, Part II* (go to part I) by Scott Johnson
*Going Commercial* Doug Jordan and wife Cindy, click to enlarge	Doug Jordan opened up a commercial raceway in combination with a pool hall in downtown Commerce City Colorado. Tim Warner made his track available to the raceway and racing continued on a weekly basis.
*1989* *World of Wheels*	The “World of Wheels” car show is a full scale car show that used to be held in Denver on an annual basis. To help promote HO scale racing activities we got a booth at the show. This was a major race during Thanksgiving weekend. We continued this activity for the next 3 years. (1989-1992)
*Busy Times*	The sequence of events are a little fuzzy with people building and selling tracks. Denver was 'booming' with HO racers who were moving around to different sites to enjoy the tracks that people had built to race on.
*1990 Spring*	Jordan bought Tim Warner’s track, build another track and moved to an industrial park in North Denver.
*Deanda Raceway* Steve Deanda	Steve Deanda was one of the key HO enthusiasts who emerged during this time. He purchased a track (or two) built by Max Tracy and put them in his basement. At this time, the group had three venues to race at. A few months later Deanda bought Dennis Schoenberger’s 4 x 23 foot Tyco track. At that point he had three tracks, two in the basement and the 4 x23 foot track in the middle of the dinning/living room -- what an advocate of HO racing! Where are these people today? On March 10th, 2000, Steve Deanda passed away.
*The Legendary* *"Green Hornet* *Speedway"* Pictured at 94 Nationals, click for picture and specifications	In 1990, I finished my 4x16 foot tyco track with continuous rail. Although not name the Green Hornet at the time, I moved this track to Jordan's for a couple of races. With the completion of the Green Hornet, the number of tracks the group was racing on grew to six! The Colorado Spring contingent group, headed by Chuck Granger and Sam Beckworth, had two different tracks.
*1990 Fall* *Jordan Moves*	Most of the people who knew Jordan and visited his race shop remember his final location on 84th Ave. in Thornton, a suburb of Denver. Doug was at this location until he closed just after the hosting of the 94 UFORA Nationals. One MHOSA associate remembers the wide 8-lane "tub track" with a large radius high banked curve that Jordan had at this location. The track was acquired from Celebrity Sports Center on South Colorado Blvd. Being a former full scale drag racer, Jordan also hosted HO scale drag races in the Thornton location.
*1991* *World of Wheels* From left: Rick Nazerenus, Dennis Schoenberger, ... click to enlarge	We used the World of Wheels to host the 1991 HOPRA National competition on Thanksgiving weekend. The effort was lead by Mike Stewart and official HOPRA advocates with a lot of assistance from Doc Jones of Denver. It was not the best of times for unity the National HO Racing community. Chuck Granger brought a track from Colorado Springs to support the Super Stock class. Dennis Schoenberger’s 4 x 23 Foot track was used for the Modified class. Local racer Tim Essman one the Modified National Champion on this track! a track called the Python was imported from Minnesota to support the Open class. A track co-owned by Mike Stewart and Tim Essman had just been build and was used to support the Restricted Open class. during the same year, Mark MacVitte hosted the 91 UFORA National competition in Phoenix, AZ.
*1992* *Jordan Expands* Tub track, click to enlarge	Jordan was quite successful at bringing in different tracks and building or helping build tracks to race on. By this time, the Raceway had six tracks: - 6 lane 10 foot U-turn oval - 30 foot drag strip - short track (5 x 10), great for Box Stock class - 4 x 16 Tomy track build by Mike Reasons (now the Bowden Brothers Track) - a wide 8-lane production routed track called "The Engleman" pictured at left. Special Note: The Engleman track was aquired from the Celebrity Sports Center where it was used for pay/hour HO Racing in the 60’s.
*Fred & Laura' s* *Track*	Fred and Laura's track comes on line. Many good times where said to have been had in that garage.
*1994* *UFORA Nationals* Brian Lowe from Seattle opperating the lap counter, click to enlarge	Doug Jordan and local racers hosted the 1994 UFORA nationals at the Hacienta Hotel in Thornton Colorado. Among the racer hosts were: Dennis Freiberg, Scott Johnson, Mike Reasons, Chris Beyers, Tim Warner, Rick Nazarenus, Dennis Schoenberger, Tim Essman, Tim Riensch. Scott Johnson’s Green Hornet track was used to support the Restricted Open and Open class races. Tim Warner’s track was used to support the amateur Box Stock race. Fred & Laura’s track (now owned by Mark Herold of Englewood, CO) was used to support the Super Stock class. Mike Reasons' track (now Bowden Brother's Raceway) supported the Modified class. Bob Lincoln, of Wizzard, furnished a lap counting computer system for the Modified race. Brian Lowe supplied a Lane Master for the Restricted Open and Open class races. Doc Jone’s lap counter software was used for the Super Stock and amateur Box Stock races.
*1994* *South Broadway* *...an HO Mecca*	Scott Maceachen opened a Hot Wheels and car collector store on South Broadway in Denver. He had a basic track in his place but was not racing on it. After Jordan closed, Mike Reasons moved his track to Maceachen's place and Friday night racing resumed. Maceachen's place closed in March of 1996 but re-opened in September 1996.
*Acolade Raceway*	During this time 'Shep' Shepler rented the Green Hornet and puts in his 1/24th scale Acolade Raceway on South Broadway. The group raced at both raceways, Super Stock on Fridays at Maceachen's and RO races rotated between the two raceways.
