UK distributor The Hobby Company have sent us the first artwork of the two Limited Edition Carrera cars for 2020. These were not unveiled in the catalogue and are expected to become available late summer / early autumn.

This year's Digital124 Limited Edition car is the latest Carrera Porsche 911 RSR model in a fetching Carrera colour scheme...

   

The RRP for this car is £109 and it is already on the MRE website as a pre-order.

   

The Digital132 model is far more interesting. Carrera have followed up last year's wonderful Alex Zanardi DTM car with Frank Stella's 1976 BMW 'Art Car'....

   

Frank Stella - a prominent New York artist - was invited by BMW to decorate a 3.0 CSL to be the second creation of the BMW Art Car Project. Stella said of his design: "The idea for mine was that it's from a drawing on graph paper. The graph paper is what it is, a graph, but when it's morphed over the car's forms it becomes interesting, and adapting the drawing to the racing car's forms is interesting. Theoretically it's like painting on a shaped canvas."

   

The car raced as the #41 for the Le Mans 24 hours, driven by Brian Redman and Peter Gregg. The car qualified eighth but retired early with an oil leak.

   

Here's some footage of the car - wearing the #21 - in action...



In total, there are nineteen official Art Cars, featuring creations by the likes of David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. The BMW Art Car site is here. Frank Stella went on to create a second Art Car in 1979, this time an unofficial creation on an M1 Procar, commissioned by  his friend Peter Gregg.

The Carrera model is due later this year with an RRP of £89.99. MRE have the car on pre-order now.

1:1 Porsche 911 GT1-98
                  
The 1998 variant of the GT1 bore little resemblance to the previous two versions and had construction and bodywork similar to a sports prototype

For the 1998 season, Porsche developed an all-new car, the 911 GT1-98. Designed to match the also new Toyota GT-One and Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, the 911 GT1-98 featured bodywork which bore more of a resemblance to traditional sports-prototypes than the previous two models. A new sequential gearbox was installed to reduce shift time. Engine control also moved to a TAG Electronic Systems TAG 3.8 ECU. As per the regulations, a street-legal version of the 911 GT1-98 was spawned but it is believed that only one variant was produced which was still sufficient to satisfy the new regulations.

During the 1998 FIA International GT season the 911 GT1-98 struggled to match the pace of the Mercedes, which also was improved, with the main reason being down to the air-restrictor rules which were regarded as unfavourable to the turbocharged engine (the Mercedes had a naturally aspirated V8 engine). The Michelin tyres of the factory team and especially the Pirelli of the private Zakspeed team were also considered inferior to the Bridgestone tyres of the Mercedes.

At the 1998 Le Mans however, it was a different story. The BMW V12 LM retired with wheel bearing trouble, and the Mercedes CLK-LM cars had oil pump troubles in the new V8 engines that replaced the former V12. The Toyota GT-One, which was considered to be the fastest car, also suffered gearbox reliability problems.

The 911 GT1-98, despite being slower than the Toyota or the Mercedes, fulfilled Porsche's slim hopes, taking both first and second place overall thanks to reliability, giving Porsche its record-breaking 16th overall win at Le Mans, more than any other manufacturer in history. However this version produced by SLot.it is the version that was entered by Zakspeed at Silversone and finished 5th behind the Mercedes, and 2 sister cars.


   

At the Petit Le Mans race in Road Atlanta, the 911 GT1-98 of Yannick Dalmas made a spectacular backward flip and landed rear first before hitting the side barriers, as did the BMW V12 LMR at the same race in 2000, and most infamously the Mercedes-Benz CLR at Le Mans in 1999.[4]

The GT1 '98 was set up with higher downforce in the race than the previous two years, which reduced its maximum speed to 310 km/h (193 mph). However, in the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours test days, the car hit 330 km/h (205 mph) on the Mulsanne Straight on a lower downforce setup.

The Slot.it rendition, is a superbly detailed edition, with their anglewinder pod.

Slot.it Porsche 911 Gt1 - Zakspeed 1998 - Silverstone


   

   

   

   

   

   

LMM - le mans Miniatures are about to release the Bugatti T59 as raced at Monaco in 1934.

