No, not the 2 useless British "comedians", just the 2 cars I am taking on my annual pilgrimage to the fair city of Bordeaux.
The theme for this year's race is Le Mans 1923 to 1973.
In 1/24th I built this little baby. Bought the body many years ago, I think it's a "promo" toy made in Mexico of all places.
1950 Cadillac (which is a town near Bordeaux as it happens) Coupe de Ville.
   

   

   

   


For 1/32nd, I did a totally obscure little French car called a Hrubon, it failed to qualify in 1967 and 1968, but I do love a beautiful loser.
   

   

And just for fun, here is a family snapshot
   


Joel

Isle of Man, Friday 10th May 2024

These are taken right at the northern tip of the island...no city lights for miles!

At these latitudes our eyes only see shades of grey in low light but a camera sees all.

Luckily, an ex work colleague happened to be camping that night, he said he was too drunk to work his phone, thankfully one of them had a 'proper' camera and obviously knew what he was doing because he must have been running round grabbing photos in what may well be the chance of a lifetime...enjoy

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Hello guys!


Newbee here.   I have several GB track 1/32 slot cars.   I'm looking for spare wheels and tyers.  some rear wheels have cracks.   the car has a plastic shaft (just 5mm long), and a plastic wheel just go onto it.   could you recommend suitable products to buy online?   the local hobby shop doesn't carry any spare parts for slot cars to be disappointed.  Thanks!

BARacer spotted me & Mike arrive on one of the many YouTubers' more-or-less live streams of the event...

   

I hadn't been to Gaydon since 2019 and we chose to break tradition and head up for the busier Saturday, mostly so we race in the two organised events on the fabulous Goodwood circuit. Five years away and some things were similar, but a lot had changed...

       

The event was really busy - not overly so at 10am, but then utterly rammed by 11am. Chat during the day with stall-holders definitely came to the conclusion that the influence of the YouTubers has had a big impact on events like this - finally catching up in terms of publicity with other similar hobbies like model railways and RC. That, in part, had made it a very international event too. Most manufacturers were there - with the notable exception of Carrera - or, in the case of Thunder, Team and Avant Slot, were represented by distributors.

       

And there were some great tracks - Slot Car Scenic's Red Bull Ring looked fabulous, as did Think Scalextric's Zombie layout. The latter are new kids on the block since the 2019 edition. There was a new chill-out room this year with lots of small tracks to play on - on such a warm and buy day, that was popular stop-off point for families, of which there were many. And there was one proper wood club track, brought along by Four Lane Blacktop...

       

They were positioned right next to title-sponsors Scalextric, which worked very well for both. Scalextric had samples of most of their 2024 cars, including those announced just a couple of days ago. The racing VW Golf did look particularly amazing and the Anglia didn't look quite so 'chinny' in the flesh. The new AMC Hornet was revealed as a sidewinder with full interior and - with authentic racing liveries - will fit into the Scalextric Trans-Am range. The two new Porsches were there and both did look sensational.

       

One of the team members gave me a full run through of the new Hot Laps app - due for release in July, just before the rally set goes on sale. The app looks great, seems very solid and is very easy to set up. The hardware in the set - a fairly robust cardboard gantry and a special straight piece with a line done the middle, means the app is essentially self-calibrated in seconds. Set-up of the existing timing apps like LapTracker and LapTrax can be a real pain. The stand-alone lap timer seems to do the business very well and the Sega Rally-style arcade options look to be a very good training programme for budding racers - encouraging drivers to stay on the track and gradually improve their times. I was impressed - and wouldn't mind giving it a Beta-test at our WHO Slot Rally event this month.

There was also a prototype of the new wireless controller which works via the Spark Plug dongle. Although there was no way to try it out, it does look a simple and effective way of delivering a wireless set-up without having to invest in an ARC system. The £35 bundle includes both the controller and dongle, plus access to a new app that allows configuration of throttle curves, maximum power etc etc.

Scalextric had samples of their new Micro cars, which were just a few yards away from the new, bijoux HO Zone in the most comfortably air-conditioned room in the building...

