[woodcote]

I think a good club or a good online community can do that - answering people's specific questions in their own specific context. There are also some good videos out there on YouTube and Facebook, articles in magazines and on websites and threads on forums. But you can't beat asking your own questions and getting answers from a supportive club or online community.

I generally learn new things by setting myself a goal, researching and then doing... and learning from my (hopefully not too expensive) mistakes. And by always reading the instructions and documentation (I don't always remember that one). Hint: the Slot.it Slot Car Accessories catalogue (paper and online) is a good way of learning about their motor pods - it gives me the knowledge to then ask informed questions from other racers, the 3D-printed chassis designers or from Slot.it themselves. Unfortunately, the more you get into a hobby, the more necessary jargon becomes - when you reach that point, it is a case of spending some time to learn it.

[JasonB]

Mildly reviving this after the Holiday break.
One thing I have noticed is that there seems to be what i am calling an "intermediary gap".

I see a ton of questions in various forums with people needing fairly basic help. Things like adjusting braids, replacing parts, mild tuning:
There are lots of videos and posts about this introductory things.

What I also see are lots of exchanges between experts. Abbreviations abound and it all becomes specialized jargon quickly.

What I think is missing something to bridge the gap.

For example it is yearly hard to know exactly what is required. For example, I know there are lots of aftermarket chassis available that require "a slot-it motor pod". The thing is, there are dozens of slot-it pods out there... which one?!

Also I personally feel you have to have lap counting and lap timing. I almost never see this mentioned.

To that point, while there is a lot of ino about tuning the cars I don't see a lot of before and after videos or comparisons.

If it weren't for woodcote's input here, I don't think I have ever seen documentation on how to run an event...

What do you all think?
Or am I exceedingly thick? (entirely possible....)

Some interesting points there.

I guess the basic principles are perhaps easier to cover, but when you start covering more complex issues it all becomes very specific, and as such becomes a lot more work to cover all the angles, brands, cars, track systems and types.

For instance, which motor pod works best with which chassis might be very difficult to pin down without knowing the type of track it's being used on.  As Andy has alluded to there are issues which might be better dealt with by asking specific questions.

However, I do think we as enthusiasts could probably do more.

I thought the "Slap my SlotCar" series was interesting, presenting good general principles and sound advice with some humour. It's now buried away in the vaults on SFI, and may disappear completely at some point. When I was an admin over there, I had a plan to update it, make it more accessible, and add to it. But time ran out.

Perhaps we could start something here?

[dvd3500]

Please do. :-)
One thing I think I mentioned is that google etc. is horrible about providing answers.
Slot cars share a large bit of their vocabulary with R/C cars, static models and of course real cars.
I remember that until I found forums I wasn't even sure why there were 3 types of Scalextric track (Classic, Sport and Start).

I HATE everything being tracked and used against you in the form of advertising but for some reason slot car stuff gets buried.

To be fair there is also a general problem with information on  Internet.
When I started building computers in the early 90's it was fairly easy to find websites with very specific, step-by-step instructions on how to do things. We almost never had pictures!
If I upgraded my 75 Mhz Pentium to 100 on my Packard Bell it was pretty easy to find the info and the info was easy to follow.

My last computer I built was in 2005 and when I even try to figure out what CPU goes on what motherboard I give up.
Everything is full of advertising and forums are so full of half-baked, poorly written chunks of text that I have no clue.

I think that is part of the problem when searching on slot car related topics. Google panics and throws everything at you that might have even a one millionth chance of being right... and then people give up..

[JasonB]

I'm sure we all share your annoyance at the increasingly intrusive nature of websites tracking you wherever you go, and sharing that information with God knows who.

We don't do that here. We made a decision right from the start that we wanted to keep all of that to a bare minimum, and we intend to keep it that way. We're independent, free from ads, and as clean as we can be, simply because that's what we'd like for ourselves and for you.

I also totally agree about the problem with information on the internet, but I guess that's because there is so much of it,  all provded by different people, and all sorted by some combination of algorithms, agendas, and advertising revenues.

