Our third slot rally club night of the year saw 24 drivers compete over four stages with a total of 65 cars. We welcomed Lee for his first taste of racing at the Barn, plus Mark for his first slot rally night. For Jeremy and myself, it was déjà vu all over again as we opened up the Barn and built stages just a few days after a full day of Slot Rally GB action on Saturday. 

Keeping true to prevailing weather conditions, snow and ice were limited to the deepest, darkest parts of Friston Forest - Jeremy's Classic track layout staying the same from Saturday. The shortened Jupp's Farm also returned unaltered, but we ran Johnny's Workshop in the opposite direction (anti-clockwise). Northdown Farm - a stage we didn't use for the Slot Rally GB event - rounded off the four tracks in a strangely empty Barn...

   

The four groups of six drivers would rotate through the four tracks during the evening. Group A starting on Friston Forest, Group B on Northdown Farm, Jupp's Farm II, Group C on Jupp's Farm and Group D on Johnny's Workshop...

   

The rally report will look at each stage in turn, starting with Friston Forest...

The iconic rivalry of Ford vs Ferrari comes to life on the slot car track of Woodhill Motorsports Park, Queensland Australia on 2/8/25. 2 teams of 7 drivers battle it out over 4 classes for on track glory in the Q32 slotcar group. Racing starts at 12 noon, expect live stream to start 10 minutes prior to green lights.
Classes:
1/32 Scalextric Classic Le Mans
1/32 Slot it/Policar Classic Le Mans
1:24 Carrera Modern GT
1/24 BRM Classic Le Mans

Expect: intercamp sledging, on track excitement, passionate drivers, great racing with a group of great fellas, expect an occasional swear word (in reality likely frequent, hence set as not for children ?) but it will be all in jest. Q32 racing group has some of the best racing action and on track respect amongst club drivers in the Slotcar community. Some drivers may dress in appropriate team colours and may even see some costumes for the era.

We will do our best to bring the live stream uninterrupted but commentary will be little to none due to marshalling commitments . If anyone known to the group would like to commentate, reach out

*if unforeseen circumstances effect the ability to live stream, we will do our best to make it happen

*Unfortunately this is not an open to public event as it is being held at a private residence

Race report and results - the ‘Mike Dove Memorial Classic Grand Prix’ for pre-1961 Grand Prix cars

   
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We had a surprise visitor tonight, I’d met him before a few months ago when he popped into the shop asking about some white goods.
He said he’d heard the advert on the radio (Manx Radio)...
”what advert?”
...”the what’s-on guide”
...that’s a pleasant surprise and he (Eddie) is the second person who’s acted on the info.  So a big shout out to Manx Radio reaching out to other non active ‘Slotters’ from the distant past.
He does have some cars from a few decades ago and did have quite a few laps with one of Andy’s cars and looked like he’s driven before, really enjoyed his visit and said he’ll be back.
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Six of us turned up for the 5th anniversary of the Mike Dove Memorial Classic Grand Prix, this time we raced the same car for two rounds of racing.
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200 second heats and lots of marshals help during ‘Round 1’, looking at the hot lap times, most of us calmed down for ‘Round 2’ and subsequently half of us managed more laps the second time round.
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These look great going round the track but require driving carefully, this is much easier said until there’s a car in front and you think you can get past with these cars having high ground clearance and narrow track width, it doesn’t take long before going straight on in the corner.
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One Back2Basics car raced by Ed
A pair of Modified Class cars with Kev & Brian at the wheel
…and a trio of Open Class cars entered by Andy, Chris & Gav
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The racing was still great fun, it makes a refreshing change to the ‘speed crazed moron’ classes.

