Ferrari Formula 1 Champion 312 T4

Which Track Is Best For Your Digtal System
86
March/April 2016
$6.95
Ferrari Formula 1
Champion 312 T4
www.modelcarracingmag.com
Grand National 1949 Ford Tudor
Race A Bugeye Sprite
Snap-Together The Giant Blue King Track
Tech Tips:
•Scenery for Your Race Track
•Assemble a Ferrari 250 GTO LM Kit
Flip to Page 7
to compare with the real car!
Graham Hill on his way to winning the Monaco GP in 1968. — LAT Photo,
86
Model Car Racing 3
86
CONTENTS
17 Start Here
The Grabber Does It
by Robert Schleicher
18 Real Race Track Plans
4-Lane Blue King Raceway for Scalextric Sport,
Classic, SCX, Ninco, Carrera (with optional
lane-changing) on a 16 x 24-foot tabletop
by Robert Schleicher
21 Race Tracks on a Tabletop
4-Lane Blue King Raceway for Scalextric Sport,
Classic, SCX, Ninco, Carrera (with optional lanechanging) on a 5 x 9-foot ping-pong tabletop
by Robert Schleicher
The SRC 1/32 scale Ferrari 312 T4 of Jody Scheckter leading Gilles Villeneuve at the 1979 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. — LAT Photo
1/32 Scale Model Car Racing:
7 Formula 1
SRC 1979 Ferrari 312 T4
by Albin Burroughs
23 Vintage Racing
1970 American Model Car Raceways 22 x 49-foot 8-Lane
Blue King Raceway
24 Start Here
Overpass Support for Scalextric, SCX or Ninco track
by Robert Schleicher
26 Vintage Racing
Studio 65 1959 Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite
10 Tech Tips
Wiring A Wood or Plastic Track
12 Home Racing
Build A Wood Race Track
Part 5: Wiring Any Plastic or Wood Track & Race Control
by Robert Schleicher
27 Your Track
Jim Norton’s 4-Lane 8 x 16-foot 4-Lane
Scalextric Boomerang Bend Raceway
30 LeMans
Slot.it Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2
by Bill Wright
33 Historic Racing
LeMans 2009 in 1/32 Scale
34 NASCAR (Grand National)
American Iron 1950 Ford Tudor
by Bill Wright
38 Race Car Shop
14 Digital Racing
Which Track?
by Robert Schleicher
4 Model Car Racing
LeMans
Build The MRRC “Clubman”
1964 Ferrari GTO LM Kit
by Bill Deuroen
39 Tech Tips
Learn To Love Your Kit
40 Tech Tips
A Third Hand
28 Your Track
Jim Norton’s 4-Lane 7 x 13-foot 4-Lane
AFX Battle Creek Track
36 Muscle Cars
Auto World 1958 Plymouth Hemi Fury
37 Drag Racing
Auto World 2015 Ford Mustang GT
45 Home Racing
Auto World Banked Curve Track
42 TRACK TEST
MRRC “Clubman”
1964 Ferrari GTO LM Kit
by Marc Purdham
Departments
6
44
46
54
Editorial: Big Thrills
Pit Board
Club Directory
New Stuff
On Your Tablet
48 LeMans
MMK Jaguar XK 140 coupe
by Albin Burroughs
50 Historic Racing
LeMans 1956 in 1/32 Scale
52 Formula 1
Scalextric 1968 Lotus 49B
by Albin Burroughs
53 Tech Tips
Upgrading the Scalextric Lotus 49B
HO Model Car Racing:
22 Track Plans
Model Car Racing is now available for iPad or Kindle. Just click on the
Apple iTunes icon and search for Model Car Racing to order individual
issues, subscriptions or a limited number of back issues. There’s more
information on page 57 of this issue.
Where To Buy Model Car Racing Products
Dealers: A listing of the addresses, phone numbers, email addresses,
and websites of all the dealers that carry Model Car Racing magazine
appears on our website at www.modelcarracingmag.com
Manufacturers: A listing of the addresses and websites of firms that
manufacture model car racing products appears on our website at
www.modelcarracingmag.com:
More Information
There is an Index of all of the past issues, a Digest of the results of the
first 291 cars in our Race Track Test series, Pros and Cons of plastic
track by brand, the Pros and Cons of the four digital systems, Pros and
Cons of 1/43 scale and an index of the 157 previously published track
plans, by size, on our website at www.modelcarracingmag.com.
4-Lane Blue King Raceway on a 6 ½ x 11-foot tabletop
by Robert Schleicher
Model Car Racing 5
Editorial �������������������������
Big Thrills
The concept of a winner and a loser is, apparently, part
of most folk’s mindset. For us, racing centers around automobiles of every conceivable type. It is tempting to believe that every model car racer shares the same passion.
Some do. Most don’t. The physical nature of tabletop
racing favors road racing because you can squeeze more
action into the limited space by having both right and left
hand turns. Because that focus is on road racing, there is
little interest in models of cars that race strictly on ovals.
That leaves about 100 years of various types of automobiles that raced on roads, from a 1949 Grand National
Ford Tudor to a 1959 "Bugeye" Sprite to a 2015 Formula
1 Williams (yes, we have two out of those three in this
issue---the Bentley was back in issue number 55). Given
that common interest, model car racing fans have their
own unique spread of options from exact scale models, to
close-enough, to the “wedge” cars that race on the commercial raceways. We do not usually feature the cars that
race at the commercial raceways because they are so very
different from the 1/32, HO, 1/24 or 1/43 scale models
that do appear on these pages. However, for the first time
we have a commercial race track plan for all of the brands
of 1/32 scale track and for HO AFX track.
Back At The Dawn of Civilization
Slot car racing as we know it today began in the fifties
as a hobby for those that wanted to race model cars in
their homes. The early tracks were built with a variety of
materials ranging from plywood to plaster (yes, there was
a track-building system that used a poured-plaster road
surface---built one myself). In the early sixties, someone
discovered that you could use an electric power router
to cut a slot in particle board (some tried it with plywood but the router bits broke too quickly). Meanwhile,
toy companies like Lines Brothers (with the Scalextric
brand) in England were producing slot car sets with plastic track in sections much like the track used for model
railroads. The snap-together track certainly broadened
the appeal of model car racing but the prices of the fiftiesera Scalextric sets in America started at around $500 in
today’s dollars. For American race fans, Strombecker in
Chicago produced 1/32 scale slot car sets that sold for
around $100 (in today's dollars) that seemed to match
the promises of the more expensive Scalextric sets.
Strombecker apparently knew the best way to sell to their
potential market was to offer road racing cars and the
first set had a 1954 D-Type Jaguar and a 1956 Ferrari
Testa Rosa. The sets sold well and Strombecker added
a dozen more cars. Eldon, Revell, Monogram, Cox and
other firms gushed into the market a year or two after
Strombecker so, by 1964, a road racing enthusiast had
wide choice of 1/32 scale cars as well sectional track. Slot
car racing had triggered (literally---the early controllers
were push-buttons---trigger controllers arrived about
the same time commercial racing took off) a meteoric
rise in American's interest in racing model cars.
By the mid-sixties there were dozens of hobby shops that
had built in-store race tracks, some using plastic track,
but most were tracks with the slots routed in particle
board. Some of the first of these raceways were simple
6-lane figure 8 tracks, but more complex “road” courses
(with broad and banked corners to allow the cars to
maintain the highest possible speeds) soon evolved with
eight lanes and more. These tracks were “commercial” in
the sense that the tracks were expected to make money
for the store from rental fees for the minutes you spent
racing on the track plus, of course, purchasing cars,
6 Model Car Racing
controllers, parts and ever-more expensive chassis and
motors and exotic controllers. The Blue King track on
page 23 of this issue is one of the legends of commercial
racing.
Door Stop Racing
The slot cars that raced on commercial tracks evolved in
the seventies from very accurate 1/24 scale models made
by Revell, Cox and Monogram to four-wheel machines
that were about the size of a 1/24 scale model but with
a wedge-shaped body that looked more like a 4-inch
wide door stop wedge that a full-size race car. The wedge
provided more downforce when two-inch high pieces of
clear plastic sheet were stapled to the sides and rear of
the body to force the airflow over the car for more downforce.
Commercial slot car racing peaked in the early seventies,
then almost disappeared. The number of tracks had diminished to less than 100 tracks worldwide in the eighties. That hobby has grown slightly and stabilized at about
200 commercial raceways around the world. You won't
find those cars or tracks in Model Car Racing magazine,
but if speed is more important to you than absolute realism, you might enjoy racing on commercial raceways.
There are listings of commercial raceways, clubs, and
websites that cater to these 1/24 scale cars on the web.
