[Top Down]

It always amazes me that such a significant annual event barely gets a mention on here. Maybe it's all over social media but in a day or two it will have disappeared into the vastness. At least here it should always be easy to find again so in no particular order - except for the first and last - and with no commentary, are a few photos from Saturday to give you a flavour of the event.

                                                                                          

[Gareth]

Great photos Doug and it was lovely to see you again along with James. Your US1 layout was superb.

[Top Down]

Then of course, there was Sunday. Apart from the seventh and last shot, all were taken before the doors opened to the public. Again, no commentary, no particular order other than the last one, taken not too long after the doors opened.

                                       
                       

[Top Down]

Oops, thanks for the kind comments - and reminder Gareth. Here's the US1 display, again, before opening to the public.
       

[BAracer]

Found myself in the area at the weekend, and was given a day pass to attend on Sunday.

It was the first time I have been to the Festival. Initial impression was that there wasn't much there, which the layout, spread around a number of detached rooms, didn't help. But in reality, I got the opportunity to see a number of new releases in the flesh from Scalextric, Slot.it, Scaleauto and MR Slotcars. I had a chat with Ernie from MR Slotcars and with Dennis from Greg's World Wide Chat. I spotted Maurizio from Slot.it and Marco from Electric Dreams! Tried to barter with the Roger Barker Organisation, but they didn't accept my not too cheeky offer on some SCX off-road track that I have been watching them try to sell for the past year...never mind. I did buy a cracking little Maserati off the very friendly Pete Shepherd/Racing Replicas, so felt that overall, the visit had been worth it.

[rallyhub]

It's always a pleasure to be there and have a chat with slotcar friends.
This year I only visited the Festival on Saturday.
I really liked the flying SCX Escort in the diorama at the STNE Ron Trackside Figures booth.
After a chat with the creater, I took this photo:

   

[Gpa113]

I had another very enjoyable day out at  Gaydon on the Saturday.

Arrived at 08.55, so got an hour looking  around the excellent Museum before the event opened. 
Big queue of punters, keen and ready to go.  Took a whole 4 minutes to be at the top of the escalator, and into UK Slot Car Festival 2025.

Decent amount of traders, but the smaller sellers are now scarce,  costs plus a weekend event, I imagine. 
Great amount of traders doing some fabulous buildings and figures and dioramas. So nice to see this side of the hobby being so well represented. 

As usual we did the competition involving the different tracks and layouts on offer.  This was my only negative of the day.
The range of tracks and stages was much less interesting,  and some of the folk running their own layouts didn't appear to have much of an idea as to what was, or should, have been going on!   We gave up after 3 tracks.......

The superb Dragstrip, run by Mr D,  AKA Steve, was brilliant fun.   This is so different,  and fast!  40 mph in about 2 seconds,  and that's actual speed, love it.
Myself and fellow club member Ciarán actually made it all the way to the Final, big up The Send Scalextric Race Club! 
I took run 1.  Ciarán run 2, and I had the decider in the bag until a darn deslot 6 lengths from the finish...... Still a nice Special edition car each, and a whole lot of fun

Didn't buy a great deal.
The new Scalextric Back to the Future 2 Flying DeLorean,  which was only just out.   A nice Scalextric older NASCAR,  to go with my collection of Club racers, and a nice  red Scalextric Shelby Cobra.  Oh, and 20 more Scalextric straights.

Another hour spent in the Museum,  particularly enjoying the exhibits on loan from Vauxhall ( Chevette HS anyone! ) and then time too head for home.  Can't wait for next year already 

   

Ciarán,  Mr D, and me!

Pip

[rallyhub]

Yes, the Vauxhall collection was great. I liked that road Chevette HS too.
For me it brought memories back of Chris Sclater and Martin Holmes, leading the 1978 Boucles de Spa in the Chevette HS2300, cutting an edge in a perfect way nobody did.
Unfortunately, they didn't reach the finish line, due to a broken drive shaft.
Hopefully a Chevette HS will be done in the near future as a slot car. Fingers crossed.


Hub

[Gareth]

I had another very enjoyable day out at  Gaydon on the Saturday.

Arrived at 08.55, so got an hour looking  around the excellent Museum before the event opened. 
Big queue of punters, keen and ready to go.  Took a whole 4 minutes to be at the top of the escalator, and into UK 

The superb Dragstrip, run by Mr D,  AKA Steve, was brilliant fun.   This is so different,  and fast!  40 mph in about 2 seconds,  and that's actual speed, love it.
Myself and fellow club member Ciarán actually made it all the way to the Final, big up The Send Scalextric Race Club! 
I took run 1.  Ciarán run 2, and I had the decider in the bag until a darn deslot 6 lengths from the finish...... Still a nice Special edition car each, and a whole lot of fun 

Pip

Congrats on the great result on the dragstrip. I was most impressed by Mr D's magnificent beard. A very distinguished looking gentleman indeed! Sadly me, my dad and brother were all eliminated in Round 1 by the pesky black Porsche which was a touch OP.

Had better luck on the 5 stages though finishing 3rd and 4th. Mick received a very nice prize car from Julie Scale so he was chuffed. 

Hope they get back to 8 or more tracks for the comp next year.

[Gpa113]

Hi Gareth, 

Yes, Steve, aka Mr D, is a proper good character, and a lovely bloke

Well done on your track results. Good going from you guys

It's nice to get too try some different layouts and stages, and it  definitely adds too the event.

Pip