Scalextric, and what cars you have?

[OwenGT3]

Hi,

Don't know if anyone's done this sort of thread, well it didn't come up in a search.

I wondered how many of us still have Scalextric, or did have Scalextric, or are even thinking of buying it all again! I still have mine from when I was 10 years old. I have about 20 metres of track, but I'm afraid to say it's all in a box in the attic, occasionally seeing the light of day. I have about 25 cars and one is an F1 JPS 77 with full fag advertising, and it still didn't make me a smoker!

I don't have photo's at the moment of any of the cars, but will take some shortly. I did for some years have a permanent layout in my room complete with landscape which I have some photos off, I will post them as well.

I do love the look of the new sets and cars, also the fact that you can play on your own and still race other cars, that was what I lacked. My brother would never play, so I had to tape the controller trigger of the other car so it would go round without coming off, then I could race it. I always one as it was never that fast!

Would be great to see the cars, which is what Scalextric is all about.

Owen.

Edited January 26, 2008 by OwenGT3

[mayevora]

I very generously bought an extra joint xmas pressie 2006 for both of my daughters. As I never had one but always wanted one as a kid thought it about time my daughters were introduced. Scalextric Italian Job. ie a couple of Minis. Guess who has played with it the most?

[esprit350]

I had one in the sixties when it came out, one of the cars was a vanwall IIRC cant remember what the other was, do remember I got bored with it very quickly, much prefered my train set...

[winners]

Sold mine to buy a guitar. Enjoyed the cguitar but always regreted selling my scalextric. I got a Tyco later but it wasn't the same.

As for cars I had, there was a Mini, Escort Mexico and even a Capri as well as the usual McLaren and Ferrarii F1 cars. Put a bit if washing up liquid on the corners and they all drifted nicely, especially the Capri.

[Bibs]

I got a micro-scalextric for xmas a few years back. Took hours to set up and even with an intricate and long track we were doing 6 second laps, the scale speed was amazing! Unfortunately due to the whole 'hours to set up' it didn't see the light of day much!

[Gasman GT3]

My dad bought me a set when I was 5 (too young to appreciate it) It was the James Bond set which is now the rarest of all sets, but unfortunatly I dont have the cars anymore. When about 10 I got into it properly and had a massive track permantly set up in my Grans main bedroom (she slept downstairs) When my Grandad moved into sheltered accomodation in the early 80's it all got packed up and is now in the loft. I still have most of the cars inluding a JPS Lotus 72 and a MRRC Lotus 79 in Martini livery. I get bit's of it out occasionally and sometimes think about setting it up in the loft, but have never got round to it. A few years ago I started buying a few cars made by a Spanish company called FLY. They make super detailed cars that look just as good in the display cabinet. I have a couple of 1970 Ferrari 512's as well as 2 Porsche 908's and a 917 featured in the Steve Mcqueen film Le Mans which are in lovely Steve Mcqueen collection display boxes. I will post some piccies when I get them down from the loft.

[OwenGT3]

Sold mine to buy a guitar. Enjoyed the cguitar but always regreted selling my scalextric. I got a Tyco later but it wasn't the same.

As for cars I had, there was a Mini, Escort Mexico and even a Capri as well as the usual McLaren and Ferrarii F1 cars. Put a bit if washing up liquid on the corners and they all drifted nicely, especially the Capri.

Yeah, I used to put talc on the track, that also had the same effect. Before all the electronic stuff that you can get now, my dad made me an electronic lap counter from a simple digital clock that showed seconds, it would start as soon as the car passed a point in the track then stop once it passed it again. Also I added lights to my cars using grain of wheat bulbs, they would go from nothing to bright as hell with the speed of the car. Another trick was to add weights to the rear of the cars to reduce slide, brass weights or nuts slid over the rear axle. With the permanent layout the whole set was lit up with flood lights and lights in the buildings, it was great.

Will dig out the cars later to take some pics!

Owen

[lotusessex80]

is this scalextric like a train set? i live across the street to a train hobby store.

[esprit350]

you may know it better as slot car racing system, scalextric was a brand name in the UK launched in the 1960's

clicky

Edited January 26, 2008 by Howard

[th4neuk]

Still got one but don't get it out much.

However do still race as I built a track for a friend of mine in his single garage. It's on three levels and a lap takes around 25 to 30 seconds depending on the car.

He is a serious collector and has over 300 cars!!

I've got around 15.

Out of interest did you know you can get an Esprit ??

It's a model made in Australia. I'm debating getting one shipped over??

Cheers

[talon]

When we first moved to the states my dad would alway have my grandparents bring over various bits and pieces when they came to visit. They were supposedly for me but he always seemed to 'test' them far more than was necessary. To this day it all sits in three boxes at my parents house, just waiting for the da I get it all going again.

[Gasman GT3]

Out of interest did you know you can get an Esprit ??

It's a model made in Australia. I'm debating getting one shipped over??

Cheers

Do you know who manufactures it, I would like to get hold of one too.

[molemot]

I had one of the very first Scalextrics; rubber track with a distinctive smell, tinplate cars, one of them a Ferrari and one a Maserati and simple on/off press buttons for controls..this must have been about 1955/56. Later on, a bunch of us from the model aircraft club got into slot racing more deeply, setting up a track on two 8'x4' baseboards in a garage and building spaceframes from brass tube, rewinding motors etc. Much drunken racing ensued, pausing only for fish and chips!! Used to run sports car races in the dark using lights on the cars. Still have a box full of track and a couple of cars, but the track contact surfaces are rusty now and cleaning them would be a swine. I, too, marvel at the modern digital Scalextric, wish we'd had that. Also the OO gauge Hornby steam locomotives..litle live steamers using immersion heaters to boil the water..brilliant!!

[Gasman GT3]

I Also the OO gauge Hornby steam locomotives..litle live steamers using immersion heaters to boil the water..brilliant!!

One of those is on the very long I want list. I would love to have it running round the garden, chuffing away.

[th4neuk]

Have a look here

http://members.optusnet.com.au/pattosplace/home.html

This is the list of esprits!!

77 LTUS ESPRIT (2 1/2")

78 LTUS ESPRIT S2

82 LTUS ESPRIT TURBO

90 LTUS ESPRIT TURBO S6

96 Ltus Esprit GT1

other lotus models are available as well.

Elan,Europa, Elise, Excell.

You have to paint them and I have no idea what the quality is like.

Cheers

In the Loft I've got an unused stephensons rocket by hornby that is a real steamer.

Cheers

[Gasman GT3]

Thanks Alan I'll check it out

[V8Esprit73]

Have a look here

http://members.optusnet.com.au/pattosplace/home.html

96 Lotus Esprit GT1

You have to paint them and I have no idea what the quality is like.

I've got one of those! - Had it for about 2 1/2 years and it's still unbuilt!

Lexan bodyshell so not the most accurate model but it does still look like an Esprit.

There are quite a few chassis options available..... Sadly no backbones though!

If i can find the box with it all in i'll take a pic and add it....

[OwenGT3]

Hi,

As promised, some pics of my cars. This is only some, I will post the others later. Excuse the rough diorama, it was quickly made!

Owen