We could try to build up a "complete guide to slot racing", and I'd be happy to set things up, organise it all and give it it's own section. But  I'd need a lot of help. I'd need everybody to conribute their knowledge and experience, share videos, photos, tutorials, links and anything else that might be relevant. There is no way I could do it all on my own.

[Mr Modifier]

What that seems to prove is that you need one or two really committed people who are prepared to put in the time, effort and not a little cash to make the whole thing run well. This comes as no surprise at all.

Most people will happily turn up if someone else has done all the hard work. I suspect that any club covering whatever subject works on the same principle.

I agree.  The first club track at our club was mine.  It cost a lot and lasted 5 years.  Fortunately my little manufacturing enterprises covered the cost so the Mrs is none the wiser.  Our current track was built by another member and paid for by the club.  Our hall is free.  No weekly race fees and only £45 per year subs.  I guess we are luckier than any other club in that respect and yet we still struggle to find members but have enough of a core to be able to race every week.

[Mr Modifier]

Assuming you can find one near you the average club has at least six different classes so that means a minimum outlay of £300 even before you start spending on upgrades or extra cars. Digital compounds the expenditure.

But you don’t have to be average and digital doesn’t necessarily cost more.

Our club is digital.  Truspeed controllers cost £40 (way less than good analogue controllers).  We run 4 classes each year and roll 2 over to the following year.  This year a newbie has to buy a controller, a Racer Sideways, a Carrera 50’s or 60’s sports car, a classic Scalextric small wheeler (Datsun 260z, XR3i etc) and a Scalextric BTCC.  Total outlay with chips and controller about £210 if you shop carefully. Existing members with 2 cars from last season only have to spend about £90 on the BTCC and Carrera with chips (or recycle chips from the classes we dropped at the end of last season and save £30).

Compared to some analogue clubs we are very cheap.

Are less classes boring?  No, because digital allows you to vary the racing experience very easily with different race formats, duration, fuel simulation on and off etc.  And as a bonus we tend to find most race nights every racer gets between 45 and 60 minutes of track time which, in 2.5 hours is quite a lot.

[dvd3500]

Having thought about this over night I think what i am trying to get at as the following scenario:
You have a set and you and the family are having fun.
How do you keep interest going and/or expand when maybe a club isn't an option?

Why can't we use things like social media to "match" people for races at people's houses?

What I am getting at is something akin to what I think model railroaders do. They have their layout at home and people come and play with it, work on it etc.

My feeling is you are either a family racer or a club racer but there is not much in between.,.,..

Regarding the "ultimate guide" I would love to contribute but anyone who has seen my driving will know I am all talk and no walk! :-)

[Gordon Steadman]

Ronnie and I went round to someone's house in the village here who had a tennis racquet for me. As one does, we sat and had coffee and started talking about our life in France. The guy asked me how I spent my time now I am retired and the look on his face when I told him said it all.

He seemed shocked that I was unmanly enough not to watch sports - especially soccer of course - but play with toy cars. My attempts to generate interest by advertising my track on our local Google group was met with a deafening silence apart from offers of old Scalex sets mouldering in attics. Really, no interest at all.

I would prefer to be a club racer but they are few and far between out here. I only get to race two or three times a year. The rest of the time, I am a home racer but that is better than nothing.

The paucity of clubs and the distances between those few there are seems to have given rise to the proxy event. Not for me as it's the racing I enjoy, not the car building. At Bordeaux, there are one or two youngsters but the racers are mostly those that grew up with the hobby in the 60s and 70s. The only kids that keep it up are those who are competitive. The others get tired of losing and drift away.

There are too many competing interests to allow any expansion of the current status quo it seems to me. Sad.

[woodcote]

Why can't we use things like social media to "match" people for races at people's houses?

What I am getting at is something akin to what I think model railroaders do. They have their layout at home and people come and play with it, work on it etc.

My feeling is you are either a family racer or a club racer but there is not much in between.,.,..