*1997* *Dropping Like* *Flies*	1997 Spring Maceachen's closed. 1997 May Acolade closed. Racing on a weekly basis stopped. Bowden’s house.
*1997-98* *Winter Season*	The Bowden Brothers (Butch, Randy and Rod) purchased Tim Warner's track after the 1994 Nationals. Randy put the track into his garage in Longmont, Colorado, but no formal races were hosted there. Later, the Bowden’s purchased Reasons' track after Maceachen closed in 1997. Rod Bowden’s set up the track in his house in Aurora, Colorado. The group started rotating RO races again in the Winter of 1997 rotating once a month between Fastlane Raceway in Arvada, Scott Johnson’s in Englewood, and the Bowdens' in Aurora.
*1998-99* *Winter Season*	The Bowden Brothers' track went into storage when Rod moved so the group scheduled a Restricted Open class season around two tracks: Scott Johnson's at his new house in Highland's Ranch and Fastlane in Arvada.
*1999* *Patriot II Emerges*	In the interest of attracting new racers, the group supported Scott Johnson's idea of introducing a new "stock class" of racing, the Patriot II. Fastlane raceway in Arvada hosts semi weekly racing and carries cars and accessories to support the class on an ongoing basis.
*Great Expectations*	Phillip Hilgert has taken delivery of a 6-lane Scorpion Buck Track and is expected to be open in early 2000 at Summit Motor Speedway in Silverthorn, Colorado. Johnny Barvick has also acquired a Scorpion Buck Track.
*Editor's Updates*	June 14th, 1999 -- MHOSA's web site goes online, MHOSA is officially formed by Roger Thompson and Scott Johnson (co-founders). June 24th, 1999 -- First MHOSA sanctioned race at Fastlane Raceway in Arvada. August 26th, 1999 -- Butch Bowden wins the first MHOSA sanctioned Patriot II series. Scott Johnson wins the first MHOSA sanctioned RO series Summer series (two races). December 5, 1999 -- Dan Pierce's Bengal Raceway opened to host the fourth of eight RO season race. December 1999 -- Fastlane Raceway closed. Mike Thurman (Mike's Collectables) aquired the track. January 13, 2000 -- MHOSA introduced two Super G+ classes (Box Stock and Super Stock to be run on the stock Patriot II schedule. March 10th, 2000 -- MHOSA remembers Steve Deanda who passed away on this day. April 20, 1999 -- Scott Johnson wins the first "full length" RO series (Winter 1999/2000). Butch Bowden wins corresponding Patriot II series. April 1999 -- Four MHOSA members (Butch Bowden, Dan Pierce, Phillip Hilgert and Roger Thompson) travel to Kansas City to race with Mokan and Pro-cam clubs. April 27, 2000 -- MHOSA goes to a four season per year format. Summer 2000 Season begins. First MHOSA Apprentice Program begins. June 29, 2000 -- Bowden Brothers' Speedrome comes online at Roger Thompson's Tuscany Raceway Park in Aurora. August 14, 2000 -- Danny Johnson wins the Summer 2000 RO series. Phillip Hilgert is second, Dan Pierce is third. August 24, 2000 -- The first MHOSA sanctioned "Open Chassis" Super Stock race is held on the newly extended "Legacy 20" Speedway. OCSS becomes a regular part of the Stock Night agenda in the Fall 2000 season. First Apprentice Program ends; results. September 2000 -- Dan Pierce opens the "club parts box" September 28, 2000 -- the MHOSA web site gets it's 5000th visitor. October 20-21, 2000 -- MHOSA hosts the first "Interstate HO Challenge." Clubs from Kansas, Missouri, and Washington attend. Summer 2001 - Six MHOSA members (Walt Pierce, Butch Bowden, Chris Beyers, Phil Hilgert, and Roger Thompson) attend the UFHORA National championships. Thompson places sixth in RO. Fall 2001 - Four MHOSA members (Butch Bowden, Dave Goens, Phil Hilgert, and Roger Thompson) attend the Western States Championships). Hilgert qualified third in Super Stock, Roger Thompson and Butch Bowden placed 7th and 8th respectively in Super Stock. Fall 2001 - Adventure Raceway's Buck Scorpion is sanctioned by MHOSA. Winter 2002 - Summit Raceway's Buck Scorpion is sanctioned by MHOSA. Summer 2002 - Six members of MHOSA (Geoff Campbell, Chris Beyers, Butch Bowden, Roger Thompson, and Robby Thompson) attend the HOPRA Nationals in Milwaukee, WI. Summer 2002 - Legacy Too MaxTrax is sanctioned by MHOSA. Winter 2003 - Scott Johnson's Brad Bowman custom track named Passkey is sanctioned by MHOSA. Fall 2003 - Broomfield Raceway (Chris Beyers) and Radon Raceway (Brett Ginsburg), both MaxTrax, are sanctioned by MHOSA. Fall 2004 - MHOSA Introduces the "Match League," a ladder ranking system to encourage parity and excitement in racing. Fall 2005 - MHOSA Introduced the "Stock Slip-on Class" aimed at low cost entry for beginners. Summer 2007 - MHOSA responds to an invitation and sends a team to participate in the 24 hours at Les Boise endurance race in Boise Idaho. Fall 2007 - MHOSA DVD Challenge for beginners based on Slip-on Class.