The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (formerly the Blancpain series) is at Zandvoort this weekend - and there's live coverage on YouTube.

Race 1 is Saturday 12:15 UK time...



And Race 2 Sunday 1:15pm UK time...



Formula One is scheduled to visit Zandvoort at the beginning of September, so this is a great opportunity to get familiar with the circuit.

The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe website is: www.gt-world-challenge-europe.com

Tamiya Speed Checkers don't get much mention in the slot-car world but can be very useful for tuning. They are intended for use with the Tamiya Mini-4WD models. These are 1:32 scale, free running battery powered vehicles which are raced on special tracks. Product code is "Tamiya 15183". In some respects these units are toys and the calibration may not be perfect but they provide a decent, measure of improvements as you do the standard tuning stuff and reduce the hassle of running laps to check improvements (or otherwise). Obviously these units cannot replace actual lap test/trials but can help in the build up phase.

   


Using them for slot-cars means removing the front rollers, cutting a slot to accommodate the guide and fitting "rails" connected to a suitable power source. I added a digital voltmeter so I can get consistency. For some cars it will be necessary to provide a spacer for the car nose to rest against so that the rear wheels are in a suitable position.

The car sits with the driven wheels on rollers that have electronic sensing.
Two functions are available:
1) Time taken for the rollers to rotate a fixed number of times (simulating a distance covered).
2) Road Speed measurement (KpH).
Full instructions are attached.

As well as having these functions, the base and rollers make an ideal way to assess how "true" the driven wheels and tires are, as it is easy to observe them whilst they are rotating (especially with the body removed). If the wheels/tyres are significantly out of true the car will correspondingly jump around until you get the roundness better. With the body removed, the tyres/wheels can be sanded but probably best to do that with the tyres out of contact with the rollers.

Getting rare to find nowadays and as mine is quite old now, I recently bought a spare.
I don't know if/when they went out of production but they have always been rare in the UK as the related vehicles were not strongly marketed here. Both of my units are identified as 1996.

Leo

Brief Video here -  

Each year, a small number of Australian-only limited edition cars are produced by Scalextric for their Australian distributor. In the past, MRE have imported a small number of these to the UK and they get snapped up pretty sharpish. Now Gary has retired, Tim and Jonathan at Weevils Slot Cars have stepped into the breach and will be stocking these Aussie models. The first has just arrived...

   

Scalextric C4260 Ford XC Falcon #18 - 3rd 1978 Bathurst 1000 - Murray Carter & Graeme Lawrence. Australian-only Limited Edition release.

The 1978 Bathurst 1000 was won by Peter Brock and Jim Richards. The pair drove a Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana to a single lap victory over the Torana of Allan Grice and John Leffler. Third on the day was this XC Falcon of veteran Murray Carter and Graeme Lawrence...



   

This car is available now in the UK from Weevils Slot Cars, priced £55.

Four more Australian exclusives are scheduled for 2021. One of them is very much sought-after...

   
Scalextric C4214 Jaguar XJS #10 - Winner 1985 Bathurst 1000 - John Goss & Armin Hahne. Australian-only Limited Edition release.

In 1985, the Bathurst 1000 allowed Group A touring cars for the first time. The 'Great Race' was dominated by the Tom Walkinshaw Racing Jaguar XJS which finished first and third. John Goss and Armin Hahne took victory, with Tom Walkinshaw and Win Percy finishing three laps down in third. It was the first time since 1966 that a brand other than Holden or Ford had won at Bathurst...




The Aussies are lucky to be getting the brand new Scalextric Jaguar XJS in the iconic green and white TWR livery. I'm pretty sure we'll see another green and white TWR car as a UK release, but the Australian market gets one this year.


   
Scalextric C4262 Holden A9X Torana #25 - 4th 1977 Bathurst 1000 - Peter & Phillip Brock. Australian-only Limited Edition release.

Peter Brock sold his racing team to Bill Patterson in 1977. The renamed Bill Patterson Racing sent a three car team to Bathurst for the 1000. Brock and brother Phillip finished fourth, having started from pole position. Allan Moffat and Jacky Ickx won the race in a Ford Falcon XC...



   
Scalextric C4263 Ford XY Falcon #5 - 2nd 1972 Bathurst 500 - John French. Australian-only Limited Edition release.

John French drove the XY Falcon to second place at the 1972 Bathurst 500. The race was won by Peter Brock - the first of his nine victories. The 1972 event last year the race was run over 500 miles and the last year driving solo was permitted.

This is the best video of the lot...



   
Scalextric C4265 Ford XB Falcon Road Car "Red Pepper". Australian-only Limited Edition release.

This road version of the Ford XB Falcon is in bright Red Pepper colours.



Many thanks to Tim at Weevils for the heads-up about UK availability for the Aussie Scalextric cars.

