EditThe Ford-Aurora Grand Nationals
The Ford-Aurora Grand Nationals were a yearly event put on by (you guessed it) the Ford Motor Company and Aurora Plastics Corporation between the years of 1962 and 1966.
Nationally televised over the years on
"I've got a secret" with Steve Allen,
The Mike Douglas Show and
The Johnny Carson Show, the races drew a large national television audience and guest-starred racing legends such as
Stirling Moss and (in later years)
Jackie Stewart. We've organized a set of pages intended to commemorate one of slot car racing's most memorable events throughout the years...
With over a million contestants in it's first year, the Ford-Aurora National was an instant hit.
The first winner was a kid from "Jersey" (now a gentleman) named
Henry Harnish.
Henry has set up a
website documenting his experiences and he shares much memorabilia there. We encourage you to visit and learn more about the Ford-Aurora Grand nationals
!EditRecent Ford-Aurora Grand Nationals Re-creation
EditThe 1962 Ford-Aurora Grand National
Ford and Aurora are looking for America's Top Model Car Drivers... NOW!
Okay, mister, just how good a driver are you? Let's find out. Head for your local hobby shop and sign up for one of the weekly competitions. Take your pick of the new Ford models Aurora's introduced - any one of the five from Ford's great '62 line-up of cars qualifies you for the competitions. When you register, your hobby dealer assigns you a Ford "406" Registration Number and gives you an Official Grand National Decal for every miniature Ford you buy. Half of it carries the famous "406" emblem for the rear of the car body, and the other half, your official competition number. This number is yours and yours alone. Only your cars are allowed to wear it.
Your name goes up on the big board as a contestant-to-be. You fill out your Ford Grand National Membership Card, the hobby dealer signs it, and you're in business. You show tip for the first meet ready for action. After one of the most exciting evenings you've ever spent in your whole life, the results are posted: you've placed second in Heat C3, first in Semi-Final
92, and first in the Finals. Right behind you is the guy with the yellow Galaxies he'll be
next week's favorite. Your spot on the Ford Scoreboard is set; no matter what happens,
you're assured of a lane when the Store Championship is run off the ninth week.
You can see that trophy on your mantelpiece right now, but you can't help day-dreaming about The Big One. You're going all the way - right on through the State and Regional Finals - right on up to the GRAND NATIONAL. It's not a dream! You can win that trophy, and the 1962 THUNDERBIRD HARDTOP Can be yours! First chance you get, hustle on over to your hobby dealer's and put your name on the dotted line. This is one contest you should get in on just for the fun of it. And what fun you'll have - matching your own miniature Fords against your buddies, enjoying to the hilt the thrills and spills of Aurora's Model Motoring in Ho Scale. Anyone can enter, anyone can win. IT COULD BE You!