[woodcote]

My only experience will the 1/32 scale Raid vehicles is running a pair of Ninco cars (a Pajero and a BMW X5) on part standard Ninco, part Ninco off-road track with and without the Raid obstacles. They are great fun and a really different driving experience. Neither of the two cars came with traction magnets (although there's a 'pod' under the car for them to be fitted), plus the NC-7 'Raider' motor has next to no magnetic downforce - and it sits nearly 10mm off the rails of standard Ninco track.

I really like the classes Marcury describes - no magnets, a simple entry-level grouping of RTR Ninco / SCX / Scaleauto / MSC / Avant Slot cars with very basic mods (tyres, ballast, braids) and then an open class. And - of course - the option of Trucks and Quads!

There's the issue that Brian raised a while back about not all brands of Raid cars being compatible with the more extreme SCX off-road sections - I'm almost certain the drop arms on my Ninco cars would not reach the rails on the high 'ramp' obstacles on this track...



It would be really helpful to get confirmation of what track pieces (and accessories) are used in established Rally-Raid races where the range of RTR brands Marcury mentioned compete together. Most of the videos I've watched on YouTube seem to show Ninco off-road track without the obstacles fitted.

There are a lot of SCX and Ninco cars around for £50-ish (with a few £20-30 bargains cropping up from time to time). Pendles have Avant Slot and Scaleauto kits for less than £50, plus various spare and replacement tyres. They also have the chassis and parts for an accessible entry point into the open class. So it accessible, even to those of us who didn't pick up these cars in their heyday.

A proxy sounds a lot of fun for those lucky enough to host a stage. Getting together at some point to race our own cars sounds even better!