   

Probably the most recognizable transporter in motor racing history (great write-up here), a 1/32 scale version of the Ecurie Ecosse 1960 Commer TS3 will soon be available from George Turner Models. This is from the GTM website...

Quote:The Ecurie Ecosse racing car transporter is just about finished and only 15 months late. The only thing to do now will getting the gearbox made and some mods on the front wheel insert but this shouldn't hold things up as we have a lot of silicone rubber moulds to make for this. I think I am going to have to get quite a lot of rubber for this one as these big models use a hell of a lot. I am hoping we can put it into production in about a month. I think it looks pretty damn good and I am looking forward to getting one moulded, painted, and decaled up.

In the meantime, here are some pics of the progress so far...

   

   

And pictures of the completed prototype...

       

       

This will be the last transporter model that George makes. As he says, it's a labour of love... and he's run out of love. The Fiat transporters (in Maserati or Ferrari team colours) are still available - and are moulded to order. They cost £171 for the kit, so I expect the Ecurie Ecosse transporter to be around the same price.

All the George Turner Models are available from www.georgeturnermodels.com

   

It's nearly time for the second race of our 2021-22 UK HO Drag Proxy Series... All the dates, regulations and format are in the 'UK HO Drag Proxy Series 2021-22 Preview' thread here.

The Track: The Rock County Eighth Mile is a seven-foot timed strip (1/8 mile in true HO scale) made from the new 2019 Micro Scalextric sectional track. Cars must be fitted with braids to run on this track. Power is set at 12 volts and 8 amps across the two lanes. Power to both lanes is triggered by a single switch firing a relay board. Timing is currently Trackmate Drag Basic, with Drag RC being prepared for introduction in 2022. After the finish line, there is a two-foot shutdown with dynamic braking and a well-padded catch box.

The Format: The weekday events see qualifying take place on the Tuesday and all the racing on the Wednesday afternoon and evening. The weekend 'nationals' have racing through both days, usually with the elimination rounds following on from qualifying for that class.

Sending cars: Aim for your cars to arrive in Brighton at least 72 hours before the first day of the event,  so they can be quarantined (if necessary) and then registered for qualifying. Please also pack in a small box (max height 7.5cm if possible) and pay for your postage online so no-one needs to go near a post office. These races are designed to be Covid-safe events that are accessible to everyone and can continue whatever restrictions might be in place. You may - of course - send cars for several races or the full duration of the series  - just let me know.

How to enter: Send me a private message or add a reply below. One car per class may be entered per person. Family members and friends are very welcome to enter too. I will message you with the address to send cars to. You will need to pay for return postage. Otherwise there is no race fee.

Overseas entrants must talk to me about customs forms on their parcels! The recipient (me) will normally be charged 20% of the stated value of the parcel, plus an £8 handling fee. As cars sent to these races are not commercial goods, I need to explain how to alert UK customs to this fact and avoid the fees.

Entries Race #12 - 13-14 July 2021

Micro Scalextric Street Stock: Ken, Rebecca, Andy, Clive, Alan, Laura, Bill, Jeremy, Jane, Sue, Jerome, Pete, Nico, Rose (14)

Micro Scalextric Super Stock 6.0: Ken, Rebecca, Andy Pla, Clive, Alan, Bill, Iain, Pete, Jeremy, Jane, Andy Phi, Nico (12)

Nostalgia T-Jet: Clive, Ken, Iain, Bill, Andy, Rebecca (6)

Nostalgia 4-Gear Funny Car: Clive, Nico, Iain, Sue, Rebecca, Andy, Alan (7)

Nostalgia Micro Scalextric 2019 match-racing: Iain, Bill, Rebecca, Alan (4)

Nostalgia Magnatraction Pro Stock match-racing: Clive, Iain, Nico, Alan (4)

   

I'm really pleased to see the Scalextric Jaguar XJS released this week. I got my hands on a pre-production sample earlier in the year and I loved it...

   

Scalextric didn't get last year's Capri quite right (although I do like it very much) and there was George Turner's super XJS resin kit to compare to - so I was a bit nervous...

   

I reckon Scalextric have got the shape and the stance pretty much spot on. My only grumble is the rear quarter window – I think it should be a vent at the back, not a sliver of glass...

   

Inside, it's standard Scalextric in-line, DPR, easy-change guide and a magnet just in front of the rear axle...

   

Like the Capri, the Scalextric XJS has its bumpers and valances as part of the chassis. However, the car is designed in such a way that the screws can be loosened for a decent amount of body float. A lip on the bumpers hides the gap...

   

With the magnet still in place and tested on my small-ish Scalextric Sport home track, the XJS puts in almost identical 2-minute scores and best laps as the Capri - and very close to the classic Carrera saloons too. All have different handling characteristics - the XJS was probably the most enjoyable to drive - but they will be close competitors on track.