You can run realistic 1/24 scale cars on Carrera sectional
plastic tracks, and Carrera, BMW and Avant Slot also offer ready-to-run 1/24 scale cars. You can also assemble
your own 1/24 scale cars from a variety of static model
plastic kits, clear plastic and cast-resin bodies and separate chassis (as you can in 1/32 scale). Some commercial
raceways offer special events for these exact-scale 1/24
scale cars. You can, of course, race any 1/32 scale car
on a commercial raceway, but the car will be lost in the
vastness of the track and the 1/32 scale models are not
rugged enough to withstand the high speed crashes that
occur on commercial race tracks.
The Thrill of Speed
seventies and the plans in this issue replicate that monster raceway. It has taken a couple of decades for these
plans to materialize but I realized that racing on a commercial track really is fun. Those of you that have know it
is true. There is too much speed and too much focus on
machines rather than replicas of real racing cars for my
tastes, but it is fun. And there is a definite appeal about
being able to run with your trigger finger squeezed tight
for all but a few instants of every lap. If you have the space
(and the loot to buy the track) build a track from one of
these plans. Who knows, you may find that it really is
another way to experience the thrill of racing.
iHobby Expo
March 12 and 13, 2016. The National Hobby show, the
iHobby Expo, is now at the New Jersey Expo Center, in
Edison New Jersey, about 20-minutes from the Newark
Airport. The iHobby Expo (http://ihobbyexpo.com/) is
the largest gathering in the United States for the model
car racing importers and manufacturers. Usually, Scalextric, Slot.it, AFX and Auto World have demo tracks as
well as displays of their latest products.
Volume 15, Number 2 (issue number 86)
March/April 2016
Publisher:
Robert Schleicher
Technical Editor:
Chris Walker
Editor:
Robert Schleicher
Track Test Editor:
Marc Purdham
Layout & Design: Aaron Tipton - [email protected]
Contributing Editors:
Mark Gussin
Jeremy Dunning Jason Boye
Dan Wilson
Alan Schwartz
Dan Esposito
Brad Bowman
Bernard Sampson Pat Dennis
Editors Emeritus:
Rocky Russo
Bill Sipple
Jose Rodriguez Jim Russell
Bob Braverman Ron Klein
Albin Adams
Slot car racing on a commercial race track certainly does
have an appeal. The long straights and banked turns allow the cars to reach speeds that are close to the actual
speed of a real car. Most of the commercial raceways
have braided copper pickup strips so there is nothing to
provide magnetic downforce. There are no magnets to
hold the cars into the slots through the corners but those
wedge-shaped bodies and clear plastic air dams allow the
speeding cars to produce more downforce than the magnets in 1/32 scale cars.
Circulation & Dealer Contact:
email: [email protected]
Model Car Racing Publications, Inc.
6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-142
Boulder, CO 80301-3346
website: www.modelcarracingmag.com
You can experience some of that speed with a 1/32 scale
car on a home track that has at least one 30-foot long
straight. Most 1/32 scale cars will reach top speed in
about 5 feet or so and that 25 extra feet gives you enough
time to sense the speed. The corners on all home raceways, even on the massive track on pages 18-20, are
much tighter than on the commercial raceways but the
downforce magnets in the 1/32 scale and HO cars allow
the cars to zip through the tighter corners at what at least
appears to be speeds that match the speeds of the commercial slot cars.
Individual issue price $6.95. No current issues or back issues are available from the publisher but a list of dealers who carry the magazine is on
the website at www.modelcarracingmag.com. All sales and subscriptions
are not returnable.
Own Your Own Rent-A-Raceway
Model Car Racing assumes that all letters, new product information,
photographs of any kind, and other unsolicited materials are contributed
gratis whether mailed or sent electronically. Model Car Racing assumes
no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material. Solicited articles
and photographs are paid for within 45 days after publication, at which
time Model Car Racing obtains full publication rights. Unsolicited materials can be returned if adequate postage is included.
You can have your own commercial race track---or at
least a working replica scaled-down for 1/32 or HO cars
---using snap-together plastic track. The Blue King was
one of the largest of 8-lane commercial race tracks in the
Model Car Racing (USPS 020-443, ISSN 1538-9170) is published bimonthly by Model Car Racing Publications, Inc., 6525 Gunpark Drive,
Suite 370-142, Boulder, CO 80301-3346. Copyright 2016, Model Car
Racing Publications, Inc.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE: United States: 1 year (6 issues) $35.00. We can
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Model Car Racing Publications,
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Periodicals Postage is paid at Boulder, Colorado and at additional mailing offices.
Digital Racing
Which Track?
Each band of digital racing has its particular advantages and disadvantages as
shown in the “Pros and Cons” article in the January/February 2016 number 85
issue (also on www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Sample Issues”). The track
itself can be far more important than the system---if you love the track, you
can usually work around the shortcomings you perceive in the digital system.
If the track is too narrow or too big or too expensive, you might be wiling to
compromise and select the digital system that was your “second choice”.
• Easy changeover to Scalextric Digital with C7042 Advanced 6 Car Powerbase
• Slightly rough surface (allows a broader choice of supergrip tires for powerslides through corners)
• Best variety of different track sections
• Great-looking borders for all curves
• Cars are less noisy on this relatively soft track
• Flexible enough to allow some misalignment
• Flexible enough to allow slight banking in turns
• Outer-outer lanes available
• Great looking guard rails
• Interchange track to join with Scalextric and
SCX and can be adapted to Ninco
Pros for Digital:
• Lane-changers are only 1 ½-straights long
• Changeover to analog requires just a push of a button
and taping the lane changer flaps shut.
Cons:
• Track comes apart too easily to be moved without compete disassembly
• Borders do not attach firmly enough for use on crossing bridges
• Borders for all curves are not wide enough for longer cars like NASCAR
• Lane spacing a bit close for modern Formula 1 and sports/GT cars
• Only two sizes of banked curves available
Cons Digital:
• Lane changers are 1 1/2 straights long
• No curved or single lane changers available
Carrera Track:
Pros:
The Scalextric Digital system features a double lane-changer that is 1 1/2 straights long.
½½ Picking the Best Track; Pros and Cons
• Track holds together tightly enough to operate on carpet or to move
• Offers outer-outer curves
Scalextric Sport Track: • Offers outer-outer-outer curves
Pros:
• Borders are wide enough for any 1/32 scale car
• Snap-together assembly and disassembly
• Offers banked turns
• Locks together well on a solid floor or tabletop
14 Model Car Racing
• Offers borders for all curves
Pros Digital:
Cons:
• Curved and single lane-changers available
• Track surface too rough in some racers' opinions
• A wide range of race control track sections and displays
• Can be more difficult to find
• Pit lane entrance exit tracks are available in both short and long versions
• Can be more expensive
Cons:
• Plastic tabs can break-off if track is carelessly disassembled.
• No banked track
• Color of borders not realistic
• Track can break if stepped on
Cons Digital:
• Borders have "Construction Zone" red and white chevrons
• Limited number of lane-changing sections available
• Solid wall guardrails not realistic
• Requires slightly more space for some track plans
Cons Digital:
• Changeover to analog requires replacing the connector track and controllers
• Lane changers are two full straights long.
SCX “Universal” Track:
Pros:
• Snap-together assembly and disassembly
• Locks together well on a sold floor or tabletop
• Slightly rough surface (allows a broader choice of supergrip ties for powerslides through corners)
• Good variety of different track sections
• Great-looking borders for all curves
• Cars are less noisy on this relatively soft track
• Flexible enough to allow some misalignment
• Flexible enough to allow slight banking in turns
• Great looking guard rails
• Outer-outer lanes available
Pro Digital:
• Lane changers one-straight long
• Lane changers are mechanical less expensive so more can be used
Cons:
• Track comes apart too easily to be moved without compete disassembly
• Lane spacing a bit close for modern Formula 1 and sports/GT cars
• No banked curves available
Cons Digital:
• Changeover to analog requires replacing the connector track and controllers
Ninco Track:
Pros:
• Track assembles easily and holds together well
• Offers outer-outer curves
• Offers outer-outer-outer curves
• Slot deep enough to allow any brand of car to operate
• Cars are less noisy on this relatively soft track
• Flexible enough to allow some misalignment
• Flexible enough to allow some banking in turns
• Borders available for inside and outside of all curves
• Borders for outer curves are wide enough
Pros Digital:
• Lane changers are just one-straight long
The Scalextric as shown in the November/December 2015 number 84 issue (also
on www.modelcarracingmag.com under "Sample Issues") Digital Pit Lane track
sections allow one lane to enter the pit area or they can be stacked and used with
double-lane changers to recreate the action of full-size race car pit stops.
Model Car Racing 15
Carrera offers pit lane entrances and exits in two sizes.
The SCX Digital lane–changers are just one-straight long and are relatively
inexpensive so more can be used.
Carrera offers both single (shown) and double lane-changers that are two full
straights long
The Ninco N-Digital lane-changers are just one-straight long so it is easier to use
more of them.
Carrera offers four versions of the curved single-lane changers so you can recreate
the “inside line” action of full-size car racing.
