Digest 40

It’s week 40 already. Time flies.

This week we bring you the new Scalextric Chrysler and Aston GT3, PCS Broadspeed Mini, SRC Porsche, a preview of the Mick Collard Escort hot rod, a Swiss hillclimb track, our usual motorsport round-up, plus a feature on one of the most important slot car organisations.

Slot Cars

• Scalextric TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 One of the delayed cars from the 2021 Scalextric catalogue, this striking red TF Sport Aston has just arrived with retailers. The real car was raced in the 2020 International GT Open series by Salih Yoluç and Charlie Eastwood. Joined by Jonny Adam, the TF team won the LM GTE Am class at the 2020 Le Mans 24 hours, running the same livery on their Vantage GTE.

• PCS Mini Broadspeed GT 2+2 Kit Pendle Slot Racing have announced a new Broadspeed Mini GT kit. This was a rare car back in the 60s, with only 28 being built before production ended in 1968 with the closure of the Broadspeed factory.

• Scalextric Chrysler Hemicuda – Spa 24 Hours 1973 The subject of this week’s News feature, the 1973 24-hours of Spa-Francorchamps was a tragic event. Chrysler France’s Hemicuda was one of three American beasts to appear at the race that year, with James Hunt’s Camaro also featuring in the 2021 Scalextric catalogue.

• SRC Porsche 914/6 GT Rallyhub has brought news of SRC’s re-release of their Tergal-sponsored Porsche 914/6 GT “night edition” Chrono, driven by the Spanish Fernández brothers in the Rallye Monte Carlo of 1971. Great photos too.

• Scalextric Ford Escort MK2 Hot Rod – Mick ‘Duffy’ Collard Although not expected for at least a couple of months, pre-production images of this classic of British hot rod oval racing have just been released by Scalextric.

Tracks & Scenery

• Think Scalextric Swiss Hill Climb The Think Scalextric guys – the people behind Magnetic Racing – have been busy the past few weeks with this track, commissioned by Switzerland Tourism. They’ve thrilled the crowds – plus some huge celebrities – at Goodwood Revival and the Laver Cup tennis tournament. It’s a great track to drive too.

Feature

NSCC – The National Scalextric Collector’s Club

• The National Scalextric Collectors Club is almost certainly the oldest slot car enthusiasts club in the world, and its journal is the longest continuously running English language publication devoted purely to slot cars anywhere. Let’s take a look at what the club is all about…
• NSCC Website Of course the NSCC has an official website, where you can find out more and perhaps become a member. You can also browse through over 200 past issues of the NSCC Journal completely free, or check out forthcoming swapmeets in the calendar.

• NSCC Leeds Northern Swapmeet Speaking of swapmeets, the NSCC have one coming up on Sunday 9th October, at Rothwell Leisure Centre, Wakefield Road, Oulton, Leeds LS26 8EL.
• NSCC History Ex NSCC Journal editor Brian Rogers has put together a detailed history of the club, from the lead up to its formation in 1981, right through to the present day.
• NSCC Shows Brian has also chronicled two large and influential NSCC slot car shows in 2005 & 2006. These were the precursors of the now well established UK Slot Car Festival.
• Ultimate Hillclimb Finally from Brian is the story of what must surely be one of the largest slot hillclimbs ever constructed, the NSCC track at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
• NSCC Forum You can also check out the NSCC’s latest news and events in their forum.
• Facebook Or on Facebook

Motorsport

Livery of the weekend – Puig Major Hill Climb

Spotted on the Port de Sóller quayside, this purple Bart Simpson BMW is crying out for the slot car treatment! Mallorca isn’t just about partying in Magaluf – the mountains in the north west of the island are hallowed ground for cyclists and host the annual Pujada Puig Major hill climb.

• WRC Rally New Zealand On a weekend where there were half a dozen top-flight championships that could be decided, Rally Zealand returned to the WRC schedule and delivered a thrilling spectacle and a large slice of rallying history. You can watch a round-up on the WRC YouTube Channel.

• F1 Singapore Grand Prix It was another fractious weekend for the F1 circus – and a stop-start race with a damp track didn’t calm anyone’s nerves. Did Sunday end with the coronation of a 2022 world champion? You can find out in the 7-minute highlights package.

• W Series at Singapore It was a case of déjà vu as the W Series championship hopeful started uncharacteristically down the grid. Could Jamie Chadwick get the result to seal her third title? You can find out in the Sky TV highlights on YouTube.

• Nascar at Talladega The Nascar play-offs mean the title will be decided at the final weekend of the season. The Talledega was the second race of the second round of the playoffs – and it was an amazing ending that saw one of the championship favourites grab the win and an automatic place in the next round. Highlights are on YouTube.