[woodcote]

I've been really surprised, but rather touched by the response here and especially on Facebook where the Greystoke Manor post has been shared widely by slot car enthusiasts and by locals across West Sussex. That Scalextric session has definitely sparked something...

For me, it was no big deal at all... but then given my background in nursing, a couple of hours in a luxury residential care home playing and talking Scalextric was a very pleasant gig indeed!

The reaction has got me thinking... the original 1959 Scalextric generation are now becoming care home residents - and there will be more and more Scalextric kids of the 60s, 70s and 80s hitting that milestone over the next few decades. Scalextric really could become a feature in residential care homes, sheltered accomodation etc. There's a 'Scalextric 4 Schools' programme, why not 'Scalextric for Seniors'?

A retro-themed ARC Air-based set would be a start, plus online resources to support those who are interested. Those resources would need to cover both the technical side of using the Scalextric set and have 'session plans' for using the set creatively. Encouragement to link care homes with local slot car clubs would definitely help with technical support. Clubs could even add their details to a directory.

Is this a mad idea, or could it work? Of course, none of this is 100% altruistic - we may all be eager participants one day.