16 Model Car Racing
Start Here:
Never Out of Reach,
The Grabber Does It
If any of the track on your raceway allows the cars to deslot more
than three-feet from the edge of the table, the corner marshals will
need use these “grabbers” (remote-control mechanical tongs on a
stick that drug stores sell for wheelchair-bound people to be able
reach and hold cans, cups or plates) to reach the deslotted cars.
About half of the track on pages 18-20 is four-feet from the nearest table edge so the “grabbers” that are sold by drug stores so wheelchair-bound folks can reach the upper
shelves are used to grab the cars that deslot in the center of the track.
Both of the plans on pages 18-20 position the track too far from the table edges for corner marshals to reach. To grab those deslotted cars the marshals can use on of
“grabbers” that drug stores and departments sell for wheelchair-bound folks to reach for pales and containers. Squeeze the pistol grip and padded jaws to grab the car.
Model Car Racing 17
Real Race Track Plans
2-Lane Blue King Raceway on a
5 X 9-Foot Ping-Pong Tabletop for Scalextric
Classic, Sport, SCX, Ninco or Carrera
The plans for 4-lane recreation of Blue King commercial race track on pages 18-20 are the
inspiration for these smaller plans. There’s an index, by size, of all the previously published
track plans from Model Car Racing magazine on our website www.modelcarracingmag.com.
■■by Robert Schleicher
The Blue King Raceway is the largest race track plan we have published. The
general shape of the Blue King Raceway including the 250-degree turn T5 are all
that we could squeeze onto a ping-pong tabletop. The plans for the larger fourlane track include banked turns but you can only use a banked turn where there
are at least three straight sections entering and leaving the bank to give the track
enough room to twist back to the level of the tabletop and there’s no room on
a ping-pong tabletop for the banked turns. This track is similar to a number of
“road racing” plans in having a nice series of ess curves like those through turns
T1, T2 and T3 followed by that 270-degree loop leading through a second ess
bend into the broadest possible curve that will fit on the tabletop.
TRACK PLAN
2-Lane Blue King Raceway on a
5 X 9-Foot Ping-Pong Tabletop
½½ Digital Racing Systems
There is no room on this compact plan for any of digital lane changers. You
could expand it by two straights at the points marked “L” to include two double
lane changers for any of the brands of track.
Scalextric Classic, Sport, SCX or Ninco Track Required
TRACK PLAN
Key
Qty
Description
Key
Qty
Description
Carrera Track Required
H
5
1/2 Standard Curve
E
0
1/4-Straight
Key
Qty
Description
Key
Qty
Description
2-Lane Blue King Raceway
on a 5 X 9-Foot Ping-Pong Tabletop
S
24
Standard Curve
D
3
1/2-Straight
H
1
20577 1/2 Inner Curve R1
E
2
20612 1/4-Straight
O
0
Outer Curve
B
2
Full-Straight
S
11
20571 Inner Curve R1
D
0
20611 1/3-Straight
OO
9
Outer-Outer Curve
A
2
Connector Track
O
14
20572 Middle Curve R2
B
2
20509 Full-Straight
F
2
“Short” Straight
OO
3
20573 Outer Curve R3
A
2
OOO
0
20578 Outer-Outer Curve R4
20583 Connector Track
(analog)
L
Track can be expanded in length by adding matched pairs of straight track
sections here.
T Turns on the model versions of the track
The overpass around turn T5 must be must be supported on 1/8-inch plywood
if you are using Scalextric/Classic/SCX/Ninco track as shown on pages 24-25. If
you are using Carrera track you can simply use the Carrera conventional number
C85201 vertical post supports because the track joints and the track itself is stiff
enough to not need a plywood backing. The Carrera number 20587 overpass (they
call it a “crossing”) is too steep up and downhill for this tight track.
To build the plan with NINCO track you will need about 10-percent more space and
you may need some additional short straights to get everything to line up properly.
L
Track can be expanded in length by adding matched pairs of straight track
sections here.
T Turns on the model versions of the track
Model Car Racing 21
Race Tracks For
Your Home:
HO Blue King Raceway for a
6 ½ X 11-Foot Tabletop
Many HO scale racing fans remember the commercial raceways of the
seventies with massive tracks like the American Model Car Raceways
Blue King. What if you could recreate that massive raceway with HO
scale track (like we did with 1/32 scale track on pages 18-20 of this
issue)? You can and this is the HO version. We used the largest curves
available in HO for all of the turns without any restrictions on the size of
the table. The resulting plan requires a minimum 6 ½ x 11-foot space.
■■by Robert Schleicher
If you have more room it can be assembled longer than 11-feet by inserting sets
of four straights at the points marked “L” on plan. All of the straights are 15-inch
unless marked.
The AFX terminal/connector section can be substituted for any of the 15-inch
straights on the track. You can install one on one side of the track and the second
on the opposite side of the track so the drivers can also serve as corner marshals.
TRACK PLAN
HO Blue King Raceway
to fit a 6 ½ x 11-foot area
AFX Track Sections Required
22 Model Car Racing
Qty
Description
Qty
Description
0
3-inch Straight
0
9-inch 90-degree Curve
8
6-inch Straight
0
12-inch 45-degree Curve
0
9-inch Straight
24
15-inch 45-degree Curve
28
15-inch Straight
24
18-inch 45-degree Curve
0
9-inch 45-degree Curve
Vintage Racing
1970 American Model Car
Raceways 22 X 49-Foot 8-Lane
Blue King Commercial Racetrack
We do not usually include information on commercial slot car racing in Model Car Racing
magazine because it is really a different hobby. The cars and tracks we feature are all designed
to be raced in someone’s home (even if it’s Bobby Rahal’s home to his massive Slot Mods track).
However, many of you remember the commercial racetracks and about 100 are still in operation.
The classic commercial racetrack was the “Blue King”. It was one of largest commercial
racetracks, with eight lanes filling a “tabletop” that was 22 x 49-feet. The outline of the track
is on page 20 with an article on to how assemble the largest home raceway we have featured
to replicate the Blue King race track with Scalextric, SCX, Ninco or Carrera plastic track.
■■by Robert Schleicher
If you have not seen one of the commercial raceway shops, you may be
surprised at how large they are—raceway centers (nobody called them
hobby shops) were much larger than
most hobby shops. Some of the centers were located in buildings that
previously housed grocery stores. The
largest number were franchise businesses called American Model Car
Raceways and most of those were located along major highways in the
days before the “big box” Wal-Mart’s and K-Marts. Most of these “racing centers” had three or four tracks about the size of the Blue King (or larger). There
were a few four-lane tracks a fraction of the size of the Blue King and it’s fellows
but speed was the goal and the smaller tracks had little appeal. Yes, a percentage
of the racers did build cars that were scale size but body modifications and odd
tire sizes compromised the realism- Those cars are still being built and raced in
today’s ”Retro” race series at today's commercial raceway centers.
The raceway centers of seventies carried 1/32 scale cars and sets but sales were
just a fraction of those for the larger 1/24 scale cars designed to be raced on the
massive 8-lane wood tracks. The tracks were far too large for the 1/32 scale cars
and the cars were too slow and too fragile to offer much entertainment on the
huge tracks so 1/24 scale became the standard. At first, the customers raced 1/24
scale cars with hard plastic bodies like those produced as both kits and ready-torun by Revell, Monogram, Cox, K&B and Strombecker. In the late sixties hundreds of other firms appeared with ready-to-race cars that were faster and more
rugged with painted clear plastic bodies and metal chassis. Revell, Monogram
and Cox also offered similar cars based on full-size race cars. When the racers
discovered that a wedge-shaped car would corner faster than the realistic cars,
the hobby changed completely and the majority of the racers competed with
“cars” that were simple wedges with clear plastic vertical walls around the sides
and rear to help generate more aerodynamic downforce for ever-faster cornering
speeds and lower lap times.
The raceway centers sold ready-to-race cars as well as brass chassis, brass and
steel wire, strip and brackets to solder-together a chassis, with motors, wheels
and tires and painted as well as unpainted clear plastic bodies so you could build
your own cars. A major portion of their income, however, came from renting
time on the tracks so the centers became known as “commercial” raceways (as
opposed to the “free” track time raceways in enthusiasts homes). Virtually all
the organized slot car racing centered on the commercial raceways (there was a
special rate for club hours). There were (and still are) national and even international championships, again all sited at one of the commercial raceway centers.
Hundreds of thousands of racing enthusiasts frequented the 3,000 American Model
Car Raceways commercial race tracks in the early seventies. Thazer Raceway in
South Bend, Indiana has survived. There were dozens of replicas of this American
Model Car Raceways King and Blue King tracks but this one is typical—Thazer
Raceway photo
Model Car Racing 23
Your Track
Jim Norton’s 8 X 16-Foot 4-Lane
Scalextric Boomerang Bend
Race Track on the Floor
You do not need a table to race 1/32 scale (or HO) slot cars. For most
of us it is difficult to find space for a permanent or portable table
and, even then, it is seldom as large as we would like. If you really
want those long straights, the logical place to assemble a track
is on the floor or the largest room in your house or, maybe better,
on the floor of your garage (after scrubbing it clean of course).
