Slot car racing/life after Scalextric. Anyone here into it?
Discussion
As per the title really. I have a modest selection of various 1/32 slot cars, but don’t really have the space to keep a permanent layout. So a few weeks ago I visited a local club dedicated to racing 1/32 scales cars and it’s quite a fun way to spend a few hours.
But it’s also opened my eyes to a wider world beyond getting the cars out of a box and playing for a while. Modifying cars, preparing tyres, replacing parts, adding ballast. All totally new but add a level of nerdy joy that appeals.
Are there any other PH members who take this a little more seriously than the odd dabble with scalextric?
But it’s also opened my eyes to a wider world beyond getting the cars out of a box and playing for a while. Modifying cars, preparing tyres, replacing parts, adding ballast. All totally new but add a level of nerdy joy that appeals.
Are there any other PH members who take this a little more seriously than the odd dabble with scalextric?
Chrishum said:
Modifying cars, preparing tyres, replacing parts, adding ballast. All totally new but add a level of nerdy joy that appeals.
Are there any other PH members who take this a little more seriously than the odd dabble with scalextric?
Nope, but I'd like to see 8 adults trying to do a pit stop in 2.5 seconds Are there any other PH members who take this a little more seriously than the odd dabble with scalextric?
Where are you racing?
I used to race many years ago at a club in Berkshire. Used to race 1/32 hard bodied (Scalextiec/slot it cars etc )They also had a 1/24 tack which was another level and very serious.
Unfortunately the 1/32 mon night club stopped (was fun and not to serious ) and the only option was the 1/24.... this was serious stuff and so ddint bother.
Good times and traveled the country racing at other clubs.
It's a rabbit hole for sure.
I used to race many years ago at a club in Berkshire. Used to race 1/32 hard bodied (Scalextiec/slot it cars etc )They also had a 1/24 tack which was another level and very serious.
Unfortunately the 1/32 mon night club stopped (was fun and not to serious ) and the only option was the 1/24.... this was serious stuff and so ddint bother.
Good times and traveled the country racing at other clubs.
It's a rabbit hole for sure.
I used to go to a local club, which I helped to set up. We ran on a large 4 lane oval track (the chap who started the club was a NASCAR fan) raised up on tables, around 50 feet long. Ninco track, custom power supplies, computerised timing/lap counting gear.
No magnets allowed.
We ran 2 classes - standard Scalextric or SCX NASCAR, and an open GT class.
The NASCARs could be tweaked, but had to use stock motors and tyres. SCX cars were better than Scalextric.
GT class, any mods you liked, but had to use a production rigid plastic body and chassis. NSR Mosler was the best car, with Slot.it not far behind.
No magnets allowed.
We ran 2 classes - standard Scalextric or SCX NASCAR, and an open GT class.
The NASCARs could be tweaked, but had to use stock motors and tyres. SCX cars were better than Scalextric.
GT class, any mods you liked, but had to use a production rigid plastic body and chassis. NSR Mosler was the best car, with Slot.it not far behind.
Laup99 said:
Where are you racing?
It's a rabbit hole for sure.
North East Restoration club. It’s a mainly for fun set up, routed track so magnets are pointless, cars are all 1/32 and mods are limited in all but one race class where you can run what you like. It's a rabbit hole for sure.
I looked at 1/24 as there are more clubs that I could have tried but the cars looks far more fiddly.
As for the rabbit hole it’s definitely a huge one. But I’m enjoying learning more about how to run cars well and have been trying to work out which of my own cars needs new tyres!
Around 1970 I used to go to a place called Tottenham Raceways - Memories are vague but I recall an amazing track, and a lot of hardcore slot racers. I had a Ferrari 512s and an Alfa T33 that my dad helped me build - very lightweight chassis and felt tyres if I remember correctly. Motors by "Muira" maybe?
I used to go there, have loads of fun, smash the cars up, and bring them home to repair them
Happy days.
I used to go there, have loads of fun, smash the cars up, and bring them home to repair them
Happy days.
Chrishum said:
Laup99 said:
Where are you racing?
It's a rabbit hole for sure.
North East Restoration club. It’s a mainly for fun set up, routed track so magnets are pointless, cars are all 1/32 and mods are limited in all but one race class where you can run what you like. It's a rabbit hole for sure.
I looked at 1/24 as there are more clubs that I could have tried but the cars looks far more fiddly.
As for the rabbit hole it’s definitely a huge one. But I’m enjoying learning more about how to run cars well and have been trying to work out which of my own cars needs new tyres!
Jenny Tailor said:
Day I was born, my father bought 40 odd ft of the stuff. Couldn't play with it until I was 4.
Ha, so did I when my little was born in 2020. Started off by making my own old Scalextric cars work, bought loads of classic track, binned that cause it was knackered so bought a load of the newer stuff.Also spent a sodding fortune on new and s/h cars I like and think he’ll like when he’s old enough.
I have dabbled in proxy races via a forum where you send a car to someone else and they race it for you.
I’m still buying old cars in various states from eBay and tarting up, on the off chance my son will like it. Think I get more pleasure out of fixing up than the actual racing.
