Hello,

I've just built this track and connected it all using Scalextric Arc Pro, it's all coming together nicely and has been a few hours of work routing the slots, braiding, wiring etc. I used to have a wooden routed track back in the early 1990s as a teenager and I thought I'd do a modern version with all the tools and digital stuff which was either not around in the 90s or just too expensive. Many of the cars are 1960s vintage that are my father's from his childhood, they might not be the fastest but they just run better than modern cars on wooden tracks.

Can anyone make any suggestions on a small problem I'm experiencing? The track works in both analogue and digital modes but won't recognise the digital cars at the point of set-up just before a practice or race, the app says to place the car on lane 1 but the app doesn't ever recognise the car. I'm wondering if there is some specific height I've got to get the base unit to so that it's closer to the track surface as in when it's hooked up to the standard scalextric start / finish line. I've wired up the sensors on the underside of the track and I'm pretty sure they are good to go.

   
   
   
   

Cheers
Dave

I have seen a lot of threads around the world about the end of model shops, problems with getting new members, general lack of interest in slot racing.

In my opinion there issue is a high degree of hesitation to get into the hobby for various reasons.

But instead of focusing on what doesn't work I though I would try to find out what DOES work.

If you have a healthy, successful club or at least a regular set of meetings for slot racing, what are the things that people really like and enjoy and make them come back?

Have a great weekend everyone...

A very welcome addition to the Policar / Slot.it Classic Sport range is this fabulous model of the Ferrari 412P entered by Ecurie Francorchamps at the 1967 Spa 1000 Kms...

         

The 412P was the customer version of the 1966 330 P3. Two 412Ps were converted from 330 P3 cars (with the unofficial designation P3/412) and two were built as 412Ps, including the chassis (0850) that was run by Ecurie Francorchamps. The Belgian 412P featured 330 P3 spec chassis and four-litre V12 engine, with the factory fuel injection replaced by Weber carburettors. This reduced the horsepower somewhat - Ferrari wanting the customer cars to pick up world championship points, but not threaten the factory 330 P4s for race wins. The 412Ps were all fitted with updated bodywork that resembled the 1967 P4.

         

The difference between the two P3/412s and the pair of 'pure' 412Ps came about as a result of industrial action in Italy during 1966. Only three of the five P3 chassis were completed. The final two remained untouched and became the 412Ps raced by Ecurie Francorchamps and Maranello Concessionaires in 1967.

         

The 1967 Spa 1000 Kms was most notable for the winning Mirage M1 driven by Jacky Ickx and Dick Thompson. The Ecurie Francorchamps 412P qualified fourth, just behind the works P4. An accident in the wet ended the race for the Belgian team's Belgian drivers Willy Mairesse and Jean 'Beurlys' Braton. And although those blue wheels look fabulous and did get used during the weekend, it does look from photos of the race that the car started on gold rims.

         

All four 412Ps survive and are estimated to be worth upwards of $35–45 million if they were ever to come up at auction.

You can buy the Policar version for a much more reasonable RRP of £59.95 and is in stock at MRE. The car is still listed as a pre-order at Pendle Slot Racing, priced £49.50.

Under the beautiful body, everything is what you'd expect in a Slot.it Classic Sport car - except the rear wheels are plastic. All the dimensions of the 412P are identical to the previous Policar 330 P4 release.

   

The NSR Mercedes-AMG has been performing superbly on slot car tracks around the world and is a genuine challenger to the NSR Corvette C7R. Until now, the Mercedes has only been available in 'Test Car' liveries and a single real-life scheme - the green 2018 Blancpain Black Falcon car. Now NSR have taken a leaf out of the Scalextric book and are looking at mining the rich seam of North American IMSA liveries, starting with this very neat Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 that won the GTD class at the 2017 Sebring 12 hours...

         

The wide stance of the AMG GT3 is a perfect match for the NSR focus on racing performance. This model certainly doesn't look quite as stretched as some other NSR cars. In fact, it is a bit of a stunner...

                     

The NSR model is available in two motor configurations:

NSR 0014AW - Anglewinder King 21 EVO (21,400 rpm)
NSR 0014SW - Sidewinder Shark 25K (25,000 rpm)

The standard UK release will be the AW car. RRP is £79.95 and the car is due to arrive by the end of the month.

Gary has written some tune-up tips for the Scalextric Advent Calendar over the past few years, but this year he appears alongside Scalextric Test Track’s presenter Mike in a comprehensive 23 minute video to help get the most out of your Scalextric cars...

Here are some pics of my new track in Brampton. It is approx. 42 ft long. The Paddock Club has a bar and hot tub too   

                                               

   

Despite some gentle nudging, both Scalextric and Carrera UK are remaining very tight-lipped about their 2020 slot car ranges. However, we do have dates for when the news will be announced...