■■Photos and plans by Jim Norton
This is just one of the Scalextric tracks that the Alabama Racing Group
has constructed for their annual southwest championship races. The
club races all year long in member’s homes but, on each Memorial Day
for the last dozen years, a championship race has been held in the recreation room of Jim Norton’s home.
The Scalextric Boomerang Bend track has four major corners and each of them is a
different radius.
The main is straight is 12-feet long and the “short” straight is 11-feet long to give
the cars enough distance to wind-out to top speed.
Model Car Racing 27
Four coffee-table-height padded benches provide comfortable driving positions. The
corner marshals, however, must scramble on hands and knees to replace spun-off cars.
The club races 1/32 scale cars with and without downforce magnets so all of the
corners on the Scalextric track have outside borders to give the magnet-free cars
some extra track width to power slide around the outer lane of the curves.
Your Track
Jim Norton’s 7 X 13-Foot AFX HO
Battle Creek Race Track on the Floor
This Battle Creek Track is one of the HO scale AFX raceways that the Alabama Racing Group has
assembled for their biannual series of championship races. The club alternates each year between 1/32
scale tracks (like that on pages 27-28) and HO tracks for their Memorial Day championship series. They
have recreated some of more famous tracks like this “Battle Creek” and the “Big King” , “Clubman”
and “Daytona” AFX raceways from the sixties and seventies HO races when drivers were paid by the
factories to win. Additional races are staged through the rest of the year, sometimes using the same track
pieces for some of the meets and racing on the members’ permanent tracks for other weekend races.
■■Photos and plans by Jim Norton
The Battle Creek 475 four-lane track has at least 180-degrees of all of four AFX
curve track sizes, from 6-inch to 18-inch.
28 Model Car Racing
The controller connector tracks are separated about four feet to give the four drivers
a bit more “elbow room”.
There’s a four-lane chicane that uses two pair of 3-inch straights with a custom-cut
filler piece in between.
Model Car Racing 29
30 Model Car Racing
The Tomas Enge, Stefan Mucke and Jan Charouz number 007 Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2 leads the number 3 Audi R15 TDI and Jos Verstappen, Darren Turner and Anthony Davidson’s number 008 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 at LeMans in 2009. — LAT photo.
Model Car Racing 31
Le Mans
Slot.it 2009 Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2 (B09/60)
The Gulf-sponsored Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2 is one of
the most impressive cars in the LeMans Series.
The Slot.it model is a replica of the number 009 car that Peter Kox, Harold Primat and Stuart Hall crashed in the 18th hour at LeMans in 2009.
■■BY Bill Wright
The Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2 cars are redesigned Lolas with a new nose that
mimics the classic Aston Martin road cars’ grills. The engine is an Aston Martin Racing V12 with 5,835 cc displacement, producing 600 horsepower. Three
cars were entered at LeMans in 2009, all with bright blue and orange Gulf paint
schemes. The 007 car finished eighth in LMP1 and the 008 car ninth but the 009
car, driven by Peter Kox, Harold Primat and Stuart Hall, crashed in the 18th
hour.
Like the prototypes, the Slot.it model is based on their Lola-Judd B09/60 that
was in the September/October 2012 number 65 issue. The Slot.it Lola-Aston
Martin DBR1-2 LeMans is a superb model. The proportions look proper and
the car is exact 1/32 scale. Slot.it is has been able to use correct-size tires on
this model where most other makers fit ridiculously small tires in the hope of
attaining better handling. Slot.it achieves the same result of lowering the car by
lowering only the motor in a motor pod that allows the motor to sit below the
centerline of the axle. The car has a full interior.
The Slot.it Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2 has the new Slot.it pickup design with
tab-ended braids captured in the rear of the pickup. The braid has a staked-on
brass end with a hole to accept the lead wire’s ferrule. An extra set of braid is
included. The front of the chassis has a bridge to support the top of the pickup
for a more rigid pivot point. The bridge is designed to guide and funnel the
ends of the wires so they follow the pickup. The model has plastic front wheels
but aluminum set screw-mount rear wheels and gear. The motor pod includes
attaching screws for outriggers so you can “tune” the chassis as described in the
“Six-Screw” Hop-Up article in the number 69 issue (also at www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Sample Issues”). If you want to run the car without downforce magnets, you can replace the rear tires with something that has a bit more
traction like the number 1409 Super Tires silicones or Yellow Dogs urethanes.
32 Model Car Racing
½½ How Fast?
The new Slot/it Lola-Aston Martin, with its Flat 6-R anglewinder motor, should
perform at least as well as the same setup in the Slot.it HRS/2 anglewinder chassis. We Race Track Tested that chassis without the downforce magnet under the
Sloter 1966 Lola T70 body in the March/April 2009 number 44 issue. The lap
times and other test results for all of the track tests in the first 84 issues are available on www.modelcarracingmag.com under "Model Resources", then click on
the link "Race Car Test Results".
Model Car Racing Track Test: "Out-of-the-Box" Lap Times 36-foot Scalextric
Indy F1 Course:
36-foot Carrera
Indy F1 Course:
Slot/it Lola-Aston Martin, with Flat 6-R Anglewinder Motor
6.17 sec.
5.04 sec.
The model has the usual Slot.it high performance chassis with a separate motor pod. It has
an anglewinder Flat-6-size motor like the other cars in their modern LeMans series
Slot.it 2009 Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2
SPEC SHEET
The Prototype
(the real car):
The size the model
The dimensions of the
should be in 1/32 scale: Slot.it model:
Length:
4,639 mm
5.71 in. (145.0 mm)
5.94 in. (150.8 mm)
Width:
1,998 mm
2.46 in. (62.4 mm)
2.52 in. (64.0 mm)
Height:
NA
NA
1.39 in. (35.2 mm)
Wheelbase*
2,898 mm
3.57 in. (90.6 mm)
3.62 in. (92.14 mm)
Track, Front:
Track, Rear: NA
2.12 in. (53.7 mm)
Track, Rear:
NA
NA
2.12 in. (53.7 mm)
Tires, Front:
NA
NA
9.1 x 19.4 mm
Tires, Rear:
NA
NA
10.1 x 20.5.6 mm
Weight:
2,099 lbs.
NA
72 grams (2 1/2 oz.)
Weight on Front Tires:
28 grams (1 oz.)
Weight on Rear Tires:
54 grams (1 1/2 oz.)
Magnetic Downforce on Carrera:
108 grams (3 3/4 oz.)
Magnetic Downforce on Scalextric:
48 grams (1 5/8 oz.)
Ground Clearance on Carrera:
0.5 mm (.020 in.)
Ground Clearance on Scalextric:
0.4 mm (.015 in.)
Pickup Lead (pivot to rear axle):
109.6 mm (4.32 in.)
Gear Ratio:
2.55:1 (11/28)
SOURCE: 2009 LE MANS 24 HOURS, by Christian Moity and Jean-Marc Teissedre,
GSN Publishing ISBN 9-782930-354521
½½ LeMans 2009 In 1/32 Scale
(Front to rear, l. to r. ---the brand in the photo is listed first)
• Corvette C6.R (SCX, Scalextric,
Ninco and Carrera)
• Peugeot 908 HDI FAP, the overall
winner in 2009 (SCX and Scalextric) • Lamborghini Murcielago (Auto
Art, Scalextric and Ninco)
• Lola-Aston Martin DBR1-2
(Slot.it and Scalextric)
• Aston Martin DBR9
(Scalextric and SCX)
• Pescarolo 01 Judd (Avant
Slot and Scalextric)
• Ferrari F430 (Scalextric,
Ninco and Carrera)
• Porsche RS Spyder (Scalextric,
Avant Slot and Carrera)
LMP1 Class:
Not Shown:
GT Class:
• Porsche 911 (997) RSR (Flyslot,
Scalextric, Ninco, SCX and Carrera)
• Audi R15 TDI (LeMans
Miniatures) LMP1
• Spyker C8 (ScaleAuto) GT
The pickup is the newer Slot.it version with a “bridge” over the top to provide a more
stable mounting.
Model Car Racing 33
Pit Board #86 ���������������������
4WD LeMans & More From Slot.it
Yes, Slot.it has left some of the information on what specific belts and parts are
needed for which specific car to the consumer (as did Lotus in the sixties). The
belt length must match that of wheelbase so each different wheelbase chassis requires a different length belt. We got the Slot.it part numbers backwards on the
pulleys. Apparently they found that it works best if the front tires are "slipping"
a bit compared to the rear.
sible for the spectators---the slower cars are eliminated early. There’s an article a
blank lap-recording chart in the May/June 2012 number 63 issue. In my opinion, it
is not a wise race format for model cars for the reasons you stated. The quick racers
just get quicker. It is, of course, exciting to see any race where the drivers are equally
matched but the “qualifying’ to get more track time would never be my first choice.