   

Four Lane Blacktop brought the track, which was pretty popular. They are one of three UK clubs to race HO monthly - the others being Derby HO Racing Club and Worthing HO Racing. There were plenty of racers from each at the event, with some chat around the new AFX Formula One cars - the latest rumours being that the 2023 Alfa Romeos will be joined by some modern McLarens and 1980s Lotuses by the end of the year. HO enthusiasts had slim-pickings from retailers, much of it horribly overpriced, but there were some gems in there.

From the Hornby media office…

Scalextric announced the launch of its latest range today, featuring an eclectic mix of iconic racing legends and beloved pop culture icons. From iconic Formula 1 cars to legendary movie vehicles, this new collection offers something for every racing enthusiast and collector.

The new range includes:

Ford Anglia 105E - Harry Potter Edition (SKU: C4504)

   

Embark on a magical racing adventure with the Ford Anglia 105E Harry Potter Edition! This whimsical Scalextric car captures the charm and enchantment of the beloved film series.

John Wick Ford Mustang BOSS 429 (SKU: C4497)

   

Channel your inner bogeyman with the John Wick Ford Mustang BOSS 429! Straight from the legendary film series, this iconic muscle car combines classic American styling with modern performance for an adrenaline-fueled racing experience like no other.

Land Rover Series 1 - Shaun The Sheep (SKU: C4543)

   

Embark on a whimsical racing adventure with Shaun The Sheep and the Land Rover Series 1! This charming Scalextric car captures the playful spirit of the beloved character.

Porsche 911 GT3 R - ACI Motorsports 2023 (SKU: C4522)

   

Experience the pinnacle of racing engineering with the Porsche 911 GT3 R by ACI Motorsports, fresh from the 2023 IMSA series. Every aspect of this precision machine has been meticulously crafted for one purpose: to dominate the track.

Williams FW11B - 1987 British Grand Prix - Nigel Mansell (SKU: C4508)

   

Step back in time to the golden era of Formula 1 with the Williams FW11B, driven to victory by Nigel Mansell at the 1987 British Grand Prix. This iconic racer represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering.

James Bond - AMC Hornet - The Man With The Golden Gun (SKU: C4524)

   

Become the ultimate secret agent with the James Bond AMC Hornet from "The Man With The Golden Gun"! This iconic Scalextric car puts you in the driver's seat of espionage.

Volkswagen Golf GTI - Richard Lloyd Racing (SKU: C4520)

   

Take a trip down memory lane with the Volkswagen Golf GTI from Richard Lloyd Racing! This iconic hatchback, immortalized in motorsport history, is now ready to hit the Scalextric track.

Jaguar MK1 - Mike Hawthorn (SKU: C4506)

   

Immerse yourself in the elegance and grace of classic racing with the Jaguar MK1, driven by the legendary Mike Hawthorn! This timeless Scalextric car captures the spirit of vintage motorsport.

Ford Escort RSR - Jim Hutchinson (SKU: C4511)

   

Dominate the competition with the Ford Escort RSR driven by Jim Hutchinson! This rally-inspired racer combines precision engineering with classic Ford styling.

Dodge Monaco - Chicago Fire Department (SKU: C4408)

   

Answer the call of duty with the Dodge Monaco from the Chicago Fire Department! This rugged Scalextric car pays tribute to the brave firefighters who risk their lives every day.

Shelby Cobra - Gulf (SKU: C4509)

   

Experience the legendary performance of the Shelby Cobra in iconic Gulf livery! This Scalextric car pays homage to one of motorsport's most iconic liveries.

Jaguar MKII - Inspector Morse (SKU: C4502)

   

Solve the mysteries of the racetrack with the Jaguar MK2 driven by Inspector Morse! This classic Scalextric car captures the elegance and sophistication of the iconic British detective.

Ford Puma Rally1 - Monte Carlo 2023 - Tanak/Jarveoja (SKU: C4501)

   

Conquer the rally stages with the Ford Puma Rally1 driven by Tanak/Jarveoja at the Monte Carlo Rally in 2023! This high-performance Scalextric car combines rally-bred agility with cutting-edge technology.

Porsche 911 3.0 RSR - Vaillant (SKU: C4439)

   

Experience the thrill of endurance racing with the Porsche 911 3.0 RSR in Vaillant livery! This Scalextric car pays tribute to one of motorsport's most iconic liveries.