1:1 Car History

Type 59


The final Bugatti race car of the 1930s was the Type 59 of 1934. It used an enlarged 3.3 L (3257 cc/198 in³) version of the straight-eight Type 57's engine sitting in a modified Type 54 chassis. The engine was lowered for a better center of gravity, and the frame was lightened with a number of holes drilled in the chassis. The signature piano wire wheels used splines between the brake drum and rim, and relied on the radial spokes to handle cornering loads. 250 hp (186 kW) was on tap, and eight were made.

The 1934 Monaco Grand Prix (formally the VI Grand Prix de Monaco) was a Grand Prix motor race held on 2 April 1934 at Circuit de Monaco in and out of Monte Carlo. The race comprised 100 laps of a 3.180km circuit, for a total race distance of 318.0km.

The Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) had announced on 12 October 1932 that a new Grand Prix formula will go into effect for the 1934 season, and the 1934 Monaco Grand Prix was the first Grand Épreuve event run under the new regulations. Although one of the new rules required the race distance to be over 500 km, Monaco GP was permitted to be run for 100 laps or 318 km, as the time required to complete 100 laps at the slow Circuit de Monaco was comparable to 500 km at faster tracks such as Monza.

The race was won by Guy Moll, a newly recruited Algerian Driver of Scuderia Ferrari, driving an Alfa Romeo Tipo B/P3. In addition to winning the very first race after the enrollment to the Ferrari team, Moll (at 23 years and 10 months old) remained the youngest driver to have won a Monaco GP until Lewis Hamilton (at 23 years and 4 months) won in 2008.

   

This version of the car modelled by LMM is the car driven by Tazio Nuvelari to 5th in the 1934 Race.

Qualifying Results:

   

Race Results:

   


PHOTOS by Gary Cannell - MRE.

   

   

   

LMM will also be releasing a Black Street version. In these pics you can see the close up detail of these amazing cars. - (eg no solid front axle.)

   

   

   

   

   

   


Just an oustanding model imho and one that would race superbly with the Recent MMK Alfa Romeo.

   

C4202 James Bond Aston Martin DB5 'No Time to Die' - available now RRP £45.99

The Scalextric DB5 is a very nice model of arguably the most iconic movie car of all time. With a new Bond film featuring the DB5 due for release later this year, a new Scalextric Bond car hit the shops this week. Sporting the number plate from 'No Time to Die', plus a Bond figure in dinner jacket and bow tie, it hits the mark. Here are a couple of shots from the 2020 Scalextric catalogue launch in January...

       

The 'No Time to Die' DB5 uses the same mould as previous models  - six Bond cars and the two road car versions (red and black). There are hints of a roof panel for the famous ejector seat, but all the magnificent 007 modifications have to be imagined. The Scalextric car has a front-mounted Mabuchi S-Can motor, so is not Digital Plug Ready (DPR). Anyone wanting to convert to digital will want to use the C7005 Retro-Fit chip. The new car has the usual front and rear lights, traction magnet and easy-change guide.

The Bond cars from Goldfinger (C3091 and C3664), Skyfall (C3127 and C3268A), Casino Royale (C3162A) and Goldeneye (C3163A) have all come in cardboard collectors' display boxes, but this new model is packaged in a 'normal' Scalextric plastic box, albeit with a black plinth and 'No Time to Die' insert. I think it looks rather slick...

   

Although the film has been delayed, the Scalextric DB5 has arrived on schedule. There's also a rather lovely Aston Martin V8 that features in the film and a Scalextric model - with brand new tooling - is expected in the autumn, probably just before the movie comes out in November. As for the movie...



I rewatched all the Daniel Craig Bond films over Christmas and New Year - and am thoroughly looking forward to this one. Along with the DB5 and the V8, both the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera and Valhalla appear in the film.

Not surprisingly, the Scalextric model is selling very well. You'll need to shop around for availability and best price. MRE already have the DB5 listed as out of stock. Pendle Slot Racing have cars priced at £46, Jadlams have a few left for £51.95. Top Slots & Trains show stock available at £41.39 and the Scalextric website have restocked, selling the car at £45.99.

