www.slotcarmag.co.uk
ISSUE 1 • VOLUME 1 • APRIL 2011
FOR RACERS, COLLECTORS AND BUILDERS
GT40s:
Fascinating insight into Scalextric’s Ford GT40 range – Adrian Norman
Alfa Romeo:
Slot.It’s Alfa 33/3 - arch rival to the Ferrari 312P
Foreign Affair:
Europe and the Portuguese man-o’-war
A Leopard’s spots: Paint & decal your cars the Graymalkin way
WIN!
BOTH OF THESE ITEMS IN OUR EASY-TO-ENTER COMPETITION
Mag SLOT CAR
FOR RACERS, COLLECTORS AND BUILDERS
Contents In This Issue: 2
Pit Board:
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GT40:
Welcome! Yes we did it! A brief introduction and slot car news snippets from around the world to whet your appetite.
The Scalextric / GT40 enigma Adrian Norman recounts Scalextric’s numerous models depicting perhaps one of the world’s most iconic Le Mans cars.
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Customise A Slot Car:
11
Foreign Affair:
13
HO Racing:
by Richard Bennett aka Graymalkin Revered for making a livery change look easy, Richard takes us through the step-by-step method of detailing a slot car – with a new livery.
Ponderings from Portugal Our man in Portugal, Rui Costa, explains what it’s like to be blessed with sun, sea and of course some of the best slot clubs and events in Europe.
Let’s hear it for the little guys Have you been blind to the “other” scales in the Slot Car world? Andy Player of Worthing gives an insight into the wonders of HO.
ISSUE 1 • VOLUME 1 • APRIL 2011
visit: www.slotcarmag.co.uk also at: www.slotforum.com
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Whether to Weather:
17
Alfa Romeo:
21
Club Focus:
23
“Pit In 3 Laps!”:
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Club Web Directory:
A finish-line effect Real cars don’t finish a race in showroom condition... cue some “damage” to a certain yellow Ford GT MkIV from NSR.
A look at the wonderful 33/3 from Slot.It The beginning of the 1970s saw a great rivalry develop between Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. Ric Woods studies the beautiful 440bhp 33/3.
West London Scalextric Club In each issue we take a look at one slot car club and let them tell us what they’re all about. This time we get the info on West London SC.
Readers letters and competition time You could win a copy of James May’s Toy Stories and a Slot Car Portal Scalextric reference CD. Plus, correspondence from prospective readers.
Web Links to slot car clubs near you A British web-based directory of Slot Car Clubs. If we have inadvertantly missed your club and you would like it included, please let us know.
SlotCarMAG is an independent magazine for the Slot Car enthusiast. It is produced bi-monthly and available for purchase via our on-line store at www.lulu.com/uk and printed in hi- resolution digital format. It is also available to purchase as a pdf download from the SlotCarMAG web site.
PUBLISHING / WEB: Wayne Tooke: info@slotcarmag.co.uk EDITORIAL: Ric Woods: ric-woods@slotcarmag.co.uk ART & DESIGN: Marc Abbott: marc-abbott@slotcarmag.co.uk
For further information, please contact the publisher via email. Address opposite.
Cover photo: Cars supplied by Paul Bizzell, photographed by Marc Abbott
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to accurately compile the information contained herein, SlotCarMAG or any of its contributors or advertisers accepts no liability for any errors and omissions or any inadvertent disclosure of any information not meant for publication. SlotCarMAG neither endorses or accepts responsibility for the reproduction of material supplied that is of sub-standard quality, such as photocopies, laser prints, pre-printed photographs, low resolution digital images etc, and reserve the right to refuse the use of such material, products or services of advertisers in this publication. Opinions expressed shall not necessarily be that of the SlotCarMAG. All information should be verified before being acted upon. Copyright: Contents of this magazine or our web site, cannot be reproduced in any way, shape or form without the written permission of the publishers.
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“Pit in 3 laps!” Please contact via email to: letters@slotcarmag.co.uk with any views / comments. Because of limited space, correspondance my be edited.
Hi Marc, Nice to find you through fbk. With our best wishes for your interesting project... Regards from Spain. Diego – CARTRIX 1/32 Slot Products Sir I was really pleased to hear about a new magazine for Slot Cars! I already subscribe to a couple of publications and can honestly say that I can’t get enough of the printed word regarding my favourite hobby. Whilst the internet is awash with forums and related web sites, I personally feel that there is nothing better than good old-fashioned print. Good luck with your venture; I know it’s early days, but with luck I’ll still be reading SlotCarMAG when I retire... in quite a few years time! yours Macario Martinez – Spain (translated and edited) Sir Slot car racing is, to me at least, the best way to race cars, be they small or real size. You get much closer action than any computer games or even real life events. Anyway, although I do get a real buzz from “playing” with my cars at home, I now want to test my skills against others at club level. I know that this will be a big leap from what I’m used to, but I dream of being on a huge circuit with many other drivers blasting down a main straight that is perhaps 20- odd feet long (much more than I can get in my living room).