The clubs that I race with do not have anything but “qualifying” races and the class
winner is simply the driver with the most laps. Usually these races are for three to
five minutes, which gives each driver a minimum six to ten minutes of track time.
Since the club also runs at least three classes that allows everyone there to have 18
to 30 minutes of race time. The clubs also have an hour of practice and test n’ tune
time before every race and the drivers are limited to about five minutes of practice
in each lane. The format also insures that everyone will spend an equal amount of
time serving as a corner marshal. No, you do not get to see fastest cars racing side
by side in a main event. There is a compromise that some clubs use and it works
pretty well. Most clubs award drivers points for their finishing positions so, after
the first race, the drivers are ranked. Whoever sets up the driver schedule can then
“pair” the best drivers with the best drivers. I makes for most exciting racing and it
is somewhat more comfortable for the slower drivers because they are racing with
their peers so they are not getting lapped four or five times in the race.
Oil Slicks
Rattlin’ Bones
I race on about six different tracks in our club members’ homes. It is great fun to
race on three of the tracks but two or three others have abrupt changes in direction
that throw the cars out of the slot. Certainly, I know those places are there so I slow
down for them as I might for an pool of spilled oil a full-size race track. That works
for about five laps when I forget the “oil spill” is there and my car deslots once
again. So I am wary for another half-dozen laps when I momentarily forget about
the hazard and off it goes again. Is there a way correct these flaws in the track?
Most of the people in the club I race with leave the body-mounting screws loose.
Since all of the cars have hard plastic bodies, you can actually hear some of the
cars rattle as they round the corners or accelerate or brake on the straights. It is a
strange sound and certainly not one you would ever hear on a real race track. It
seems counterproductive because that rattle surely must make the cars even more
skitterish through the corners to produce slower lap times. But the articles in Model
Car Racing often suggest that the body-mounting screws should be left loose. The
loose body is supposed to allow the cars to corner faster but I am not convinced. Is
there any "sound" reason behind this odd race-tune setup?
I love this magazine and I have been and will continue to be a subscriber to it. I
must ask you to review and correct the info you posted on the 4WD Audi reviewed
in issue number 83. The pulley sizes you mentioned, for example, like the 16 tooth
on the fronts and the 17-tooth on the rears is wrong. You have it in reverse as the
front’s uses the 17-tooth pulley and the 16 tooth goes on the rear (actually any
combo can be used, but that’s for another time). Also stating the system can be
used on ANY Slot.it chassis is not exactly correct (or at best misleading). Why?
Because to use the 4WD on any chassis we must know the wheelbase of that chassis
to match it with the correct belt and or pulley combination.
Regards, Dick Truglio
Any help would be appreciated, Jim Reynolds
Most people that assemble a larger plastic track simply lay the track out on the tabletop
or floor and, perhaps, pre-assemble the major curves and straights. For most tracks,
those curves and straights connect nicely but there is almost always at least one track
joint (maybe six of them) where the track just does not align. If you have an assortment of curves and straights you can always find some combination that will provide a
snug fit. The difficulty is that those “make-it-fit” pieces, particularly curves, are seldom
the same size as the curve they are joining and that results in the jogs and zigzags that
can deslot your car. The best solution is to replace the entire curve with a different size.
When that is not possible, the misalignment can usually be corrected by installing
short track sections on the opposite side of the raceway to shift as much as half of the
entire track just to correct that relatively minor misalignment. One guideline is to do
whatever you have to do to avoid inserting a tighter curve into the beginning or end
of a large curve---it is that kink that is most often the cause of those “oil spills” deslots.
Equal Time Racing
I just rediscovered slot car racing about a year ago. There is a club in my area with tracks
in six of the members’ homes and, lucky for me, all are within an hour’s drive. There are
about 20 members and 10 to 15 show up at each month’s race so there are always plenty
of corner marshals. Some of the club members have been racing slot cars for twenty years
or more. They and some of the more dedicated “newcomers” always finish in the top four
or five places. Nearly all of these racers are extremely helpful in offering advise on how to
make my cars run as fast as theirs and I have applied that knowledge so my cars can turn
lap times about equal to the best. Just having a quick car, however, has not been nearly
enough---I am lucky if I finish second or third from last---by sheer bad luck for others I
did get a third place at one race meet. I do not get much time on the track though because
the club runs a race format with “heat” races to determine which cars will be in the semimain races and the winners of those two go on to the final main event. On the four–lane
track the top two in the semi-mains go into the main. At most only eight of the dozen or
more of us get to race in the semis and only two to four in the main, so most of us spend
the evening serving as the unpaid corner marshals. Yes, I am whigning because I need the
track time to learn to drive more than they do. Is there a race format that allows everyone
the same amount of race time?
Thank you, Ray Hernandez
The race format your club is using is used by some other model car racing clubs
and it is more-or-less standard with the small oval races for full-size cars. The goal
is to get the fastest cars and drivers in that main event to make it as exciting as pos-
44 Model Car Racing
I would appreciate your input, Randy Rinnspan
Honestly, the loose body really is a “patch” to hide an imperfectly-setup car. If you
have replaced the axles with precision drill blanks, trued the wheels to perfect
roundness, sanded the tires to match, secured the motor and bearings and, in general, spent at least eight hours getting the chassis perfectly level and balanced there
should be no need for a loose body. Most of us, though, have cars that do vibrate
because the wheels and tires are just slightly out of round and there’s just a bit too
much bearing or motor slop and, perhaps, the front axle moves too far up and
down (not to say side to side). The result of all those imperfections is that the chassis tends to vibrate and that vibration results in tire hop which, of course, means
the tires are not getting enough grip and the car is not negotiating the corners as
quickly as it should. The basic physics of that loose body are that it isolates the body
from the chassis so the body does not serve like a drum to amplify the vibrations.
Some builders cut slim rubber washers to fit around the body-mounting screws to
prevent the body from actually rattling on the screws because that rattle is setting
up another vibration frequency. One of the downsides of that loose body is that it
does not provide any additional stiffness to keep the chassis flat and aligned. Some
model car tuners add meal stiffening rails to the chassis held in place with metalfilled epoxy. The separate motor pods are another area where there is no consensus
about which is best, the pod tightened into chassis or the pods left loose or with just
two or four of screws left loose. We tried every combination of tight body and chassis, tight pod and loose pod in issues 69 through 73. The testing concept and most
of the tuning tips are described in the “Six-Screw” Hop-Up article in the number
69 issue (also at www.modelcarracingmag.com under “Sample Issues”).
½½ New To The Hobby?
There’s more information on pages 24-25 of this issue. There are some basic
tune-up tips that are needed for every model race car on www.modelcarracingmag.com under the “New to the hobby?” link. There are 13 tips including: How
To Get Started in Model Car Racing, Lap Counting, Two Driving Techniques,
Perfect Pickup Braid, Tire Mounting, Cleaning Track Rails, Cleaning Track,
Avoiding Disaster: Oil & Grease, Race Program Set Up: Color Coding & Racing
classes, Reliable Wires, Chassis Set Up, Carrera Guide Shoe Mods and Gearing
setups. There’s lots more you can do, including changing to silicone rear tires
with better grip, loosening the body-to-chassis screws and more.
Club Directory ���������������������
Most model car racers prefer to race at home on their own tracks with a few
friends. There are hundreds of model car racing clubs in the world but some
of them are groups who race very highly modified cars on tracks routed from
wood or PVC. The model racing cars you see on the pages of this magazine are
all designed to be raced on plastic tracks (although they can be raced on most
wood or PVC tracks) from Scalextric, Sport, Carrera, NINCO, SCX, Riggen or
Artin or the older Strombecker, Revell or Monogram tracks 1/32 scale tracks or
Tomy AFX or Mattel/Tyco HO tracks.
class where extra magnets are allowed or different bodies. We try to NOT list
the clubs that primarily race cars with hand-made metal chassis and clear plastic
bodies---those clubs are listed on various internet sites or you can find most of
them through the Old Weird Harold site at http://www.oldweirdherald.com.
There are hundreds of dealers in the country that have operating tracks in the store.
We cannot list them all, but you can contact the ones in your area from the list of
dealers that carry Model Car Racing magazine www.modelcarracingmag.com.
The clubs that are listed here are groups whose main interest is to race out-ofthe box cars and mostly on plastic tracks (although the club may also race on
one or two hand-routed wood or PVC tracks). The group may have a modified
If your group races out-of-the-box 1/32 scale or HO scale cars, with only occasionally events for modified cars) send us the information at www.modelcarracingmag.com and we’ll try to include your club in the next issue.