   


—---------------------------------------------


Next week we’re racing Group 5’s followed by the NSR Mosler ‘Club Challenge’ #6

SCR
Slot Car Republic

Ninco Digital track:
USB lapcounter 40 cm. rail  for direct connection to PC bypassing power base.
                                              +
Pit lane modified kit, for direct USB connection to PC; new sensor allows the pit in/pit out car passing through. It comes with a 20 cm. added single lane (pit out sensor) . 20 cm double line straight rail is not included.
Hand made, modified Ninco 40 cm. rail with added sensor, electronic new board and USB cable. 
Direct connection from Ninco digital track to computer with USB cable. Rail with sensors to achieve a direct connection with the computer, by USB cable, bypassing Ninco power base, for races management. It works together with all versions of the Ninco Digital power  base.
                                          +
RACE COMMANDER software for full management of all race. Features: lapcounter, best/last/total time, sectors partial timing (with further rail not included here), pit in/pit out controls and alerts related to tyres wear, adjustable tyre wears % for hard medium soft tyres, name and photo of drivers, "HUMAN" style of driving detected (different drivers mounting same tyres could have different wear), single race or championship races (all that you want: add circuit name, length, regular or sprint races, points and so on), qualifying section, sounds, multilanguage (Italian, English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Greek, Russian, Portuguese, German). Add photo and name of driver. Else... Maximum extension supported: 4 lanes + 2 intermediate sensors (for 3 sectors partial timing) + 2 pit lanes.
All this was never been possible having any of the Ninco power bases alone! In our case the power base (all models) is used to set the cars, connection of  the controllers and supply electricity to the track, only. A refresh of the still best digital slot car system.
YOU BUY: 
N⁰1  40 cm. straight rail with sensors, USB cable connection + Race Commander race manager software.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PRODUCT, ASK FOR DETAILS BEFORE TO BUY.

SHIPPING ALL OVER THE WORLD. JUST ASK!

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS BE ADVICED THAT BECAUSE OF MORE STRICT CUSTOMS CONTROLS, DELIVERY CAN SUFFER OF SOME DAY OF DELAY.

CHIPS FOR CARS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

CONTACT: slotcarrepublic@gmail.com

A few friends recently acquired an aluminum chassis. Here's a step by step on how I fumble through a typical assembly.

Part 1: Installing the body to the chassis.

Glue the hood in place. I paint the body. Some people prefer to paint it after installing the body posts. Less chance of damage from handling. But, I have no patience.

   
   

Glue and true the tires to the diameter written on the chassis.
Press the bearings in by hand.
Install the axles in one front and rear wheel flush to the edge of the axle.

Now you'll need to guess on how many axle spacers it will take until the tires barely touch the inside of the body on all four corners. It will take a few tries to get the spacing just right. Too loose and the body falls off the chassis. Too tight, and the body will flex/break apart. Or, unglue the tires by force.

I have a drawer filled with various sizes of axle spacers from 0.06mm to 4mm.

This chassis required 11.15mm axle spacers in the front, and 11.88mm at the rear to create a snug fit to the body.

   

Here's the body sitting on the bare chassis. If I pick up the body. The chassis comes with it as one piece. I can set the ride height, etc.

   

Once I'm happy with how the car sits. I insert a toothpick through the body post hole and measure it to get a close guess on the post length. The Charger came out to 28mm front, and 29mm rear.

Install the body posts to the chassis and do a dry test. If all looks good, you can start preparing the body and posts for the epoxy.

   

Note the area where the posts sit in the body and scrape the paint off. Then use a sharp blade to make X-cuts in the plastic where the epoxy will be applied.

I also sand/rough up the end of the body post by hand. It helps the epoxy stick.

   
   

Then while the posts are still attached to the chassis. Apply epoxy to the inside of the body and on the posts. Make sure a small dab of epoxy goes into the posts. Quickly set the chassis into the body allowing the tires to center everything. You can adjust the chassis to make sure it's square, and that the tires line up with the wheel wells. Gently hold it together, and check it several times. Allowing the epoxy to harden while upside down to create a better glue fillet.

Ten minutes later, the 5-minute epoxy has hardened.

   

Now remove 1.15mm spacers from each corner of the front axle, and 1.88mm spacers from each corner of the rear axle. The tires have clearance, and body is square to the chassis. The end result is 10mm of axle spacers on all four corners.

Now that the chassis is at it's final and proper width. I can measure the axles to see how much to cut off each axle. The back end of a set of calipers do the job well.