   

Making some progress on another vintage cigar body... this time a 1966 Lola T-90 Indy car.


   

   

   

   

Hi everyone, hope you are all well and safe.

Straight into it, I am looking buying 1:24 scale cars purely for racing events and am looking for recommendations on cars to buy such as Ninco and places preferably in Australia but no doubt will have to source from international shops.


The cars would also be tweaked and tuned further so upgrade as well I will be looking at and requiring sources and information on.

Classes of cars that I am looking at buying:
- LMP, 
- Transams, 
- GT, 
- Ninco 1, 

Thanks
Johnno

We'd like to thank our sponsors. Liquid Wrench, Red Devil, Ruth's Mustard, and RacingJunk.com have provided the prizes for our racing program this summer. Due to COVID-19, occupancy is limited and new racers must call first to be approved. Call 603-826-4242 for details. Racing is free, as are the hot dogs. Here are Sunday's winners. Next race is July 26.

Please join me as I explore the chassis options for the 1/32 scale Lola T-70 project:



Any and all comments are more than welcomed!

Thanks

John

   

After a very successful first two events event (reports here and here), HO proxy drag racing is returning to the South Coast on Tuesday & Wednesday 11-12 August for further Eighth Mile fun...

Qualifying is Tuesday and then the Eliminators are Wednesday evening with coverage here on SlotRacer Online. The races are sponsored by Jadlam Toys & Models and Super Tires.

There are more details about the monthly proxy drag racing series here: https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=1256

We will be running the same three classes again in August:

• Micro Scalextric Street Stock - regs here.
  
• Micro Scalextric Super Stock - regs here.
  
• T-Jet Nostalgia Super Stock - regs here.
  
  

We'll also continue with the Nostalgia Funny Car match-racing, so if you have an Auto World 'Legends of the Quarter Mile' 4-Gear Funny Car - or an old AFX speciality Funny Car - send it in. The match-race chassis will need to be 100% stock - apart from adding braid to the pick-ups (I can do this, if you prefer) and replacement slip-on rear tyres. And if you have any other 4-Gear or Xtraction / Magnatraction cars, we can probably match them up for a duel down the strip.

The Track: The Rock County Eighth Mile is a seven-foot timed strip (1/8 mile in true HO scale) made from the new 2019 Micro Scalextric sectional track. Cars must be fitted with braids to run on this track. Power for the first event is 12 volts, 4 amps per lane. Power to both lanes is triggered by a single switch firing a 2-channel relay board. Timing is Trackmate Drag Basic. There is a two-foot shutdown with dynamic braking and a well-padded catch box.

Sending cars: Aim for your cars to arrive in Brighton by the previous Saturday (8 August) so they can be quarantined and then registered for qualifying on Tuesday. Please also pack in a small box (max height 7.5cm) and pay for your postage online so no-one needs to go near a post office. These races are designed to be full-on social distancing events that are accessible even to those shielding at home.

How to enter: Add a reply with your interest and the classes you'll be entering - one car per class per person. Family members and friends are very welcome to enter too. I will message you with the address to send cars to. You will need to pay for return postage. Otherwise there is no race fee.

Entries - Race Three - August 11 & 12

Micro Scalextric Street Stock: Alan T, Laura, Rebecca, Clive, Jane, Jeremy, Leo, Andy Pla, Andy Phi, Doug, David, Noah, Dylan P, Jerome, Peter, Terry, Louise, Gareth, Dylan W, Iain, Jason, Natasha, Rosie (23) + Bill, Dave, Al S, Hank

Micro Scalextric Super Stock: Alan T, Rebecca, Clive, Leo, Andy Pla, Andy Phi, Iain (7)

T-Jet Nostalgia Super Stock: Alan T, Rebecca, Clive, Andy Pla, Doug, David, Noah, Dylan P, Iain, Gareth (10)

4-Gear Funny Car match racing: Rebecca ("Bounty Huntress" Ford Mustang), Doug ("Blue Max" Ford Mustang), Clive ("King Cobra" Ford Mustang), David ("King Fish" Cuda), Iain (Chevy Vega),

Top Fuel 4-Gear: Dylan P, Noah

A standard family hatchback...
   

The real deal...