I’ve also converted several diecast cars into slot cars and built a few airfix car models to run on track (non of them have!!
)The club scene is fairly big in the uk, racing serious when a fraction of a second a lap matters and the kit used (tyre truers, chassis flattening, weight adding etc) is surprising.
Edited by Nola25 on Friday 28th October 20:15
Bit of oil on the motor and grease on the gears can make a big different on the cars imo.
I true all my cars tyres now, simply by holding the rear wheels over a bit of sandpaper and lowering down gradually, not sure how much difference it makes when I’m just tossing around on my carpet track but I’m assuring it makes a difference running competitively.
Loads of other bits to make a car perform better, body float, guides, compound of tyres, added ballast plus the vast amount of upgrades you can make to a car and the running gear.
Forum I linger on is called slotracerforum, really friendly and happy to advise on all aspects of slot cars, whether that be racing, building, modding etc
I true all my cars tyres now, simply by holding the rear wheels over a bit of sandpaper and lowering down gradually, not sure how much difference it makes when I’m just tossing around on my carpet track but I’m assuring it makes a difference running competitively.
Loads of other bits to make a car perform better, body float, guides, compound of tyres, added ballast plus the vast amount of upgrades you can make to a car and the running gear.
Forum I linger on is called slotracerforum, really friendly and happy to advise on all aspects of slot cars, whether that be racing, building, modding etc
WelshChris said:
Around 1970 I used to go to a place called Tottenham Raceways - Memories are vague but I recall an amazing track, and a lot of hardcore slot racers. I had a Ferrari 512s and an Alfa T33 that my dad helped me build - very lightweight chassis and felt tyres if I remember correctly. Motors by "Muira" maybe?
I used to go there, have loads of fun, smash the cars up, and bring them home to repair them
Happy days.
That brings back memories. I started secondary school in 1969.The school had a slot car club, with a track made from wood with copper guides, I think it was four lane. Most of the guys used Riko cars, but I managed to buy a secondhand Airfix MRRC Porsche 904 GTS, which worked well enough. I still have a box of track, controllers and cars - a mixture of Scalextric and Riko.I used to go there, have loads of fun, smash the cars up, and bring them home to repair them
Happy days.
https://tri-ang.weebly.com/scalextric-airfixmrrc-p...
Edited by andyA700 on Sunday 30th October 10:40
Finally getting around to resurrecting my old Scalextric set which has been sitting in its box for over 20 years. At the moment I'm just sorting out the space I've got and the proposed layout, which may change if I can organise a bit more space.
The old battered Austin Healy is my original from 1967. The one on the right is a more modern (late 1990s) copy from Pink-Car who, I believe, used the original Scalextric mould.
The old battered Austin Healy is my original from 1967. The one on the right is a more modern (late 1990s) copy from Pink-Car who, I believe, used the original Scalextric mould.
I set up a drag straight for me and my boy to have a go on a couple of weekends ago
It’s the first time he’s paid any real attention to the Scalextric stuff, was a joy to watch him bouncing around with excitement (even if he’s a light jumping cheating git!!)
Now ‘owns’ most of the cars as we raced for pink slips !
It’s the first time he’s paid any real attention to the Scalextric stuff, was a joy to watch him bouncing around with excitement (even if he’s a light jumping cheating git!!)
Now ‘owns’ most of the cars as we raced for pink slips !
Eric Mc said:
I want a proper permanent circuit. I have quite a few of the old Scalextric buildings, bridges and and barriers etc that date back to the 1960s and I've always weanted to be able to display them properly.
Me too. Will get round to having a track permanently eventually. Plan is to have a couple of poly carb sheets in the garage that lower down when you play with it. Hoping to get my old track, cars and the plastic buildings you got in the 80’s at one end with the new track and buildings at the other end.100SRV said:
Isn't this how Ross Brawn got started?
True, in about 1970 ECRA (the Electric Car Racing Association, slot racing's governing body) introduced a standard forrmula called F32. Chassis and motor were specified, all other parts free (but still had to be within ECRA rules). The original plan was to import the chassis from the US but this fell through, then Stewart Wyatt and Doug Paxman, who ran something called Team Bog, offered to build them and ECRA accepted this. I think they cost about £1 each!Rumour had it that anyone who visited Stewart for any reason, immediately got roped in to assist in the building of these things, so I presume Ross Brawn, an enthusiastic slot racer back in the day, was one of them. Whatever the story, he built loads.
I believe the two F32s in this photo were built by him, but don't quote me on that.
Motors had to be Mura Group 20 or equivalent, and anything could be added except lightness. Wheelbase was 3 inches (equivalent to 8ft) and bodies had to be in the Sports/GT class. Can-Ams such as McLaren M8, BRM P154, etc, were popular.
The cars were actually quite quick, mine was reasonably competitive in the Sports/GT class, or Saloon if I put an Escort body on instead!
(Unfortunately I wasn't into photography at that time, so have no pix of any of them.)
Edited by Stealthracer on Friday 26th April 02:15
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