[woodcote]

The fanzine is very nearly ready - you'll be able to read it in front of a roaring fire this evening.

Because a lot of you are already planning for next year, here's a preview of the official announcement...

   

There's plenty of work for us to do, but it'll be a similar event to the one that's just finished - building on what went well, learning from things that didn't go so well and - hopefully - benefiting from there being few (if any) Covid restrictions next January.

As for the cars...

• The 2021 Slotrally Rules and Classes can be found on the Slot Rally UK Facebook page here. There are just a few small changes from 2020. We'll put all three categories (Classic, 80s & 90s and Modern) into the one class, as we did this year.
  
• Our two Scalextric classes this year were a good experiment and a lot of fun. Scalextric is an important part of our club and of WHO members' slot car heritage - so we'll keep a Scalextric Rally Car class that is as accessible as possible. The rules will remain pretty much the same, but any rally car produced by Scalextric (Hornby) since the mid-1980s (ie the Mabuchi S-Can / FF era) can be used. That's a much larger range to choose from and caters for brand new releases (including DPR rally cross models) as well as your 80s, 90s and early 2000s classics.
  
• I'm delighted to announced that we'll be working with Staffs Slot Cars UK to run the Teamslot Challenge at the Rally-Sprint next year. This will be for the recent injection-moulded Teamslot models (Audi Quattro, Citroën ZX, Ford Escort MkII, Lancia Delta HF, Lancia Stratos, Renault 5 Turbo, Renault Alpine A310,  Toyota Celica GT4) using the TS12 motor in an inline configuration, plus Teamslot components (wheels, tyres, guide, chassis, motor pod, gears etc). More detailed regs will follow in due course. You can browse the Teamslot range of cars and accessories at Pendles here. Teamslot cars are also stocked by MRE, Typhoon Slots, Top Slots & Trains, Slot Car Supplies and Weevils. The latest versions are superior in terms of the mechanical components, so eBay may be a false economy when you factor in new chassis, motor pod, motor, gearing, wheels and tyres. White kits are an option, but we will expect classy rally liveries... after all, these are beautiful scale models!
  

   

Your R&D programmes can commence