JUST knowing something of interest is there can be enough, even if you never have the opportunity to see it. A lengthy storefront at Church Avenue and Dahill Road was unmarked for the most part, except when it was open on weekends. Then it was known to Kensington kids, and enthusiasts around the world, as Buzz-a-Rama, the world capital of slot car racing. The mecca was operated by Frank “Buzz” Perri (1935-2021) since 1965. For those unaware, slot cars are guided by miniature 12 volt D.C. motors set in the underside of model cars along a central groove in the track in which they run. Racing buffs, young and old, brought in their own cars, or rent them here, and rented space by the hour.
After Frank Perri and his wife Dolores died in 2021, his son, also Frank Perri, closed up the venue and sold off the slot tracks and slot cars. The venue was expensive to maintain and according to Frank in Gothamist, cost $50,000 per year in taxes, never mind the rent.
I don’t know if anyone remembers, but there was a group of model train buffs (known as the Bay Ridge Model Railroad Club) located in western Bay Ridge near Shore Road; if I’m not mistaken it was on Marine Avenue, and once a year around Thanksgiving, they’d open up their basement where I witnessed the largest model train layout I ever saw. As a matter of fact they are still going strong, but no longer in NYC; the club was evicted from its longtime home in 2019 and subsequently moved upstate to Kingston.
Seeing the model trains inspired me to acquire my own model trains. We acquired a set of N gauge (the smallest) “Postage Stamp” trains manufactured by Aurora, which usually made model planes and such. We enjoyed the set, but we had trouble keeping dust off the set, even though we covered it in canvas when not in use (Model train buffs: how do you deal with dust?) Eventually the old man packed up the set and moved it to our apartment house basement, from which the neighborhood youth reappropriated it for neighborhood use.
Know who’s a major model train buff? Rod “Maggie May” Stewart.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/10/25