I didn’t know that a Pole Position II even existed — all I remember as a kid is playing Pole Position. I had a chance to acquire either this game or a Pole Position, so I did a little research. The Pole Position II allows you to choose from 4 different tracks, while the regular Pole Position doesn’t. Now that I think of it, I remember playing Pole Position at Great Skate when I was younger, and I could choose tracks… apparently, many Pole Positions had been converted to Pole Position IIs.
Also, the Pole Position II supposedly had less problems. Sounds good to me! The condition of this game was in much better shape than the Pole Positions that stood next to it in the dusty warehouse. I guess that helped my decision a bit, too. There was a sit-down Pole Position that I would’ve liked, but… where the heck am I going to find room for that!? (You have to try to find some sense in this hobby, I guess…) I’d also like to add that Pole Position (both I and II) have speakers below the marquee and above the foot pedal. And a volume control for each one. Even though the game sound is considered monophonic, there are some sounds that come out of different speakers when the music is being played. Cool!
The Pole Position II I’ve acquired is a conversion from a Pole Position. The monitor bezel, dashboard decal, and marquee were changed due to the conversion. The marquee in my machine has a tan adhesive backing that’s still on, as the marquee is slipped between some glass. Was there a dedicated Pole Position II that was ever marketed? Many people say no, however I found a photo from Syzygy Magazine that settles that debate. Apparently Atari Ireland manufactured this dedicated cabinet. Note the shorter marquee overhang and the lack of a dashboard.
Arcade Stats:
Manufacturer: Atari
Year Released: 1983
Cabinet: Upright
Monitor: 19-inch Horizontal Color Raster
Coin Counter: 92462
Serial Number: ?
Tony's First Quarter: Great Skate, Norwich, Connecticut
Tony's Arcade: No (November 29, 2008); Replaced with Cockpit
As part of the warehouse raid, I was able to get my hands on a game I first saw back in 2001. The Pole Position cockpit! In the last (and first) warehouse raid I participated in 2001, I saw the fabled cockpit which I never saw as a kid. Cockpit style arcade games were stuff of legend in my part of the state because of cost and probably weight and coins per game (50 cents)! I, living in an apartment in 2001, had no room and there was no way I was going to get that thing up two flights of stairs! Instead, I settled on a Pole Position II upright which has been in my arcade until recently. When I saw the Pole Position cockpit in the 2008 warehouse raid, it was time to get my grubby hands on it and sell the upright!
