[Kevan]

I'm one of nearly 20 members of the Manx Slot Car Club.

We race mainly 1/32 hard body under various classes on a routed wood track.  This includes club cars, team racing, special events plus theme nights.  Both standard and scratch built/modified cars are seen every week, with standard cars having separate rules and their own results to the scratch/modified cars.

We have a special class for CSCRA Grand Prix cars running to the CSCRA rules,  pre-60's are most popular.

Numerous Slot Rally classes on numerous special stages is also popular...we also added Slot Raid this year with a bespoke circuit for those vehicles.

We also cater for a couple of 1/32 and 1/24 BSCRA classes on foams with lexan bodies on a separate track.  We've added an open night and a team night this year to raise interest in this type of racing.

- Many club members enter cars in various proxy events around the world -

The club also has access to a 6 lane Slot Stox track located elsewhere on the IoM.

[Kevan]

An overdue update.

Since the first post, we had to move the club elsewhere which meant the loss of our BSCRA track so no more 'thingy' racing with goop and foams.

The new venue opened in the later part of 2019 with the main 3 lane wood track and the Rally stage (TT Grandstand) both in regular use.

I've added a couple of screen grabs from videos.

   
   

2020/21 has seen the sad loss of a couple of club members and a fair reduction in club membership.

There is a hardcore of members regularly racing an interesting mix of classes and theme nights, Standard, Modified and Open classes cater for all hardbody 1/32 car owners, with rubber tyres the norm.

This year we bought a set of Revoslot cars for club racing, these are exceptionally good cars that we take out of their boxes, clean the tyres and race.  A great addition to any slot racers garage as they don't seem to 'go off' like plastic chassis cars.

Proxy racing seems to have taken a dip in interest with none seen this year.

3D printed bodyshells and chassis are now a regular occurrence not only on the circuit but also on the Rally stage.

   

Future plans will hopefully see the current classes and setup continue and maybe a couple of new club members.

[Qman]

I'm guessing that Geoff Mitchell & Richard Cryer no longer race

[Kevan]

I'm guessing that Geoff Mitchell & Richard Cryer no longer race

Correct, they haven't raced for many years. I've been a club member since 2015, and before that the Manx Radio Control Car Club for 38 years.

I've never seen either race slot cars but have raced them at the R/C car club many many years ago.

[Qman]

You have (in my opinion) the best builder (Geoff) and the most gifted racer (Richard), I suppose I should add the words "one of" in front of both of those statements as there are a few very good builders/drivers who I'd hate to upset

[Kevan]

Roll forward a few years (I didn't realise we'd been in our current location so long, late 2019).

We have been actively reaching out to the community and a few months ago someone who used to be a member of the club when it was located in Summerland (closed in 2004, demolished in 2006) asked to come and have a look.
He is mad keen and loves racing again, as do his two lads and step-dad plus a couple of good mates.

This year we have seen ten or more racers every week and some are now competitive with the top half of the more experienced club members.

This is all good as there's a good spread of ability and inter club rivalry through the ages and abilities.

We amalgamated some classes to make it easier for the newcomers to get cars for all our classes, it has to be said these changes have made racing even more enjoyable.

In the past we had separate classes for Small Saloons, Saloons, and Group 5's, now they race together but there's at least three classes to be won which means more winners...and everyone loves to win.

Apparently, we aren't alone in seeing a resurgence in interest in Slot cars as other clubs have noticed the same thing.

...hopefully these are long term Slot car addicts as these guys will eventually run the club.

2026 is looking all good