California, Los Angeles (Glendale): OTHG – Farrout
Slot Car Club. Contact Stephen Farr-Jones
818-416-9188, www.farroutslotcars.com/
Illinois, Central area: Hotslots 1/32 Slot Car Shop,
1809 A. Philo Road, Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 3552277, [email protected]
Missouri, St. Louis area: (Carl Shorle) gsra@
swbell.net
California, Fresno area: Insane SCRC,
Joe Cabral [email protected]
Illinois, Chicago area: Bolingbrook Speedway, Karl
Staehlin, [email protected]
California, North San Diego County: Nomad Slot
Racing Club, Jim Cunningham (760)492-4619
[email protected] www.NomadSlotRacing.com
Illinois, Chicago area: Great Lakes Slot Car Club,
contact:
www.greatlakesscc.com
California, North San Diego County, Escondido
- “The Slot Outlaws” 760-747-4511 or email:
[email protected]
California, San Jose area: Devin Mauldin web@
flyinghump.com
California, South Bay (Los Angeles): Stan Smith
(310)812-1866
[email protected]
California, South Bay (Los Angeles): ITG - In The
Groove Slot Car racing, 324 W. Florence Ave.,
Inglewood, CA 90301. Contact: Marc Natividad
(310) 200-6300. [email protected]
Colorado, Denver area: Rocky Mountain Slot Car
Club (RMSSC)
http://rmscclub.proboards.com/index.cgi
Colorado, Denver Area, Colorado Slot car Club,
contact:
http://coslotcarclub.proboards.com/
Illinois, Chicago Area: JYD Racing, contact www.
toys4slots.com
Illinois, Peoria/ Metamora area: Peoria Model Car
Raceway,
(309) 573-1027, [email protected],
(309)712-3299 [email protected]
Indiana, Indianapolis area: (Jeremy Dunning)
[email protected]
Indiana, Terre Haute area: Otter Creek Slot Racing
Association,
Bob Redman [email protected]
Iowa, Cedar Rapids area: Iowa Model Area Racers,
http://imar.us/
Indiana, Fort Wayne area: Wallace Dale Monroe,
[email protected]
Iowa, Cedar Rapids area: ERASR (Ecurie Road
America Scale Racers) Art (319)626-6374
Iowa, Swisher area: IMAR (Iowa Model Auto Racing), Jerry Hightshoe [email protected]
Colorado, Denver area: Front Range Vintage
Slotcar and Historical Racing Club, http://monovell.
proboards.com/index.cgi
Kentucky, Louisville area: Derby City Slot Car
Club, www.derbycityslotcarclub.proboards.com/ [email protected]
D.C., Washington area: The Capital Racing
League,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tcrl, contact:
[email protected]
Louisiana, Lake Charles area: Lake Area Slot Car
Auto Racing, Julian Guillory, http://groups.yahoo.
com/group/LASCAR
D.C., Washington area (Alexandria): Classic Slot
Car Association (CSSA), John Roberts, (703) 5825504, [email protected]
D.C., Washington Metro area: Old Dominion Slot
Car Club, 5322 Graystone Rd., Warrenton, VA
20187, contact: Chris Bowles (540)341-1405 or,
[email protected],
www.nascarslots.com or www.metalracer.com
Maryland, Baltimore area: (Allan Schwartz)
[email protected]
Michigan, Grand Rapids area: Rivershore International Raceway, Alto, Michigan, Stephen Thomas,
(616) 891-1632. email: [email protected]
Michigan, Kalamazoo area: West Michigan
Slot Car Group, John Lacko (269) 344-5588,
[email protected] https://www.facebook.com/
groups/205657316120426/
HO Clubs: The majority of HO racing on a club level in the US is home
sectional tracks, using hard bodies and largely stock equipment. The majority
are Thunderjet focused, although many do run the Life-Like, Auto World, Playing Mantis, G-Plus and Mattel/Tyco cars, these mass produced magnet cars tend
California, Bay area: M.S.C.R.C. - Model Slot
Car Racing Club www.mscrc.orgemail: info@
mscrc.org
California, Bay area: Shaunadega Racing www.
shaunadega.com
California, South Bay (Los Angeles): ITG - In The
Groove Slot Car racing, 324 W. Florence Ave.
Inglewood, CA 90301. Contact: Marc Natividad
(310) 200-6300. [email protected]
Colorado, Denver area: Front Range HO (FRHO)
46 Model Car Racing
Missouri, St. Louis area: Monaco Grand Prix
Miniature Racing Club, www.mgpmrc.org, email:
[email protected]
New York, Binghamton Area: Tri-County Slots,
Contact: [email protected]
New York, Watkins Glen area: The Slot Car Club
Of The Twin Tiers, Contact: Frank Spena, Jr., [email protected]
North Carolina, Winston-Salem area: Road
America Racers, King City, North Carolina, Tom
Brooks, (336) 985-3867 or [email protected]
Ohio, Columbus area: 1/32 Slot Car Racers of
Central Ohio, Randy Horton, http://groups.yahoo.
com/group/1-32SlotCarRacersOfCentralOhio
Oregon, Portland area: Beaverton Area Slot Car
Club (B.A.S.C.C.),15430 SW Gull Ct., Beaverton,
Oregon 97007, 503-330-6907
Pennsylvania, Allentown-Reading area: Allen &
Allen Motor Speedway Racing, (610) 520-7247,
[email protected]
Pennsylvania, Chambersburg area.
Sherman Collings [email protected] (717)
377-1435
Pennsylvania, Harrisburg area: Homestead
Speedway, Landisville, Pennsylvania. Ken Falco at
[email protected]
Pennsylvania, Manheim area:
D & B Raceways, Don Noll [email protected]
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia area: Mt. Airy Racing
Association, Herbert Bigelow (215) 868-4464,
[email protected]
Texas, Eastern area: East Texas Slot Car Association,
Tyler , TX 75771, (903)882 0965 ETXSCA@
hotmail.com
Texas, Houston (Northwest Harris County): Houston Scale Auto Racing Club (HSARC), www.hsarc.
net, (281)807-4026.
Northern Virginia-Metro DC area: Northern
Virginia Digital Slot Racers, contact: Hayes Lewis,
[email protected]
Vermont, Burlington area: Burlington Slot Dorks,
Daniel, [email protected]
Williamsburg Virginia area: The Barn Burners”
Contact: Joseph Brimer [email protected]
Washington, Auburn area: Rainier Raceways,
Greg Gaub [email protected]
Washington, Seattle/Tacoma area: PSSRA (Puget
Sound Slot Car Racing Association) http://pssra.
webhop.net/ or Tony Kuljis,
[email protected]
Washington, Seattle/Tacoma area: NMRL (Northwest Model Racing League). John MacKenzie
(206)295-9980, [email protected]
Toronto, Canada area: Scale Sloters 1/32,
[email protected]
Vancouver, Canada area: (Luf Linkert) luf@
telus.net
1/24 scale racing clubs:
Oregon, Eugene area: Pelican Park Speedway
(541)349-0917 htm210@comcast.
Digital Racing Clubs:
Phoenix, Arizona area: DSCRC-Phoenix, Carrera
1/32 & 1/24 only, email [email protected]
Pennsylvania, Wilkes Barre Area: NEPA Slot Car
Club, 570-903-9182, nepaslotcars.com
Ohio, Mansfield area: Mid-Ohio 1/32 Scale
Racing Club, [email protected], John Chorpening
(419) 289-6563
Pennsylvania, Wyoming Valley Area: Wyoming Valley Slot Car Association, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania,
wvsca.blogspot.com
Northern Virginia-Metro DC area: Northern
Virginia Digital Slot Racers, contact: Hayes Lewis,
[email protected]
to be utilized by small round robin groups by invitation or as groups of friends.
There are some excellent clubs across the US racing basically stock hardshell T-Jet
cars for the most part on sectional home tracks. This is only a partial listing. If you
have an active group racing hard-bodied T-Jet-style cars, let us know.
club. http://www.scaleracers.com/FrontRangeHO/
default.asp
Missouri, Kansas City area:
http://home.kc.rr.com/jhabernal/mahor/
Illinois, Chicago area: http: nitro-racing.4t.com/
Missouri, St. Louis area: [email protected]
Indiana, Fort Wayne area: Wallace Monroe,
[email protected]
Ohio, Columbus area:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colohhoscc/
messages
Kentucky / Virginia area: http://www.thunderjetracing.com/
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia area:
http://vintagehoracing.mr-bigstuff.com/
Michigan, Lansing area: NASAR, Richard Leeper
(517) 290-9952 or [email protected]
Pennsylvania, Wilkes Barre Area: NEPA Slot Car
Club, 570-903-9182, nepaslotcars.com
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia area: Mt. Airy Racing
Association, Herbert Bigelow (215) 868-4464,
[email protected]
Winston-Salem/Greenville, South Carolina area:
Upstate HO Slot Car Club, 403 Hill Lane, Mauldin,
SC 29662 - (864) 967-7865 Richard Tabb at
[email protected] or Steve Lorch at [email protected]
United Kingdom, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Burning Rubber, www.burningrubber.net
86
Books & Back Issues:
All of the books by Robert Schleicher are currently out of print.