A lot of this goes on already - and always has done. I am pretty sure that the vast majority of people who race slot cars with others do so with their extended family, neighbours and friends. Other slot car enthusiasts in their area might get involved - or people who share specific niche interests may travel longer distances to meet up. That's certainly the case with the US, where racing groups (whether they call themselves clubs or whatever) get together in people's homes - the most prominent groups might be 'serious racers', but most groups are 'just' having fun - the sort of thing you are suggesting. That also seems the case from what I see on a lot of facebook groups, some smaller ones in the UK and then the big Carrera Digital groups in Germany - people are racing standard cars (usually with magnets) on home tracks in people's homes. And there are regular shout-outs for other people in a specific area to come and join the fun.

There is of course the GOLD group here on SlotRacer. There are also a very wide range of groups that might call themselves clubs. Some might race full-on metal-chassis cars on six-lane routed tracks in fields of national and international champions. Others might race bog-standard Scalextric cars (with magnets) on Scalextric Sport track with Scalextric hand throttles and a basic Scalextric lap counter. And loads somewhere in between. I suspect both Mr M's and my club in Worthing fall towards the standard Scalextric end of the spectrum. Both our 1/64 scale racing and Scalextric digital racing are no more than rug-racing in a big room with lots of people.

In my opinion, there is no blueprint for a 'proper' club. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy slot cars - so long as no-one gets hurt. Me, a couple of my mates and (occasionally) other family members made up the best ever slot car 'club' I've raced with - and that was back when I was eleven to fourteen. Everything was classic Scalextric, including the unforgettable smell of the Johnson motors.

So how to find people? In the old days, people used to find each other via a notice in a hobby store or in a slot car magazine or duplicated fanzine. Then the internet came along and we had bulletin boards and forums. Then social media arrived. Although we have access to more people than ever, it still takes hard work and perseverance to find other people to race with. Despite all the technology, I think the 100% most effective way is still word-of-mouth. A simple little flier is never a bad idea. And a private event on Facebook to invite people to.

So what to say? I think being both specific and flexible is important. So "I want to meet up to race Scalextric (like Carrera) ARC Pro digital, using the simulations and race formats outlined here. It will be me, my 11-year-old son and two of his friends and their dads. Based at home in XYZstadt - looking at weekends (ideally Saturday morning) or Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday evenings 7-10pm. All equipment is provided. Anyone else want to play and have some fun? Any questions, just ask".

By specifying that, you will exclude anyone who doesn't want to race with kids. It'll interest people who might know something about Carrera or Carrera digital, but not enthusiasts who race more 'serious' stuff. It will probably interest dads with kids of a similar age. You are limiting your potential audience, but being honest about it - but allowing some flexibility too. It might be you race ARC Pro at yours, but you are invited to race Carrera digital at someone else's house. Being flexible with day and time is really important too.

Who do you invite? Unless you are hiring a public space, you are inviting people to your home - some will be total strangers. It is common sense to be sensible... Personally, I wouldn't publicise my address. I would check out with my family that they are happy about me hosting an event like this in our home. I would certainly prefer to have met everyone before I invite them - or know (and trust) the people who were inviting anyone else. I might just check that my home insurance had some public liability cover.

In fact, we do a lot of this sort of racing in Brighton, Worthing and the surrounding area. However, we invite people we know - often through the club. Racing at home is about racing stuff we don't race at the club. It's how WHO/digital started (with Scalextric digital rug racing at Mike's) and how we started racing T-Jets on my MaxTrax oval. Gareth has his own slot car shed and has hosted races (and tuning nights) for club members and for friends, family and neighbours - quite a few of his friends and neighbours have travelled over to Worthing to race at the club.

It's probably worth saying that the home racing is more laid-back than the club racing, but it isn't any less well organised or meticulously-prepared for. If you want people to come over and have a good time, everything should work smoothly and be exciting and memorable. The formats have to suit the people who are racing and - if people are buying new cars to race - help with tuning and buying spares should be a collective, supportive activity. I like to post up results and pics of the home racing on a private Facebook group - that just adds to the fun and means people can chat and share things between meet-ups.

Hopefully that has given you some ideas and some encouragement?

[dvd3500]

Then why are darts, snooker or pool considered sport?

Why is model railroading held in such high regard and slot racing isn't?

Like I said, I think there is just an element of organization that could get something going that is between a club and being a home racer.