Subaru Impreza WRX - Police Edition (SKU: C4429)

   

Enforce the law with the Subaru Impreza WRX Police Edition! This Scalextric car puts you in the driver's seat of law enforcement, boasting authoritative presence and high-speed pursuit capabilities.

James Bond Aston Martin DB5 - Goldfinger - 60th Anniversary Gold Edition (SKU: C4550A)

   

Relive cinematic history with the James Bond Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger in the 60th Anniversary Gold Edition! This iconic Scalextric car celebrates six decades of 007's adventures.

Williams FW45 - Alex Albon - Gulf Edition (SKU: C4559)

   

Hit the track in style with the Williams FW45 in Gulf Edition livery, driven by Alex Albon! This Scalextric car combines championship-winning performance with Gulf's iconic colours.

"We're incredibly excited to introduce this diverse range of Scalextric cars, each one offering a unique racing experience," said Simon Owen, Head of Brand at Scalextric. "From classic race cars to beloved movie vehicles, there's something here for everyone, whether you're a seasoned racer or a casual enthusiast."

The new range is available from the Scalextric website and select retailers nationwide. For more information and to view the full range, visit uk.scalextric.com.

-ENDS-

   

We are back at the Barn just a few days after the UK Slot Car Festival for the third round of our WHO/digital GT Championship. This will be another 500 lap team endurance race, which should last about 2 hours...

   

Our six Gold-rated drivers lead the teams, assisted by a deputy (or two) - Ash will be captaining WHAM! Racing this time in the absence of Jeremy - and Dean will be deputising for Alex at Astone Mosdell, who will be back for the championship decider in June...

   

Sidewinder are expected to race a third different sidewinder car - although we'll have to wait until Wednesday to find out which one. Astone Mosdell may run their first choice McLaren or could revert to the Vantage GT3 they raced last time out.

The track this time is Simon's superb O'Connor layout...

   

There have been a few tweaks since last year, but we have the same fast & flowing circuit and lots of overtaking to look forward to.

Doors open at 6.30pm for practice, Superpole qualifying is scheduled for 7-ish and the race will start at 7.15. Race fees are £3 (£2 for under-16s), although racers must have completed at least one Nascar & Legends event to qualify as a GT driver. We have another pair of these introductory evenings coming up in July and August.

   

      
Despite all the misgivings about this 'class' the first one in February was brilliant fun and I couldn't wait for the next one...well the next one is tomorrow night, at a guess I'd say the number of TV/Film cars owned by club members has probably increased by 20% since then.

A shame we can't dim the room lighting to appreciate all the flashing lights these cars have.

...no racing specials, standard cars get extra bonus laps...have fun guys

Well its taken a while to get this far, so this could be a slow burner 

But after cutting the slot car track boards up, I discovered  there was an amount of droop on the MDF, nothing to worry a Slot car, but 00 scale Loco's are more fickle !
So I doubled up on the bracing, forcing the  droops into something close to flat again, of course the bracing means more timber underneath where I may want to put point motors, we will cross that bridge later   

But most of the boards are in place now, the slot car backscene will likely be able to be re-used for part of the layout. The gap at the end will have a removable section so I can get access to the middle without crawling under the boards. This in turn will eventually h be filled in with foam boards and lightweight removable scenery.
I have yet to fill in the slots and tidy up the shed !

It will be DCC with sound.

Currently it will be based on a fictional area in South Wales where GWR and LMS were seen circa 1945, and I hope to eventually get rolling stock and locos for early BR set a few years later as an option.

   

   

The plan is for a double height layout, effectively a separate lower level branch line and shunting/goods yard with access to the dock, a small station and a station by pass for the freight trains. This is shown as grey track on the plan. Both end curves will be hidden in tunnel or behind a false backscene.


The blue upper level is a dual mainline mainly passenger, but with provision for the odd express freight. It will feature a viaduct before the station and a metal bow bridge over the river entrance to the port.

No curve is tighter than an equivalent R4 except one in a siding. Obviously the plan will be tweaked to allow for point motors where these would be obstructed by an underboard batten, but I hope to be able to remain fairly close to the planned layout. all the roads etc are currently just for ideas and are likely to change.

   

The profile is the only photographic version of this car that I DON'T find ugly!