[woodcote]

   

After a three-year hiatus, our ARC Air Mini Challenge is finally back on the road. First stop was a special Scalextric-themed open day at High Salvington Windmill, overlooking the west part of Worthing. Back in 2019, we held the racing outside, but for our return we set up the ARC Air track indoors - in the old granary. Outside, there was a small Micro Scalextric set, a table selling sets, packs of track and a few cars - plus we had a 1:1 scale Lotus Evora and a Sinclair C5 in JPS livery...

       

The Micro Scalextric set - the new system - looked after itself and was used and abused non-stop from around 2.15pm until the plug was pulled at 5 o'clock. The Wile E Coyote and Road Runner cars were new out of the packet this morning and everything ran faultlessly, despite some rather extreme punishment. The set and the cars still look as good as new - a sign of how much better the new 9-volt Micro Scalextric system is compared to the old.

       

Although we were busy outside, the main event was inside the granary - Terry and Pete put in an astonishing shift of 37 races between 2.30pm and 5 o'clock. Racers of all ages and abilities took part - everyone having to negotiate a moderately tricky track and successfully execute a pit stop...

       

Our tried-and-tested format uses the Scalextric ARC app running a 21-lap race with the tyre simulation. That means stopping on the ARC Air powerbase after 11 laps for a tyre change, otherwise the power is reduced and eventually a DNF signalled. It's a very small taste of our WHO/digital racing formats and shows how Scalextric has developed for the mums, dads and grandparents who remember racing in the 70s, 80s and 90s...

       

There was a queue to race throughout the afternoon - and the final few drivers lined-up well past the time the gates to the windmill has been closed. Ethan topped the leaderboard with a sensational run of 1m 10.24s just after 4.30pm. He waited nervously as Ben, Evie and another Ethan came within a few seconds of his time - but no-one would beat him to the trophy and the Micro Scalextric 007 'No Time To Die' set, kindly donated by the Scalextric team in Margate...

       

And that was the end of a breathless afternoon. Huge thanks to the WHO team - Terry, Pete, Simon and Andy - for an awesome team effort.

   

After our visit in 2019, we did get four new racers at the club - of whom Alan and Harry still race with us. Fingers-crossed we'll see some of today's racers join us for a taste of HO and Scalextric digital action. But most importantly, dozens of people enjoyed getting controllers in their hands and having fun with slot cars. Whether it was grown-ups on a nostalgia kick or youngsters having their first taste of Scalextric products, hopefully our trip the High Salvington will be a catalyst to more slot car fun in the future.

We'll be back at the windmill next summer - but the next port of call for the ARC Air Mini Challenge will be Gaugemasters' AutoFest on the weekend of 8-9 October.

[Scuderia_Turini]

Good one!  Well done to the WHO team for engaging with the general public.

Leo