We have no paper copies of any back issue. You may be able to find some paper
back issues at some of our dealers on the www.modelcarracingmag.com website, and Electric Dreams (www.electricdreams.com) has most of them as well
as a few of the number 1 through 6 issues (from 2002) with a Scalextric Limited
edition Cadillac Northstar LeMans car.
Internet versions of issues number 55 through 69 (all the issues from 2011, 2012
and 2013) and issues number 70 through 86 are available at $4.95 each direct
from the Apple iTunes store for the iPad, but only as readable and downloadable
copies.
We have tried to keep the most significant material in print because photocopying
back issue articles is not an option. The most important tuning and race setup
information is on the www.modelcarracingmag.com website under the left hand
link “New To The Hobby” as well as information on 1/43 scale vs. 1/32 scale. All
of the Race Track Test results from issue #1 through #84 are also on the website
under the top bar link ”More Information” then in the left box “Race Car Tests”
and there is information on selecting a specific brand of track. All of the articles
on digital racing, on visits to “Your Tracks”, 4 x 8 and 5 x 9-foot 1/32 scale plans,
4 x 8-foot HO plans and additional features from issues #44 (March/April 2009)
through the current issue are available on the website under the top bar link
“Sample Issues”. These are readable and printable but cannot be downloaded
for security purposes.
All of the articles from the first 84 issues are indexed under the top bar “More
Information”, then scroll down on the left to “Model Car Racing Index”. The index
is searchable (with Safari, Firefox and others) under the top bar “Edit”, then scroll
down to “Find”.
However, most of the articles from any of these issue are only available in the
full paper or iPad issues, including the larger plans for “Real Race Tracks On A
Tabletop” and the majority of articles comparing model cars to their prototypes,
with the history and provenance of over 300 cars including the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s
and 90s Formula 1 cars, Jaguars from XK120 to C to D to E to XKR, most of the
GT, sports and Formula 1 Ferraris and Porsches and more.
The majority of the material (including all of the race track plans and visits to
finished home tracks) that appeared in the in the January/February 2005 through
November/December 2007 (numbers 19 through 36) issues of Model Car Racing is in the book SLOT CAR RACING IN THE DIGITAL AGE. Similarly, much of the
material in SLOT CAR RACING, TIPS, TECHNIQUES & TRACK PLANS was first
published in the magazine in the January/February 2003 through November/
December 2004 (numbers 7 through 18) issues but both of those books are no
longer in print and no reprints are scheduled. At present, no additional books are
in preparation.
There are two other earlier books on model car racing (also by Robert Schleicher)
that contain additional material that was not published in this magazine but both
books are long out of print: RACING AND COLLECTING SLOT CARS was published
in 2001 and the SLOT CAR BIBLE in 2002.
To subscribe to Model Car Racing magazine, click on “SUBSCRIBE” on the top bar
the www.modelcarracingmag.com home page.
Model Car Racing 47
Toy Fair Report:
All New For 2016-2017
Most of the model car racing manufacturers introduce the products that will be shipped in 2016 at
the Nuremburg International Toy Fair in early February, which is about the time this magazine is already in your hands. We will have a full report from
Toy Fair on www.modelcarracingmag.com under
the left sidebar and it will also appear in the next
printed issue. A few of the manufacturers announce
what will be coming earlier. About a fourth of the
cars that were announced back in February 2014
and, again in 2015, are yet to be shipped but most of
those February announcements were long-term introductions so you will not see some of them until
early 2017. There are dozens of new paint schemes
on existing bodies coming for 2016 but the only
ones listed below are cars made from new tooling.
Since we do not know what is coming here’s our…
½½ “WISH LIST” :
• 2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid LeMans
• 2015 Audi R18 e-tron quattro LeMans
• 2015 Toyota TS 040 Hybrid LeMans
(all three from the same manufacturer so they
will have similar performance—slim chance!)
• 2017 Ford GT LeMans
• 2017 Honda NSX
½½ 1/32 SCALE:
• Scalextric (http://www.scalextric.com/us-en/
shop/new-for-2016.html): 1970 Trans-Am
Javelin, 2014 Ford Daytona Prototype, 1988
BMW M3 E30, Australian Ford XY GT-HO
Falcon, 2014 BMW Mini F56, Ford Sierra
RS500, Australian Ford XC Falcon and four
new BTCC cars; Honda Civic, BMW 125, MG6
and VW Passat. All of these new cars have
bodies designed to accept replacement PCR
chassis to fit Slot.it pods, motors and drive
train. There’s a two-car 007 Spectre 2017
Aston Martin DB10 and 2017 Jaguar C-X75 set.
There’s also a 2014 ‘Street” Camaro but the
Camaro is only available in a set with a C6R
Corvette, track, transformer and controllers. The
1969 (1970 with 1969 deco, as the previous
version) red/black/white Trans-Am Mustang
(and the no. 9 Sunoco Camaro) are also coming
but only in a complete racing track set.
• Slot.it: Still due from 2015: 1967 Chaparral 2G,
2000 Audi R8 LMP and a new series of classic
early-90s DTM cars, the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI
and Opel Calibra (all with the option of installing
the Slot.it belt-drive four-wheel system)
• Pioneer (www.pioneerslotcars.com): Still due
from 2012: British “Legends” dirt track coupes,
1965 MGB hardtop, 1970 Plymouth Barracuda
Trans-Am, and 1970 Javelin Trans-Am.
• Flyslot: 2007 and 2008 Lamborghini Diablo.
• Racer “Sideways” range from 2015: Group 5
Mustang GTP, Kremer 935K3, Lancia Stratos
Turbo, Nissan Skyline, and Toyota Celica
• SRC (Slot Racing Company): 1979
Formula 1 Ferrari 312 T4 and Renault
RS10 and 1972 Matra M670B LeMans
• NSR: to be announced at Toy Fair
• Mr. Slotcar: Still due from 2012: 1969 Lola T70
• Cartrix: 1960 Scarab and 1961 Ferguson
P99 Grand Prix cars still due from 2012.
• Le Mans Miniatures (cast resin):
to be announced at Toy Fair
• MSC: to be announced at Toy Fair
½½ 1/24 Scale:
• Carrera: to be announced at Toy Fair
• ScaleAuto: to be announced at Toy Fair
½½ 1/43 Scale:
•And just a half-dozen of the
classics we still do not have:
• Policar: 1990 Ferrari F40 and Formula
1 March 701 and March 711 (both with
double-gear reduction chassis)
• 1955 Lotus 11
• Carrera: to be announced at Toy Fair
• 1958 Lister Jaguar
• Ninco: to be announced at Toy Fair
½½ HO SCALE:
• 1959 Scarab Mk II sports car
• SCX: 2014 Renault Sport RS-01
• Racemasters AFX: to be announced at Toy Fair
• 1959 Cooper T51 Formula 1
• ScaleAuto: to be announced at Toy Fair
• 1960 Birdcage Maserati
• Avant Slot: to be announced at Toy Fair
• Auto World: Jeff Gordan's and Dale
Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR SS Chevrolets
• Carrera Go!!!: to be announced at Toy Fair
• SCX Compact: to be announced at Toy Fair
• 1961 Lotus 19
New Cars Shipped Recently ���������������������
These are the most recent shipments of new
cars and products. Most are limited production so you may need to shop some to buy
what you want.
Racer Sideways HC03 Porsche 935 Pink Pig tribute,
Limited Edition
Sideways SWPUM/001 Gas Pump Gulf
painted
Racer Sideways HC02 Ford Capri Zakspeed Gr.5 - Gold
Leaf Limited Edition - J.Rindt tribute
Sideways SWFIG-007 Playboy Pit Girl Figure with
umbrella
Model Car Racing 55
Scalextric C3759A Tyrrell 003, no. 9,
Francois Cevert BRM has shipped new Porsche 917s
and Ferrari 512S cars in 1/24 scale
including:
BRM038 Porsche 917 #20 "Gulf" 1971
LeMans 1/24 scale
Flyslot has shipped their second car with a sound chip (it is also available with the
Avant Slot hi-per chassis but that version has no sound) 704104S with SOUND CHIP
Porsche 911 Spa 24 Hours, drivers T, Bernhard, P. Lamy and M. Leib
Slot.it SICA20C Ford MKII no. 5 3rd
LeMans, R. Bucknum, D. Hutcherson
BRM040 Ferrari 512M 'Camel Filter'
#6, 1/24 scale
NSR 0003SW Gulf Livery 917K #2
“Double Fin” Scalextric C3657A Lotus 72 Tony
Trimmer, Brands Hatch
Slot.it SICA25D Porsche 962 IMSA #10
WYNN’S 24 Hour Daytona 1987
The NSR 0006 “Take no Prisoners”
RED Corvette C6R is available as either
a sidewinder or an anglewinder.