I’m also really keen to find out more on car set-up. Most of my cars are Scalextric but I have a few by Ninco and Slot.It and I’m pretty sure that these will be the sort of cars I’ll be up against at club level, as the venues near me don’t seem to use magnets on their cars However, back to my home circuit... I’m really looking forward to some inspiration as to what I can do with regards to scenery and buildings. I’m not bad at modelling things from kits but I have seen some amazing things on the web that are constructed from “rubbish” lying around the house. yours Eddie Bishop – UK Sir I was very happy today to hear the news that your magazine is due to “hit the shelves” soon (well maybe not the shelves, but you know what I mean). Thus, I am writing this mail to congratulate you guys on a great plan. This kind of adventure can only be achieved by hardwork, persistence and talent, which I’m sure you all have in abundance. I hope your magazine performs well in future. Congratulations to you once again. Frank Tutton – UK
WIN!:
In this issue, we are offering you the chance to win TWO prizes: JAMES MAY’S TOY STORIES BOOK and SLOT CAR PORTAL’S CD – SCALEXTRIC REFERENCE LIBRARY in our FREE -to-enter competition. Just answer the simple question below and email your answer by 28th MAY 2011 to: competitions@slotcarmag.co.uk and you could be in with a chance to receive BOTH of these items. Entitle your email in the header bar : SlotCarMAG Prize issue 1 and place your answer PLUS your name and address in the message field followed by the code BB11BB SORRY – only entries from mainland UK postal addresses will be accepted. Anyone associated with SlotCarMAG or their relatives are ineligable to enter. GOOD LUCK!!! Question: In which year did the famous motor racing circuit GOODWOOD open?
Sir I heard the good news about the new mag and I’m really delighted for you (about time you got back to the printed word, Mr Abbott). Really excited about seeing my cars on the front cover! Paul Bizzell – UK
Slot Car MAG – The magazine for racers, collectors and builders
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SLOT CAR CLUB WEB DIRECTORY _________________________________________________________ Alton and Winchester Slot Car Club sites.google.com/site/altonandwinchesterslotcarclub _________________________________________________________ Anglia Slot Racing www.angliaslotracing.weebly.com _________________________________________________________ Banbury Scalextric Racing www.oximage.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Bolwextric Club www.bolwextric.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Broadstairs Crampton Tower Scalextric Club http://www.ctsc.info/ _________________________________________________________ Burnt Oak Slot Car Club www.burntoakslotcars.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Chesterfield HO Race Club www.chorc.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Chivenor Chicane Raceway www.chicaneraceway.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Classic Slot Car Racing Association www.cscra.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Derby HO Racing Club http://dhorc.co.uk/ _________________________________________________________ EAHORC www.eahorc.com _________________________________________________________ Eastcote Scalex Club www.mhsc.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Farnham Scalextric Club www.farnhamscalextricclub.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Four Lane Blacktop www.flbt.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Gainsborough & Lincoln Slot Car Club g-slot.club.officelive.com _________________________________________________________ G T Raceway Club www.gtslotcars.com _________________________________________________________ Hamilton Model Car Club www.hamiltonmodelcarclub.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Hawthorne Park Slot Car Club www.hawthorneclub.org.uk _________________________________________________________ Luton Slot Car Club nick.thrower.users.btopenworld.com/LSCC/index.htm _________________________________________________________ Medway Racing Club www.medwayracers.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Melton & District Model Club www.mdmc.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Middlesex & Herts Scalex Club www.mhsc.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Molesey Scalextric Club www.ttracing.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ _________________________________________________________ Mussel Bay Raceway www.musselbay.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Newcastle Slot Car Club www.raceway81.com
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_________________________________________________________ North London Society of Model Engineers www.nlsme.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Oxford Scalextric Club www.oxonscalextricclub.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Pendle Slot Car Club www.pendleslotracingclub.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Phoenix Scalextric Circuit www.phoenixscalextriccircuit.com _________________________________________________________ Pinewood Raceway www.pinewoodslotracing.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Presto Park MMRC www.prestopark.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Selsdon Slot Car Club www.selsdonslotclub.weebly.com _________________________________________________________ Timaru Model Car Racing Club www.timaru.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Viking Slot Car Club www.vikingslotcarclub.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Wellingborough Scalextric Club www.wellingboroughscalextric.co.uk _________________________________________________________ West London Scalextric Club www.westlondonscalextricclub.co.uk _________________________________________________________ Wolverhampton Slot Car Club www.wolverhamptonscalextricclub.com _________________________________________________________ Worthing HO Racing www.whoracing.org.uk _________________________________________________________ Wye Valley Slot Car Club www.aberstone.webs.com/ _________________________________________________________
We have trawled the internet to find slot car clubs that boast their own web sites. Whilst we understand that the above list is not exhaustive, we will endevour, with your help, to keep it upto-date and continue to show them on our web site. We will NOT add sites that are fronts for slot car shops, as this list is compiled to help fellow racers find like-minded slot-heads in their area and is not for free advertising. Also, we have reluctantly (for the time being at least) decided to restrict the data to British-based clubs as space is at a premium. If you have a club that is not listed, please contact us for inclusion. We would also like you to make us aware of any errors or updates to the above.
The magazine for racers, collectors and builders – Slot Car MAG