Oscar Koveleski dies at 88 years young

[vamach1]

https://speedsport.com/sports-cars/other-sports-cars/sports-car-racer-oscar-koveleski-88/

Saw this on the race-car-models-proboards.

Godspeed Oscar

[Danno]

 

Sorry to hear that. Like everybody of my generation, grew up with Auto World - catalogs, kits, tips, tools, how-to pamphlets, and the legendary, world-famous unequalled Auto-Cutter!    ? RIP, Oscar, Thanks for the great stuff and even greater memories!

??

 

[TonyK]

Yep, same memories that Danno mentioned. Always liked how Oscar Koveleski was involved in my 2 favorite interests; racing and model cars.

[stavanzer]

IIIRC, Mr. Koveleski also owned a Stutz Bearcat. I  remember reading an article about it in an issue of Mechanix Illustrated, dated September 1951. (price 15 cents!!)

Oops; just checked the actual magazine. Owner of the Stutz is listed as "Tony" Koveleski.  Tony is also listed as the owner of "Scranton Hobby Center" maker of antique model car kits!

Not sure if Tony Koveleski is Oscars Father, or another name for Oscar.

[vamach1]

6 hours ago, alexis said:

IIIRC, Mr. Koveleski also owned a Stutz Bearcat. I  remember reading an article about it in an issue of Mechanix Illustrated, dated September 1951. (price 15 cents!!)

Oops; just checked the actual magazine. Owner of the Stutz is listed as "Tony" Koveleski.  Tony is also listed as the owner of "Scranton Hobby Center" maker of antique model car kits!

Not sure if Tony Koveleski is Oscars Father, or another name for Oscar.

I assume his father as he would have been nineteen in 1951and the article says he started AutoWorld in 1958.

Edited December 30, 2020 by vamach1

[High octane]

Back-in-the-day that was a great place to shop and of course drool all over those Auto World catalogs. Great memories.

[unclescott58]

Another part of my childhood disappearing. Loved Oscar's sense of humor and those great Auto World catalogs. Many of which I still have. He also started my favorite magazine on our hobby, Car Model. 

Interesting, I never knew the reason for Oscar's race cars running with the number 54, unit reading the above. Very funny. Like I say,  I liked his humor. I still have PRDA (Polish Racing Drivers of America) sticker. Another thing start by Oscar back in 1970, when Polish jokes were all the rage. I always like the four membership requirements for the PRDA.  1. You had to be a race car driver of Polish descent. (Which qualified Oscar.) 2. You had be a race car driver of non Polish descent. 3. You had to be a non race car driver of Polish descent. 4. Or you had to be a non race driver of non Polish descent. The last one qualified me. 

By the way, Tony Koveleski was his father. And one of the pioneers of plastic automotive kits in this country. 

[stavanzer]

Thanks, Scott.  That helps me place him.

[TooOld]

I also grew up drooling over the Auto World catalog , it really got me into modeling and slot cars !  In 2010 I first met Oscar at the Daytona 24 hour race and we quickly became friends . He had a set up called KidRacer which were little go kart type cars on a small track for kids 12 and under , it was a big hit !  I went back to Daytona every year just to spend time with him . . . very very sad to hear of his passing . God speed Oscar . 

The first Cannonball Run !

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by TooOld

[Deuces ll]

?.....

[MrObsessive]

Just seeing this about Oscar.

Back in the early '90's, I lived in Drums, PA (just above Hazleton) and I went to Oscar's shop a number of times in Scranton. VERY nice fellow and his hobby shop back then was AMAZING. From the outside you'd never know that this place had such gems in it as it was in a residential area and very unassuming. Once inside though, a modeler could literally spend HOURS looking at all the neat stuff he had and I remember buying a number of kits from him...........kits I'm sure I still have and haven't built yet.

RIP Oscar.

[Brudda]

Sorry to hear this. Another part of my childhood going away. I used to order HO slot car stuff from him! RIP Oscar.