Scalextric C3638 Lancia Delta S4
'Totip' Scalextric C3647 Caterham
NSR0005IL Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1
Limited Edition Silver/Yellow
Scalextric C3633 Volkswagen Polo
'Red Bull'
BRM042 Ferrari 512M 'Camel Filter'
#9, 1/24 scale
Scalextric C3760 Volkswagen Van,
2-Tone Mint/White SRC 01609 Porsche 914 GT
Jagermeister
Scalextric C3637 Ford RS200 no. 5
Belga Team
BRM041 Ferrari 512M 'Camel Filter'
#7, 1/24 scale
BRM038W Porsche 917 'White Gulf'
#20, 1/24 scale
Scalextric C3761 Volkswagen Van,
Love & Flower Power
SRC 01601 Porsche 914/6 Rally
Montecarlo 1971 BRM039 Porsche 917 "Gulf" #21, 1/24
scale
Scalextric C3639 MG Metro 6R4, no. 35
56 Model Car Racing
Scalextric C3703A Lotus Type 72, no.
2, Team Lotus
Coming Next Issue
The May/June 2016 number 87 issue of Model Car Racing will be on
sale April 15, 2016 and it has the articles you asked for:
• Install a Scalextric Digital Chip in any Formula 1 car
• Build your own track: super-detailed super-strong scenery
• Formula 1
- Carrera 2014 Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid
- Policar 1970 Lotus 72
- SRC 1979 Formula 1 Renault RS10
• Track Tests (Magnet-free):
- Mr. Slotcar 1995 McLaren F1 GT LeMans
- MRRC 1964 Ferrari GTO LM
Randy Pepprock applied the skills he developed building a half-dozen model railroads
to his 6 x 12-foot HO scale AFX Speedway. He’ll show you what he did and how he did
it beginning in May/June 2016 number 87 issue of Model Car Racing.
• Race Track Plans:
- 4-Lane “Small King” Raceway on an 8 x 24-foot tabletop
Now You Can Have Model Car Racing Delivered to Your Mailbox for Just $35 — That Sixth Issue Is Just 25 Cents
“Instant” Delivery And A Magazine To Keep:
editions---if you want both versions you will need to purchase both versions of the magazine.
The $35.00 yearly subscription now includes only the six copies the “paper”edition. If you prefer only
the Internet version (with no paper copy mailed to your door), the price for 6 issues is just $24.95 or you
can opt to purchase the iPad version direct from Apple. To see a short sample of the Internet version
of the magazine click on the words “Digital Edition” on www.modelcarracingmag.com. This (and the
“tablet” edition----see below) also makes the magazine more accessible to enthusiasts in countries
outside the United States.
Now Available for iPads
We cannot process orders for iPad downloads—they must be ordered directly from the Apple iTunes
store.
This Internet version of Model Car Racing cannot be downloaded for security purposes. You can, however, print one or all of the pages of the magazine for your own use, but be aware that the files are large
and will take some time. The paper copies cannot, of course, be sold or distributed because they are protected by International copyright. We would advise you to print any articles you wish to archive because
we can only provide access to the Internet versions for the six issues (12 months) of your subscription.
We can only process orders about the 15th of each odd numbered month so there may be a delay in
your receiving email notification that your first Internet issue is available to you on the web. Mail delivery
of the paper copies can add a week or so to that. You will be notified by email that each of the next five
Internet issues are available on the same day that the paper copies are mailed, which is about the first
of every even month. Note that you will not be able to read this $24.95 internet version or the internet
version offered with the paper copy subscriptions on an iPad, iPad versions are only available direct
from those stores---we cannot “bundle” the paper or the $24.95 internet versions with any of the tablet
Paper Edition NOTE: if you do opt for the iPad editions and you also want the paper edition, you must
ALSO purchase the $35.00 paper subscription---there are no “bundle” packages that include paper and
iPhone or Kindle web editions.
If you simply want an internet edition that you can read on your lap top you have the choice of subscribing to only that Internet edition (with no paper copies and no iPad versions) on our website www.
modelcarracingmag.com but that version is NOT downloadable (it can be printed, however).
Back Issues:
We have no paper copies of any back issue. You may be able to find some paper back issues at some of
our dealers on the www.modelcarracingmag.com website, and Electric Dreams (www.electricdreams.
com) has a few of the number 1 through 6 issues (from 2002) with a Scalextric Limited edition Cadillac
Northstar LeMans car.
Internet versions of issues number 55 through 84 (all the issues from 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and
2015) and issues 85 and 86 from 2016 are available for $4.95 each direct from the Apple iTunes store
for the iPad, but only as readable and downloadable copies.
“Instant” Delivery and a Magazine to Keep:
When you subscribe for $35.00 your sixth issue is just 25-cents---you save $6.70 over the newsstand
price. Subscriptions received after January 15, 2016 will begin with the May/June 2016 number 87
issue of Model Car Racing that will be on sale April 15, 2016 and it has the articles you asked for..
Subscribe now!
Foreign or Canadian subscriptions for the paper version will not be accepted. We are sorry, but
One Year (six issues) mailed to the Continental United States: $35.00________
Internet ONLY Version One Year (six issues): $24.95__________
Australia and Japan listed on our website at www.modelcarracingmag.com that will be pleased
the postal services in most of these countries are taking 8 weeks and more to send magazines
when they deliver them at all. Only the “Internet Only” subscriptions ($24.95) for Foreign addresses (including Canada) will be accepted. We have a network of dealers in Canada, Europe,
to supply the paper version of the magazine.
I am a new subscriber _____This is a request for a second subscription _____ This is a renewal _____This is gift subscription, from________________________________
Please Print: Name_______________________________________ Address________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________________State _____ Zip Code ___________Country_____________________________
Phone (______)_________________________________________Fax (______)____________________________________________________
Check or Money Order
Charge My Visa or Mastercard No.________________________________________ Exp. Date_________________
Signature����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
To order by email, use our secure order form on our web site at www.modelcarracingmag.com or Return Mail To: Model Car Racing Publications, Inc, 6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-142, Boulder CO 80301
Model Car Racing 57
More Ways To Enjoy Model Car Racing
Print
Edition
Print + Digital
Internet
Digital
Internet
Print + Digital iPad,
There Are Five Editions of Model Car Racing Magazine!
1. The 60-page bimonthly paper edition sold on
newsstands, hobby dealers and to subscribers.
3. The Paid Internet only bimonthly edition.
2. The Apple iPad tablet edition on
the iTunes newsstand.
5. The Free Internet only bimonthly edition (under the
“Internet Edition” bar at the top of the website)
so you can see how the Internet Edition works.
4. The www.modelcarracingmag.com home page
Get SIX issues in print delivered to your door for just $35.00
Get SIX issues of the digital Internet version available
on your laptop or desktop for just $24.95
Get SIX Issues on your tablet (This version must be ordered direct from Apple--we cannot bill you and no ‘Bundle" with the paper version is available.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR iPads
We cannot process orders for ether iPad downloads—they must be ordered directly from the Apple iTunes store.
Paper Edition NOTE: if you do opt for the iPad editions and you also want the paper edition, you must ALSO purchase the $35.00 paper
subscription---there are no “bundle” packages that include paper and iPhone web editions.
If you simply want an internet edition that you can read on your lap top you have the choice of subscribing to only that Internet edition
(with no paper copies and no iPad versions) on our website www.modelcarracingmag.com but that version is NOT downloadable (it can
be printed, however).
58 Model Car Racing
SPRING 2016
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The screaming sound of 700-horsepower engines assaulting your eardrums and pounding your chest.
The burning aroma of rubber and fuel. And the roar of hundreds of screaming fans, there is nothing like it
in the world!
At Auto World, we’re car enthusiasts… and NASCAR® fanatics! Now you can bring some of that same trackside experience into your home with our new electric slot car race set! We think you’ll agree that as you speed
through the straightaways, whip around the tight corners and cross the finish line to victory, the NASCAR®
experience is truly incredible.
So join us at the starting line… and lets
get this race going!
1:64 SCALE
RACE SET FEATURES:
• New Tool! - Authentic NASCAR® 2015
Chevrolet® SS™
• Set Includes 2 Exclusive Super III™ Slot Cars
• New Retaining Walls with Real Race Graphics
• Two High-Performance Variable
Speed Controllers
• Track and Slot Cars are 100% Compatible
with Tomy AFX Sets
• 10 Feet of Racing Action
Look for these and other great
NASCAR® slot cars at your
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AUTOWORLDSTORE.COM!
NASCAR® is a registered trademark of NASCAR, Inc. GENERAL MOTORS Trademarks used under license to Round 2, LLC. AW AUTO WORLD and design is a registered trademark of Round 2, LLC.
©2016 Round 2, LLC, South Bend, IN 46628 USA. All rights reserved.