   

Body installed on the rolling chassis. Axles cut.

   

This was the build sheet.

   

Motor and guide installation is next.

Thank you for looking,
Ken

When was the last time you booked a mini vacation in Toronto or Ontario? Niagara Falls. The CN tower. The St Lawrence Market. The Slot Car Flea Market...

You can't say you didn't get enough warning.

I'll be a vendor there as usual. I hope to see a few new faces.

   

Nick's back! We learn what he's been up to and what his latest slot car build is and how it faired in its first club race.

Scott has finally restored an overgrown Fly Porsche 911 and he's playing with himself again (Group C this time).

Links here: Talking Utter Slot

The final Great North Slot Race of 2025, will be held at Raceway 81, Birtley on Sunday 19th October 2025.

I have revised the rules in relation to the motors that are allowed. Can type only, no brushless or Group 12. Rest of rules as previously circulated.

I would also suggest that anything higher than 25k and you are wasting your time and money. 25k more than enough.

As an experiment I am going to hold three classes.

Formula 1 as a sprint race, bit like we have in some F1 Grand Prix. with segments of 1minute !! So you will have 6 x 1min segments.
Saloon - 2minute heats
Sports/GT 3 minute heats.

Doors will be open from 8.30pm (may be earlier, watch for messages nearer the date).

Racing will start at 11am prompt.

More details nearer the date.

Of course it has to be Ferrari  (but at least not red ,Gordon!!)

Last week the Racer version of the 250LM driven by Walt Hangsen and Mark Donohue at Sebring in 1975 arrived. It was bought off FB for a very reasonable price and I have done some fettling and improvements as it has been set up for racing (lol)

I also have a 1965 Monogram version done in the same colours and it is quite interesting to compare the sizes. TBH I know the racer is oversize but it looks right. I also have another plain red version also picked up cheaply and they just look good.

Love these cars .....

                   

        Monogram

        Racer

   

We're just two weeks away from the return of Slot Rally GB to the Barn - home of Worthing HO Racing.

Six stages will run during the day...

• Friston Forest - Scalextric Classic / SCX
  
• Titnore Lane (shortened) - Ninco ice + Ninco tarmac
  
• Jupp's Farm II - Ninco off-road + Ninco tarmac
  
• The Boulevard - Scalextric Sport
  
• Ford Ice Rink - routed foamboard + copper tape
  
• Johnny's Workshop - 3D printed + braid
  
  

Doors open at 9am, with the action scheduled to begin by 10. Entry is £4 per car, with a maximum of four cars and two in any class. Rules and regs can be found here. Payment can be made on the day, but it would be really useful to know in advance if you're coming. Either reply to this thread, message me or contact Phil Barry directly via the Abergavenny Slot Rally Club Facebook page.

For those visiting for the first time, the Barn is a typical 18th-Century Sussex flint barn and sits next to the modern English Martyrs Church building in Goring-by-Sea. The post code is BN12 4UE. You can type Worthing HO Racing into Google or Apple maps and you'll be taken straight to the Barn...

   

Parking is either in the church car park or on-street in the Goring Way southern slip-road outside the Barn and the church. There are no parking charges or restrictions in Goring. For those travelling on public transport, the Stagecoach 701 Coastliner stops within a few yards of the Barn in both directions. Goring-by-Sea station is 600 yards west of the Barn - a very leisurely 5-10 minute walk.

In terms of facilities, the Barn shares a toilet block with the church, including a fully-accessible disabled cubicle. There is a ramp available at the main entrance for wheelchair access. The kitchen has a fridge-freezer, microwave and a hot water machine for making hot drinks. We'll aim to have tea bags, a jar of coffee, plus milk and sugar available on the day. Maybe some biscuits. As indicated on the map, there is a Tesco Express and small parade of shops located about 5 minutes walk to the west of the Barn. The chip shop opens at midday. The main Goring shops, takeaways and Mulberry pub are to the south east, about half a mile away. There is a shaded grass area at the front of the Barn and a patio area to the rear for those who need a breath of fresh air or a vape / smoke.

Any questions, just ask.