   

The rear track of both the Jag and the Capri is 50mm, although the XJS is a longer car. The wheelbase is longer too, although the guide pivot to rear axle distance is almost identical. Scalextric seem to have sorted out the front axles on all their new cars - no longer do the wheels lift the guide out of the slot... the tyres now just touch the track surface. That makes a big difference to the handling, of course!

   

The Scalextric team have said there will be more late Group 1B  early Group A cars - work is progressing on two new models as I write this. Plus there's also this years 1979 Camaro Z/28, which was a regular in European Group 1B classes, including the Spa 24 hours...

   

I had a quick look at the Bastos Camaro this week - it looks great and is really quick on track. Scalextric have put it in their Trans-Am range - with sidewinder motor and full interior - and that gives it a proper muscle car feel. I'll be previewing it for the July edition of Slot Car Magazine, alongside a conversation with Scalextric product researcher Simon Owen.

I recently put up a wonderful example of the Brabham BT33. This BRM is its 'sister' car, built by the same wonderful build.

I cannot eulogise enough about this car. It is so tactile and wonderful to hold, because of its build and quality. When looking at it - remember this is a 1970's Betta fibreglass body, and anyone who has tried to build one of their creations, will understand the work that has gone ito this car.


Original car driven by Pedro Rodriguez at Monaco in 1970:

                                    

This coming weekend is the 20th vintage meeting to be held in Bordeaux. Sadly this was planned for 2020 but due to the pandemic, it was postponed several times to now be held in 2021.

Again sadly the UK group and several other country entrants are not making the trip as travel arrangements are just to complex at the moment.

As I am fully vaccinated and have the travel passport - I will be attending this weekend and will put up pictures through the weekend of this wonderful meeting and spectacle.

The theme is F1 / Indy style cars made prior to 1972, and only using vintage equipent. Cars can only be in sidewinder or inline format, with anglewinder not allowed.
No foam or silicone tyres allowed.....

A truly awesome event.

   

                                                         

What is this??? 

   

   

The Le Mans Hypercar class replaced LMP1 at the start of 2021. The new class aims to reduce costs by nearly 80% and to attract a wide range of entries that can be either competition versions of existing hypercars or more traditional prototypes. Hybrid power is an option. At the first WEC round at Spa, two teams - Toyota and Alpine - had a close fight for the LMH class and race victory...

       

The WEC circuit visits the Portimao circuit this weekend and a third Hypercar will be making it's debut - the Glickenhaus SCG007...

   

Owned by American film producer James Glickenhaus, the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus company produces five low-volume and very exclusive road car models. Racing-spec versions of the SCG003 and SCG004 sports cars have competed in GT3 and GT4 guises.

The SCG007 is certainly the type of car the FIA want to attract with the new regulations. Currently, Alpine, Toyota and Glickenhaus are committed to 2021 - the Le Mans 24 hours is in August this year - with Peugeot and ByKolles scheduled to join in 2022 and Ferrari in 2023. A number of other manufacturers are sitting on the fence.

Another element in these new regulations is the dovetailing with the IMSA Le Mans Daytona Hybrid class, which will debut at the 2022 Daytona 24 hours. An agreement between the FIA, IMSA and ACO (who run Le Mans) will allow the LMDh cars to compete at WEC events and LMH cars to take part in the IMSA-Weathertech series. Manufacturers planning LMDh entries include Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac and Porsche.

Unlike LMH, the LMDh cars will be built around spec chassis produced by Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier and Oreca - and must include hybrid power via a common rear axle system. These four chassis will also form the basis of the next generation of LMP2 cars, which will continue in both WEC and IMSA competition. Like the hybrid LMH, the LMDh will have a total combined output (engine + hybrid system) of 500 kW and a minimum weight of 1030kg. The Balance of Performance mechanism will include both types of car.

   

With all these changes and a converged WEC and IMSA top class, what do slot car companies need to consider? The most important thing is the width of the car and keeping to scale. This has been a criticism of the SRC Toyota, which is way too wide at 64mm. Currently, the maximum width for LMP1 and LMP2 cars is 1900mm - 59.4mm in 1/32 scale. Pre-2015 LMP cars could be 2000mm wide (62.5mm) and the good news for true-to-scale slot car fans is the two-metre width returns for the new LMH and LMDh regulations.

Acura, Alpine, Audi, BMW, ByKolles, Cadillac, Ferrari, Glickenhaus, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota - plus four car shapes and dozens of liveries in LMP2 - that should be a field-day for slot car companies who've been nervous dipping their toes into the Le Mans Prototype market.

Eurosport UK have live coverage of WEC races (plus qualifying) in 2021 - all the weekend track action is available on the WEC app via an event or season subscription.