Scalextric - The 2020 Scalextric catalogue will be launched on Monday 6 January with the complete range presented online at Scalextric.com. Scalextric Club members will all receive their 2020 catalogues (and 2020 club car) in the post during January. In addition, some new sets will be launched with a media fanfare at the London Toy Fair on 21 January. We plan to have coverage here on SlotRacer Online from Margate on 6 January and the London Toy Fair on 21 January.

Carrera - As usual, the new Carrera range will be unveiled at Spielwarenmesse (aka the Nuremberg Toy Fair) on Wednesday 29 January, with the 2020 slot car catalogue published online soon after. With a bit of luck, we hope to have coverage on SlotRacer Online from Nuremberg via one or other of our friends who will be attending.

Other manufacturers - Quite a few other slot car manufacturers will be exhibiting at Spielwarenmesse and will hopefully have lots of exciting news, prototypes and pre-production samples of their 2020 releases. We'll be bringing you that news as we get it.

Not long to wait...

Hi! I’m a commercial slot car raceway owner.  I’ve folded up and stored my racetrack which was built for 1:24 flexi car racing.  When I reopen I’m wanting to add scalextrix and carerra racing.  To that end, I’m here to research and learn what will be required to build a sizable track and exactly what I will need to be an attractive destination for racers.

The Policar entry-level Home Racing Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ have been developed for the introduction of the new Policar race sets. The first Toyota - the #17 Gazoo Racing car - appeared some time ago, featuring a simple all-in-one chassis, Slot.it running gear, plus working lights and a high-detail body and interior. At the UK Slot Car Festival in May, the Slot.it team explained that they were responding to feedback and would redesign the chassis, ready for the first set to be released, together with a range of Home Racing cars - both the Toyota and Subaru using the same chassis.

The new re-designed chassis has just been revealed...

   

The main difference is a flatter chassis that will take the Slot.it oXigen Type-C chip, which is compatible with Scalextric Sport Digital and Carrera Digital132 as well as the Slot.it oXigen digital system. In addition, the original plastic rear axle bushings have been replaced with brass bushings.

The first new car that will feature the new chassis is another Toyota GT86 that will feature a striking Esso Ultron livery...

   

RRP on the new liveried cars will be £34.95.

Also announced are six Subaru BRZ Home Set cars in plain colours - orange, light blue, yellow, silver, mid-blue and red. These Home Set cars will retail at a very competitive £24.95. They feature a high-detail body and interior, plus working lights...

   

The first half of 2020 promises to be a busy time for Policar. We should finally see the first Policar set with track and cars, the Home Set cars, the long-awaited Ferrari 312B2, as well as new versions of the Lotus 72 (a 72D, no less), March 701 and a Ferrari 412P. Also expected is the continued roll-out of the very impressive Policar track system, including digital pieces by the end of 2020.

Slot Car Motor Break In

There are many schools of thought regarding how to break in an electrical motor. I have tested some and found them wanting, so using scientific methods studied at the Chernobyl Institute of Small Electrical Motor Repair and Donut Shop (the 10 best years of my life), I have developed a technique that works for me. Please understand however, that these procedures are done by professionals using tools that are not to be used while driving a bus or whilst you are pregnant, or whilst, don't you love that word???...whilst driving a bus while being pregnant...or smoking.
So, I had these initial thoughts while trying to get ready to race in the Raceworld 1/32 ALMS series. I bought 10 NSR motors, a wetsuit, vaseline (more about that later), 3 rolls of duct tape, 1 Honda car battery, 3 maids a milking...what?..oh and 2 clothes pins.
Off I went to my fitness club. Doning the wetsuit that I bought from Costco, by the way it was really really big and cost 200 dollars, I proceeded to connect all of the motors using duct tape, wire, cheesecloth and a dirty diaper. All was good. Now, into the hot tub I went, clutching the motors. I realised once I was underwater, that it was really hot in there. Whew! I now grabbed the car battery and connected all of the motors and plunged them in the water...no wait...I didn't do it yet. I forgot to turn on the hot tub....so out I climbed, turned on the hot tub bubbles..I thought these would help to clean the commutator. Back in the tub I went clutching my motors...this was fun. Finally I connected the motors....I was sure I smelled BBQ at that moment, just prior to blacking out.
Waking up in Emerg, I was still clutching my humming motors. Wow, the power. After a week of rehabilitation, where I learned how to walk and talk again, I installed the motors in my car. Well, my nurse did, my hands were too burnt to move. Anyway, 10 skin grafts later, I was able to produce a car that could win, if only my vision would clear up.