Calling in to say hello.  Am a Brit but living in Japan for a while now.  Slot car scene not too big out here so always looking for sources of information and ideas.  Have a Carrera hybrid track setup in the garage and also been working on a portable time attack track for a while - currently just started the version 3 build.
Still work in progress on the hybrid for the scenery, but all electronics working great.

From the portable track just before version 3 got underway.

Got myself a nice MSC Metro in Pendle's sale but reviews question the efficacy/functionality of the four wheel drive, mentioning that the drive belt is too loose. Anyone else got one? Did you just discard the belt or find an alternative? If so, can you point me at one please?

Magnets have to go so just add weight in the same place?

Monday i will order the trophies,gentlemen please inform me if you want you full name or your Nnckname on them,read below
As the tradition is during the last few years we have the usual lottery for 3 resin bodies.All participants enter except for those who receive a trophy:Pslacker ,overall winner,Drw21 concourse winner ,PETER GUNN 3dp chassis winner,Neo and Brumos overall podiumites.That leaves 24 entrants:
 
Audi1...................GAS41T.............Jim O 2       
sh0wtym37 ...... ..kidvoltage ......   Bigtone       
Mitch58 ...........   Dave Wisdom..... Vagger M       
Double-B SL .......Nick ...................Bov        
Brumos  RSR      ZeGas.................Duke7777       
Mnewns ............  Barc1..................BEEJAY       
Jim O 1............    riggers24............ALS       
Scuderia turini      Arroldn...............Ecurie Martini     

in 3 groups to speed up the proccess. There is a series of numbers 1 through 8.Each entrant from each group selects a number.If this number corresponds to a body he wins a body.The first 3 to select are Audi1, GAS41T and Jim O.I will wait for their answer for 24 hours,if it does not happen i will proceed to the next entrant.When selection is finished the 3 winners select (sorted by overall standings)  a number 1-3 to define which body they have won.
The bodies are
Ocar Porsche 914
.
Ocar Escort MKII
.
Munter Mercedes Gullwing
.
Apart from those each entrant will receive 1 pair of tires (next years control tires) and 1 set of 4 inserts,chosen randomly,but .
I will photo shoot all cars bady and chassis and try to complete the tech sheet.
Good Luck

My name is Guillermo, I am Argentinian, a collector and I compete in our track in Buenos Aires. I have many cars and a nice workshop to work with them. I leave you a big hug and thank you for accepting me.
Atte / Guillermo Vivanco.

Hello from El Salvador!
I had a slot track when I was 10, now that I'm older I'm back in the hobby and enjoying it! Just like real racing only smaller and now I get to race all those great historic cars. Cheers!

Got myself a beautiful Zakspeed Capri by Fly - bought on looks - but the motor's mounted up front so it's all show and no go. 

I can sort of understand that it puts weight over the guide and allows for a full interior but my magless/weighted Scalextric Audi A4 will outperform  it.

So are Fly cars not competitive, or is it the front-mount concept that doesn't work.

Can it be made competitive in an 'inline saloon' class without replacing everything, or is it destined to be a shelf queen?

One of the most common items to be seen at a real race circuit are oil drum litter bins but they are not often found on slot car layouts so the little people have nowhere to put their rubbish.
                                                                            
They are very easy and cheap to make so here is how to do it using 15mm pre-soldered copper pipe connectors like this which are readily available from  Screwfix etc.
                                                                             
Paint in the usual way - wash in soapy water, white primer and topcoat of choice. Cut up a black bin liner, stick it inside, add relevant signage and you end up with something like this:
                                                                             
If you want to go to extremes then you can paint Coke stains down the outside and fill it with half eaten 1/32 cheeseburgers of course!

I don't know if Colin posts here or if this is even the right place but I learned from facebook that that his place has been practically wiped off the face of the Earth by rains and floods.

He literally has just got the shirt on his back.

His website is already offline and he said that he doubts his house will even be livable before December.

Such tragedy is so horrible...

Our thoughts go out to Colin and hope he gets back on his feet as soon as possible...